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【SONIC:0229】

Star light

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thank you for your help 💎

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One to rule All

(design by gareki_sh)

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Late Lancelot for SATBK anniversary

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A Sea Of Stars.

An Arte X Ivy Drabble

What the hell is wrong with me?

Restless, the maroon cat tossed and turned well into the deep hours of the silent night. Despite the Alaskan king mattress, despite the Egyptian cotton sheets, despite the mountain of cooling pillows, he couldn't get a wink of shut-eye.

He didn't quite understand it himself, but he craved... something. He wasn't sure what. All he knew was that he had this aching, burning, y e a r n i n g in his chest—like he had a void where his heart should be. He moaned, the pain almost too much to bear as he clutched his beating organ. What was it he longed for?

Perhaps he should be asking not what, but who.

He didn't want to admit it but he had a feeling that the only thing that could fill the space was her. Her radiant ambers, her silky smooth voice, her stubborn yet caring personality. He knew that when she risked her life for him, she was just doing her job as a bodyguard. But those fleeting moments where their gazes would linger, their touches would spark, their breaths would falter...

Was he just imagining those?

He sighed, only to grunt in agony. Then he heard a knock at the door. "Come in," he croaked.

A royal blue spider poked her head in. "Kingsley? Are you alright?"

His heart seized up in that stupid way it did every time he saw her. "Yes, I'm fine." He sat up in an effort to prove it. "Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you."

Ivy nodded once, about to take her leave—

"Wait!" Arte cried.

She did so, looking at him inquisitively.

Shit, he didn't think this far.

"I... can't sleep," he confessed. "Could you keep me company?"

"As you wish." Ivy closed the door behind her before ambling to his bedside. "Is something on your mind?"

He laughed hollowly. "What isn't on my mind."

"Perhaps some fresh air might clear your head." She walked over to the balcony, swinging open the glass doors.

A cool breeze caressed Arte's face, making him feel instantly at ease.

She gawked outside long enough to pique Arte's curiosity. He chimed, "You okay?"

"Hm?" Ivy blinked from her trance. "Oh, yes, it's just... The stars are quite lovely tonight."

Arte was already out of bed, putting on his trench coat and shoes. "If you think that's great, you should really see them from the countryside." He glided past her, hopping on the railing with a devilish smile. "Coming?"

Incredulous, Ivy retorted, "It's the middle of—"

But Arte paid no mind, jumping off the balcony with a charming salute, knowing she would be following close behind.

~

He led her through a winding path embraced by flowering fields and lush trees until they arrived at a secluded lake, sparkling in the moonlight. When she gazed at the night sky, she was breathless; the stars seemed to shine ten times brighter, singing like beacons of hope. She could even see the cool ethereal hues of the Milky Way.

She wondered how many wishes it cradled.

The feline walked confidently toward the water's edge. Ivy almost stopped him, thinking he was about to get his shoes wet, but then she saw him freeze the surface with snowflake-shaped constructs beneath each footstep, allowing him to walk on water.

Of course. How could she forget he was a cryokinetic?

Ivy called after him, "If you fall, I am not fishing for you."

Arte laughed, a melodious sound. "I think you will be falling. For me, that is," he said with a wink. He then gracefully skated away, wondering if she was blushing beneath her mask.

He put on a dazzling show for her, effortlessly gliding upon his makeshift ice, leaving sparkling snowflakes in his wake. He twisted and twirled, making it look easy, and even made a few impressive tricks in the air, landing flawlessly each time. He rapidly spun on one foot for the finale, posing with an elegant flourish.

He heard the arachnid give a gentle clap before skating toward her, holding out his hand.

Ivy was slightly taken aback. "I've never skated before."

"I've got you," Arte vowed as he constructed ice blades beneath her soles, raising her an inch off the ground. "Just trust me."

Ivy was about to refuse until she peered into his cyan saucers, particularly his deformed pupil. While others might have found it disconcerting, she found it alluring. It seemed to draw her in like a magnet.

She took his hand, cool to the touch. She wobbled a bit before he put his other hand around her waist to steady her, sending chills down her spine.

It was not unwelcome.

Arte guided her gently across the ice until she seemed to get the hang of it, twirling her now and then as if they were partaking in a waltz. There were a few times she thought she would lose her balance and clutched him close, which made him chuckle, a breath that tickled her ear.

Soon their movements synchronized and they used the entirety of the lake as their stage, gliding so fast they were a blur. Their limbs flowed and intertwined as smooth as water. With the twinkling sky above and the glittering lake below, the way the duo kicked up snowflakes made them look like they were drowning in a sea of stars.

The couple slid toward the center of the lake, catching their breaths as they held each other a whisper apart. When Ivy rested her head on his chest, she could hear his racing organ. "Are you alright? Your heart rate..."

"I'm more than alright," Arte confessed, lifting up her chin with a featherlight touch, "now that I'm with you."

Ivy's own pulse quickened as she read his eyes, which were completely sincere. She saw him glance at her mask, and watched his muzzle tint.

He asked under his breath, "May I?"

Just as she reached up, she felt faint, becoming limp in his arms.

Arte held her upright, nearly stumbling, as his face washed over with concern. "Ivy? Ivy! What's wrong?"

Darkness threatened to overtake her vision as she fought to keep it at bay, but with one last shiver she slipped into unconsciousness...

~

The light of dawn greeted her when her eyes flickered open. She was blanketed with multiple layers and a heating pad. When she sat up she noticed the thermoregulating gauze around her waist and hands.

"You're awake!"

She looked over to see the cat bringing her a warm cup of green tea. "Kingsley? What am I doing in your bed?"

"Recovering, I hope," Arte replied sheepishly. Then he grew solemn. "You passed out from a mild case of frostbite."

Ivy took the cup, glancing at her downcast reflection in the liquid. "Oh."

Arte took a seat beside the bed. "I'm sorry. It was stupid of me to keep you so close, especially since you're immunocompromised."

"It was an accident," Ivy reassured him.

"Yes, but..." Arte groaned in frustration, dropping his gaze in shame. "You're always looking out for me. It didn't occur to me that I should be doing the same for you." He tightened his fist. "I won't be so selfish anymore."

Then he stared at his hands as if they betrayed him. "When I realized why you fainted in my arms, I felt so guilty. I didn't realize I could be such a danger to you."

His eyes started to well with tears. "Perhaps you're right, Ivy. Perhaps we shouldn't be togeth—"

He was caught off guard when an ebony web strand yanked him toward her, landing him on top. He reddened furiously. "I-Ivy—!"

"I was wrong," Ivy admitted. "Despite your ice, you showed me something I've never experienced before."

Arte blinked. "Skating?"

Ivy let out an amused huff. "No," she corrected. "Warmth."

The cat felt that very warmth in his cheeks.

Ivy smiled, reveling in his embarrassment. She touched a curled finger to his chin. "Keep me company?"

Arte chuckled, wondering who the real boss was. "As you wish."

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Sonadow Scenario #58

He hated Valentine's Day.

Shadow found it to be a frivolous occasion. Why is only one day dedicated to partners when it should be every day? Why give in to corporate greed and capitalism? Why give the single Pringles like himself a bitter reminder that he's forever alone?

Absolutely despised it.

He was sick of all the stupid love songs. Sick of all the pink and red shit. He wanted to shoot every heart-shaped thing that crossed his path.

Worst of all, he was sick of all the couples shoving their love in his face.

In a way, he was kind of glad one of Eggman's robots sent him crashing through a row of carnival stalls.

The pain helped him forget the emptiness.

Groaning, he clumsily attempted to reload his pistol, blinded by the blood that spilled from the cut on his eyebrow.

But the robot stomped on his forearm, forcing him to cry out and drop his handgun. He tried to break free to no avail.

His quills flared. If he had to perform Chaos Blast to free himself, destroying half of Twinkle Park in the process, then so be it...

Suddenly an azure spinball rammed through the robot, crushing the metal as if it were paper. It toppled over with a creak, emitting one last spark of electricity as a dying breath.

Confident the bot was out of commission, Sonic immediately ran to the lifeform's aid. "Shadow! Are you okay?" He brought out a handkerchief.

But Shadow swatted the blue blur's hand away as he got to his feet. "I'm fine. Your concern is unnecessary."

Sonic huffed stubbornly, holding the agent's wrist to keep him still. "My concern is absolutely necessary. You're bleeding, for Chaos' sake!"

Shadow froze, taken aback that someone dared to contest him. His vision was impaired, but he could feel Sonic's firm yet gentle touch blotting away the mess on his face.

No one's... ever touched him like that before.

"There," Sonic said upon finishing his handiwork. "Now you look less like a serial killer."

Shadow grimaced, but he muttered his gratitude anyway.

"You sure you're okay, though?" Sonic asked once more. "You seemed kinda distracted."

Even as the hero said it, Shadow spotted a couple kissing, grateful for each other's safety.

His heart stung.

Sonic followed his gaze, and he seemed to understand. "Y'know, Shads, Valentine's Day isn't just about romantic relationships." He saw the agent's ear perk up, so he elaborated, "It can also be about relationships that are familial, platonic, and... whatever we have." He chuckled.

But Shadow wasn't amused. He held up his wrist, which the hero still clutched. He leaned close, his tone a threat. "And what exactly do we have, hedgehog?"

Sonic flushed, immediately releasing him. "I... Uh—"

Suddenly a park employee approached them, waving for their attention. Once he caught his breath, he expressed, "Thank you for taking out those robots."

Then he saw how close the hedgehogs were standing. Realization hit him. "Oh. Did you know couples get free admission today?"

They burned red, backing away from each other as they uttered:

"I beg your pardon—"

"Oh, w-we're not—"

It was too late, for the employee stuck some tickets in their palms, giving a farewell wave before helping some other patrons who looked lost.

The hedgehogs glanced at the tickets, then at each other before averting their gazes.

Sonic was the first to speak up, rubbing his neck as he eyed one of the carnival games. "I've kinda... always wanted one of those prizes on the top shelf."

Shadow smirked, gesturing for the hero to follow him. "I'll show you how a pro gets it done."

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Sonadow Scenario #57

{ Happy Valentine's Day }

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP—!

The blaring smoke detector stung Sonic's ears. Clad in a frilly pink apron, he frantically opened all the windows and turned on all the vents before using a kitchen towel to speedily fan the billows of smoke from the oven.

Out of the corner of his eye, he perceived a familiar flash of light, indicating that someone just arrived with Chaos Control. "Oh, sh—!"

"Sonic!" Shadow cried. Seeing as there was no fire, he ran into the other room to flip the circuit breaker, silencing the alarms, before returning to aid the hero. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, it's just a little smoke," Sonic reassured him as he batted the air a few more times. "I think I burnt something."

He put on some mitts prior to opening the oven. He coughed as one last puff of smoke filled his senses before he took out the tray. The heart-shaped chocolate chip cookies were so charred that they appeared as lumps of coal instead.

Sonic's ears fell flat. "Ah, sorry, babe. I guess I really am no good at baking."

With a smirk, Shadow looked at his partner. "Is this what you meant when you said you had a surprise for Valentine's Day?"

Sonic tinted. "Obviously not like this!"

Shadow peeled one of the overdone cookies off the tray, inspecting it with a curious crimson gaze.

Sonic's eyes widened. "Shadow, wait—!"

The lifeform then bit into it. The crunch of it was deafening to Sonic, who winced from embarrassment.

But Shadow continued to munch noisily as if chewing on pebbles, giving a satisfied hum upon swallowing. "They're quite good, actually."

"You're... You're lying..." Sonic watched in disbelief as the lifeform consumed the rest of it, licking crumbs off his fingers.

"Have I ever lied to you?" Shadow asked as he offered a scorched nugget to the hero.

Sonic took it, giving it a sniff. He recoiled as the smell of smoke was still quite strong. Regardless he took a deep breath, mustering up his courage, before taking a bite.

His features scrunched as he chewed. He was surprised his teeth remained intact, for he might as well have been eating an ashy brick. With a teeny tiny hint of chocolate.

He swallowed, the dry morsel scratching his throat. "You like this? Weirdo." Then again, he thought, we're talking about the guy who eats the coffee beans straight...

Shadow thought nothing of it, taking one more cinder block—ah, cookie. "Do you think you could make them like this from now on?" he asked, slipping his other hand around the hero's waist to coax a yes out of him.

Sonic chuckled, feeling extra warm where the agent touched him. "Sure, but I'll try not to burn down the house next time."

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Life updates!!

My internship is going very well! I basically get to be creative all day and my boss loves my work ☺️

Also I've started driving 🤯 Now I commute an hour to work (and back!) which includes going through the city nbd 😅

Even though I'm busy I feel so lucky and blessed 🥰

I would love to write more later but I wake up pretty early so I should probably go to bed. Good night! 🌙

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I just love parallels like this 🥰

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Google Photos made this collage for me RIGHT after I watched the Sonadow trailer

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Ivy doodle 🕸️

Maskless version under the cut 👀

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One of the last things my professor told me before I graduated is that in our field, we spend a lot of time making decisions, deciding what looks right. If we have doubts even after something's "done," we have to trust that because of the time spent on it, we've made the right decisions

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fanart for @teamxdark!! based on the descriptions from this story, i loved the outfit designs and white-silver and black-golden colours for them so much <3

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Sonadow Scenario #41

"I can't believe you've never watched the ball drop!" Sonic exclaimed as he led Shadow to the roof of a building that overlooked Times Square. "But I suppose you don't get out much."

Shadow hmph'd. "Why would I want to watch spherical objects fall? Sounds irresponsible."

Sonic laughed. "That's just how people welcome in the new year. Look!" When they reached the rooftop, he pointed toward a brilliant sphere in the distance. Covered in crystals of vibrant colors, it rested on a pole atop a skyscraper covered in dazzling lights and jumbo screens, which displayed alternating scenes of the excited crowd.

Sonic beamed brighter than a star. "Isn't the view amazing? I can see my house from here!"

Curious, the agent took a step closer to the edge, which made Sonic's ears perk on high alert. "Shadow, wait—!"

It was too late, for when Shadow looked down, he immediately felt dizzy, losing his balance. Sonic caught his hand just in time, pulling him two steps back.

"Careful there," Sonic advised as the lifeform massaged his forehead, waiting for the world to stop spinning. "That's called vertigo."

Shadow groaned. "I call it a nuisance."

Sonic chuckled. "Here. You can hang on to me while you wait it out." He held out his elbow, which Shadow took to steady himself.

It was any second now. The lights in Times Square dimmed as the illuminated ball began to descend its pole. The giant screens displayed a countdown as the crowd chanted in unison:

"10... 9... 8..."

While everyone's attention was on the show, Sonic couldn't help but gaze at Shadow's fixated expression, cool and steely, as reflections of light made his eyes sparkle.

"7..."

It was then Sonic realized he wanted every moment to be like this.

"6..."

"Shadow?"

"5..."

Ruby irises met emeralds. "Yes?"

"4..."

Sonic burned red. "There's something I wanna"—

"3..."

—"tell you before I forget."

"2..."

Concerned, Shadow asked, "What is it?"

"1..."

Sonic swallowed. "I... I love y—"

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" roared the crowd below as radiant fireworks burst like blooming flowers against the night sky, the ensuing booms deafening their ears.

Shadow leaned in closer to hear him better. "Apologies, can you repeat that?"

The agent was so close that his lavender scent made this all too real, made Sonic chicken out. "I love... that you came to see this with me."

Shadow blinked. "Well, of course. Since you asked so nicely. Over and over." He then added with a smirk, "And over again."

Seeing the lifeform's teasing side made Sonic smile. "What can I say? I'm a persistent guy."

Shadow let out an amused huff before looking toward the jumbo displays, which showed live feed of a camera panning over the audience. He tinted slightly as he witnessed several couples lock lips. "Why are so many people... doing that?"

Sonic scratched his head nervously. "Ah, that's just a tradition of sorts..."

His flusteredness must've rubbed off on Shadow, who averted his gaze. "I see..."

To say a silence befell them was not entirely true, for the air was filled with cheers, confetti, and explosions that rivaled the pounding in their chests. Suddenly they spoke simultaneously:

"Do you—?"

"Should we—?"

They halted, awkwardly shifting in place with Shadow turning away to comb his quills and Sonic trying to look for something interesting on his shoes.

Only then did they realize that their fingers were intertwined; they didn't even recall when it happened. They looked at each other, surprised yet not at the same time. With a silent understanding, they leaned in with slightly parted lips, their eyes fluttering closed.

Fireworks were no match for the sparks of that kiss.

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2023.

This year I got back into writing about my OCs. OC content has always been my first love so I'm pretty happy with the fact that I got to develop Arte and Ivy a bit more.

Special thanks to the lovelies who asked curious questions, wrote thoughtful comments, and drew amazing fanart!! 💜

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sonic heroes stage clear animation was so adorbale. got possessed by The Bug and had to animate it