46Hey everyone. This story came to me after a conversation I had with a friend and I'd like to thank him for the sudden inspiration.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sonic The Hedgehog or any of the characters, they are owned by Sega and Sonic Team.
Sonic walked down the streets of Station Square, dragging his bag along the sidewalk.
He rubbed his eyes, bloodshot from lack of sleep and stress.
He made his way into his apartment, only to be met by the landlord, Jet.
"You're two months late on rent." Jet pointed out.
"I know, I know, I just got back from an interview and-." Sonic started, only to be interrupted by Jet.
"I don't wanna hear it kid, either you come up with rent by the end of the week or your sorry butt is on the street!" Jet exclaimed, slamming the door behind him.
Sonic sighed, slumping onto his couch, holding his head in his hands.
He looked up, grabbing the mail on his nightstand, opening each letter with both a sense of anticipation and negative inevitability.
Opening the first letter, he read it aloud.
"Dear Mr. Hedgehog, while we appreciate your submission, we are sorry to inform you that we must decline your works at this time." Sonic read, crumpling up the letter without even having to read the rest.
Opening the second letter, he read once more.
"Mr. Hedgehog, we are sorry to inform you that your submission has not met the standards of our publishing firm." He read, once again crumpling the letter without having to finish.
Opening the final letter, he read once more.
"Mr. Hedgehog, we are sorry to-." He started to read, only knowing all to well the outcome.
He tore the letter up, throwing the pieces to the floor.
Inside, Sonic began to grow even more frustrated.
Almost a year of writing and in that same time, countless rejections.
Sonic opened his bag, took out the manuscript and threw it against the wall.
The pages scattered all across the floor, Sonic stumbling his way down the hall to the bathroom.
Sonic splashed his face with water repeatedly, trying to wash off the discomfort.
Finally, he looked himself in the mirror.
He looked into the eyes of his reflection, taking in the sight of the disheveled hedgehog he had become.
He reminisced, thinking back to when he first started.
His dreams of being a published author still bright.
But over time, rejection letter after rejection letter.
His confidence had waned.
True he hadn't been the most composed before, but now he had become a wreck and his name was synonymous with failure among the companies.
There was no way he would get published with them knowing who he was.
Sonic debated in his mind as he stared at his reflection on what to do.
What could he do?
His name had become literature poison.
That was when he had the idea.
What could be known as one of the most ingenious ideas ever, or, one of the most idiotic.
He rushed out of the bathroom, grabbing the manuscript and placing it back in order.
With a grin on his face, he headed out of his apartment, running down to the little convenience store on the corner.
With what little pocket change he had left, he paid for two boxes of dye and a comb.
When he returned to his apartment, he picked up the phone, dialing a publishing firm he had yet to apply for.
"Hello?" The receptionist said.
Sonic turned his head away, clearing his throats to speak in a deeper register, to disguise his voice.
"Yes, I'd like to make an appointment for my work to receive publishing." He told her.
"Very well, we do have an opening for the day after tomorrow, does that suit you?" She asked.
"Yes, that will be just fine." He said, with a smirk.
"Now, what name shall I place the interview under?" She asked him.
Sonic hesitated for a moment, trying to think of the perfect alias.
Remembering his first work, he took the first name from the protagonist of his first unpublished story.
"Shadow, Shadow The Hedgehog."
