Legal stuff: I own Keira, Tirza and Daemon. Daemon's MY evil little Shadow clone. Sega owns

everyone else. Please note that this legal stuff applies to this and all following chapters.

Shade

Time Waits for No One

Everyone heard it. The giant explosion marked the end of Dr. Robotnik's main roboticizing lab.

All were cheering except a few. Amy Rose sat on a couch in Tails' house, anxiously watching him pace,

trying to comfort his wife Keira, and worrying about Shadow at the same time. All three of them

jumped when the front door opened. They looked, grief striken at little Tirza, once a happy little girl,

now partway metal, unconcious in Shadow's arms. Keira began to cry as she cleared a space on the

couch for Shadow to put Tirza. Shadow, if possible, looked even more sombre than usual. Amy

remained silent through all of this. As Shadow gently laid Tirza down Tails lost it. " What happened

Shadow! Why didn't you get to her in time!" "I'm sorry." Shadow said very softly. " There were two

thousand guard robots waiting for me." " You still should've gotten there on time. My daughter is

partway metal! Why did you even bother to help!" "Tails! Stop it now! He brought her back alive

didn't he?" Keira yelled with tears streaming down her face. Amy noticed that shadow's left arm was

completely metal. " Shadow, your arm. Are you alright?" "I'm fine." "Well if you're fine why don't you

just leave!" "Tails!" " I'm sorry I helped when I did Tails. No one ever helped me." With that

Shadow was gone in a flash of light known as Chaos Control. Keira and Amy had a long 'talk' with

Tails. As Amy walked home she heard a stick snap behind her. Instantly she pulled out her hammer and

turned around. "Woah! Take it easy with that thing Amy!" "Knuckles? whew." Amy sighed and fell into

Knuckle's arms crying. "What's wrong Amy? You should be happy. Someone finnaly hit Robotnik's lab,

took two thousand gaurd robots with it!" " I-I know. It was S-Shadow." Amy choked out through her

sobs. "It's about time Shadow let Robotnik have it!" " He went in after Tirza." " Tails' kid?" " Yes.

He .. He's hurt knuckles. There was blood on his pants and his left arm was roboticized. Tirza was

partly roboticized too. W-When Shadow brought her home Tails freaked out on him." Amy continued

to cry, her tears falling onto Knuckles' soft red fur. " It's okay Amy. Shadow will be allright. He

always is. You know that." " If Sonic was here to help us Shadow would be more friendly." "What

brought that up?" "It's only one week 'til ... He'll have been gone ten years.." " Oh. Come on I'll walk

you home." "Thanks Knuckles." . . . When Amy and Knuckles got to her house she turned her radio on.

Through the static they heard one of the messengers, (whose job was to keep Knothole residents

informed of everything), report that another three thousand robots had been reduced to piles of

smoldering metal. That made a total of five thousand robots, in one day. "That was Shadow..." " No

dout about that one. Hey Amy where do you keep your towels?" " Over in that closet. Why?" "I'd like

to dry myself off." Knuckles said, pointing to his tear soaked chest where his fur was now sticking out

in all directions. Amy couldn't help but smile. " That's better. Keep smiling okay Amy? " " Why are you

off Angel Island?" " Didn't hear it announced huh? Knothole is throwing a huge party over the

destruction of that cursed lab." " So you only came down to party?" "That's right. I need a break

from ... " " From what?" " Sshh." Knuckles slowly walked backwards toward the door then he spun

around and grabbed air that materialized into Espio the chameleon, who was promptly put into a head

lock by Knuckles. " OW ow ow. Knuckles let go!" " The Chaotix. That's what I need a break from.

Ninja boy here has been driving me crazy!" " Knuckles let Espio go. He'll stay away from you at the

party... won't you Espio?" " Yes I swear. OW!" " Don't swear in front of Amy! Geeze she's a lady!"

Amy giggled and led the two guys out to the once empty lot where she knew the party would be. They

passed a new hut void of any outside decorations. Knuckles asked who the hut was built for. Amy

looked sad as she answered. " We built it for Shadow but ... He's not around much. He gave everyone

permission to go in as long as the door's unlocked...It's always unlocked." " What's in there?" " Not

much... just a bed and dust. You can go in if you want...it's pretty depressing in there..." Knuckles went

in and came back out very quickly. " It is depressing in there... sorry Amy. We'll see him again soon.

He's just blowing off some steam. Thank heavens he's using robots instead of ... anything else." A

bright green flash briefly illuminated the windows of Shadow's hut. Espio couldn't help but jump. " A

little jumpy aren't we Espio?" Knuckles sneered. " What was that!" Espio demanded. Amy was

already on her way into the hut. " That," she said, " Was Chaos Control. Shadow's home."