-DISCLAIMER-
Sonic the Hedgehog and all related characters/themes © SEGA and/or Sonic Team.
'The New Age Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog' © Kathryn Christine Starcrafter/Lumorean Arts.
-WE'RE NOT THAT DIFFERENT AT ALL-
Part I: Too Many Valentines
Darkness. For many the night was a time for quiet solace, peace and serenity. Of course, for others the night brought fear. Fear in the form of monsters hiding in once vacant corners. The predators of young children. For some these monsters were no phantasm. They were the last of their kind to remain on the hunt. One could believe they were perhaps alone and afraid. No, he knew better. These things were on their last leg. Without their Master they had no one to direct and restrain their malice. As such, they sought the one individual who could. Unfortunately, the individual they had deemed as their savior wanted nothing to do with his people.
The anthro ducked in and out of his namesake, zigzaging through trees devoid of foliage. One would think that the light of the moon and stars would aid in this fight. But these things that ran him were nothing more than the pure essence of shadow. They could blend into the tiniest speck of blackness and appear to vanish. Still, their prodigy could sense them, could feel their loveless claws carve down his legs and arms. The frigid spring wind numbed to the bone, labored breath streaming from nostrils and mouth like an enraged dragon. The jets soldiered into his mech-shoes gave off the only heat, marking his trek with duel rows of residual steam.
Shadow jutted into a silver clearing where visibility was better. Here, if those things were desperate, their prey would be able to physically see them instead of having to relay on nerves. He spun to a stop, skidding to face the path he had just trespassed. They hissed and screeched in protest just beyond the wooden boundary, their lightless forms flitting in and out of sight.
One shifted across the grass like a snake, shooting into the air on the left. Taunt and ready, the Ultimate Life Form generated a spear of caustic chaos and used it as an elemental weapon against his foes. Using it as a staff, it's pure essence easily cut down any insubstantial foe. But these things never made it easy. The darkness inbred in them assured a trying kill.
Shadow tore the weapon across the abdomen of the creature and it dissipated with the wind. In its place manifested twins who, with little a touch, tore through fur and flesh. Streaks of copper streamed down both legs in moon-silver scars. Shadow responded by slicing haphazardly, the pain botching any possible aim. Sight blurred by the cold and made dizzy with fatigue certainly hindered more than helped. Sensing an opening, all others of the hidden troop followed their brethren. Their intentions were to weaken their Chosen One, force him into a state of openness. Only in this form would they succeed.
But no, the being born of blood and chaos and machine would never be a slave again. It had taken far too long to arrive at the status he was current. He was far too close to granting his own eternal wish. Far too close to risk giving it all away. As such, his tactics became more desperate. The Shadows blotted the very light of the stars and moon, meshing into one eternal sphere of malice. The thing formed countless writhing tentacles in order to constrict and engulf prey.
The hedgehog dodged and parried, severing large sections of the mass. Still, every slight contact cut like a razor, allowing the purity of the early night's dew to mingle with that of freshly splattered blood. Inevitably, ebony became crimson and fatigue began to set further. An opening, so minuscule that only a multi-eyed enigma could pinpoint. A serpentine spear slithered through muscle and bone and pierced heart and lung. Its slimy grasp, though not of any physical substance, could still be felt wiggling and twisting in euphoric victory.
Shadow collapsed on numb knees, his weapon dissipating. Weightlessness, the single-minded behemoth rose its prey into the frigid air. More tentacles emerged to constrict and bind, ensuring victory. Still, the diminutive figure would not give in, never to these things. There was a last resort, but if just one of the shades remained...
Tears cut blistering streams across his muzzle. The anthrope, heart giving way, let out an eardrum shattering scream. The Shadows shuddered, sensing the overflow of elemental fury. Something wasn't right. A thing so small couldn't contain that much energy. Oh how it burned and stung! It seeped into every invisible pore and tore apart the very molecules that held the alien coagulant together.
Shadow, half alive, tapped into this forbidden force of his unwanted heritage. With nothing left to lose he loosed the last strands of chaos embedded in his flesh, every last particle, till his own being felt torn to shreds. Muscles blistered and lungs collapsed. It ended in silence and light.
The night was calm but for the rustling of the wind through the trees. It was February, a special month on a special day. It was hard to believe that this was their second Valentines together. Had it really been over two years? Well, at least this time around there was way less awkwardness.
Sonic perched silently on the veranda's rail, hoping to surprise his love. He opened the door of her balcony with a tentative click, the movement tasseling her silk curtains as gently as a passing breeze, peering into her bedroom. Everything remained draped in a dusting of moonlight, but no life. Tiptoeing inside the heated expanse, the hedgehog insured at least he was alone before attempting to locate her.
"Elise? You in here?"
Her giggle came first. "I have a surprise for you. Lay in bed and close your eyes."
Sonic smirked and retreated only to make sure his escape was locked. Guessing where this was going he removed his clothing in the process and laid the bundle on the other side of her nightstand. There he noticed splashes of color and exotic scents that spiced the space around her bed. They were the gifts he had showered her with randomly throughout the day. Her favorite, flowers. The hedgehog vaulted onto the mattress and rolled onto his quills as giddy as a teenager.
"Alright, I'm ready."
The young adult emerged from her walk-in closet across the room. He could hear the rolling of a wood plank on a track and then her bare feet slap across the tile as she made her way to him. As impatient as he was known, the blue blur lifted an eye lid ever so slightly but she caught him.
"No peeking!" Elise sung.
He snapped it shut, unsatisfied with just a glimpse of her ivory bath robe. Damn, she knew him too well! Her weight dipped a corner of the bed as she, all too slowly, made her way up to him. Her hips rested below his and his fur perked, resisting the urge to grab her and pull that sensual body onto him. The slip of fabric against skin told him she was taking off that cover of hers, meaning he could try and sneak another peak. Of course, she had to pull something new.
The weight of her chest pressed into him and her succulent lips cut any thought short. They moaned together, enjoy the intimacy made forbidden practically by law. His bare paws ran down her side, the silky heat of her skin giving him chills. Eventually, his claws slipped under a strap of lace and his heart skipped upon knowing his assumptions had been correct.
"Can I look yet?" Sonic asked once they parted for air.
Her weight lifted from him and his excitement returned, but she denied him still. "Just a little longer. There's something else."
Elise shifted a little, most likely over to the bedside table. There was some clunking and scuffling as if she was fiddling with a drawer, then the rustling of paper. A musky-sweet scent mingling with the flora made him drool. This was getting exciting. She came down on him again and her lips tasted of cocoa. His parted by her tongue and she slipped a truffle into his mouth. They played with it together and the heat between them eventually melted the succulent shell and released a bitter-sweet puree of raspberries and liqueur.
Sonic moaned in surprise, not really expecting that. She giggled a little as her weight lifted up again. Emerald irises finally graced a dazzling face half splashed in starlight. She still held some residual powder on her lips and her ember locks curved that playful face of hers perfectly. Taring sight away from those deep-sea irises, she finally allowed him to look.
Elise had apparently got herself a hold of something she was hoping he would like. She had never been given a reason to own anything 'sexy' as she never had anyone she was particularly into, a guy she was intimate with. Truthfully, she didn't know if he was into this sort of thing anyway -if it would turn him on. Soft draperies of silk flowed from beneath her breast attached to a nearly see-through bra, somehow the same hue as his fur. Across the waist hugged similarly schemed panties, his tense nails gripping just beneath the straps.
Sonic purred in response, his prize worth the wait. Out of the corner of his eye he also glanced an open box of chocolates, one already missing. Moaning softly again, he lifted himself the short distance to nuzzle into the crook of her ivory neck, nipping her salty flesh tenderly across her collarbone and shoulder. Removing one paw from her hip, he stretching it into the box of chocolates and retrieving one. He released his prey, instead taking the decadent candy in his teeth and presenting it to her this time around. Elise laughed playfully, falling into her lover and back on the bed.
Lost it in the passionate moment, everything around them was unknown. Everything including a harsh knocking on her bedroom door. Another session of increased ferocity finally separated the two, sight now turned to the far end of the room. Elise began to rise and re-robe.
Sonic growled in annoyance. "Don't answer it..."
"But, it could be Winter." She made her way to the entrance, thinking it to be their adopted 'daughter.'
"The little dragon'll survive. Since when does she knock, anyway? Usually, she's attempting to burrow her way in. Elise..."
But she unlocked the door despite his persistence. It pulled in merely an inch before being shot wide by the figure on the other side. Sonic leapt with a start and bolted for the hidden corner of her wall, beyond the door's hall. Elise yelped and took a step back as a gallant man bent inward, presenting a bouquet of colorful, spicy smelling roses.
"Well hello, my Princess."
Her face screwed up with a mix of disgust and surprise. "Ah, Conner, what are you doing?"
"Why, coming to see my lovely Valentine of course."
"Since when am I your Valentine? I thought you had enough of me and wanted back home to Adabat?"
"Oh nonsense! Why would you think that?"
"Because that's exactly what you said!"
She swore this man was bipolar. He was another of her father's suitors. The Emperor knew damn well that she loved Sonic but the man had such a hatred for him. As such, he still invited all kinds of men to the manor in the hopes that she would be attracted to one of them. Thankfully, some of them were nice and understanding, which did make her feel bad. Then there were the persistent ones that couldn't take a hint and wouldn't go away. Conner was exactly that. And now he had the nerve to go up into her room!
"Please leave."
"That's it? I come all the way here and you give me the cold shoulder?"
"Now."
He took a step closer and she became more alert, thankful that if he did try something Sonic was still present and aware.
Conner glimpsed a swatch of lace laying delicately across her shoulder. "Seems to me my Princess was expecting something tonight." He smirked, wiggling his perfectly trim eyebrows.
Elise's eyes widened in shock and went for the door, eager to get him out. "Leave!"
But his weight was solid and prevented any actual movement. He shot towards her and she yipped in surprise. Of course, Sonic immediately sensed the situation and bolted out from his cover. However, what he saw was a surprise in itself. He had expected to see the guy having a hold of her, but instead he was holding his own leaking nose. Elise clutched her hand, both having a look of utter bewilderment. Eventually, her assailant came out of his trance, releasing his member and then clutching it again when rivers of carmine ran fiercer. His expression became even more shrewd when his sight finally fixed on Sonic.
"What in the Abyss is that?"
"I told you to leave," Elise stuttered, breathlessly.
"So that's it, then?" He laughed sharply, wincing after doing so. "You're screwing a furry!"
Classy... Sonic's facade shifted sharply to that of ferocity. He was quite defensive over, not only himself, but his mate as well. He utterly despised people like this. There was no reason to be so inconsiderate and nasty. He was just pissed that Elise clocked him a good one. Sonic didn't grace him with any kind of response.
Conner shifted to stand upright, teetering off balance for a moment, attempting to regain any lost strands if dignity. He didn't even say anything else as he staggered out and down the hall. Once he was out of sight, Elise bend down and retrieved the roses he had tossed aside when he had lunged at her.
"Guess I shouldn't have answered the door, huh?" She attempted to uplift the mood.
Sonic chuckled lightly, holding her elbow as she rose to a stand. "Well, at least those won't go to waste."
Elise grinned softly at the comment, breathing in their silky fragrance. He closed and locked her door while she placed the bundle on her mantle on the other side of the room. Afterwords, the two retreated to bed, eager to get back to where they had left off.
Shadow... Shadow! Please, wake up! Please...
A voice? Why was it so distant calling out to him? Why? What had he done now? The Ultimate Life Form shifted slightly and a sharp pain ran up his hip and spine. Obviously, he stopped and lay perfectly still, letting the annoyance pass. It must have just been a hallucination. He felt so drained. At least the Shadows were gone, or just that he couldn't sense them anywhere near. Shadow Robotnik remained where he had fallen, the dew -or was it blood- wetting his underside. He shivered a little and even that hurt.
Please, please wake up. Please don't die.
Now he most definitely heard that. Bronze irises bolted open, surveying nothing. He must not have been out all that long. As far as he could tell it was still night, only difference was this nasty fog. It was freezing and glowing? Well that certainly was new. He watched it shift for a little bit but not really going anywhere. For some reason a thought came to him and he gently reached up to touch it. How strange, it actually felt semi-solid instead of moist. Stroking it further, he could almost feel definition. He must have been more disoriented than he had first realized.
Shadow!
Fully alert again from the ethereal voice, blurry vision darted in and out of focus. Apparently, that frigid cloud actually was something. It was his sight that was the problem. Lines began to solidify somewhat, something reached up and he could have sworn it wrapped around his paw. Ever so slowly, but with determination, the anthro attempted to rise to a seated position. He kept on blinking, hoping eventually he could see whatever it was. At least it wasn't malicious in any way. In fact, it felt comforting, loving. Wait, it felt familiar. No, it couldn't be...
"Maria?" he croaked.
Shadow...
As if that was all it took, it formed faster till a humanoid image could clearly be discerned. She was so pale and cold but still striking colors shown through. His fingers swam through fluttering strands of golden thread, her own wispy members wrapping his. A pair of cerulean orbs, like flawless ice, watched him intently with fear and sadness. His remaining paw reached up to grip her mournful face.
"It can't be... I've finally... I've finally found you, my Light." He whispered sweetly, heart giddy with euphoria, pain nearly forgotten.
She floated down, laying across his body like a frozen blanket, feather-light. His paws guided her down onto his lips, hers all but lifeless. He pressed her in as close as possible, moaning as they practically melded into one another. Love, he could feel it again, something that had been vacant from his life for far too long.
When they parted she whispered, You can finally hear me, see me!
For a second her figure pulsed with heat and the pain inside of him began to subside. He could hardly feel her, though. He wished beyond anything that she was solid. Maybe, it was best that she wasn't. Any attempt to ravish her would cause more pain than pleasure at the moment. Still, he couldn't help the endless grin that practically cramped his chin. Had he really lost that much energy?
Maria could sense his stress, though he tried to hide it. Go back to sleep. I promise I'll be here. I know how to do things, I can try and heal you.
"No, wait. I have to say this. I can't let you go just yet." He was practically on the brink of breaking down into tears. "I am so sorry. I never meant for any of it to happen. You... I wasn't worth your sacrifice. You deserved so much more. I love you so much. All I've ever wanted was for you to be happy, wherever you are. That's all I wanted to say. I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry. I'll release you from the crystal so you can-
No! Her voice was a lot more shrill than she would have liked. No... Nonononono. I don't want to go back to that. I want to stay with you. He pulled her close, sensing her distress. I don't want to fade away.
He didn't question. If she wanted to stay with him he was more than happy to oblige. Instead he just pressed her misty form on top of him and held her the same way he would have over sixty years ago, as if nothing had changed. For some reason she began to warm, her energy extending to every digit with an ecstatic tingle. He fell back into darkness soon after.
Silently like a staking predator, he watched his prey with a satisfying grin. His theory had been proven correct. For nearly three years that brazen black and red vermin had toted around this odd gemstone that had no known origin. His first suspicion was that it was a Soul Stone, and that had been just proved true. However, he had not anticipated just how significant the thing was to its wielder. Somehow, Shadow was able to attract a single soul out of the billions upon billions that made up Möbius' ley-lines. A soul that had been dead for six decades, mind you. Not an easy feat to accomplish by any means.
And, of course, out of all the souls he was able to attract it had to be Maria. Ivo gave a sharp laugh. Maybe he should feel something? She was his relative after all. Well, honestly he didn't feel any positive bonds with anyone anymore -unless they presented him gain. Even though she shared the name and bloodline she meant little else.
Instead, her existence promised something else entirely. Of the Chaos Emeralds there was only seven. The Master Emerald was a powerful resonator connected directly with them. But she... She was a Chaos Emerald with no restraint. She had no limiting bonds, no siphon holding her back. Her energy was currently limitless and forever growing. A true source of perpetual energy. He had to have her, and she was ripe for the taking.
His dreams were filled heat and light, His mind a slur of darkness streaked with saturated colors of aqua and cream. Content did little to describe the sensation. It was beyond contentedness, a bliss so pure he could have fallen into a torpor for years without realizing it. Suddenly, like the shattering of a pane of glass, a scream shocked him back down into consciousness.
Shadow!
The hedgehog shot up and immediately regretted it. Residual shards bolted down his hips and arms, realizing all too bitterly that something wasn't right. He felt utterly alone, which was a feeling he had to admit he hadn't felt since he was first released from stasis. As such, his very first instinct was to reach for the Adhyatman containing Maria's soul. He always kept it wrapped around his left wrist, the jewel itself hidden in his Ring. It wasn't there... And, neither were they, for that matter.
He nearly had a heat attack, his chest giving in to fear. He had only just reached her! How? Who? Where? He shot up as fast as his crippled body allowed. Reaching out with what remained of his aura to try and locate her like he used to do. Whenever she was in distress he could sense her. He hoped this situation was no different. He forced himself to relax and concentrate, sifting the surrounding foliage for his Power Suppressors. After only a brief span, in the distance something triggered a strong burst of her emotional trauma. Which, sadly, was exactly what he needed.
-AUTHOR'S NOTES-
This is a Shadria and Sonelise fic. You have been warning! Though in all honesty for those who know me this isn't much of a surprise.
This is an NAA fic.
This is rated M for reasons...
The servants of Black Doom in NAA are refereed to as Shadows. They are not so much the alien creatures from the game as energy beings made from said substance. I know a lot of people from the fandom like to think Maria was the one who gave Shadow his name. In NAA, it actually was Gerald. Black Doom had given him an ominous statement when leaving for the first time after giving his blood and one of Dolby's souls that he stole. From that message Shadow got his name.
The Adhyatman was given to Shadow when he met Dolby, his soul parent. Dolby made it from the ring Shadow gave Maria and the only remnant he found of her on the ARK when he was awoken fifty year after she was killed.
Winter premiered in the fic 'Grandmother Winter'. Sonic befriends an elder dragon who perishes in the end. He does retrieve her Dracontias, which hatches into Winter. Winter then stays with Elise and is eventually treated as their first child and Violet's older sister.
