Forever and Always
Ruby eyes overlooked the bright cerulean sky that towered over Station Square. Relief washed over the black hedgehog as he watched the city. It feels like looking at a beautiful masterpiece….
The only reason why Shadow was so relieved to see the city itself, is because of what's --inside it. He literally broke his back trying to get back here. He spent weeks traveling from town to town asking people for directions. He spent months trying to rehabilitate himself after the fall from the Ark.
Ark…..
He remembered that epic battle alright, it took Sonic and him hours just to defeat the Biolizard. Shadow took more damage than Sonic though because it was more personal for him. He thought his promise to Maria was to destroy the world. That's only reason he teamed up with the idiotic doctor.
Then when the Ark was making its way down Earth and how Sonic fought his way using a fake emerald to do chaos control from the capsule that was supposed to disintegrate him. He tried so hard protecting those people below. Why?
Did they really deserve to get saved?
That's when those soft, emerald eyes made him think differently. Amy Rose was the only reason why Shadow joined Sonic to defeat the Biolizard, she's the only reason why the Earth is still standing.
After Maria died, nobody at all was able to break Shadow's brick wall, but she did and her blow was powerful. She didn't fight with fists, but with words and that charming smile.
He needed to see that smile again.
Then his crimson eyes traveled down to the transparent gem in his hands. He founded a chaos emerald --thank god!
He found the silver emerald outside of a town called Madrid. Thanks to the emerald he was able to stop searching for Station Square, because now he could chaos control there, and now he was going to use the powerful emerald to find Amy.
There wasn't many hedgehog's in Station Square, but it still was an enormous city.
Shadow held up the emerald and was engulfed in a bright silver hue. He disappeared in a flash and reappeared on a bumpy object. He landed pretty hard.
Shadow slowly stood up rubbing his rear.
When the hedgehog felt whatever he was standing on move beneath him, he jumped away from it and got into a fighting position.
The being boomed in dissatisfaction. "Dude, are you tryin' to flatten me to a pancake!"
Shadow's mouth then slightly opened. He remembers that voice.
It was no other than Sonic the hedgehog. The hero stood up and brushed himself off. Then he looked intensely at Shadow getting ready to point a finger. Then the hero withdrew his finger and looked at Shadow with a different look, like two siblings being reunited.
His emerald orbs softened. "…..Shadow..?"
The black hedgehog sighed. He never did good in these situations he just wasn't a hedgehog that showed emotion. He kind of liked it better when Sonic was yelling at him. All he could do was scratch the back of his head. "Yeah…it's me."
Shadow was being shook by the arms by his blue counterpart.
"Shadow…I can't believe it's you! Man…I thought you were dead! I was gonna look for you but…"
An embarrassed look was replaced with a serious one. "But…what?"
Sonic played it off with a smile. "That doesn't matter --my friend. What matters now is that you're alive and well!"
A hint of red touched Shadow's cheeks when Sonic said friend. Nobody has ever called them his friend before.
"Does anybody know your alive yet!" Sonic was obviously excited.
"No."
His jade eyes sparkled. "Then that means I'm the only one --sweet!" then he motioned for Shadow. "Come on Shadz! The rest of the gang's at my mansion!"
Shadow arched an eyebrow. "You own a mansion?"
"Yeah, dude, I basically save this city from destruction everyday. They had to pay me back --somehow!"
Shadow chuckled. Something's never change.
XxX
When Shadow and Sonic arrived at his mansion and Shadow blinked at the beautiful display. It took a lot to impress the black hedgehog, but he had to admit Sonic's place was pretty nice.
There right before him was a huge lawn that had numerous perfectly-square bushes sitting around the perimeter almost like soldiers protecting the house. The house was white but every unique design it had was painted gold. Shadow could see two balconies on either side of the house and the mansion had five floors.
Sonic sighed. "I know it's not much."
They walked to the front door and Sonic opened it. Then there in the living room was nothing but nostalgia, as Shadow recalled all the familiar faces that was before him.
Everybody turned to greet Sonic, but then it grew quiet as everybody eyes rested on Shadow. He suddenly grew nervous were they excited, scared, angry?
Suddenly Knuckles stood up and him and Sonic shook hands. "Whassup?" Sonic said.
Then the echidna turned to Shadow pounded him on the back, pretty hard. "Back from the dead eh?"
Shadow smirked. "It feels pretty damn good too."
Knuckles chuckled and soon everybody stood up greeting Shadow. It was Tails. Shadow blinked the fox grew in height. They shook hands and Tails said, "Nice to see you again Shadow!"
His voice changed also it sounded more mature and not scratchy like it sounded before.
Then it was Cream. The young rabbit grew also she even seemed to get more feminine for she left the orange dress and tie and had a nice blue summer dress on. Shadow wondered if Tails noticed.
There was something else that amazed Shadow also Cream wasn't scared of him. Usually when he walked into a room she would try to stay away from, but here she was face to face with him, not fazed at all. Instead of a handshake she gave him a smile.
"Hi Shadow, welcome back!"
Here was Tails and Cream growing up Shadow wish he was there with them in there early stages. "How long has it been?" Shadow asked aloud. Everything and everybody around him seemed to be changing and he didn't witness it at all.
Then a feminine voice answered his question. "Five, long years."
Shadow looked up to see who said that and he smirked once he seen his old companion and GUN partner. Rouge the Bat.
The ivory bat smiled at him her wings shrunk back in size and seemed to be a little disturbed. Shadow then realized she was showing affection. He really was missed by them.
"So, it really has been five years."
"Yes," Rouge replied. "I've missed you. Welcome back."
They embraced and Rouge's violet orbs started to well up. Shadow was possibly the only friend she ever had and now that he's back it filled her up with joy.
After Shadow was done saying hello to everybody he scowled realizing the one creature he wanted to see out of everybody wasn't there. Amy Rose. Where could she be? Did she move to another town? Did she abandon her friends?
Ridiculous and random thoughts started to enter Shadow's mind as he wondered where Amy is.
Then suddenly as if heaven answered his prayer, the front door opened, and Amy Rose was standing there with a proud smile on her face.
That smile……just made his day.
The pink female has changed since his departure. Her quills swept her shoulders and she finally left that red dress she had on a white button-up shirt that concealed two bumps on her chest.
She never had that before….Shadow thought devilishly.
Her light blue jeans clung to her wider hips and swooped over her white shoes. She might have had regular clothes on, but it was enough to interest Shadow. Her feminine curves were now finally showing and her voice sounded something to be envious about.
Amy wiped her forehead. "Hi everybody! Sorry I'm late those buses just run too slow."
Sonic pointed at himself. "That's why you should've called me to carry you. My transportation's faster, free, and you don't have to worry about gas."
She put her hands on her hips. "Now what would I look like being carried on your back? I'm not a little girl anymore, Sonic." She then giggled.
She certainly wasn't.
Amy started to talk to Cream and Shadow grew nervous. She didn't realize he was in the room yet. He started o back away into the next room not feeling ready to meet her and he bumped into a flowerpot.
"No, wait!" He screamed grabbing it before it touched the ground then placing it back on the table.
Everybody looked at him, including Amy. Her jade orbs dilated and soon enough she separated herself from the crowd. Everybody just stood back as she walked towards him almost like a scene from a play.
She stopped and then said. "….Shadow?…." Her voice started to break.
Shadow nodded. "Yes Amy….it's me."
She ran into his arms with tears trailing behind her. Shadow felt her embrace and was relieved, relieved to be in her arms again.
Amy held him and never let go for she feared if she did he might disappear and end up alone again.
"Shadow…", she pleaded. "Please don't go! Don't leave me! Please stay here with me!"
He felt her tears rest at his shoulder and he sighed. "I won't Amy."
"Promise me," she said quickly.
He remembered that promise he made to her back on the Ark to protect those who lived on Earth. Now he was making another promise to her to stay with here forever. He wanted to keep that promise for as long as he lived.
"I promise."
Everybody who was now watching them two embrace was at shock at first for Amy's sudden outburst. Then the beautiful scene warmed their hearts. Everyone smiled at the scene and Amy finally let go Shadow from her grip.
XxX
"So Shadow what have you been doing for the past five years?"
The question Sonic asked made everyone gaze at Shadow with eager eyes.
Shadow chuckled. "Well for the past three years I've been rehabilitating myself. As you can imagine the fall I took back to Earth caused me broken bones and scratched skin. After that for the past two years I've been searching for you guys, but with no luck." Shadow smirked. "Until."
He pulled out his silver chaos emerald and everyone gasped.
"A chaos emerald," Tails said. "You found one!"
Knuckles sighed. "Those emeralds are scattered all over the place, I've tried years finding them."
"So have I." Rouge said.
Shadow said, "Well that we have one we can use it to find the others."
"It would feel good to be Super Sonic again!" Sonic faced Shadow. "Remember Shadow? Biolizard? Good times."
The black hedgehog chuckled. "Yes I do remember, but it was one girl that helped me get there to defeat that abomination."
He gazed upon Amy and smiled. Amy blushed under his gaze.
Amy suddenly stood up and left the room.
"Where are you going?" Sonic asked.
"Bathroom." she replied.
It was a couple of minutes when Amy was gone. The rest of the gang was laughing enjoying each other's company. Shadow was completely silent, he couldn't talk until Amy came back. A couple of minutes turned to half an hour.
Shadow clenched his fist. Something was wrong.
He then stood up and asked Sonic. "Where are you lavatories?"
Sonic pointed where they were and he left looking for Amy.
XxX
This place is a maze!
Shadow followed to where Sonic was pointing only to find a hallway full of rooms he checked all of them and not a single one was a bathroom. The black hedgehog was about to lose hope until he heard someone sobbing.
He looked over to a door that was separate from the others when he walked over there the sobbing got louder and Shadow knocked on the door.
"..Y-yes?"
It was Amy and she sounded horrible.
"It's Shadow are you alright?"
Shadow took a step back when the door opened and Amy appeared with watery eyes. He hated seeing her like this.
He wiped her tears and her innocent jade orbs looked back at him. Both of his hands were cupped to her face and she was just staring at him. This could be his chance.
"When I made my promise to you to stay here I forgot to do something."
"What?"
He smirked. "Something to seal the deal." his sudden seductive voice made her blanch.
Shadow was closer to her face and his breath brushed against her. His hands pushed against her cheeks causing her lips to purse up.
Closer…..
Amy grew hot. This is it. She was finally going to kiss he guy she thought was long gone for five years. They both closed their eyes.
Closer….
Shadow was closing the distance between them and doing it at a slow pace and it was killing Amy. Then their lips were finally touching.
Almost there…..
"Mommy?"
Both hedgehog's opened their eyes too see a young green hedgehog with pajamas full of clouds and rainbows rubbing his eyes.
Amy left from Shadows embrace and smiled down at him. "Hi Adrian how was your sleep?"
The little boy yawned. "It was fine. When are you makin'?"
The boy's young, auburn eyes flashed at Shadow. They boy just stood there staring at him intensely. Shadow grew uncomfortable.
"Adrian what do you say to visitors?"
"…Hi…" Adrian said sheepishly and took for cover behind Amy's legs.
Amy giggled. "I'm so sorry Shadow, this is Adrian he's my son."
Shadow felt his whole world crashing down.