By the way, let's just pretend that Shadow's voice is still the Jason Griffith Version

"I don't need time off." the black and red hedgehog muttered, looking from the window of the GUN ship. It was hovering over the heart of Empire City, the dead of night only giving way to the bright and lively metropolis below them. The city light illuminated his deep red eyes as he closed them, hardly listening to Rouge's voice as she dully attempted to persuade him from his set of mind.

"Shadow," She mulled, her hands on her hips as she tilted her head somewhat sassily. "You know orders are orders."

Shadow thought for a moment, rubbing his temples with his smoothly gloved fingers. He let out a sigh to show his agitation, though Rouge paid it no mind. He supposed he had no choice, and even if he kept acting like he did, Rouge would turn him away with some amount of success just as she would every time- that's why they always sent her to tell him pretty much anything that happened to find its way into somewhat of a bad light.

"How long?" he grumbled, his eyes still shut with agitation. "What?" Rouge asked simply.

"How long am I taking off?" Shadow clarified as he turned to her, his spiky quills swaying as he did. He locked eyes with the bat for a moment as she seemed almost hesitant to answer.

"Six months." She mused.

"Six months?" Shadow rasped, clenching his fist. "What am I supposed to do for six months?"

"You've been finding things to do since you were released 16 years ago, Shadow." She mused, remembering the days that she had teamed up with him in a somewhat uneasy alliance alongside Eggman. She remembered how consumed with revenge he had become- much different from the hedgehog standing in front of her now. "You'll figure something out- but we have to get you out of the GUN operations for a while."

"Always whining about how reckless I am. They don't seem to mind when Eggman is threatening to take over the world again, do they?" he muttered, to which Rouge only sighed.

"Come on, Shadow. I'll escort you off the ship." she said, turning and motioning for him to follow. Shadow did, but only after some other moments of contemplation.

Once the GUN ship had flown away, Shadow found himself left alone in the empty street, of which was littered with cars parked along its edges of varying cleanliness and models. The street lights shone brightly onto his dark fur, and he contemplated what he could possibly do now, left alone in the city. It was quite the sense of confusion that was heaped upon him, though it was far from overwhelming. He found himself strutting along the sidewalk, his eyes drifting from alleyway to alleyway, and his ears alert. He almost felt as if, somehow, this was some kind of test from GUN to measure his resolve. Maybe, in fact, they didn't believe in him. He closed his eyes, and somewhere deep within he almost remembered something that he was told about GUN, about their tests, about humans far into the future, but it seemed like, just like much of his memories, those would be lost, too.

His mind drifted as he stepped silently along the weary, worn down sidewalk. As the small patches of grass danced in the light wind, he tried to recall his past once more. Every day, every week, he would find a new memory. One of Maria, one of their time together. It seemed like it was only a few weeks ago that he last saw her, waving her little hands at him as they gazed to the planet below. She had no idea what the humans were like, or what they would do... but she still loved them- each and every last one of them. She only wanted the best for them, and so Shadow did, too. No matter if he was told that maybe, in the far future, they would kill him from spite just as they had Maria, he would still protect them, so that everyone could be happy.

"For all the people... on that planet." Shadow whispered to himself, opening his eyes and staring to the Ark's shadow in the stars as he reached to the sky like a fool kneeling to a God. "I promise..."

He stood that way for a moment, taking in his promise to her, then holding his head. He remembered the ark, 12 years ago, when he said goodbye to his past. Did he really mean it? Was it really worth throwing away who he was to try and move on? He had changed so much in 62 years, though he knew not if it was for better or worse. Maria, the Professor, they believed in him, and led him to save the world from the black arms, and for some reason, no matter how much he fled from it, he was still bound by their wishes- their wish to save the humans. Even if the professor did go mad before he died.

As he stood, lost in thought, he felt a gust of wind fling past him, and the blue streak of the "fastest thing alive" whirl past him. Shadow crossed his arms as it looped around and came back to him, stopping at his feet as he smiled.

" 'Sup Shadow! Long time, no see, huh?" he smirked, tapping his foot on the ground in front of the black hedgehog.

"Sonic." Shadow replied simply, looking him over. "Didn't expect to run into you here."

"Yeah well, I get around." Sonic mused, pacing in front of him. "You don't, though. Wasn't expecting to see you in big 'ol Empire City."

"I get around as I'm needed." Shadow huffed, walking past him. Sonic only followed, hands behind his head as he whistled.

"And you're needed here?" He asked, his voice not so annoying as usual since his gradual maturity.

"Not quite." Shadow replied simply, stuffing his hands into his inner elbows.

"Sooo what ARE you doin' here, then?" the blue blur spoke.

"Call it vacation." Shadow mused. "Why do you need to know?"

"Well, if you're not busy," Sonic mused, "I could use some help."

Shadow kept walking, thinking for a moment as Sonic went quiet. Normally, he would deny assistance, but seeing as he had nothing better to do, he sighed and shrugged.

"Why not?" the black Hedgehog grumbled. "What could you possibly need?"

"We're throwing a little party. For Amy. Only thing is, I could really go for, you know, NOT gettin' her. She can be a little..."

"I know how she can be, Sonic." Shadow mused. "And I think you exaggerate sometimes."

"Trust me, pal." Sonic chuckled. "I'm not, one bit. She can get preeetty crazy."

The two stopped walking as Shadow looked around and sighed, rubbing his eyelids.

"So- I so happen to land in this city on the night of Amy's party, and you just so happen to run by me and tell me to get her." Shadow said broodingly. He shook his head and looked to Sonic.

"What? Why ya starin' me down, dude?" Sonic inquired.

"Ugh. Don't call me 'dude'. And it just seems a bit... suspicious."

Sonic shook his head. "Look, Shad, can ya get amy and bring her to Tails's Apartment? She knows where it is."

"Tails... living in the City? Why?" Shadow grumbled.

"It's a temporary thing- I'll explain later." Sonic cooed, stepping away. "I've got to go help set up, though. Can you get her or not? She's at the ice skating rink just down the road."

Shadow rolled his eyes, staring at the blue hedgehog, and thinking for a moment. He remembered their rivalry, but it all seemed so far away now that he looked to the hedgehog, both having grown to know and respect each other as the years went on. He supposed he had no prior obligations as before-mentioned, and that he wouldn't mind doing Sonic some small favor of gratitude one more time.

"Fine. I'll see you there." he mused, to which Sonic only nodded somewhat happily, and jetted off, leaving only the wind and a blue streak behind him. Shadow stared at the streak before turning around as it slowly faded away.

"Just down the road, he says." Shadow whispered to himself. "He forgets that a simple jog for him is much more work for the rest of us. Luckily..."

Shadow tapped the ground with his shoes, both clicking on with their air jets, lifting him slightly off the ground as he began to jet down the sidewalk in the opposite direction of Sonic, heading toward the skating rink.

After some time, he found himself at the doors of the skating rink, still dimly lit from the inside. He clicked off his shoes and walked through the doors, hearing the fait skidding of blades on ice. The bell rang, but no one was at the counter.

"Must've let Amy stay late." Shadow thought, stepping lightly to the back of the rink, where the ice was. As he rounded the corner, he saw the pink hedgehog, spinning on the ice like a little toy ballerina. Shadow observed her silently for a moment as her movements slowed and she ducked out of her spin, flying off to the right and attempting to jump, but only flailing through the air and falling on her face, sliding across the ice before hitting the side of the bar lightly. Her groan filled he quiet rink as Shadow stepped to her side of the fall.

"You alright?" Shadow spoke, startling Amy into a scatter across the floor, sliding back and looking up at him.

"S-shadow!" She mused, her (pre-Sonic Generations) voice ringing through the empty hall. "How long were you watching?"

"I just got here." Shadow answered. "Saw you fall, though."

"Oh, be quiet!" Amy pouted for a moment as Shadow leaned over the bar. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

"I came to pick you up. Sonic asked me to."

"Sonic? Really?" Amy asked, stumbling to her feet once more. "He wanted you to... no way?"

Shadow nodded, to which Amy squealed with delight. She skated to the side where she stepped off the ice, taking off her skates excitedly.

"So, why exactly are you in here... skating?" Show mused. "New hobby of yours?"

"Hobby? HA!" Amy giggled. "I own this place, Shadow! I actually own a skating rink! Isn't that the coolest?"

"Well, I..." Shadow thought for a moment. "I guess you could say it is... quite... 'cool.' " he said, putting emphasis on the last word.

"Oh, please Shadow. That was a terrible joke." Amy mused playfully, to which Shadow rolled his eyes and scoffed.

"I'm gonna put on a show, you know." She mused to him. "That's what I want to do."

"A skating show?" the black hedgehog inquired.

"Mhm." Amy said, slipping her usual boots on.

"And what's this... 'Show" going to be called?"

"Oh, that's easy!" Amy chimed, standing up and pointing to herself with a wide grin. "Amy on Ice!"

Shadow stared at her for a moment, blinking silently as Amy posed, her dramatic buildup only leading to silence. She stood awkwardly for a moment before shadow cracked a smile and chuckled, shaking his head and walking for the door.

"Hey, what? What's so funny?" Amy yelled at him.

"Come on, we've got to go." Shadow replied, looking to the door as he walked around the corner. Amy scrambled behind him, searching her pockets.

"H-hold on! I need to find my keys so I can lock up!"

NEXT TIME ON: SHADOW ON ICE

CHAPTER 2: THE PARTY

"What's it like, Shadow?" Amy asked, walking along with her skates in hand. Shadow only looked at her as they continued to walk, Shadow tilting his head at the pink hedgehog.

"Supriiiise!" The group shouted, stunning Amy and Shadow as they walked through the door, party streamers falling from the roof.

"Shadow, I need you to have my back on this," Sonic mused to the black hedgehog, putting a hand to his shoulder.

"Listen, Amy," Sonic mused, looking toward everyone, who gave him a solemn nod.

"You need... to stop."

Thanks so much for reading guys. Today marks my 18th birthday and I wanted to do something special. I'll be updating my other fics soon, so keep watching!