A/N: Hola! This is Revision 3 of Deadly Nightshade, and I'm hoping that it's better than versions 1 and 2. I don't have a lot of experience writing about Sonic the Hedgehog, I'm afraid, so if I get any characterization details or canon details wrong, please tell me. Just don't flame. Flames are bad.

Anywho, I hope you like le story, and if you don't, tell me what you didn't like about it. I would much like to improve my writing skills.

Disclaimer: *Holds out a penny* This is all I have! Don't sue me; I don't own Sonic the Hedgehog, the characters, or the places anyways! They belong to Sega, but my O.C. belongs to me.

Thanks to my beta reader, Darkness78! :)

"I don't need your help."

"Are you sure about that? I have skills that you and your precious doctor will find very useful."

"I'm sure. I work alone." The dark hedgehog folded his arms and gave the hooded figure a fierce glare. "Don't let me catch you around here again. You aren't wanted."

"Have it your way. Don't come crawling back to me when you're in desperate need of assistance, though." She smirked, and then turned back towards the dark forest. "I have a feeling we'll see each other again, Shadow the Hedgehog," she called over her shoulder as her tone became mocking, "…although I'm not certain we'll be on the same side."

It seemed funny, the girl in the hood mused, that Shadow had declined her offer of help. It was almost as though he knew what her plans were. Impossible, she decided. No one could guess her plans; they were far too well orchestrated. The others, though … they were far more gullible than Shadow and Eggman. A sly grin played on her lips as she silently navigated the forest. She was going to enjoy this.

As Sonic lay under a willow tree, he grinned. He hadn't felt this peaceful in months; there was always something to keep him running: Dr. Eggman and his crazy robots; Shadow, out hunting him for some reason or another; Amy Rose trying to drag him off on a date. For a moment, the blue hedgehog allowed himself to forget all of the troubles from the past few months and focus on the tree. It was a beautiful tree, he realized, and far more complex than just a trunk and a few leaves on branches. The willow's drooping, vine-like branches were thin and flexible; they seemed fragile and weak. However, Sonic knew that they were strong branches. Strong and beautiful.

As the sun shone through the almost braided pattern of leaves, casting a gentle shadow over the blue hedgehog, Sonic felt his eyes growing heavy. Nothing's happening right now. I can afford a nap, he decided. He slipped into a deep sleep.

A field of flowers lay before him; there were thousands of them, and there was every kind he could possibly imagine. They called out to him, whispering his name. Sonic wandered through the field in a kind of a trance, admiring the array of beautiful colors. One flower in particular stood out: a perfect rose that was a shade of pale blue. He felt the strangest urge to pick it, to take it home with him and display it in a vase. A flower of such flawless beauty should be displayed for the entire world to see, not planted here, in a garden high in the mountains. The hedgehog knelt and touched the rose. He ran a finger along one of its delicate blue petals, feeling the soft, velvety texture of it. Ever so carefully, he pulled on the stem, which snapped with a quiet crack.

He regretted it instantly: the rose burst into raging, eerily black flames and fell from his hand. Sonic watched in horror as the fire spread to the rest of the flower field. A strange creature in a dark hooded cape stepped through the flames, seeming to appear out of nowhere. It approached Sonic at a steady pace, brushing aside the edge of the cloak to draw a knife from its belt.

"Who are you?" He shouted, taking a step forwards. Slowly, the creature reached up and threw back its hood, revealing-

Tails. Tails held the knife, Tails wore the cloak. With a strange, almost evil grin, the young fox stepped closer to Sonic once again.

"Tails, buddy, what are you doing? Why do you have a knife?" Sonic asked, feeling relieved upon discovering the hooded figure's identity. With a chuckle, Tails brought the knife down, slicing through Sonic's arm. The blue hedgehog yelled in pain, and he immediately turned and ran. Ran away from Tails- or whoever it was.

The cold, cruel laugh echoed through the mountains. No matter how far or fast Sonic ran, he could not escape the words:

"You'll never escape me. Not until it's too late."

With a gasp, Sonic woke, sitting bolt upright. Once again, he felt a sense of relief as he realized that he had been dreaming. There was no burning field of flowers, no deadly blue rose, and no Tails with a knife. He grinned, jumping to his feet.

"Well, if I can't get a decent nap, I might as well go for a run," he decided. Just before he got a chance to start, however, he felt a sharp pain in his left arm and glanced down, expecting to see a pine needle or a bee.

Sonic was bleeding.

She laughed. It was working already.