Hey guys! So this is the story I've been wanting to post since I made the account. I actually started it a couple of years ago, left it, found it again, and reworked it. I've put a ton of effort into what I'm going to do with this, and I'm really excited to just be writing it now!

I want to try something with this and not put my pairings up ahead of time. I want to see if I can get people who don't normally like a pairing to go for it. Like, if I wrote a Sonally arc, I want to see if someone who isn't normally into Sonally will like it. (Sally's not a character here. So there is no Sonally. It's just an example.)

Sonic: Why did you want to do that?

Me: Because there's no point in getting people who already like the pairing to like it! Besides, that's part of the fun of this community!

Amy: Huh?

Me: That you can pair up a character with a couple of other different characters, and all are viable pairings! It's not like, well, maybe if not for this one - there's a lot of equally valid pairs!

Tails: Really?

Me: Haha. With you especially, Tails.

Tails: Uh-oh. -sweat drop-

Me: Oh, and it's rated T for some mature ideas and some violence later on. You know, Eggman and stuff. Somebody do a disclaimer!

Cream: Dreamweaver doesn't own any of the characters in this story! Sega does!

Me: Well... I'll get some OCs in later. Anyways, on with the show!

The door swung open, and the rabbit jumped into the room with her ears spread. She heard nothing more than a faint hum. Relaxing her stance slightly, she looked around the room. Nothing was moving, and she didn't see any sign of Team Chaotix. The rabbit grimaced, but seeing a large monitor, she decided to check it out. She walked over and read the screen. It said in green letters, "STATUS: SUSPENDED".

She frowned. If this was Eggman's latest weapon of mass destruction, she could plug one of Tails's viruses into it… She ran her fingers across the keyboard. The machine shuddered, and a capsule was raised into view.

Suspended, in some green liquid, was a black hedgehog.

The rabbit gasped. She lifted her wrist and started fumbling with her communicator in nervous excitement. "Sonic, come in," she said, keeping her eyes on the black hedgehog.

"What's up, Cream?" Sonic's voice spoke from her unit. "Did you find them?"

"No, but I found someone else," Cream answered. She tilted her head.

There was a short pause. "Friendly?" he asked, sounding puzzled.

"At last check." Cream bit her lip. "Can I check back in a minute?"

"You have that long before I freak out," a female voice entered the stream.

"Thanks, Amy," the rabbit grinned. "I'm out." She turned the volume down a bit, then shifted her focus to the machine. She closed her eyes, trying to remember. After a few seconds, she remembered and plugged a few commands into the keyboard. The machine hissed and the liquid began to drain away. Cream blinked in surprise. She had expected a password. If Eggman was letting him go without a password, he might be bugged. They'd have to scan him.

The capsule opened, and the hedgehog landed on a foot and a knee. Cream figured he must be conscious, since he didn't topple over. He was still for a moment. Then he opened his eyes, scarlet irises burning, and jumped next to Cream. "What do you want?" he asked, anger lacing his voice.

"Huh?" Cream frowned, perplexed. Why the anger?

"Look, whatever it is precious Eggie wants, tell him I'm not his robot," he replied, narrowing his eyes.

"Wha – why would I be telling anything to Eggman?" Cream furrowed her brow. "It's been a while, so, um, maybe you don't recognize me, but, I'm Cream."

"Sure you are," he said bitingly. "And I'm sure you're not a robot posing as Cream ten years in the future. I'm sure you're not going to try to manipulate me into the doctor's schemes, just like last time. Are you stupid? Did you think I'd forgotten? You'll break just as easily as that last robot!" He shifted his stance.

"Shadow, wait!" Cream said, eyes wide, but he was already in motion. She pumped her ears and flew just in time to avoid a vicious, powerful kick. She looked down, concerned. Okay, Shadow thought she was a robot because of something Eggman had tried before to use him. So how did she convince him that she wasn't?

Shadow ran up to the wall, preparing to jump at her, and suddenly she had an idea.

As expected, he leaped at her and swung around for a hard kick. Cream sidestepped (in a flying way, of course) and grabbed his arm. Shadow turned his head, eyes wild, but Cream spun around and landed simultaneously. She couldn't let him control this situation, and spinning generally threw people off.

Before he could regain control, she had to do one thing. She pulled on his arm and put his hand to the side of her neck.

Shadow's expression was a mixture of surprise and confusion. "Do you feel that?" Cream asked softly. "Robots don't have pulses, Shadow." She knew he could feel it. Her heart was hammering too hard from the recent rush of adrenaline for him to not.

Shadow opened and closed his mouth a few times, still in minor shock. Cream waited for him to put his thoughts together.

"Cream, what's going on?" Amy asked over the communicator.

The rabbit sighed and let go of Shadow's arm. "Sorry, can you give me a moment?" Shadow gave a brief nod, and Cream pressed her communicator. "Sorry, Amy, I didn't realize I was over a minute."

"Chill, Ames," Sonic's carefree voice came back. "Cream, is your person friendly?"

"A little confused, but yes," she answered. Shadow gave her a look. She let go of the button. "Well, it's true! Besides, how am I supposed to tell them you tried to kill me because you thought I was an Eggman robot?"

"Who is it?" Sonic asked.

"Sonic, Tails reporting," another voice broke in. "We found Chaotix. They're unconscious and Vector and Charmy look a little beat up, but I think we can move them without a problem."

"Good work, Tails! Hey, Cream, tell your person to come out with us. Meet at the entrance!" The communicator silenced.

"Do you want to come?" Cream asked, turning to the door.

"Sounds like I should," Shadow sighed, and began skating after her.

"I wonder why they were here in the first place?" Knuckles asked, crossing his arms. "Egghead wouldn't bother to go after them."

"He might, if he wanted to get at us," Sonic answered. "Especially you or Cream. It's more likely they came here, I'll agree."

"You think they were thinking like Tails?" Amy teased. Tails blushed and started to say something, but Amy cut him off. "Hey, there's Cream! And…" Amy stopped talking, and her jaw dropped. Knuckles followed her gaze. Cream was flying out, and skating behind her… Knuckles' eyes widened.

"Shadow?" Rouge whispered, her hand to her mouth. Sonic, Amy, and Tails somehow exchanged three-way glances simultaneously. Knuckles furrowed his brow. Shadow? Now he showed up, after eight years?

"Hi, guys!" Cream said as she landed, smiling. "Look who I found!"

Sonic had already recovered. "Hey, Shadow!" he said, grinning. "Been wondering what you were up to!"

Shadow glared at him, obviously irritated. "Literally, nothing," he answered, crossing his arms. "How long have I been gone?"

"Eight years," Tails answered. Shadow's eyes widened slightly. "You were in suspended animation again?"

"Tails?" Shadow asked, surprised. Knuckles could understand his confusion – Tails was twice as old as when Shadow vanished. Knuckles imagined that Cream must have been much more of a shock to him.

"Hi, Rouge," Rouge said sarcastically, hands on her hips. "Nice to see you, Rouge. Looking good, Rouge. Anything that's acknowledgement of some sort would be appreciated."

"Some things never change, eh, Rouge?" Shadow replied, half-smirking.

"I suppose that'll do," Rouge said with a shrug.

Knuckles snorted and smiled. "Could we continue with this at Cream's place?" he suggested. "We still have an unconscious chameleon, crocodile, and bee, don't forget."

"Sure," Sonic agreed. "I was planning to make two trips, but… Shadow, wanna help with transport?" He caught the Chaos Emerald Knuckles tossed him.

Shadow tilted his head at the Chaos Emerald, and then he smirked. "I see no reason not to." Rouge threw him a Chaos Emerald. Shadow caught it and gave Rouge a look. "Seems I have a lot to catch up on."

Sonic laughed. "A lot changes in eight years, that's for sure."

Within moments, everyone was moving at blinding Chaos speed, clinging to a blue or black hedgehog, to Cream's house. And Shadow couldn't help but wonder just how much had changed.

Me: Yay! We've started!

Sonic: Whoa! The faker's actually coming back with us willingly!

Shadow: That's only because I don't know what's going on yet! I haven't decided to stay with you guys!

Cream: Um, okay, let's settle down for now...

Amy: Please review! See you soon!