Fuzzy and Roses

By: The Nevermore Raven

Chapter I

Blushing Again

A.N. Shadow is homeless, and he lives in a shelter that he forged beneath a stairway in the city. This takes place after Sonic Adventure 2 and is a side story for A New Life. Shadow has had enough rainstorms in his life. The need for a rainbow is long overdue for Shadow. I am stuck on Fading Shadows. XD STUCK!!! I call Shadow "Fuzzy," and that is the reason the title is Fuzzy and Roses. This thought came in sideways; I have been trying to make something else for Fading Shadows for literally a month, and it isn't going anywhere! The story came out of Fading Shadows, so don't bother me about it saying "You just copied Fading Shadows!" I know. The ending is entirely different. This is his rainbow, so expect a few laughs and maybe some fluff. :D

* * * * * * *

When I surfaced from the depths of darkness, the world around me paid no mind to my panicked gasping fit as cold sweat covered my face. I took a moment to survey my surroundings. What just happened? The remains of a nightmare flashed through my mind, causing more anxiety for me as I noticed what was occurring around me.

The sky was black, solid black, and occasionally a brilliant flash of lightning would light up the ground with hot blue fire. The continuous pattering of rain could be heard outside of and above my humble abode, beyond the curtain that served as my door and the stairway that was my roof. I could see nothing, nothing save the occasional fire that zipped through the clouds with blistering speed, making the curtain flicker with pale blue light. I am glad I bothered with the curtain now that I can see for myself what products of the sky it is helping to keep out of my crude home.

After my breathing was settled down, I realized that I was hungry, and thirsty, and I needed to go to the bathroom. Great, I thought to myself as I rubbed my eyes. At least I can care for two of those things. Enduring the barrage of cold rain as it hit my body I walked outside and away from my shelter, exposing myself to the elements.

I steeped through a deep puddle that was so large I considered it to be a pond, and I relied on the lightning above to light the way for me. Next to a wall of the building, a single skinny form poked straight out of the ground, visible briefly as the lightning raced across the sky quicker than an eye could blink. Rain seemed to be falling up and down at one time, for rain fell from the clouds that could not be seen and splashes against the pavement and puddles of rainwater sent water up against my ankles and knees.

I stumbled upon a much favored bonus as I explored around my home. In a building next to my own there was a public restroom. How could I find the bathroom in this weather? I reluctantly followed the exterior of the neighboring structure, and I found my destination within a moment.

As I stood just out of the door to the men's room, I focused Chaos energy on my body, heating it up and boiling away the rain within my fur, as well as incinerating any dust, sweat, grease, and other such filth along with it. Chaos energy is my shower, in other words. I would prefer an actual shower, though. Soothing hot water and smelling good are two things that Chaos energy does not provide. Orange flames licked around my body, and I was essentially on fire, but since the Chaos was my own it did not hurt me.

The bathroom is something I would rather not bother you about. That is an impolite topic for me to discuss. I narrowed my eyes as I went back to my home, stopping next to the skinny form that I saw earlier. My fur was damp, but it was not soaked. With a grasping hand, I caused the pole to come alive and spill water that I swallowed with thirsty lips. The moisture provided some relief to my dry body, so I returned to my bed and lay down again. My eyes closed as I thought to myself about my nightmare. The loneliness I endured for so long is whittling away at my hope and my will to live. Maybe Amy can help me through my life and these hardships...

* * * * * * *

The weather the morning provided was far more pleasant than the dark rainstorm from the night before. The darkness and lightning was replaced with a light blue sky and gentle golden light of warming sunshine. With my gloved hand I pulled back the shower curtain, glancing out into the alley. Puddles leftover from the rain reflected the blue serenity of the sky above, and the sun warmed the damp ground.

With a moan, I stood up and stretched, pulling my arms in an effort to loosen the stiffened muscles in my back. Maybe today will be a good day, maybe. With a sigh I started forward, intent on returning to a certain house where my new friend lived. The bright sky gradually lifted my broken spirits, and with a dash forward I glided over to my destination. Hesitantly, I knocked on the door and waited for an answer.

I feared that Amy would be busy with some other task that life had jumbled together and thrown her way, or that she would change her mind at the last minute and abandon me like everyone else. In spite of this discouragement within, I held a flame of hope within my aching heart. The door opened, and green eyes lit up as they watched my carmine rubies. "Shadow! Hi, come in here and sit down," Amy suggested as she raised a hand in friendly gesture.

"Thank you, Amy." I walked into the house and closed the door, looking around at the house. A stairway climbed upwards to the left of the door, and to the right was a kitchen. Before me was the living room. The living room was a pleasant beige color, with a plush couch, a lazy chair, a loveseat and a nicely sized flat screen television. "Wow. You have a wonderful home, Amy," I commented as I studied my surroundings.

"Thanks, Shadow. Sit down, please." Amy seated herself on the couch, so I plopped down next to her.

"So, what will we do today, Amy?" I asked as my hostess watched me.

"My mom is out of town for a meeting, so I have a chore to take care of since she ran off. I need to go grocery shopping for her. I am sorry about that; you would not want to go with me to shop for groceries." I paused as I considered her statement.

"I'll go with you, Amy." Her eyes lit up.

"You will? Great. Lets go!" With that said, she stood up and soon enough we were out the door, walking down the sidewalk to the nearby supermarket.

"Amy," I started as I looked around us, noting the other homes and overall peacefulness of children playing outside. In a yard on the other side of the street, two boys threw a Frisbee over their grassy lawn as a small puppy barked eagerly after it. The boys laughed and one of them picked the puppy up, and the puppy responded by licking its holder in his face. I grinned softly at the sight.

"Yes, Shadow?" I turned back to Amy in my reply.

"Where is the store we are walking to?" A bird chirped over us in a birch tree, softly singing into the warm air as it hid behind a screen of green leaves.

"Oh, the store is not far from here. We are about five blocks away." We passed more houses and streets, soon to pass a gas station and stand before a large supermarket. "Here we are. We have things to get, Shadow." I looked back at my friend. "Let's get started."

Inside were shelves of different foodstuffs, cans, produce aisles, cereal aisles, and snack aisles. I stayed beside Amy and we wandered around, searching for the numerous things that her family needed for the week. Amy was getting potatoes and onions from baskets as I asked my next question.

"Amy, is there anything else you need from here?"

"Yes. We need milk, two gallons of Mayfield whole milk." I wandered to the side and grasped two gallon sized jugs in my hands as I walked back to the girl.

"Thank you so much Shadow! I didn't think you would get them for me. You are so sweet," Amy remarked as a smile curved her lips and her emerald eyes lit up. I faintly blushed.

"You are welcome, Amy."

I volunteered to carry three of the five bags we had bought. Amy seemed impressed by my kindness and gave me a hug when I set the food down at her house. I placed the things on the counter, and from behind me, two arms grabbed my shoulders and turned me around as a soft form embraced me. I was shocked, and my cheeks revealed that in a blush. "Thank you, Shadow! You're so sweet!" Amy coed after I realized what was happening.

"You're welcome, Amy," I softly replied as the blush faded away and my face cooled down. This was a good day after all.

"Shadow?" The girl softly called me.

"Yes, Amy?" Amy giggled quietly to herself.

"You were blushing again!" My cheeks burned hot and red as she laughed again. I smiled back to her as we both laughed. Today was an exceptionally good day for me...