Hi Everyone! I thought I'd get a head start on this story because I've got other stories out that I plan to post on Again the couples are Sonic/Amy, Tails/OC, Knuckles/OC and Shadow/OC (I forgot to mention this one). Enjoy!

Chapter 1: The story of Chaos Jewels

Many years ago, the power of Chaos threatened the most advanced civilizations the world had yet to seen in its time. It's power was sealed into one enormous jewel know by most as the jewel of Chaos. Many sought its uses for various purposes and even more have met their deaths trying to seek out its power; however one almost succeeded. The figure dominated all for generations casting a looming dark cloud over all and an even darker oppression over Chaos causing Chaos to rebel and its vast amount of power to detonate and destroy everything around it. The all powerful jewel shattered into 3 large shards and scattered themselves around the planet, each shard landing near 3 warring Echidna clans. One shard, the emerald of Chaos, was discovered in the southern tropical region. Another shard, the ruby of Chaos, was discovered in the western desert region and the diamond of Chaos was discovered in the icy snow-capped region of the north...And the mysterious dictator was cursed, left to wander between the living and the dead, longing for the power of Chaos once and the three warring Echidna clans retreated from one another wielding the 3 shards of Chaos within their clans achieving greatness including the defying of gravity with the floating of the Echidna capital city, the magical uses for abundant resources in the deserts and the climate control in the tundra. Many generations passed and the current guardians keep their watchful eyes on their Chaos jewel keeping them from the prying eyes thieves and out of reach of evil that constantly threatens to abuse Chaos' powers......

In the Southern Region....

"Emblem...How is he doing?" a young fennec-bat entered the room.

"He should be fine now Nimbus. I know you're tired from flying back here. You should be resting." The orange-colored hedgehog replied with a sigh. –I've done all I can for now. Now all we can do is wait for him to wake up.- She then turns her attention to Nimbus. "But before you go..." Emblem starts. "Tell me again, how you found him." Nimbus nodded and began her tale.

Flashback:

The afternoon heat blazed to a soaring 115ï‚ but the city still seemed to be alive and bustling even in the dangerously high temperature. Nimbus flew just outside of the city towards a shrine. She sighs thinking of how much further she had to do but her thoughts were interrupted by a spark of green light that caught her eye.

"What the..." she flew toward the shiny object and nearly fell out of the sky at what she saw. There in the sands, was a black and red...HEDGEHOG?! The little fennec-bat gasped. Then the green object that hung from a thin string tied around his neck became more obvious. The rather large gem held a faint, dying glow to it. –Is he still alive?- Nimbus knelt beside the motionless hedgehog and put her ear to his chest noting that the hedgehog still had a heartbeat and still breathed ragged breaths. "I hafta to get help." She thinks aloud. Mustering her strength, the smaller Nimbus was able to leap into the air taking off as she held on to the black and red hedgehog. –I hope Emblem is at the shrine so she can heal him.- she thinks as her wings strained to keep them elevated and rush back to the shrine....

End of Flashback:

"And here I am." Nimbus finished. Emblem nodded.

"I see..." she paused, another thought coming to mind. "Where is Rox? Did you see her in the city?" Emblem inquired. –That gem...It's giving off some strange energy. I'm sure she would like to look at it.- she eyed the gem which was resting on the nightstand with the lamp.

"I think she's still in the city. She told me earlier this morning that she was going to visit master Jericho." Nimbus explained.

"...Well. Let's let our friend rest. I'll be back later to check on him." Emblem suggests as she and Nimbus exit the room. –I hope he'll be ok.- Emblem thinks quietly shutting the door behind her.....

The golden-colored Echidna Roxanne-Li sauntered through the city of Shady Oasis boardly, her eyes wandering every now and then to friends she passed while walking.

–Everyone in the clan is out today.- She glances up in the sky noticing the sun was high in the sky. –Hmm...it's about noon. I think I'll go see master Jericho.- she thinks to herself. It had been a while since she's seen her old teacher and the quick visitation would kill alittle time. Roxanne-Li continued walking and it wasn't long before she reached the dojo and upon walking in, she could instantly hear the voice of those inside vigorously training themselves. A group of other girls, both young and old, sat on the large wall, watching the guys train. She decided to join them. Lifting herself up on one side of the wall, she watched the training session curiously. On the floor, a grey echidna and a green echidna, both close in age to herself and one of which she recognized.

"Hey stranger...I haven't seen you around her lately." The voice of an old man caught Roxanne's attention. She smiled happily at the old Echidna.

"Master Jeri! It's good to see you!" she says. The old Echidna smiles.

"Ah Rox-Li...You haven't been here lately.....You must have been in deep with your training at home eh?" he says. Roxanne chuckled somewhat nervously.

"Sure Master Jeri! Of course I have." She replies meekly and playfully. He laughs jovially.

"I figured you didn't. Nimbus tells me that you're up late at night studying ancients scroll...so I'll excuse it." He chuckled. She smiles back.

"I'll be back in here training soon. As soon I get some things straightened out." Roxanne assured the old echidna.

"And you will show me that you have improved in your absence yes?'

"Of course." She smiled. "It was nice to see you again." Roxanne spoke as he left.

"Nice seeing you to Rox. Don't be such a stranger. Come see me more often." The old Echidna urged before leaving. Before Roxanne could reply, she was cut off by the commotion of the fight.

"Good Job Shades!" someone cheered. The two echidnas had obviously finished their sparring matched as Roxanne witnessed them shaking hands and going their separate ways, the grey Echidna coming towards her and the others.

"...Ladies..." he acknowledged the others near Roxanne and then turned his attention to Roxanne. "Hi Rox." He purrs. She couldn't help but smile. –He is still convinced that I have those kind of feelings for him.- she sighs to herself hopelessly.

"Hello Shades. It's good to see you." She says back. Shades, flashed her a smile.

"Yes...It has been a while." He paused and sat up on the wall with her sitting rather close to her. "So...enjoy the fight?" he asked.

"Almost as much as you did." She replies unnoticeably scooting back a little.

"That's good then." He looks at her and then around the dojo. "So what brings you hear?" Shades inquired. It had afterall been some months since Roxanne has been to the dojo.

"Just came to see everybody again. I should be getting back to the shrine. There are some things I need to do." She hops off the wall. He frowned to himself. He didn't want her to go just yet but new there was no arguing with the sometimes stubborn Echidna.

"Well...I'll see you around. I might come by the Shrine later...How's that?" Shades suggests. Roxanne paused and turned around to face him.

"That's fine. I'll see ya later Shades."

"Goodbye Rox!"

Back at the shrine....

Shadow's Dream:

Shadow looked around the dark foggy area.

"What is this place?" he murmurs. Only then did his memories of the A.R.K. incident flood back. -...The fall...and Maria.- "...Am I dead?" Shadow asked himself aloud but a female voice catches his attention.

"Of course not silly." The familiar female voice says. Shadow's eyes widened slightly. Seeming to appear out of nowhere, now standing before him was the young blonde-haired girl Maria.

"Maria...Is that really you?" he asks as he took a step forward. She smiled gently.

"Yes...Yes Shadow." She kneels down, hugging the black and red hedgehog who gladly hugged her back. At that moment, Shadow didn't care where he was. He was with Maria. "I missed you Shadow." She says softly then she stands back up, her features softening to a sad smile. "..And I'm gonna miss you..."she added more softly. Shadow eyed her curiously.

"What do you mean? I'm not going anywhere." Shadow seemed to promise so surely to the girl. But she shook her head sadly.

"Shadow..." she sighs softly. "I am in your mind...in your heart. You are alive. You still have the gift of life Shadow....I...do not." She added softly.

"What are you saying?" he asked.

"Shadow...I came to ask you one more favor....one more promise. I've seen how much you've suffered...since I died. This promise...it will put me at peace." Maria offered her hand to him. He takes it in his.

"...Anything." Shadow says as he looked up at her.

"Promise me...Promise me Shadow, that you will live...and be happy. Promise me that you will find love." She whispers. Shadow was hesitant before he answers. In his heart, he knew how much he cared for Maria. -...But if it is what Maria wants...-

"...I promise." Shadow promised. Maria pulled Shadow into another hug but she began to disappear.

"...Live strong Shadow..." she whispers as Shadow was engulfed in a bright light...

Shadow awakened to a bright light as his blurred vision struggled to clear. –Maria...I will try to keep my promises.- He think to himself grunting as he rubbed his eyes in an attempt to clear his vision. Shadow sat up and looked around, wincing in pain whenever he moved. His eyes fell on his left arm, which was bandaged and out of the corner of his eye sat a Chaos Jewel. As painful as it was, he reached for it taking the string in his hand. Looking down, he fingered the jewel briefly slipping the thin string around his neck. He lays back down, his weakened state forcing him to do so. Then, not too long after laying back down, he heard the nose of a door sliding open. Standing in the doorway stood, an orange female hedgehog. Her head spikes were slightly long and like her ears, they seemed to turn red near the tips. She was wearing a white tank-top, some golden-colored gi pants, and some white gloves. Her feet were bare and she stared back at him with amber eyes.

"Hello...My name is Emblem. I'm glad you're awake.

"Wh...where am I?" Shadow asks weakly. She makes her was to his bedside.

"You're in the Crystal Shrine outside of Shady Oasis city." She paused handing

him the glass of water. Shadow looked at her and then he takes the glass she offered to him. "Who are you?" Emblem finally asked when he finished drinking the water.

"My...Name is Shadow."