EMERALD FOREST

Disclaimer:

This is about my only serious fic

I don't own any characters in this story

CHAPTER 1: SHADOW

'How is everyone?' asked Rouge.

'Were we invited to this for a reason?' asked Sonic.

'Aren't I allowed to have a meal at a restaurant with my friends?' Rouge replied.

Sonic smiled. 'Whatever you say, Rouge.'

Look at him, thought Amy. Rouge is such a flirt.

'Where's Knuckles?' asked Tails.

'He's guarding the emeralds,' said Sonic.

'He needs to loosen up,' said Rouge.

'How come you're so quiet, Shadow?' Amy asked.

'Just thinking about things,' said Shadow.

'What are you thinking about?' Amy asked.

'Nothing in particular,' said Shadow. He sat there watching Rouge, not listening to a word. If only you knew how I felt, he thought to himself.

'Well?' said Sonic.

'Huh?' said Shadow. 'I'm sorry, I wasn't listening.'

'Will you go out with Sonic?' said Tails.

'HUH?'

Tails and Amy cracked up laughing. 'Don't worry about it Shad,' said Sonic. 'For some reason everyone seems to think we should go out together…'

Shadow laughed, although he didn't find it funny. He was feeling nervous, and trying to come up with something impressive to say.

'Hey Sonic,' said Tails, 'could you help me out with my skateboard tricks?'

'Sure,' said Sonic. 'What tricks do you need help with?'

'I need to figure out how to do an ollie,' said Tails.

Rouge laughed. That's so CUTE! she thought.

'What's so funny?' said Tails.

'Nothing,' said Rouge. 'It's just you.'

'You shouldn't laugh at people because they can't do skateboard tricks,' said Tails.

'No, I don't think your pathetic or anything,' said Rouge.

'Well then why were you laughing?'

'No reason,' said Rouge.

'I could teach you if you want,' said Shadow.

'Cool, I guess,' said Tails.

'Look, why don't you just lay off!' said Sonic. He slammed his fist on the table and stood up. 'You big faker! You just have to do everything I do!'

Shadow stood up. 'I just happen to be better at skateboarding than you, okay?'

'Oh, so you have to copy everything I do, 'ey?'

'At least I don't latch onto the kid!'

Everyone at the restaurant was staring at them. 'Alright, guys,' said Rouge. 'I think you should just calm down.'

'I'm calm,' said Shadow. He sat back down, and watched Sonic as he sat down. Sonic death-stared him.

'It's okay,' said Tails. 'I can get Knuckles to teach me.'

'No, no, I'll do it,' said Shadow. Sonic glared at him some more.

'Well, that was a happy moment,' said Amy.

'What are we doing tomorrow?' asked Sonic.

'I'm not doing anything,' said Amy. 'Could I hang around you?'

'Sorry Amy, but I'm uh, um, hanging out with Rouge,' said Sonic.

'Really?' said Rouge.

'Yeah,' said Sonic.

Amy really should get a new obsession, thought Tails. Doesn't she notice that Sonic doesn't like her? I wish she liked me...

'What are you doing tomorrow, Tails?' asked Sonic.

'Me and Shadow –'

'Oh, that's right, you and Shadow are going to practice your skateboarding techniques,' said Sonic.

'Sonic, stop being such an asshole!' said Shadow.

'I'm not the one being an asshole!' said Sonic. 'If anyone's an asshole, it's you –'

'Guys! GUYS! Stop it!' said Rouge. 'Don't start fighting again!'

'We won't,' said Shadow.

'I think it's time we leave,' said Rouge.

'Yeah,' said Sonic.

'But I haven't finished all my dessert!' said Tails. He took a big spoonful of his ice cream and shoved it all in his mouth. Some of it dribbled down his chin.

Rouge smiled. He is so CUTE!

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Knuckles sat down on the grass, looking out at the night sky and keeping an eye on the Master Emerald, the other fourteen emeralds in front of him.

'A pity I couldn't go to that restaurant tonight,' said Knuckles. 'But these emeralds sure are pretty to look at. In a non-gay way.'

'You know what else is pretty to look at?' said Rouge, who had somehow gotten to Emerald Forest.

Knuckles stood up. 'Hey Rouge! How was the night out?'

Rouge sighed. 'Sonic and Shadow were fighting.'

'Again?' said Knuckles, who was used to it.

'Again,' Rouge said. 'And Sonic is so mean to Amy.'

'I know,' Knuckles replied.

'So how was your night?'

'Pretty boring,' said Knuckles. 'But a guardian's gotta do what a guardian's gotta do.'

Rouge smiled. 'Sometimes I think you're too overprotective of those emeralds.'

'Well, who knows what might happen if I don't guard them,' said Knuckles. 'Besides, what else do I have to pass the time?'

'If you weren't guarding the emeralds you could spend more time with me,' said Rouge, smiling seductively…

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Sonic and Tails walked home.

'Why are you so mean to Shadow?' Tails asked.

'What do you mean by that?'

'Well, you never gave him a chance –'

'Listen, I don't like Shadow, there's nothing else to it,' said Sonic.

'You know,' said Tails, 'since Knuckles is out guarding the emeralds all night, would it be alright if I…you know…stayed at your place?'

'Sure!' said Sonic. 'Of course you can stay in my apartment!'

'Thanks,' said Tails.

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Shadow arrived at his house and unlocked the door.

'Sonic is such an asshole.'