As Shadow arrived at Rouge's gravesite, he could tell that she was very popular. Practically the whole city was there. He immediately recognized Topaz, Sonic, Tails, Cream, Vanilla, Amy, and the Chaotix. Then he saw some bats that looked like her, so he guessed that they were family. He then walked up to Rouge's coffin and placed a flower on top of it. It was a lily, her favorite flower, along with a note: 'Even if you believe everyone in the world will be against you, know that I'll always remain on your side. Remember that. Love, Shadow' Shadow surveyed the remaining seats, found one next to Amy, and quickly sat down. The pastor stood up and began the ceremony.
"We are gathered here today to remember a great member of Station Square; Rouge the Bat. Taken from the world much, much too early, she will be missed dearly by all of us." Shadow glanced around the crowd; Amy and Sonic were crying and holding hands, Vanilla was holding Cream while they were both crying quietly, and the Chaotix were simply sitting in silence.
"Now before you all arrived, I looked over her will, and noticed that you are all in it. So I will show it to everyone." The pastor said while walking over to a TV and putting a video in. He then pressed play and moved out of the way. Static played for a few seconds then Rouge appeared. She was sitting in a hospital bed with lots of bruises and cuts covering her.
"Hello everyone. Considering the events of the past few days, I have decided to make my will now, just in case something happens to me. Before I begin, I just want to reveal a secret. My boyfriend Knuckles has been hitting me. That's why I look this way." Shadow felt sick to his stomach; he had seen what Knuckles did to her before, he didn't ant to see it again.
"Now when I say your name, please step forward so I may give you your item. First up are my parents." Two elderly looking bats stood up and walked down to the pastor.
"Mom, Dad, to you I give my childhood teddy bear." She then held up a tattered old bear.
"I give you Mr. Fluffy because I want you to remember all the good times you had with me when I was a baby." The pastor gave Rouge's mom the bear. She looked at it, as teardrops fell from both their eyes, while walking back to their seats. This went on for quiet a while:
"Amy, I give you my jewelry, so you can always look beautiful and be able to think of me."
"Tails, I give you my computer, so you can continue to be the smartest kid of your age."
"Cream, I give you my old Barbie dolls, because I know how much you love dolls; they would be taken care for much more than if I had them."
"Sonic, I give you my running shoes, so you can still run as fast as you can."
""Topaz, I give you all my stuff from G.U.N., so you can turn them in and some other great spy will be able to use them." Finally, everyone had obtained something from Rouge, except for Shadow.
"Well, now that have given out my possessions, guess I'll finish this up." Shadow's face fell; she had completely forgotten about him.
"But before I finish this, I need to give out one last thing. Shadow, please step forward." He looked up then walked to the front, slowly.
"Shadow, you have been my best friend for as long as I remember. We've been through a lot; The Arc almost destroying the planet, Eggman trying to take over the world, The Black Arms invasion, and fighting Mephilles and Iblis. Now, I'm going to tell you something that I haven't told anyone; I love you." Quiet gasps and murmuring were heard throughout the audience.
"If I had never of been with that hot-headed echidna, then I would be with you forever." Several Awww's were heard.
"To you I leave my most prized possessions; the 7 Chaos Emeralds." Shadow's face fell. He couldn't believe she was giving him the chaos emeralds!
"And I also dedicate this song to you. Goodbye everyone I love you all!" The TV went back to static. The pastor took the tape out of the VCR, put a CD in a stereo and pushed play. Country music came on and Shadow recognized the song immediately. Rouge's voice then came on.
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you dance...I hope you dance. I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance, I hope you dance...I hope you dance. I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean, Dance...I hope you dance.
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Never settle for the path of least resistance,
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance...I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance...I hope you dance.
I hope you dance...I hope you dance...
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)
As the song was finishing, Shadow couldn't stand it. He fell to the ground, and started to cry. He finally broke down. The song she sung had been their favorite song. They decided that if they ever got married, that song would play. As Shadow lied there, crying his eyes out, 4 men dressed in black lowered Rouge's coffin into the ground. Once her coffin was lowered, the pastor then said "I thank you all for coming to remember Miss Rouge. Please drive safely and never, ever forget her." Everyone was long gone once Shadow finally stopped crying. He then stood up, dried his eyes then started to walk home. Once he got home, he kicked his shoes off, walked into the kitchen and heated up some Ramen. While he was waiting, he went upstairs and changed into a hoodie and jeans. He then went back downstairs, turned off the stove, then pored the ramen into a cup and began to eat. Shadow walked into the living room and turned on the TV. While channel surfing, he heard a knock at the door.
"Ugh what now?" Shadow had just been to a funeral, he didn't want to see anyone else. But he decided to politely say that he didn't want to see anyone. He put his Ramen down and walked to the door.
"Yea what is it?" he said as he opened the door. Standing in his doorway was a white bat, wearing a black tank-top, black capris with flowers on them, and pink shoes.
"Hi there." She said.
Who is this bat girl? Why is she wearing Rouge's Sonic Riders outfit? How will Shadow react?
Find out in the next chapter!
Oh yeah, and before i forget; The quote that Shadow wrote on his note to Rouge was from Sonic the Hedgehog(2006) and the song Rouge sung to Shadow was "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack
