Chapter 2: An Average Day at School
Disclaimer: I do not own Sonic the Hedgehog
Amy and Shadow emerged from the subway. Shadow looked around and examined the strange structures and buildings. Even though he already knew about the world form what Rouge had instilled in his mind, he couldn't help but feel odd. After a few minutes of walking, Amy started pestering him with questions again.
"So where are you from?" Amy said, "That armor you wore hasn't been used for hundreds of years."
"I am not from this world," Shadow replied, "I am from an alternate timeline that exists beside yours. The main difference between our timelines is that magic was maintained in my world where as it was lost in this world."
"Magic doesn't exist," Amy said skeptically. "Doesn't it?" She finished uncertainly.
"It does," Shadow replied calmly, "I thought you might believe me after I appeared out of nowhere and disintegrated the bodies of three goons. If you want more proof than ask me to perform a spell and I will do it."
"No thanks," Amy said, "The last thing we need is to be seen doing something like what happened in the subway."
Shadow handed Amy a necklace with a large red jewel on it.
"Take this," Shadow said, "It will help you perform magic when the time comes."
Amy looked skeptically at the necklace before putting it on.
"So why are you here," Amy said, "What drove you from your world."
"A long time ago a wicked emperor rose to power in my world," Shadow said, "He sought to conquer my world and all other worlds by obtaining two artifacts. The first, is the Urn of Spirits. An artifact that will allow him to summon a nearly indestructible spirit army. The second artifact is the Ashes of Death. These ashes summon the general of the spirit army and allows the user of the ashes to control the army through the spirit general. Luckily for us, I and my late contractor were able to steal the Urn of Spirits from the emperor before he could summon the spirit army. However my contractor died in the ensuing fight and sent me here. My mission now is to train you in the arts of magic and, when the time come, for us to reenter my world and defeat the emperor for good."
"After seeing you perform magic in the subway back there I guess I don't have any other choice but to believe you," Amy said, "This kind of exciting now that I think of it. A warrior from another world has come here to teach me how to use magic so I can defeat an evil emperor."
"Don't get too excited," Shadow said, "It won't be long before the enemy starts sending his minions into this world to try and steal the urn from us."
This made Amy a little more serious. After a few seconds she asked another question.
"Why did you make me accept that 'contract' of yours back in the subway," Amy said, "Couldn't you have just helped be out of kindness."
"Unlike you I do not have complete free will," Shadow said, "I am bound by certain spells to only aid those who I have formed a contract with. Since you accepted the terms of my contract, I am now bound to serve and protect you even if it means sacrificing my own life."
"You'll do anything I say?" Amy asked surprised.
"As long as it is not evil, within my abilities, and within reason, yes," Shadow said, "Your wish is my command."
Amy thought for a moment before saying, "Use your magic to sprout wings and fly me home."
Shadow said an incantation and large black feathered wings sprouted from his back. He swooped forward, scooped Amy up in his arms and flew off in the direction of Amy's house. Thankfully it was now dark so no one looking up in the sky would see a large winged hedgehog flying through the sky.
Amy looked down at the ground below them, her eyes wide in joy like a kid in a candy store. After a few minutes, and several loops and dive bombs later, Shadow landed at Amy's house and set her down on the ground.
"THAT WAS SO FUN!" Amy squealed, "WE HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN TOMORROW!"
Shadow nodded before speaking again.
"One last thing," Shadow said, "That gem around your neck has the capability of storing me inside it. It will be useful since I don't really have a place to stay and I'm not sure your family would approve of me staying in their house. All you have to do is double tap the gem while looking at me to pull me inside the gem. Double tap it again to summon me."
Amy nodded and double tapped the gem on her neck and Shadow vanished into the gem. Amy's mother definitely wouldn't approve of having Shadow in the house so this was a good solution.
"I can still talk to you though," Shadow said from within the jewel, "Don't worry about me talking at the wrong time though. I know when to be quiet."
"Thanks Shadow," Amy said before walking inside.
"Amy is that you?" Amy heard her mother call from inside the house, "Where have you been? I was starting to get worried about you."
"I got held up at school mom," Amy lied, "I'm going to bed though, I'm really tired."
"Alright see you in the morning," Her mother replied.
Amy walked up the main stairs to her house and into her bedroom. She was about to change into a pair of pajamas when she realized Shadow might be able to see out of the jewel. Amy took the jewel off of her neck and placed it under a cup so Shadow wouldn't be able to see out and changed into her pajamas. After changing into her pajamas, Amy did a little bit of homework and then crawled into bed.
"You know you didn't have to cover the jewel," Shadow said form within the gem, "I know when to not look at something."
"Oh, sorry about that," Amy said uncovering the jewel, "Anyway I'm going to bed, I'll see you in the morning."
"See you in the morning," Shadow replied.
Amy turned off her bedside lamp and went to sleep. For the first time in months, she slept peacefully.
***The next morning
Amy woke and gasped as she realized that she had forgotten to set her alarm clock. Amy jumped out of her bed, slipped, and hit her nose on the ground. After a brief period of messaging her bruised nose, Amy jumped back up, hurriedly put her clothes on, grabbed the necklace that Shadow was in and her backpack before sprinting out of her room.
"Mom, I'm late! I'll see you when I get home!" Amy shouted as she sprinted out of the house. In the background Amy heard her mother shout something that was probably a reminder to at least eat breakfast before she went. However Amy was in too much of a rush to hear it.
Amy sprinted down the street sidewalk to the bus stop. As she got to the bus stop however. She realized that she was very late. In fact classes would be starting in just a few minutes.
"Oh no I'm going to be late for class!" Amy panicked, "What am I going to do?"
Amy perked up as she got an idea. She double tapped the gem around her neck and watched as Shadow appeared beside her in jeans and a hooded sweatshirt.
"Shadow how do I use magic?" Amy asked, "You said you would teach me and I am about to be late for class."
"All you need is an incantation and to focus on what you want to accomplish," Shadow said, "Since you are low on time I would recommend stopping time. The incantation for stopping time is 'tempus halt'."
Amy focused all her might on stopping time before muttering "tempus halt." As soon as she did so, the world became completely silent and everything from the birds in the air to the cars on the street stopped moving.
As soon as she muttered the spell, Amy felt as though someone had placed a large weight on her body. She staggered a little bit but did not fall over. Shadow noticed this and smiled.
"Feels heavy doesn't it?" Shadow said, "Magic takes energy. The ability to cast a spell in my world is called mana. The more mana a person has, the more spells they can cast without getting tired. Since this is your first spell you probably feel a little tired. Don't worry though. As long as we get to school within a few minutes you'll be fine."
"Are you implying that I am in danger right now?" Amy asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Not necessarily," Shadow replied, "But in a few minutes you will probably run out of mana from maintaining the spell. Once that happens the spell will shut off automatically. However it is never a good idea to completely drain your mana since it is linked closely to life energy. Drain yourself dry a few too many times and you will get hurt."
"If what you say is true than we should probably get to class instead of standing here while my energy is draining," Amy said. "Now summon those wings of yours so we can fly. That'll get us there the fastest."
Shadow muttered the incantation that summoned his wings before scooping up Amy in his arms and flying off toward the school. Amy stared down at the ground, eyes wide in wonder. Even though she had flown last night the second time around was still amazing. She could feel the wind rushing through her quills and smell the crisp air of the higher altitude. All the while buildings rushed below her. Thankfully time was stopped so no one would see them flying.
After a few minutes of high speed flying Shadow landed at the back entrance of the school before dissipating his wings.
"Alright, now that we're here you should cut off your spell," Shadow said, "In order to do that you don't need an incantation but must focus on resuming time."
Amy did so and things started moving again.
"You've got to teach me more spells after class," Amy said, "That was amazing!"
"I will," Shadow replied, "Speaking of class, I would advise keeping me inside the gem until I have a good layout of your school system. I may have been taught the culture of your world but I want to study it a little further so when I enroll as a student I don't say something or do something odd."
Amy nodded and double tapped the gem. Shadow was immediately sucked inside of it. Amy then went into the school and headed for her classroom. She got in just before the bell rang and took her seat.
Classes went along and the day progressed. Students took notes and things were normal. Amy had lunch her two best friends. They talked about the usual things high school students talked about. All the while no one realized that they were being studied by a black hedgehog from within Amy's necklace.
Eventually classes ended and Amy took the bus home. After getting home she used the excuse that she needed to do homework in order to get to her room. Once there, she released Shadow from the gem.
"That was an interesting day," Shadow said, "You're world is a lot more civilized than mine. Your friends seem nice."
"I'll introduce you to them when you enroll in school," Amy said, "Now teach me everything you know about magic."
"I appreciate your enthusiasm," Shadow said, "You're going to need it."
Shadow sat down and began to give Amy the rundown on how to use and control magic. Meanwhile, across the street, a dark figure watched the two through their window from a roof top. The creature spoke to itself in a language no one on Mobius but Shadow would be able to understand. Roughly translated, it said the following: "So the gokuro found a new contractor. How interesting. Lord Nazo will want to hear this."
There was a flash of light and the creature was gone. Across the street Shadow noticed the flash of light and stopped.
"Shadow, something wrong?" Amy asked.
Shadow turned his head away from the window and back to Amy.
"Make sure you know what I have taught you," Shadow replied, "We may have trouble tomorrow."
A/N I know the second part of the chapter seems kind of rushed but it is just a filler chapter. Other chapters will have a better rounded plot.