Ramification 1.
If you think that Shadow and Amy went to
Jungle Zone South Island you read Line 1
or
Lake Mystic Ruins you read Line 2
Line/Version/Choice 1: "The Time Without Blue"
Jungle Zone South Island:
The black and crimson hedgehog took the fourth chaos emerald out of his pocket.
"Give me your hand," demanded Shadow.
Amy obeyed. For some reason she couldn't be obstinate, not now, not with him around. She reached her hand out to him obediently. He grasped her wrist.
"Chaos Control," he said, and they were gone with a flash of green light.
They warped on a glade in a thick rain forest, scaring away a flock of birds.
Shadow let go of Amy's wrist and said, "I remember you told me you practiced running. Now, show me what you've got."
"What concern does running have to do with Chaos Control?"
"A very slight. That particular skill won't solve all of your problems, you know. If you want to be trained by me – you either will be trained properly or you won't be at all. Now stop talking and start moving!" And with these words Shadow was off.
It took Amy a couple of seconds to realize that the race was already on. She ran after Shadow; she was going all out trying to keep up with him. Shadow didn't exert himself at all. He was watching her run attentively. He noticed that Amy's style resembled Sonic's very much. She was exhausting herself by trying to move her feet as fast as she could. Shadow on the other hand knew another style, his style.
He accelerated a bit and reached the start point first. Amy ran up to him. She was already tired and was panting heavily after only one circle.
"I have to admit that was a pathetic performance," he sneered, "I wasn't even trying to outrun you. Being at that level you expected yourself to catch up with Sonic?"
Amy at that moment was trying to catch her breath, "I know, I'm slow, I can't…"
"That's not exactly what I meant. You may be able to run faster. What is your shoe size?"
"What do you need it for?"
"I'll check what GUN has in stock. Maybe I'll find something useful for you."
Amy told him the size.
"Very well," he said and started to slowly walk around the girl, examining her thoroughly.
Amy felt uncomfortable being watched so carefully. "W…what are you looking at?"
"Uh?" distractedly asked Shadow.
Amy repeated her question.
"I'm trying to figure out how much time it will take to get you in good form…"
"I am in good form!"
"Yeah, sure. For a clumsy person, you are." Shadow remarked sarcastically.
"You! Why are you mocking me?!"
"What? I'm judging from the facts – you are undisciplined."
"Oh, I'll show you undisciplined!" she almost screamed and her hammer appeared in her hand.
"Again, about time. I wanted to acquaint myself with your fighting technique as well," replied Shadow, who dodged her attack.
Amy fixed her eyes on Shadow and tried to hit him again. Again he dodged her attack easily and this time he caught her hammer's handle. With one single quick movement, he wrenched the handle out of Amy's hands. She, not quite expecting that, went out of balance and plopped down on her bum.
"Why is that always like this with you?" he asked, grinning. "I'll tell you."
Amy silently stared at the other hedgehog from the ground.
Shadow twirled the hammer in all sorts of ways, trying to find its balance. He stopped the motion and weighed it on his hand, then he continued to play with it.
"I'll tell you," he proceeded, still not looking at Amy, "This weapon in your hands gives you the false feeling of safety and power. You think that no one can beat you when you are holding this, don't you? But it has no power in it. All weapons are only toys meant to be tools of distraction or protection. The only thing - or it's better to say a person - capable of protecting you is yourself. This is not the ultimate weapon," he said and stretched the hammer to the girl, " But you - may become."
"Why are you telling me all this?" she whispered, grabbing the hammer's handle and getting up.
"Because you'll have to learn to control yourself before learning to control time and space. You'll have to become more than a person you are now, more than a silly fan girl."
"…Why are you so cruel to me?" she said in a hurt tone.
"Or am I? It wasn't my idea to be here now. It was your choice."
"I never expected this…"
"And you thought it will take two nice hours over a cup of tea to learn?"
"No!"
"How much time have you spent on "mastering" fighting?"
"Three years…" she mumbled.
"Well, I'm not quite sure, but in our case a month of intense training will have done its part."
"You'll train me for that long?"
"Hmph, since I already took this up, I will. But remember I'll ask every day back."
"Now, that's nice."
Shadow glanced at her shortly, but didn't reply.
"Come here," he called after a long pause.
Amy walked up to him.
"Now let's do what you've come for. Do you feel the energy flowing in you or maybe around you?"
"Umm, not quite…"
"That was predictable, since you're always wasting your attention on only "important stuff"." Shadow explained, "Try to stop your inner dialogue and sense the pulsation. Don't close your eyes – it won't help. And now…" he said and gave her the emerald.
Amy was fighting her own thoughts at the moment. Her inner voice wasn't willing to shut up even for a moment, but then she felt the emerald in her hand. It was warm and it was beating like a small heart and that surprised her.
"It's alive!" she exclaimed.
"Not quite. Emeralds transform our thoughts and emotions into power, as well as accumulate it. That's why it's important to maintain mental and emotional balance."
Amy was listening attentively, taking every word in, while Shadow continued speaking.
"And for some reason energy never stands motionless. It always pulsates. Do you feel it?"
"Yes, I do…" she answered quietly.
"Good, I think that should be enough for now. Practice maintaining balance on your own. That will help us move forward faster." Shadow sighed and took the emerald back. "Time to return home, Rose. It's getting dark."
He placed his hand on her shoulder and used Chaos Control. This time Amy felt some kind of vibration as Shadow performed that move.
They warped near the skyscraper.
"Should I walk you home?" suggested Shadow.
"No, thanks. I don't want anyone to see you with me."
"I understand. 'Till tomorrow; same time, same place."
"See you," Amy said and started to walk away.
"And Amy!" Shadow called after her.
"What?" she glanced back at him.
"Next time wear something more apt for the training. Not the dress."
Amy froze for a moment and then enunciated: "Don't worry. I will."
"Fine."
"Goodbye, Shadow," and Amy continued to make her way home.
"Bye, Rose," echoed Shadow mostly for himself.
CruelFriedDragon: This is the 2d chapter of line one. Shadow is acting in a guru like manner, but it suits him don't you think? And Amy submits to him. She must be really interested now. Go on, pink apprentice, learn the basics of the warriors path.
Line/Version/Choice 2: "Secrets are meant to stay secret"
Lake Mystic Ruins:
"So you prefer to go to the lake?" asked the black and crimson hedgehog.
"Certainly. I'd like to. That lake is one of the most beautiful places I've been to."
"But will it serve our purpose?" doubtfully asked Shadow.
"Umm, as I remember there is much space and I'm sure it's the quietest place we can possibly find."
"Ok. Give me your hand," demanded Shadow.
Amy stretched her hand to him. Shadow griped her gloved palm and Chaos controlled them to their destination. They warped on the shore of the lake. The lake's surface glittered under the rays of setting sun. The view was absolutely gripping. Amy sighed rapturously as she saw this, but the scenery didn't impress Shadow that much, though he admitted it was beautiful there.
"So let's start, shall we?" he suggested.
"Yes. What should I do?" asked Amy.
"I remember you telling me you practiced running."
"Yes, and I'm making progress!"
"Is that so?" Shadow twitched an eyebrow, "Then show me what you've got!"
And as soon as Amy heard those words Shadow was off.
It took Amy a couple of seconds to realize that the race was already on. She ran after Shadow; she was going all out trying to keep up with him. When they were passing by a huge moss-grown rock, Amy slipped on the ooze-bank and fell into water with a splash. Shadow, who was watching her every movement while running, hadn't enough time to catch her before she fell.
"Ahh, shoot!" cursed Amy, while Shadow was helping her climb out of the water. "I'm all soaked through!"
"And what do you expect after falling into a lake?" sarcastically noticed Shadow.
"Oh, man. It's cold out here," she said, chattering and shivering.
"Hmph, I think our training has to be cancelled for now."
"You th…th…think ssso?"
"Yes," Shadow embraced the shivering girl to try to heat her up. "I really think so."
Amy snuggled up to his black fur for more warmth.
"I'll take you home. We'll give our training a new start another day, I promise," he said.
After that he transported them back to downtown.
In the meantime, Tails was giving his new aircraft a test flight. It wasn't only a high-powered biplane, but a highly maneuvering racecar at the same time. He managed to merge them perfectly, so the mechanism worked well, but it still had some weak points his work was underway on.
He was flying over a lake near his workshop when he noticed Amy chasing after Sonic. Tails would not usually pay much attention to that, but suddenly Amy fell into the water. Sonic helped her out, and before Tails could look away they vanished before his very eyes.
"What?!" his mind screamed instantly, but the two tailed fox wouldn't be called a genius for nothing. He suspected something.
"Either Sonic decided to use Chaos Control to take her home in a moment or it wasn't Sonic. But who else would Amy chase?" thought a perplexed Tails. "I need to talk with Sonic about that."
And the mechanical engineer navigated his aircraft to the city.
"Where do you live?"
Amy told Shadow the address.
"Hmph, never been there. Can you show me the way?"
"Sh…sh...sure," answered Amy.
"Very well," he took the shivering pink hedgehog on hands and asked, "Where?"
She pointed straight ahead. He set off with an incredible speed. Amy barely had time to point to which way they should go. The buildings flashed by, blurring before her eyes, as they made their way. The ordinary pedestrians and even cars seemed to be staying still. Amy got a bit carried away by the sense of motion at high speed, so at first they passed her house by without noticing it, but soon she realized this and they returned back.
Shadow carefully let go of her.
"Thank you, Shadow," said Amy, standing on the ladder that led to the front door.
"Don't mention it," he replied offhandedly. "See you tomorrow. And tomorrow we will go to the jungle, so... don't wear a dress, but something more sport like, ok?"
Amy nodded. "I will. Thank you again and good bye, Shadow."
"Bye, Amy," he said, seeing how the wet pink hedgehog entered the house.
CruelFriedDragon:Shadow carries her home. I don't see anything personal in that. She would have caught cold if he didn't. Just a normal gesture.
And I know this always happens. They are colourblind, aren't they? How can you mistake Shadow for Sonic? I don't know, ask Sonic Team.
I promissed a story with two different paths - here you have it. :) Is it understandable?
Review, please)