Second chapter as promised. The third will be up this coming Sunday the fourth so stay tuned!

At first glance, his stance was almost casual, even more so than usual. However, a closer look showed that while his stance wasn't particularly wide, it was rooted enough to be prepared for a fight. His brow was raised in questioning and his eyes a piercing red, even more so than usual. Amy's heart jumped as quickly as she did but her fear turned to annoyance very quickly.

"G...Geez Shadow don't scare me like that!" Amy cried as she tried again, in vain, to pull her hammer back, "What are you doing here so early anyway?

"I don't sleep," he said simply as he shifted his stance and let her hammer go, "Neither did Hope last night."

Amy raised an eyebrow, "What happened?"

"Apparently you spooked her at the party last night. Something about a reading?"

Amy froze before she palmed her face, "Oh... geez... she thought that was about her?"

"What else was she supposed to think?" Shadow asked curtly, "According to her you zoned out for a full minute, screamed, then ran out before she could ask what was wrong."

Amy gave a small groan. She banged her head on her own hammer before grinding out, "Sorry about that. I just... I've never had something like that happen before."

Shadow raised an eyebrow, silently willing her to continue. Amy blushed in response, not wanting to tell him about the two of them dancing (or them being married with several kids).

"It's... kind of a weird story," she tried.

Shadow shot her a deadpanned look and folded his arms in response. Amy sighed and willed her hammer away before she sat on the hill and looked over the horizon. She had decided it would be better than looking directly at him.

"It started off when I set the cards down. There was this flash of light and everything faded into it."

Amy paused to let this information sink in. If Shadow needed any clarification he didn't say anything. So she took a deep breath and continued on through the vision.

"Then Hope pointed you out on the dance floor and you were..."

Amy stopped at that point, a blush creeping over her face and her mind going over her dream over and over again.

"I was what?"

Amy's blush deepened at that point and she turned away from him, "Dancing."

She could feel Shadow's eyes on her now, boring through her skull before, "No I wasn't."

Amy had to pause at that one before she let out a small, "What?"

"You're lying," he said, "I wasn't dancing. I doubt my dancing would have made you react that way in front of Hope and the United Federation diplomats. What was I really doing?"

This time Amy swung her head around to look at Shadow, who was still rooted to the same spot, his crimson eyes challenging her emerald green ones. This time Amy was up to the challenge, "Yes you were, I saw you."

"I don't dance."

"You were then."

"I hate dancing."

"It takes two to waltz, Shadow."

Shadow rolled his eyes in response, "This is ridiculous. I don't even know how to waltz."

"Well, that was clear, I was the one teaching you in the vision."

Amy's heart seemed to stop in that moment. Her blush increased tenfold and she swung her head back to meet the horizon. Before she could hear Shadow say anything, she pressed on with her story.

"So... ya I... I just got so freaked out about the vision that I left," Amy finished, "I mean. I don't have anything against you or anything but Sonic's been the focus of my life for so long... it just felt weird you know?"

Shadow stood there for a long moment, but Amy kept her eyes rooted to the skyline. She could feel his eyes on her before she heard him walk the distance from his original spot to sit beside her. When he was settled he began staring at the horizon as though whatever answers were flying through his head could be found in the rising sun.

There was a few moments of silence before Shadow finally spoke, "What are you trying to tell me?"

Amy groaned, "That I don't know what's going on with me or why we're dancing together in the future?"

Shadow had to roll his eyes at that, "If you feel that strongly against having a romantic connection with me, then it's not the future. We make our own paths and if you don't like it, then change it for yourself. If it helps, I'm not particularly interested either."

Amy snorted, "That's a relief."

Shadow gave a smirk, "I thought you would be more happy about that."

"It's one thing for me to say 'I don't like you'. It's another to hear you say the same thing."

"You've had a change of heart then?"

Amy shot a glare at Shadow before playfully shoving him, "You wish!"

Shadow gave a snort before asking, "Did you have any other symptoms?"

"Like what?"

"Headache? Dizziness? Blurry vision? Numbness?"

Amy frowned a moment, "A little dizziness? Everything else was fine. I know it was a real vision I just don't know how to deal with them. I know I'm not crazy."

Shadow smirked, "No more than usual at any rate."

"Hey!" Amy cried out with a glare, "I'm the sanest person here. And you barely know me!"

Shadow raised a brow before commenting, "You're the same girl who came up to a desperate hedgehog who was willing to destroy the world and plead for mercy on their behalf. Has the definition of sanity changed so much in 50 years, or is that still considered crazy?"

Amy rolled her eyes before sighing, "I did that to get you to help. God knows I couldn't yet."

Shadow said nothing to this before he turned away, "You've come a long way on your own. Be proud of that much."

"I am."

Shadow smirked at her response before motioning to her, "Do you have time now? You'll want to apologize to Hope before you leave."

"I don't think we're leaving today," Amy commented while getting up, "Everyone was planning on relaxing here for one more day before going back to Knothole since King Max is planning to talk to the President some more today."

Shadow's brow raised as he led the way, "About what?"

Amy shrugged, "No idea. Maybe it's two leaders talking shop; maybe it's business or something big coming up. I'm not huge on politics and even if I was I don't think I'm important enough to keep in the know about it."

Shadow frowned at that but didn't comment on it. Instead he silently led her through the streets of Station Square. It was at that point that Amy finally realized she wasn't uncomfortable around Shadow anymore.

...

King Max sat before the President's desk, looking over the papers that he had set before him, "Issac... they're being serious about this?"

"I'm afraid so, Max," the President leaned back in his chair while rubbing his eyes, "They've been going on about the return of their duchess for months now, in light of Doctor Eggman's return to power."

"Why wasn't this sent directly to me?" King Max asked, "Amy has been living within the Acorn kingdom for years now serving in the Freedom Fighters. Why is this going to you?"

"They seem to be under the impression that she's been living here for all this time. I can't even begin to imagine why though," the President sighed, "They've been sending letters even as my country was being bombarded by aliens, the earth's crust breaking up, and throughout Eggman's multiple attempts at a take over. Each time they're insistent on Ms. Rose being sent back to the Mercian capital to be reunited with her family."

King Max frowned down at the letters, "King Liam's gone mad! 'Should the duchess be prevented from returning to her rightful home, know that the consequences will be swift and most dire?' What the hell is he thinking, war?"

"I haven't responded to anything they've sent for obvious reasons," the President stood this time, "I haven't told them where she's really been. I ask that you answer these letters in my stead."

The king sighed, "I'll have to speak with Amy about this. I don't personally know the reasons behind her leaving her home. Sending her home without her consent could be problematic."

The President raised a brow, "You're afraid of her? Really Max, she's a child, you need her permission?"

The King smirked, "You've never seen her in battle before? She's quite a sight. She easily keeps up with my daughter and regularly travels with Sonic as one of my most trusted Freedom Fighters. If she doesn't want to go, she won't go."

Now the President's eyes widened, "She would get violent?"

"Only if we forced her into a situation we know nothing about but she does," the King responded, "Allow me to respond to these messages for you. But really Issac, you're afraid of the Mercians? Their quite behind on the technological level and from what I can recall they're facing something of a civil war at the moment."

"I'm not afraid to face them if the need arises," The President murmured, "What I'm not looking forward to is sending my men to massacre an already vulnerable country's soldiers over one young lady. Even less do I look forward to giving Doctor Eggman another possible strong hold so close to my borders."

King Max nodded, "Good point. I'll speak with her today at my earliest convenience. If she agrees, Sky Patrol will escort her to the capital."

"Should she disagree?"

The King sighed, "If she declines for a good reason, then I will respect that decision. Amy has been with the Kingdom of Acorn for a number of years now. She's been a Freedom Fighter for 2 of those years. She's as much an Acorn citizen as she is Mercian. On top of all that... I don't care for what Liam is trying to pull. He's desperate for Amy and it can't be for her parents. You've never received anything from Mercia other than from King Liam?"

The President shook his head.

The King sighed in response, "Then he either speaks on her parent's behalf or his own. Why now? Only in the past few months have they inquired about her whereabouts for the sake of her parents? Who for some reason have chosen to ignore Amy's absence from Mercia for at least seven years until now? That is the definition of a stretch, Issac. They have plans for Amy and I'm not sure I'd care for them any more than Amy would. Whatever the consequences may be for keeping her here against Liam's wishes, they will be far worse than having to face Sonic or my daughter's wrath."

"For one girl?"

"For one girl who may play a greater role than we can possibly understand at this time," the King said sagely, "I have met with King Liam Rose... He's usually far more withdrawn, especially about the things he wants. He's held staunchly to the idea of his kingdom being completely isolated from the rest of the world. If he's reaching out to you it means he's willing to do whatever it takes."

The president contemplated this for a moment before sighing, "You have a point. I'm going to have to do some investigating of my own if that is the case."

The King nodded, "You're under no obligation Issac but... for old time's sake keep me in the loop? My daughter and her friends would be... most concerned if Amy were to run amok of the Mercian court."

The President smirked, "The blood of the covenant thicker than the water of the womb, Max?"

"Especially among the Freedom Fighters, Issac. Was that all we needed to discuss?"

"I believe so."

"If you don't mind? I'd like to take these copies," the King took them carefully in his hands before sighing once more, "Miss Rose will want to see the whole picture and I'm not looking forward to her temper once she does."

...

"So again, Hope, I'm really sorry for freaking you out," Amy apologized, "I've never had that happen before..."

Amy was in the engineering room for Team Dark with Hope, Shadow, Rouge and Omega looking on with mixtures of amusement and confusion on their faces. The room itself was a large one that managed to be the most cluttered place Amy had ever seen. That she'd been allowed in was something of a miracle on its own. The guards at the door and every door from then entrance to the engineering room were all willing to make a ruckus over it. Still, one glare from Shadow set them to silence (one brave soldier even required a growled "Move" before he would budge). Amy had been mildly impressed at the respect ("Fear?" she thought) he'd amassed in his short stay with GUN. Finally, however, they made it to the room where Hope was staring at her project in strange mixture of fear and depression. When Amy finally explained the vision to her (sans the Shadow and her dancing part) Hope's eyes filled with a fervor Amy had only ever felt in herself and seen in her fellow Freedom Fighters.

"Are you kidding me? That's awesome! I'm going to make nanites that could make up the city, that's BRILLIANT! I should start research right..."

"Ahem?"

They both looked back to Rouge clearing her throat and Shadow right beside her with a mildly amused look on his face.

"Why don't you finish the project you've already started?" Rouge suggested, "Then tell the Commander your idea and see if he'll fund something like that."

"Sensors indicate multiple projects cluttering room," Omega, "Should you wish to scrap said projects, I can be of assistance!"

"NO no!" Hope said hurriedly, "You're right, I should probably finish these before I go talk to da... I mean Commander Towers about it. I'm sure he'll be ok with it though. I can't imagine anyone being against the idea."

Amy felt a small tickle in her brain and a feeling of apprehension around her. She wasn't sure exactly why, but she had a feeling that it was a sign for her to leave.

Rouge apparently agreed, because she made a beeline for Amy and grabbed Amy's arm, "We'll just show you the way out..."

Amy got out an indignant, "Hey!" before she felt herself being thrown into that frighteningly familiar fizzling brightness.

...

When the brightness faded, Amy saw Rouge beside her, apprehension deeply apparent in her features.

"What the hell did you do?" Rouge demanded.

Amy froze, fear struck deep in her soul, "Y...you can see it too?"

Rouge looked as though she was going bite out another sharp remark when they were both interrupted by someone shouting bloody murder near them. It was only then that they realized where they were at. They took in their appearance and it looked as though they were in a waiting room of some sort. There were 3 people there, both of whom Amy and Rouge were deeply familiar with.

"Shadow?" Rouge stepped forward, her hand held out seemingly in comfort, "Omega and... you. What... what are you...?"

Suddenly another scream erupted from the room near them and both Shadow and Omega were on their feet again heading towards a door to their left. Amy noted with deep shame that she was there as well, standing by Shadow... her own belly deeply swollen with a baby. Amy stared a moment at the pair, wondering which of the children that one was... or if this was baby number four. She shuddered at the though before she looked at their heads. They wore no crowns this time. She eyed this curiously before setting that thought aside. Her future self held Shadow back by his arm, whispering soothing words about how 'she' was okay and that the doctors could handle it. Omega, however, shook himself out of Amy's grasp and made it all the way to the door before a nearby nurse stopped him and turned him away. He was only called by Shadow, who urged him gently, but still rather apprehensively, to come back.

"Comrade Rouge is in danger," Omega stated sullenly before sitting down.

"Comrade Rouge will be okay," Future Amy replied patiently, "As long as the doctors are left alone and are able to do their job."

Omega regarded future Amy and her belly in particular, "You are 100% certain."

She nodded in affirmation, "The doctors know what to do. And Rouge is strong. She and her baby will be okay."

Amy's eyes widened at the realization and gulped. She'd always assumed that Rouge wasn't the maternal type. She'd never imagined that Rouge would want to have kids, get married or even settle down for that matter.

"Then again," Amy thought to herself, "I don't really know her all that well, do I?"

Amy looked to Rouge, fearing that an explanation for why she was there with Shadow and a baby on the way would be demanded. Instead she found Rouge staring at the door in fear and disgust, her ears pushed back and her fangs clenched and bared all at once.

"That's me behind the door then?"

After another scream ripped through the air, Amy saw a cringe run up and down Rouge's body. Amy discovered something new in that moment- Rouge had never wanted to go through childbirth.

"Then why keep a baby?" she asked herself, "What is she going to do? Is she a surrogate or..."

"Who's the father?" she suddenly thought.

Amy, bidden by a morbid sense of curiosity, moved forward past Rouge towards the door before being violently pulled back by her shoulder. She slammed back down onto the floor and was barely allowed a moment to breathe before a hard and heavy boot slammed against her chest.

"DON'T YOU DARE GO IN THERE!"

Amy looked fearfully up at Rouge and, for the first time since she'd ever met her, understood just how scary she could be. Still, she nodded her acknowledgement and the boot was removed with one last great shove. Amy stood up, absentmindedly noting that the assault hadn't harmed her in the slightest as Rouge made her way towards the door...

And was stopped inches away from it as though by the work of an invisible wall.

Rouge felt along the wall at first rather patiently but when that didn't work, she began to gently knock, then pound on the wall with all her might. Eventually, when another scream ripped through the air, she whirled around to face Amy.

"You say not a word to anyone," Rouge warned through clenched teeth, "If I find you've even mentioned you having this... completely mental hallucination, much less that it has to do with me, you will never see another sunny fucking day again. Got it?"

Amy nodded quickly before moving forward.

"And that's why she belongs on Team Dark," she thought to herself as she passed through the door with Rouge.

When they did, Amy's suspicions were confirmed.

"Alright Ms. Bat," the doctor, a human male in scrubs , called out gently, "This is the home stretch. Just one more push and you're done!"

The futuristic Rouge looked like a mess. Her fur was matted and she was sweating through her pale blue hospital gown. She had make up on, but it was smearing and dripping over her sweating face. Somehow, she'd managed to break the harnesses and so two human nurses were struggling to keep her legs up, apart and still. Even then they looked even more tired out than Rouge was. Although she hadn't managed to break the arm holds on her bed, they were deeply scratched and dented.

"Well thank god for that doc," she managed with a gasp, "Let's get this brat out so we can all go hoOO... AHHH!"

Amy's Rouge looked on in shock, as did Amy. Both were frozen in place and Rouge in particular seemed deeply affected when the scream subsided and a tiny wail took its place. The doctors shielded the baby from their view but Amy could see Mother Rouge slumped in relief after they took the baby away and cut the umbilical cord. The baby continued its cacophony before it was weighed out and wrapped in a pale blue blanket.

"Congratulations, Ms Bat," the nurse handed the baby to Rouge, "It's a boy!"

The Rouge beside Amy took a step back in disgust before turning to Amy, "Take me back."

The Rouge in the bed regarded the baby bat in an oddly calculating way, as though weight the pros and cons of taking her own son in her arms. Eventually, however, she gave in and held her arms out for the little boy.

"Take me back, now, Pinky!"

Mother Rouge looked down to examine the boy. He was a bat, there was no doubting that much. What fur could be seen was completely white like his mother's. But as Rouge gently pat the blanket around the boy's face, Amy saw a small birthmark on his chest...

...A deep, crimson red crescent moon laying on its back...

"I SAID LET ME GO AMY!"

Amy could feel herself being violently shaken through her shock. She wasn't focused on that however. She was focused on Mother Rouge's cold and distant assessment of her own child. Even as the vision began to fade to white the last thing Amy heard from Mother Rouge was, "Have they come to take Micah to his mother yet?"

...

Amy felt herself slumping a bit from fatigue, but not before being violently pushed to the side once more. She felt herself slam against a desk and slump to the floor before regaining full awareness of her surroundings.

She was back at GUN HQ. She was in Hope's workshop. Rouge was being held back by Omega and Shadow was in front of her trying to calm her down.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS ALL THAT FOR, HUH?!" Rouge cried out, "What the hell did I ever do to you?"

Hope looked on in wonder and fear before going to help Amy up, "You... had another vision?"

Amy looked fearfully from Hope to Rouge and then to Shadow's inquisitive but hard look on his face before standing, "I... I'm sorry."

Rouge seemed to freeze before a cold, hard cackle escaped her lips. It cut through to Amy, "Like hell you are. I saw you in there. You were just as much in deep shit as I was back there..."

"I don't know what's going on with me," Amy retorted, fighting back a blush, "I don't even know if that's really the future or not... I don't know what the hell we saw in there..."

A sneer spread across Rouge's face, "Does he know? What future you have in store for him too?"

Amy felt as though Rouge had dumped cold water over her body. She began to shake with fear when Hope looked to her in askance.

"Enough."

Shadow's voice cut through the air. Not breaking the tension between the two of them but enough to get them refocused on the present. Shadow looked at both of them, trying to assess the situation at hand and come to a satisfactory conclusion as to what to do about it. Apparently he could think of nothing. He heaved a sigh and looked to Amy with a weary look in his crimson eyes.

"You should go."

Amy lost no time. She practically bolted out of the room, down thirty flights of stairs and out of the building. She didn't even really know how she found her way out, only that she was out and away from the GUN.