Love Is For Fools

Trinita: Chapter 2, everybody! Sorry it took me so long, but I was busy up, ya' know! Anyway, I hope you like this chapter! ;)

Chapter #2:

"No, please! Please don't do this!"

"Oh, stop whining! You were losing him anyway!"

"Jariah, can't you hear her? How can you love her?"

"Sorry, Shadow, just...Nana, let's go!"

"YOU WILL NOT LEAVE ME!"

"Shadow, you can't make me stay!"

"JARIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

"AHHHH!" Shadow cried as she woke up from her nightmare, sweat drenched. Not again, Shadow thought, If I keep having these dreams, I'm done for. Shadow got up, and decided since it was morning anyway, she needed to eat something light, and go train. She refused to sit around all day thinking about Jariah...he wasn't worth her time anymore. It had been four years...it was time to move on.

Tails walked in on Shadow doing press-ups, and smirked. Here Shadow was, after practically being smothered in love by the General, and what does she do? Train! Of all things! "Shadow!" the kitsune called out, running towars her friend. Shadow looked up, and scowled. What did Tails want? Didn't she have her wedding to plan for, after all?

"Shadow, you can't avoid it!" Tails giggled in a sing song voice, "You're. In. Love!" "Oh, please, Tails...don't be petty!" Shadow hissed, "Besides, I'm a grown woman. I don't have time to worry about Spartan Mobes. I need to worry about training myself to be at the peak of ultimate strength!" "Shadow, give it up!" Tails scoffed, "I saw the look on your face when General Sonic kissed you. It was if Heaven had opened up to you, and you could reach the tip of Mount Olympus!"

"ENOUGH!" Shadow bellowed, landing on the ground, "It's been a week since I've seen or heard about the General, and I wanna' keep it that way!" Tails watched as Shadow grabbed her animal skin bag, and headed towards town. Wonder if I should've told her that Sonic's downtown today with some of his army, Tails thought deeply, then decided, No...I'm doing the right thing!

Downtown, Shadow was clearing a list of spices she needed for her dinner that night. As she placed a twist of ginger in her basket, she heard a rumbling of deep voices in the distance. Please, don't let that be..., Shadow thought painfully, but upon turning around, had to stifle a scream as she saw Sonic (who didn't notice her) conversing with a military entourage. I can't let him see me!, Shadow panicked, and started to back up. However, the ebony hedgehog didn't notice the wheel barrel behind her, and the next thing Shadow knew, she was screaming, heading down the hill.

"Shadow!" Sonic called out, and ran past his friends at an unbelievable speed. Shadow tried desperately to grab onto something, but nothing good came along. Sonic grabbed at a vendor's tent, and just before Shadow could pass, grabbed one of the handles of the wheelbarrow. However, the sudden stopping force caused Shadow to fly into the tent behind her, and crash painfully onto the ground.

"I'm so sorry!" Sonic sincerely apologized, helping Shadow to her feet. The ebony hedgehog was shivering in pain and in embarrassment. "Please" Sonic continued, "Let me-"
He suddenly cried out as Shadow's hand made a severely unpleasant clap sound against his cheek. "Don't you ever do that again!" Shadow growled angrily, storming off. Sonic stood there, wide eyed and confused. Had he just gotten slapped for...helping someone?

Shadow cooked her dinner in fury, bits of ginger and parsley flying everywhere. "HOW DARE HE!" Shadow screamed, particularly to no one, "FIRST KISSING ME, AND NOW MAKING ME THE LAUGHING STOCK OF SPARTA! THAT...THAT...THAT BASTARD!" Shadow threw her cooking knife towards the wall, and winced when she saw the hole created. She would have to pay to get that fixed later.

As the hedgehog paced back and forth angrily, she heard a knocking and yelled, "WHO IS IT?" "The General" a voice replied. "GO AWAY!" Shadow roared, "Haven't you done enough today?" "Please!" The voice begged, "It was an accident! I was only trying to help!" Shadow snorted steam, but finally decided to hear Sonic out. "Five minutes" she barked as Sonic came inside. At first confused, Sonic realized that Shadow meant he had five-well, now less than five-minutes to explain his quick actions at the market.

"You were going at a very fast speed" Sonic explained, "and had I not stopped the cart, you would've went through the tent that was behind you, and crashed into an on coming cart being pulled by oxen. It was easier to have you, sadly, crash into the tent then to let the oxen stomp the life out of you!" Shadow understood Sonic's reasoning. Oxen were easily spooked creatures, and attacked when they felt threatened. Certainly, Shadow would've been a threat.

"Please forgive me" Sonic pleaded, "I was only trying to help!" Shadow watched as Sonic's eyes filled with regret and sadness. Shadow's heart softened for a moment, and she replied, "F-Fine. You're forgiven". "Thank you, Shadow" Sonic exhaled, "Now will you please talk to me?" "NO!" Shadow barked back, "I don't want to talk to you! Just go!" "Tails already told me, Shadow" Sonic firmly explained, "I know that you were hurt. I just don't know by who, or why. If you tell me-"

"I don't wanna' talk about Jariah!" Shadow panicked, and then cursed herself out when she realized she had spoke his name. "Jariah?" Sonic asked, "Shadow, did he hurt you?" "Stop it!" Shadow screamed, "Stop asking me questions!" "No" Sonic protested, "Shadow, tell me! This is obivously eating you up from the inside out. Now talk to me!" Shadow grabbed at her head, everything becoming a tie-dye blur. She wanted all the pain to go away; all the suffering to end. When would she forget?

"S-Sonic" Shadow begged, falling to her knees, her eyes now blurry with tears, "Get out, please! GET OUT!" Sonic bent down, and hugged Shadow tightly. "As long as you cry" Sonic whispered lovingly, "I'm not going anywhere!" Shadow shivered dangerously, risking her pride as she took in Sonic's strong, masculine, protective scent. She loved it...she craved it. Sonic gently kissed Shadow's neck, and whispered, "Shadow...who is Jariah? What did he do?"

Completely giving up the fight, Shadow whimpered, "He was my lover. My boyfriend. He cheated on me, and left with her. I LOVED HIM, Sonic! I L-LOVED HIM!" A waterfalls' worth of tears rolled down Shadow's cheeks as she completely broke down, unable to stay strong any longer. Sonic's heart went out to Shadow, and he coaxed, "Shadow, I am so sorry. You're a strong, beautiful, Spartan woman...you didn't deserve that. If you give me the chance...I can try to mend the damage that Jariah did. I'll give you your heart back".

Shadow looked into Sonic's eyes, and bit her bottom lip. In his eyes was sincerity, but all Shadow could see was eventual decietfulness. She couldn't trust Sonic. Besides, she had done too much already. She had kissed him, and given him her heart's regret. The line had to be drawn. "No" Shadow whispered, getting to her feet, "NO! Get out! And I swear...tell anybody about this, and you will die a slow death!"

Sonic rose off his knees, and replied, his teeth gritted, "NO. I won't leave you, Shadow. I AM NOT JARIAH!" "The hell you are!" Shadow bellowed, her heart breaking beyond repair, "You men are all the same! You're nothing but lies, sex with whores, more lies! I WON'T GO THROUGH THAT ANYMORE! NOT ANYMORE!" "Don't do this, Shadow!" Sonic replied, near tears himself, "Don't lock out a good Mobian because of what another did! I'm not Jariah, Shadow, I swear it! I can love you! I want to love you, and I have the upmost respect for a women of your strength. Women can survive without men, but only for some time. Soon, the cycle needs to go on, and a women needs a man for that. Shadow...you can't mend your heart alone. Please...you need me...and I want to help".

Shadow trembled. The cycle needing to go on...Sonic meant children. He had only known her for a day! How could he really feel all of this in a day? "I don't want to feel this way" Shadow whispered, more to herself than Sonic, "I don't want to...love". "Everyone needs love, Shadow" Sonic explained, taking the Fobian in his arms, "I'm willing to give it, and have plenty to spare". Shadow quickly brushed Sonic off her body, and hissed, "Go home".

Sonic looked at Shadow. He was going to get nowhere tonight, but maybe tomorrow would be better. Walking to the door, Sonic whispered, "Shadow...I know this is hard for you to believe, but...I do love you. Just give me the chance to prove it". After that, Sonic disappeared into the afternoon light. Shadow didn't want to admit it, but...she felt as if she had let something sacred slip through her fingers.

Trinita: Yes, it's been a while, but I hope you enjoy this chapter! Review are appreciated!