Oh womankind was born for pain

My soul keeps hurting just the same

Oh come and take this pain away...

Amy was boiling on the inside.

Her head ached in an unrelenting throb within her skull; her embarrassment was at an all time high, and her self esteem at an all time low. Sonic had taken the cake this time with his attitude! Everything always lead back to him and his way, his unwillingness to compromise with her, to even get on the level with her. For all the guts and words he had during fights and battles, when it came to her, he was tight lipped. To this day, after the many she'd spent trying to know him, she'd come to one conclusion. Sonic the hedgehog, when it came to love, romance and women, made absolutely no sense. He was like Sherlock Holmes – so distant and neutral that it was hard to tell if he had any ounce of romantic interest for anyone or anything.

She cursed the way that even when she wanted to put the imprint of his face permanently into her hammer, she couldn't help but think on him with affection. Why was it that no matter how hard she tried either way, Sonic was always the one whom she allowed to affect her the most?

"I hate that I always have to think about him!" She barked to herself, removing her red stained gloves to dip into the water she'd parked herself close to. She'd resigned herself to lying beside it; her legs were still shaking and weak from the explosion, and running hadn't helped. The surrounding area was consumed in a large, clear lake- one of the biggest on this side of Mobius. She came here to the flower speckled, grass carpeted lakeside often enough- to think, to write, to enjoy a lazy day to herself... or, of course, when she wasn't anxious to run into a certain water fearing hedgehog. She was in such a bad mood, she didn't even bother to throw some of the cool liquid over her face. Truth be told, she was scared of it stinging...

Ugh, Sonic! In front of Knuckles and Tails, too- telling her she couldn't fight, swearing at her even! He had a nerve, after getting his butt saved by her again. He was so ungrateful, so proud, so distant, so... Sonic!

All she ever wanted to do was protect him, fight for what was right, work with him to make Mobius a safe and happy place to live. But participating in the action seemed to get her further into trouble, and further from stealing the blue blurs heart. It was as if the more she did for him, the less she got in return! God, she wondered if this charade he had her in would ever end, if she'd ever be able to figure that guy out... she was so tired of trying to please him to no avail. Was her company, her being there really an annoyance to him? Could it be that after all this time, Sonic still dubbed her a nuisance, even after everything she'd done? Could he still hold contempt for her, after all they'd been through? The thought of that brought a new batch of tears, overlapping the ones previously collected in her eyes from the pain...

I give too much

Get used too much

I lose too much

Get bruised too much

I bleed too much

I need too much

I'm sleeping with the ghosts in my machine

Had she not been so devoured by her own tears, she would have noticed the figure nearby much sooner. When her eyes registered the quills, the small pointed ears, the gloved hands in a shadow approaching beside her - she didn't have enough time to hide, or storm away from him without him having something to say about it.

"God, Sonic! Can't I be alone?" She growled inwardly to herself, not wanting to face him in such a state. Truth be told, she couldn't help but feel a small portion of excitement at him being there so quickly, even if it was buried deep in her anger. She wasn't ready to see him yet, all the same. She was still upset, and wanted nothing more but her space from him at that moment. She tried to soothe the blurring in her vision by scrubbing away some tears, and was startled to find that the figure behind her was coming around to face her, staring at her now with piercing, ruby red eyes. She almost screamed, but her brain beat her mouth to the equation. Shadow...

Shadow the hedgehog was anxious to avert his mind from the gloomy atmosphere that had set over his house since his dream the night before. He'd been wandering the land since early morning- aimlessly, with no set motive. He had been hoping that something, anything would present itself- steal his attentions from his horrible nightmare. It appeared that he found that aversion.

"What's the matter, pink hedgehog?" Shadow approached, arms folded over his white puff of fur. "Can't tell Sonic apart from any other hedgehog?"

"Oh, shove it." She sniffled moodily, without raising her gaze to him. Strange, she was usually such a polite girl... "I-I wasn't really looking..."

"Are you injured?" Shadow now viewed the young, pink female with surprise. Now that he was closer he could see that she was definitely bleeding. He'd never seen her hurt before, usually that annoying blue loser was there to show off for her...

"No, it's Halloween. Do I win a costume prize?" Amy's unusual bitter attitude was another thing that took him off guard. He didn't know much about her personally- heck, he was trying to remember her first name- but he had always found the sight of women in distress troubling, a bothersome image ever since...

"Did he fail to assist you?"

"He fails to be a person I want to see right now. And you're close enough to him, so-"

"This lake is mine just as much as it is yours." His eyes flashed for a moment with defense. "And whatever trivial issue is taking place in that idiots' world... you don't seem to be in a fine disposition." He declared as he made his way to one knee before her kneeling form. He wasn't the nicest guy on Mobius... he probably wasn't even the nicest guy that had lived on the ARK. But he still had the blood of a hero, however tainted it might be. He hated to admit it, but a damsel in distress had often put him into action in the past. She didn't seem enthralled to be getting assistance, all the same.

"Well, I don't need company. I was doing fine and now you're just upsetting me more-" His red eyes thinned at this absurd accusation.

"How? I've barely spoken to you, fool."

"Well youlook like him and I don't even want to see someone who looks like him right now- never mind him!" She ranted in exasperation, and at this he appeared chagrined.

"I do not look a thing like that arrogant bluefaker. And I'm older than he is. If anything, he looks like me-"

"Yeah, well, you look like each other. I don't want to see him right now."

"You haven't answered my question yet." Shadow said simply to the irate girl, who was gloomily playing with forget-me-nots. How ironic, that they should be blue...

"Ugh! Everything reminds me of him! Why!" She snapped, thumping her hand down on them in annoyance. Shadow watched with a reserved interest, and continued again.

"Are you going to answer, or am I wasting my time?"

"What do you want, Shadow." She asked glumly. It was then that something seemed to register in Shadow's mind, and he leaned in with brow tense.

"Did that faker do this to you? Let me see..."

"No, he did not- and NO, you may not, sir! Excuse me!" Her voice got higher in protest as his hands crept near to her face, craning her head back comically from the strange dark hedgehogs' reach. It almost caused him to chuckle.

"You're just going to sit around with blood on your muzzle then? Fine, so be it."

"When did it become your business anyway?" Amy's retort was curt, and Shadow just dropped his arms by his sides, a calm, slight confusion on his relatively emotionless features. The only thing that gave away what he was feeling was his eyes, which held a well concealed amusement.

"It was not, and is not. This was just a feeble attempt to help. No matter. I'll give you space." He shrugged the cold reception off with ease, standing up from bended knee as he moved to leave.

"No, wait, I'm... uh, I'm sorry..." Amy groaned an apology, rolling her eyes at herself as she covered her muzzle with one hand again. "Today just hasn't been my day. You reminding me of him doesn't help-"

"I'll ask you once more only to relent in saying that." He grumbled, eyes holding contempt for the comment. "I'm nothing like him. Why are you so displeased with him? Or have you finally discovered what a moron he is."

"I'm just- ugh! I saved his butt, and he got angry at me for it. He sent me away."

"He always sends you away. You think you'd be used to it-"

"You're no help!" She snapped, getting to her feet in a heat. "You're no better thanhe is!"

"You dare compare me to such lows as that blue idiot?"

"Oh, find your own lakeside already would you?" She groaned miserably, seeing red and feeling a bit lightheaded. Her quick movement to sit back down caused him to assist her on her way, and she looked to him morosely. "And stop looking like him so much."

"You're a test of nerves for a girl." His voice was taut when he snatched his hands back.

"What's that supposed to-"

"Aren't you going to do something about your injuries? You're making a mess of yourself."

"What do you expect I do, pull a first aid kit out of my-"

"Lean forward. Let it run out, here, catch it in something-"

"No!" Amy gasped, tipping her head up again. "It looks bad enough as it is-"

"It looks worse than it is." Shadow said factually. "If it goes down your throat... you'll regret it."

"Oh is that so. And what could I regret more than getting bloodstains on my new dress?"

"Swallowing it. Then you'll start vomiting."

"Lovely." She rolled her eyes, and with reluctance, leaned forward and allowed the blood to run into a rag that Shadow was now holding to her face. "Where did that even come from?" She inquired, realizing it was there.

"What, do you think I just picked it up from the ground? It's mine." Shadow hissed. "What do you think I am, some kind of savage?"

"I'm sorry, I told you I just- I'm not really myself today, anyway-"

"You're tilting your head back again."

"Ugh! I just want to- wait what are you doing?" She recoiled from his hand, which was now moving toward her nose under the cloth.

"I know what I'm doing."

"That's great! Mind letting me in on it?" She sat back for a second time when he reached for her nose.

"I'm just going to squeeze it. Just a little bit..." He reinstated as her eyes flashed with worry, and she hesitantly allowed him a soft grip.

"Why?"

"Just give me five minutes and you'll see why." He huffed impatiently, keeping her small nose in a light hold. An awkward silence blanketed them for a moment before she piped up again.

"Do you know lots of stuff like this?" She muffled, sounding nasal. "Because it could come in handy in battle, you know-"

"Which is why I know it." Shadow gloated without a grin. "I excel in battle."

"So why would you need to know how to fix yourself up if you're so good?" Amy couldn't help this snort of laughter, and Shadow gave her a reprimanding glare.

"Stop snorting, it'll bleed again. I said I excel, not that I was invulnerable. A good fighter can persevere for the next battle, just as well as keep up a fight."

"It's stopped bleeding?" Amy went cross eyed for a minute as Shadow gingerly removed the cloth, examining her nose for a moment to see if any more crimson seeped out. When it didn't, he nodded with a gruff grunt and lowered his hand.

"Looks that way. It does not look too bad." He stood, giving the cloth a shake before submerging it into the lake. "Do not test it. No bending over, no blowing it, no picking it-"

"Oh yeah, that's just what I had planned for tonight too, picking my nose... darn, that's out!"

"You're very ungrateful." Shadow commented simply, looking back at her for a brief moment before wringing out the rag and placing it on a rock. "But it seems to me you could use some knowledge about preserving yourself."

"What do you know, anyway!" She said defensively, looking away. Shadow took a moment to settle his rage, resisting the urge to clout her on top of the head for her sauce.

"I know..." He said through grit teeth "that the faker hasn't bothered with teaching you any combat, or defense techniques. Seeing as I-"

"Wait." A low laugh started in her throat, and the next thing Shadow knew she was on her back, pealing with laughter. "You- you're telling me- don't you have anything better to do, Shadow? Is this what you're doing now-"

His eyes flared with indignation, standing abruptly. It caused her to shut up instantly, and she looked on him with evident concern- perhaps he'd swing one at her, because he looked pissed.

"I think I've wasted enough of my valuable time on you, brat-"

"WAIT!" Amy guffawed, getting up on her knees to reach for him. "I'm sorry, really I am, I didn't mean..." He paused to glower at her with scarlet eyes, waiting for some form of justification. "Were you offering to help me? I don't mind, I haven't trained in a while... maybe I could learn something to prevent this-" she pointed at her now cleared nose "in the future. Are ya gonna, or are ya too mad at me now?" She giggled, and his expression was stone serious.

"Very well. If you're earnest about this, I will take you seriously. But be warned- I am a dangerously skilled fighter. And this will not be easy on you." For once, he smiled. "There are few things in life I enjoy more than a battle."

"That's kind of obvious." She rolled her eyes. "You and Sonic-"

"This will be our first rule of training." Shadow closed his eyes, arms folded. "No Sonic. No talk of Sonic-"

At her look of protest, he held up his hand to silence her before she spoke. "If you want this, you do it for yourself. I won't have my time wasted in some pathetic effort to please that blue fool." Amy appeared glum, but nodded reluctantly.

"Fine, whatever. I'm just sick of being left behind, and told to stay out of battle." She moaned, and though his face had returned to its typical indifferent calm, his eyes were smiling.

"I'm interested in how you'll fare against me in a fight. I'll see you here, tomorrow morning, 6:30 sharp-"

"6:30? Ok NOW you're pushing it Shadow, you are INSANE if you think-"

"See you there." He said stiffly, and with that, he left her in complete disarray by the lakeside.