Hello hello hello, duckies! How is everyone this fine day? Well, I'm pretty fantastic, because I wrote this chapter last night, mwahah! So I can be all lazy today...until I have to write chapter 5 tonight lol.

Well, I would like to shout out my reviewers!

First, to EvilChalkboard: You, my friend, are the reason this story ever took off from chapter 1. Not that I didn't have material, just that you came and expressed interest. Good on you! Plus, I love your name. Haha. I hope you're enjoying this and that you stick around till the end! ^-^

Next, to Lightning the Hedgehog: Glad you like it! It's an honor to receive a review from a fan dedicated to the original stuff! :D

Also, my thanks go out to everyone who has favorited, followed or even looked twice at this! Now, on with the story!

(By the way, before I begin...I hope this isn't too confusing. It's a hard situation to write for so just let me know if it came across well.)

Chapter 4

"Blaze? Blaze, wake up!"

Shadow murmured quietly, his thoughts a messy tangle sloshing around in his very ache-y head. He rubbed his eyes with the back of a hand and started blinking blearily.

"Are you alright, Blaze? I got the machine to shut down. Not before you fainted, though. Sonic and the others defeated Eggman and said they'd meet us at Amy's place." Shadow glared up at Silver, who crouched nearby, gently shaking his shoulder. He sat up angrily, wincing slightly.

"What, did that flash affect your brain in some way? Now you're stupider?" Shadow cleared his throat. Why did his voice sound…off? Silver sat back on his heels, looking hurt.

"Blaze…I'm sorry I hurt you. Please don't be angry at me." His big golden eyes looked watery. Shadow scoffed.

"I didn't realize you were so wimpy, kid. By the way, I'm Shadow, not your pissy friend." Shadow coughed and tried clearing his throat again. What the heck is wrong with me? Silver started looking confused.

"What? Wait, Blaze what do you—"

"OH MY GOD!" Shadow snapped his attention across the room…where he met his own eyes. Shadow stared at the other Shadow, a knot forming in the pit of his stomach.

"Was…. Was that a duplication machine or somethi—"

"We switched bodies!"

Blaze stared at her own body in horror. She looked down and was met with a white ruff and no clothes. Well, except for some gloves and a pair of very heavy shoes that were cutting off the circulation in her—Shadow's—feet. She looked at Shadow—who now occupied her body—with an expression of disgust.

"Why don't you wear any clothes? Are you some sort of exhibitionist, or something?" Her eyes widened at her very gruff voice. What, does Shadow eat glass? She was met by a matching look of disgust as Shadow put his hands on his hips.

"Why are you just asking me about that now? At least it's better than these constricting rags! God, it's hot in here." Shadow started to take off Blaze's jacket without really thinking.

"EEEEEEEEP!" Silver suddenly yelped and covered his eyes. Blaze stalked over and grabbed Shadow's hands. She narrowed at her eyes down at him.

"Don't. You. Dare." He glared back up at her, scowling. She shivered; It's like fighting with my reflection. Shadow ripped his hands away.

"Fine. I'll take it like a man," he spat. "Now we need to figure out what we're going to tell the others." Blaze tapped her chin with a gloved finger, not liking the masculine texture of the material.

"I don't think we should let them know…just yet. We should just try to act like everything's normal." Blaze folded her hands in front of her, still feeling uncomfortable without clothes. My hands feel so big and clunky…my feet are like cement blocks… How does Shadow walk in these things?

Shadow itched idly at Blaze's fluffy gloves, "They're going to find out soon enough, why not just tell them?" Silver cut in.

"Do you realize how much crap Sonic will give you when—if—he finds out?" Shadow and Blaze locked eyes, twin expressions of terror.

"For once, Princess, I agree with you."

"You know," Blaze answered quietly, "you can call me Blaze." Shadow smirked at her.

"Yeah…but I like pissing you off. For once, I have the upper hand with pushing people's buttons." It was Blaze's turn to smirk.

"…Even though I'm taller than you, now?" They shared a mild chuckle before Silver got their attention.

"Not that I want to interrupt you both finally getting along, but we should really be getting to Amy's if we don't want them to be suspicious." Shadow and Blaze looked away from each other awkwardly and nodded. The trio set off.

Blaze couldn't decide whether to cross her arms over her chest, or walk with her hands folded in front of her. Either way, half of her inherited naked body was still exposed. She looked sidelong at Shadow, who was having trouble trekking through the woods in high heels. Blaze sighed.

"Listen…I know we didn't really get off to a good start last night, what with trying to kill each other, but it looks like we're going to have to work together. So…I'm sorry." Shadow stopped, wobbling slightly at the ankles. He looked up at Blaze.

"Did you seriously apologize just because we've switched bodies?"

Blaze blinked. Shadow shook his head.

"You pretty much just said, 'I'm only apologizing because I have to spend time with you.' Very smooth." Blaze blushed, not that Shadow could see it, due to him having black fur.

"Yeah," she mumbled softly. "I'm not the best at getting my feelings across." She jabbed a finger in Silver's direction. "When we were kids, he used to say I was too chilly, that I made everyone uncomfortable because I never really said much." Shadow grew thoughtful at her story. Out of character, he rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Well, that will help us fake our way through this…because I'm like that too." Blaze and Shadow locked eyes for a moment.

Yes, maybe they didn't hate each other so much. Blaze smiled and turned to catch up to Silver.

Promptly tripping over Shadow's very large hover shoes.

No, she still hated him…and his ridiculous shoes.

Shadow laughed and stepped over her, disappearing into the trees after Silver. Blaze groaned, lifting herself out of the dirt.

The late trio slid through Amy Rose's front door, trying hard not to be noticed. Unfortunately, Rouge bounded over to who she assumed to be Shadow, but who was actually a nervous Blaze trapped in Shadow's body.

"Hey there, Shads. Back late, aren't we?" She winked flirtatiously. Blaze looked over her shoulder at Shadow and Silver, her eyes screaming for help. Silver shrugged and Shadow coughed into a fist quietly. Rouge grabbed Blaze's hand and dragged her to a corner, holding a hand to the side of her mouth and whispering conspiratorially.

"You seem even more wigged-out than before… Nothing else happened with Blaze, right?" Blaze almost asked why Rouge was talking about her in the third person, but caught herself.

"No…nothing happened." Rouge smiled widely.

"Good! We don't want anyone thinking you're cracking, remember?"

"W-what? Cracking?" Rouge shook her head pitifully.

"You're losing it lately. We just talked about this last night! Now just…stand here creepily in the corner like you always do so no one thinks anything's wrong." Rouge waved over her shoulder as she wandered off towards Knuckles. Blaze sat down on the window seat, breathing a sigh of relief. Thank God she didn't notice.

Shadow wasn't having nearly as easy a time trying to be Blaze. He kept wobbling on her high heels and letting his tail touch people. When Amy gasped and hissed, "Blaze!" after his tail accidentally brushed her thigh, he nearly lost it.

She's a…a pushover! Everyone just bosses her around! He gritted his teeth, trying to find somewhere out of the way. Suddenly he found Cream standing before him, smiling. He raised an eyebrow. This was a new situation.

"Miss Blaze," the little rabbit began in her breathy voice, "I'm glad you're back! I wouldn't want you to spend…so much time with Mr. Shadow." Shadow tensed.

"Why…why is that?"

"Because Shadow is so scary! He sits in the corner, glaring out at everyone else, and to be honest," she stood on tiptoes and whispered softly, "I think he may be emo." Shadow's last strand of patience snapped and suddenly, something very, very bad happened.

See, Blaze is a pyro kinetic.

Shadow…well, he isn't.

"BLAZE, YOU'RE BURNING MY CURTAINS!" Amy rushed over with a punch bowl and dumped the beverage on her pink curtains. She turned to face the culprit, "What's gotten into you lately? You're so emotional it's almost like you've turned into Shadow the Emohog!"

"I'm not emo!" Shadow growled, flames forming around his fists. Amy frowned.

"I didn't say you were! I said Shadow was!"

"No I'm not!" Amy cocked an eyebrow but before she could question "Blaze's" outburst, Silver came over.

"Hah, Blaze is just a little worn out. I'll take her into the kitchen and get her some food," he said sheepishly, pulling Shadow into Amy's cozily-furnished kitchen. When they were out of earshot Silver turned on Shadow.

"What were you thinking?! Blaze may be a pyro but she doesn't go around torching everything when people say something that hits her wrong!" Shadow grunted. Silver jabbed him in the shoulder.

"Don't give me that! You don't really have anyone else to turn to right now!" Shadow glared up at Silver.

"Fine. What do you suggest I do then? To control the flames, I mean." Shadow crossed his arms impatiently. Silver leaned back in thought.

"I think you should talk to Blaze. She has something she thinks about, but I can't explain it all that well. She'll help you out." Shadow grimaced at Silver's plan.

"It better not be unicorns, or something lame like that." Silver laughed and slipped back to the party, leaving Shadow in the dark kitchen.