Next chapter is up.
I do not own Sonic, and I barely know anything about it honestly.
So, sorry if the characters seem a bit OOC.
It was to create atmosphere! Oh well, moving on...


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We reappeared outside an apartment building near the city limits. "Boy, doing that

with two people takes it out of you!" Sonic said in his carefree manner as he pocketed his

Emerald. I was still holding mine. I didn't really care if people saw me with it, it's

mine. Sonic lead the way up many flights of stairs. He was talking about the awards

ceremony they'd been to. When we finally reached the apartment I was ready to collapse, but

that was dispelled by interior. It was a mess! Spare parts were scattered over the floor.

"Sonic, where have you been!" The tiny, two-tailed fox marched from an adjoining room. "By

the way, one of the Emeralds has disappeared. And I think you know where it is!" "Jeeze,

alright! Here!" Sonic tossed the fox boy his Emerald. "But be sure it was for a good and

noble cause!" He stepped forward, and the fox could see me now. "Sonic, who's that? IS

THAT SHA-" Sonic covered his mouth. "Tails, shut up! We just got back from almost getting

caught by GUN." Tails stopped struggling and Sonic let him go. "Okay, I'm calm. Shadow,

is that really you? Are you alive?" "I should think my presence would prove that," I said

dryly. "Wow, you survived a trip right through the atmosphere?" "No." I showed him the

Chaos Emerald I carried. "Oh! Knuckles is gonna have to apologize to Rouge big-time!"

Tails and Sonic laughed, but I didn't get it. I was just leaning against a wall when the

sudden jolt of pain reminded me of my current condition. "Wow, that's one heck of a burn!"

"That's what I said," Sonic said. It was very odd experience, being bandaged by a tiny fox.

"It's really late. We should get some sleep," suggested Tails. "It is midnight, after

all." They showed me to the spare bedroom, and I fell asleep immediately. Much to my

regret…






The station shook violently.

I could feel the deck plating under my feet shudder as I was pulled along.

"We have to hurry, Shadow!"

"Maria, what's happening?"

"They're attacking the ARK!"

She took me to the Control Room and put me in one of the escape pods.

"Maria, what's going on?"

She watched me sadly.

"The bad people outside want to destroy us and you."

"Destroy me?"

"They want to make you evil like them. Promise me you won't be evil like them."

"Of course I promise. Maria, aren't you going to escape too?"

She shook her head.

"I have to launch the pod from here. Shadow…"

I waited.

She pressed the buttons as a blast hit the Control Room.

It knocked her down. She was bleeding heavily.

"Maria!"

She turned her beautiful face to me and smiled.

"Shadow! Give everyone a chance to be happy…"

The pod ejected.

"MARIA!" I screamed as the next assault destroyed the Control Room entirely.

"Shadow! Shadow, wake up! You're having a nightmare!"





I woke up and sat up so suddenly that Tails got flung into the air. Luckily, he

used his tails to hover. "Whoa!" "Sorry! You startled me." I untangled myself from my

sheets as Tails landed. "Are you okay? I went for a glass of water and you were screaming

bloody murder in your sleep!" "Just a memory," I said, trying to push it to the back of my

mind. "If you're sure…" Tails watched me for a second before leaving the room. Deciding

that sleep was out of the question at this point, I followed him to the kitchen. "You

hungry, Shadow?" "I guess…what's this?" "It's Sonic's favorite cereal, Sugar-O's. I

wouldn't eat them if you paid me. Here, I'll make us something." Tails was very good

around the kitchen for such a little guy. I just sat back and watched. I was still holding

my Chaos Emerald. I'm not certain why, I suppose I grabbed it in my sleep…I contemplated

the swirling colors of it's surface until Tails handed me a plate of something he had made

on the stove. "Careful, it's still hot." He had made three plates of this stuff, and

seemed to be peering at the door expectantly. "Sonic sleeps like the dead, but this never

fails to get him up," Tails giggled. Sure enough, Sonic dashed right in and grabbed a fork.

"Goodmorningguys," he said before he began eating like a vacuum cleaner. I tried my

portion. I'd never had anything like it before. It was good! I finished my plate right

behind Sonic.


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How's that for atmosphere?
Tell me what you guys think, I really could use your imput!