You guys are just ^.^^.^^.^^.^ Thank you so much for the kind feedback! I appreciate it sooooo much! Special thanks to PoeticLover1996 for inspiring me to finally post this chapter!

Enjoy the next chapter while I ugly sob.


Cream was quick to doze off, while Charmy was still on his sugar high. While Vector chased after Charmy around Knuckles' house (hoping that nothing would break so that the echidna won't break them), Tikal slipped outside.

She found Espio lounging against the house, throwing spikey things at the tree across from him.

"I apologize for interrupting your concentration," she said, and the chameleon looked up mid-throw, "but I have to ask; whatever are you doing?" She gestured towards the weapons, "With...whatever those are?"

Espio cracked a smile and sat up straighter. "These?" he poised one between his forefingers, the metal giving off a strange, intriguing glow in the moonlight.

Tikal nodded. "Indeed." She found herself sitting down, close enough to where it was in her reach, but didn't dare touch it.

"They're called shurikens, or ninja stars, if that's easier for you to remember," Espio explained. "At least, that's what Charmy and Vector prefer to call them. I always choose the road less traveled."

"Interesting..." Tikal hummed. She started to reach, then held back with hesitation. What am I doing? This didn't go unnoticed by Espio. "So those are...weapons?" She hugged her knees.

"Mhm." He nodded.

"And you use them to...hurt people?"

Their gaze lingered, Espio noticing that hers drifted back and forth between his irises, finding his to be doing the same thing. She was honestly curious, and he had heard of her from Knuckles himself; this girl was all about peace. She didn't understand that the world needed violence. Sometimes violence was the answer, otherwise he and the gang wouldn't be what they were today. At least they used their abilities for good instead of evil.

Shadow was still debatable...

"Only those who try to harm the innocent," he said finally. "Personally, I try to solve the problem before it escalates. But Vector and Charmy like to jump in the action." He shrugged.

"I see." Tikal nodded and she even smiled some. This boy didn't seem so bad-and the others didn't either-but there was something different about him, as cliché as that sounded. "Well," she got to her feet, "it's quite late. I'm sorry for disturbing you."

"Wait!" Espio said too eagerly, and she turned around.

"Yes?" she asked, almost sounding hopeful.

Espio let out the breath he was holding. "You weren't disturbing me. Um...you can stay out if you want, but I can understand if you're tired."

Tikal, after a beat, smiled and sat back down next to him.


SLAP.

Sonic jerked awake, "OW!"

This also woke up Amy, who came to with a start, she and Sonic's head brushing together; his arm was also wrapped around her.

But they don't know that.

"Good, you two lovebirds are awake," Shadow deadpanned.

"Uh, technically, we're hedgehogs," Sonic corrected.

"One more word and you'll wish you were born with a vagina," Shadow threatened, and Sonic was quiet.

Ignoring their 'brotherly love' expressed for each other, Amy asked, "Any news?"

"Yeah," said Shadow as Sonic and Amy, whom just started to realize where they were, scooted away from each other. "Tails knows where the Doctor is."

"Where?" said Sonic.

Shadow paused before he finally answered:

"Apotos."

To the other two's surprise, Sonic's face darkened for a split second before it cleared out. Amy had an idea why; was he possibly thinking of his werehog form? He was cured, wasn't he? Dark Gaia was gone, right?

For those who don't know, Apotos is a city that Sonic had been when he first transformed into a monstrous form called the werehog. He had been very intimidated and felt bad by himself because people had thought of him as a monster. When he was in that form, everything was heightened, sans the speed. Strength, agility, feelings...

"Apotos, eh?" Sonic said finally. "Shouldn't be too bad! I'm gonna go talk to Tails for a sec."

And he was gone in a flash of blue light. Amy got to her feet, as if to follow him, but couldn't bring herself to.

A hand lay on her shoulder, causing her head to snap up, and her eyes met a pair of red ones.

Shadow didn't even need to say anything. Amy was like a little sister to him; he had a protectiveness over her and Cream as the years passed and friendships tightened.

"I'm okay," she said. "I'm just..."

Shadow nodded and, since he wasn't that good with affection, awkwardly patted her on the head. Amy giggled a little. "I know."


Sonic was quieter the next day. He nor Tails would tell what they had talked about, and it was killing Amy.

All of the Sonic Heroes were present, sans Knuckles and Rouge and Big (who hadn't been around in a while), including Tikal and Vanilla. Tails was telling the group the plan, even though not all of them will be going, but just so their friends would know what was going on-Sonic, Amy, Tails, Cream, and Shadow were going to Apotos to search for Eggman. Tikal was to stay behind with Team Chaotix watching her, but she does have her freedom (I mean, she did help Sonic's inner circle a handful of times).

"...any questions?" Tails asked the group, and there was hushed chatter; but no one asked anything out loud. "Sonic, you got anything to add?" he asked the speedster, who shook his head. "Alright then! We leave tonight at seven-see you guys around!"

As the group began to disperse, Amy walked up to Sonic.

"You okay?"

He jumped, almost as if he just realized that she had been standing there. "What? Oh, I'm fine! What makes you think that I'm...?-"

"I just noticed that you've been pretty quiet lately, that's all," said Amy. "Anything you wanna talk about?"

Sonic was already shaking his head. "What? Just because I'm quiet, that automatically assumes that there's something wrong with me? Can't a guy just not say anything for once? God, Amy, why are you so nosy? You should just stay out of my business! I don't see you pestering Shadow all the time."

And with that, he was gone at the speed of sound, leaving behind a bright blue streak and a broken heart.

Shadow was at her side immediately. "I'll go talk to him," he said, pulling out his chaos emerald. "Chaos...Control!"

He was gone in a flash of green light, and Amy sighed.

"C'mon, Sonic, this isn't you..." she whispered.

::.::

"Alright, dear, now you be careful," Vanilla was saying as she hugged her daughter.

"I will," Cream promised; Vanilla had been wary at first, since Cream had started the hero business at such a young age, but now that she was a little bit older, there was more trust and freedom there. But of course, a mother could still worry.

"You too, dear," Vanilla told Amy, pulling her in for a hug too, the pink hedgehog greatly accepting. "Take care of each other."

"We will," Amy said with one more squeeze, and the hug was over.

Sonic and Shadow finally made their appearance about ten minutes later, exchanging knowing glances as they appeared at the top of the hill. By then, Vanilla was gone, and it was just the five teens.

"Alright, guys, do we know the plan?" said Tails to double check.

"Yepperoo!" said Sonic.

"You and Shorty will take the Tornado," said Shadow.

"And Shadow and I'll run Amy halfway..."

"And I'll Chaos Control us the rest of the way when we're close enough."

"Right! Make sure you have your communicators on ya and-"

"Our cell phones, walky-talkies, yada yada yada," said Sonic with a simple wave of his hand.

"We got it," said Shadow bluntly.

Tails smiled sheepishly.

After putting their bags in the back, the three hedgehogs, after saying goodbye to the youngest in the group, went back up to the hill.

"So how're you both gonna carry me?" Amy asked, confused, and the two hedgehogs just stared at her. "What, Sonic said that you both will-"

"We take turns when the other gets tired," Shadow sighed impatiently. He didn't mean to be so...well, colder than usual. This was a very important mission for him. If there was some crazy way that they would actually succeed and he'll see Maria again...

It wasn't impossible. A Robotnik had created him in the first place. And Ivo was as smart as his grandfather.

"Okay, so..." Amy looked between hedgehogs, heartbeat racing; she didn't really want to be carried by Shadow, but at the same time, she wasn't so sure about Sonic either. Was he still mad? Did he want nothing to do with her? The thought made her eyes flicker to the ground.

"I'll go," Sonic piped up, and their eyes met for the first time in hours. Sonic gulped, and Amy licked her lips nervously. "I'll, uh, carry ya, Ames."

Ames.

"Really?" Amy's eyes brightened some.

"Yeah." He smiled at her before meeting Shadow's eyes over her shoulder. "I want to." He held his hands out and bent down, scooping her up in his arms. His abrupt actions caused a rosy blush to rise in the pink hedgehog's muzzle, but she wrapped her arms loosely around his neck anyway.

"'Kay..." Amy ducked her head, and Shadow fought a smile.

"Race ya to the horizon?" Sonic challenged.

Shadow smirked. "You're on, faker."

The two hedgehogs were already off in the distance before Amy could scream in protest.


Ah this update sucked but oh well, the next one will be better! This was a filler.

So what did you guys think anyway? Is there something between Espio and Tikal? Will Sonic and the team ruin Eggman's evil plans before it's too late? How will this affect Shadow emotionally? Why am I asking YOU all these questions?