He dashed through the group of fighters, smashing them with their own badly aimed bullets. He paused, exhausted, but then the memories came back and he ran to forget, at least for awhile. He heard the sirens blare, but then through it he heard… that inner head-pounding ache. His eyes widened. That was one of the few on the planet he couldn't face. That ache grew, the sirens behind him exploding from the force. He turned to the nearest exit, and sprinted top speed, unbelievably fast, to the Green Hill Zone. He felt the force locate him, focusing and following him. He felt the mental assaults begin. He grinned sadly. He had tried to combate that emotionless state which his pursuer was trying to induce him before, and failed. But now he knew how: using his eternal torment of ever-present memories as a shield. The only benefit of his pain was the ability, perhaps curse, of avoiding mental influence. He embraced the thoughts inside. All at once they came: Tails, laughing and rebuilding his plane; Cream and Cheese, making flower crowns for everyone; Knuckles, fighting beside him and blushing as Rouge landed nearby; and Amy, beautiful Amy, chasing him, loving him despite himself and his need to run. The tears flowed down. He remembered when he had realized he did love her, the night he had damned her, when he had damned everyone else he had loved. Thus leaving him to fight for his life everyday, and to possess the knowledge that it was all his fault. His mind ran through all the lost: Espio, Vector, Charmy, Big with Froggy, so many gone. The hunter's assault had stopped, but he was too far into his own mind to recover again. He fled back to the Green Hill Zone, curled up in a tight ball, and sobbed.

/

Originally, Shadow was a tad reluctant to help me out.

"Why the f*** do I care? Go to h***! Leave me alone you hyperactive freak!"

Okay, more than a little reluctant.

"C'mon, you black and red scaredy-cat! Tails needs your help, and you'll get your emerald back, you just have to find it! Besides, you like going Super Shadow!"

"But not Shadic, that was only for an emergency and after we kicked butt, rumors about us being homosexual spread for weeks!" He poked his finger angrily into my chest."I don't know about you, Faker, but I am not, nor will I ever be gay! Now go away! I don't even like Tails!"

"Yes you do, you liar!" I pulled on his arm. "Let's go!"

"Not a chance!" He pulled away. "Now leave me alone!"

"Not unless you help!"

"Arrg! Fine, you made me do this! CHAOS CONTROL!"

I felt a surge as Shadow began to warp away, but then time slowed and Negatem spoke:

"My lord, I can control his power as easily as mine own. Would you appreciate assistance in restraining him?"

I grinned. Shadow couldn't flee this time. "Yes, I would."

Time normalized, and the surge stopped dead. Shadow blinked at me and gaped.

"Wha- How did you do that? Never mind, must be a fluke. CHAOS-"

This time I didn't even let him finish. I drained the energy before he could build it.

Shadow nearly fell over in shock. Then, his eyes narrowed. He gritted his teeth and he began to take off his bracelets. My eyes widened. He wouldn't… "NEGATEM! STOP HIM NOW!"

Shadow froze, unable to move.

"Whew! Thanks." I sighed.

"Why did you become agitated, master?"

I shuddered. "When Shadow takes off those bracelets, he releases all control over his power and lets all his energy flow at the same time, usually destroying everything around him. It's called a Chaos Blast. He does it involuntarily when enraged, and when he needs a massive boost of power."

"I understand your concern. However, how will you persuade him? Perhaps I can assist."

"How can you do that?"

"I can appeal to his mind directly, and if all else fails then threaten his sanity."

"Uhh… we'll keep it in reserve, but I'll try it the old-fashioned way."

"As you wish."

I sighed. Shadow was still frozen, but he was glaring at me.

"Negatem, can you make it so he can't move, but can speak."

"Indeed."

Shadow immediately began spouting obscenities. I sighed again. He was impossible when he got this way. I drew in a huge breath.

"SHADOW! SHUT THE F*** UP YOU ARROGANT PRICK!" I bellowed.

He stopped, bewildered. I so rarely used that swear that less than four people had ever heard me, and one of those was Eggman.

"Look, I'll talk, you listen, then vice versa. Okay? 'Cause afterward, you can say that I bribed you or something."

Shadow nodded, still a little shocked.

"Look, long story short, I found a massive power boost in something I didn't think existed." I focused, then pulled the Black Emerald out of my system. Shadow's eyes looked like they were going to pop out of their sockets. "It- He- Well, this guy persuaded me to take it cause he told Tails we could get Cosmo back." I reabsorbed the Emerald.

"But she's pretty freakin' dead. I mean, she blew up into a kajillion little pieces, right?"

"Yeah, I realize that, that's why it's gonna take both of us with this guy to accomplish it. I wouldn't ask you if we didn't need it. You know that."

"Okay, I get that. Now why should I help? What do I get out of helping Tails?"

"Well, A: you sleep better at night, and B: you love power, and you get to experience something pretty dang powerful."

Shadow looked at me oddly. "Well… I suppose I'll help. But anyone says we're gay, Faker, and I rip your face off, Emeralds or not!"

I grinned. Shadow knew the score. He hates helping, but likes the attention, and we both hate it when people tell us we're gay because we form Shadic.

"Okay Shadow, you got a deal. Now let's go!" I turned to leave.

Shadow growled. "A little help, perhaps, Sonic the Idiot?" He glared at the sky in exasperation. "Honestly, how in the h*** did you become a hero?"

I winced. I forgot to unfreeze him. "I suppose I deserve that." I instructed Negatem to let him go.

Shadow stretched. "Yeah, let's go, imbecile. Let's go. I gotta get two hundred rings, then I'll get three Chaos Emeralds and meet you at Amy's, got it?"

"Why Amy's?"

"Because I know she'll stop me from throttling you or kicking your butt and rolling out with the Emeralds."

Well, I should've seen that coming. I gave him a thumbs up and a wink. "Sounds good, now let's roll!"

///