Disclaimer: Sonic and co. don't belong to me. They belong to the dudes and dudettes at SEGA.

Author: Hello guys, I'm back! After much delay and plenty of headaches and self-arguments, Chapter 5 rolls in with a vengeance! Folks, I recently got word that concerned Shade's rather... unique personality... two in fact, and I'm a bit confused... One said that my portrayal of Shade up till now is spot on. While another said that she's a tad OOC. Now, I've played the game, thrice in fact, and if there was something I found interesting was Shade's responses to the characters. In general, Shade appeared calm and simply said things to the point and kept it as short as possible. But what I've discovered from certain conversations in the game that on certain moments when Shade is present in the party she gives the player glares along with a cynical response every now and then. So, that's where I picked up her personality here. And about her temper... well, let's just say that she's going through some things that's very new to her... and it's making her a tad bit moody... Anywho! Enough of my rabble! Read on!

Brief Note:
"_" indicates a character's speech
*_* indicates that the character is speaking through thought
(_) indicates an action between a speech or thought

Nocturnus Reborn

by Sol

Chapter 5: Backseat Thinking

As Sonic and Shade walked down the hallway, silence ringed in their ears like an army of angry hornets. But it didn't seem to bother them at all. They were both far too preoccupied with other things to be bothered by such a small thing. Sonic's thoughts were on his decision earlier. Whether that decision is to accept becoming Imperator or not is still unknown to all but himself. Shade's thoughts were more on what happened a few moments ago...

*That was rather... unbecoming...* Shade thought as she tried her best not to blush once more. She didn't understand what came over her... When Sonic complemented her earlier... something in her just... just...

*What's wrong with me... how could I let myself... ugh...* Shade thought with a defeated expression as she placed her hand on her forehead.

She didn't quite know how to fully describe what happened... but... when Sonic told her how... nice she looked then... she felt... well... She felt like her heart went a flutter with joy. A sense of excitement came to her, as a rush of heat went up her cheeks in a way that felt so... invigorating... But as marvelous as it felt, there was a form of embarrassment that came with it that she just couldn't control.

This was all too unfamiliar to her.

As far back as she could remember, she had never felt this way... There was a sense of wanting in her that she just couldn't quite explain. When Sonic complemented her, she felt so joyful. And there was a feeling in her that she wanted him to say other similar things, if not more. But at the same time, she felt embarrassed... She liked it, but there was a sense of shyness about it.

*What am I doing...* She thought, mentally sighing as she shook her head. *Why am I entertaining such things? It's not as if... I... I...*

As Shade struggled to continue her thoughts, she didn't realize that she had slowed down enough that Sonic had caught up to her. And Sonic, completely drowned in his thoughts as well, didn't realize what was happening and bumped into Shade quite strongly.

"Whoa!" Both of them said, as they tripped over each other and fell to the floor with a powerful thud.

With her guard down, Shade couldn't brace herself for the fall. And because of it, her usually razor sharp senses were at a blurry enough mode that she didn't realize that Sonic was right on top of her... and when she swiftly turned on her back to face up, the tip of her nose brushed against Sonic's...

Realizing what had happened, Shade felt a rush of heat go up her cheeks as she blushed madly.

Shade's eyes fluttered briefly before widening considerably. She didn't know what was happening... Sonic's face was right in front of her... she... she had never had anyone get this close to her before... Never... and the fact that it was Sonic... it stirred something in her...

*I... I never realized... how... how...* Shade thought, her eyes dreamily focusing on Sonic's face that somehow became a subject of interest to her. There was something in her thoughts about how differently Sonic looked... Handsome? Majestic? No... those words pale in comparison to describe the magnitude of how much she adored Sonic's features...

*Adored...?* Shade thought briefly, a tad bit shocked she even thought that about Sonic. But for some reason, she didn't care. Or at least something inside her didn't care. Either way, it didn't matter. She was simply enjoying the view. Though in all honesty, she wished there would be more.

*More...* Shade thought, and along with it, a feeling she has never felt before. Not just any feeling... it was more like... an urge.

Her body wanted something... but she had no idea what. Just then, her eyes looked down towards Sonic's lips... and then it hit her... She had seen many people do it before. As for why, she couldn't really say... there was something in the act of... what was the word... she didn't even knew what it was called, let alone how to do it. But somehow... her body did everything for her...

Slowly... slowly... she leaned forward, her mouth slightly agape as she expectantly wanted to press her lips against Sonic's own. Just to taste what it was like... even for a brief moment... but fate wouldn't grant her the pleasure...

As slowly as Shade closed in the gap between them, Sonic was starting to move away far quicker than she could, as he tried to stand up again.

*No...* Shade thought longingly. She was so close... but Sonic was drifting away... Her inner thoughts wanted her to go further, egging her, coaxing her to do what was natural. She hadn't the foggiest idea what these 'natural' things that her mind demanded. But Sonic was already half-way off of her. Her inner thoughts screamed for her to do something!

*I-! I-I-!* Shade panicked as she tried to sit up. And in her rush, knocked heads with Sonic once more.

"Ow!" They both said in unison as they covered their foreheads.

"Sorry about that." Sonic began, as he carefully rubbed his forehead. Shade doing the same. "I didn't know how anxious you were to get up."

But Sonic's words fell on deaf ears, as Shade slowly collected her thoughts, trying desperately to make sense of what exactly drove her to think the way she did. And more importantly, FEEL the way she did...

*What- What came over me!* Shade thought loudly. At least as loudly as she thought it was... She couldn't quite fathom what happened to her... it was a side of her that she was strongly unfamiliar with.

*What was that?* She continued to think, still unaware that Sonic was kneeling right beside her.

"Shade? Are you okay?" Sonic asked, prodding his finger on Shade's shoulder to get her attention.

"Huh?" Shade replied, her thoughts scattered, leaving her somewhat dazed and incoherent. She then slowly turned to see Sonic right beside her.

"I asked if you were okay?" Sonic said, saying it with a charmingly warm smile. Shade turned to look, and she just melted in that smile. That unfamiliar feeling came back, and she couldn't help but smile back. And not just any smile either. She brought up a smile so warm that it just seemed wrong on her. It caught Sonic by surprise.

"Are you... really okay?" Sonic couldn't help ask again, giving her quizzical look with a tinge of worry.

"Yes..." Shade replied dreamily. Too dreamily for someone like Shade to do... Sonic began to REALLY worry... and feel slightly creeped out.

"Uh... yeah... right..." Sonic replied awkwardly as he stood up, scratching the back of his head.

There was a silence that followed afterward. And it gave Shade enough time to realize what just happened...

Her eyes shot open with shock as she blushed madly once again. Her face was so red that her peach-colored muzzled blended with her quills. She then stood up shakily as she recovered whatever dignity she could possibly muster.

"Yes... well... your concerns are unnecessary... I'm quite well." Shade said nervously as she rubbed the back of her hand. "Let's go... we've wasted enough time."

"Sure." Sonic replied, still feeling a tad bit creeped out by Shade's actions. But as awkward as the situation seemed, the two of them quickly got over it as they went back to meeting with Sonic's 'appointment'.

But what the two didn't know was that there was a little spectator just around the corner. And this little voyeur saw... everything...

"I knew it..."

As Sonic and Shade neared the end of the hallway, the two of them were greeted with New Nocturne's massive front door. They both stopped simultaneously, with Shade right beside the doors. Shade then turned towards Sonic, her eyes gleamed with seriousness.

"Ready?" Shade asked, a tad bit too grimly, yet her tone carried a sense of knowing that seemed smug.

"Always." Sonic said, as he smirked smugly in return. He wasn't the least bit intimidated. He was more curious than anything else.

Shade nodded, and then pushed the doors open wide. Light poured into the room, and for once, Sonic didn't need to flinch slightly by being blinded by sudden searing light. Although he still flinched slightly. Though for a very different reason.

As the doors swung open, Sonic was greeted by a large crowd. All cheering their hearts out at him. It took Sonic by surprise as he stepped back a little.

*What the-* Sonic thought, but was cut off when Shade took his arm and pulled him forward. As he stumbled slightly forward, he turned back to look at Shade. She just shrugged her shoulders as she smirked. Sonic was about to say something to her, when he was interrupted by someone.

"Hello Imperator Sonic, sir!" A tiny little voice said, as a tiny little hand took hold and pulled on Sonic's robes. Sonic turned forward to see a small girl tugging at his robes, accompanied by several other children.

"I'm so glad you're going to be our new Imperator!" The girl said, with a large smile on her face.

"Well I-" Sonic said, but was cut off.

"Yeah! Our last Imperator was a pretty mean guy!" Another child said, interrupting Sonic.

"Yes, well-"

"Your so cool Imperator Sonic!" Another child said, cutting Sonic off once more.

"Well, yes, but-"

"Your the man Imperator Sonic!" One of the more adult members of the crowd yelled from the back.

"Thank you, but I-"

"It'll be an honor to serve someone like you, Imperator Sonic!" Another one said, this time a soldier.

"Yes, but you see-"

As Sonic struggled with the bombardment of comments and praises, Shade just looked on smiling with her arms crossed while she leaned back on the frame of the giant doorway.

*Good. The plan is going smoothly.* Shade thought. And as she did, she saw a little girl tugging at the side of Sonic's robes. Looking at her closely, Shade recognized her to be the little girl who was with her mother earlier. Shade could hear her muttering 'Umm...', trying to get Sonic's attention. But Sonic can barely hear anything the girl's trying to say because of the crowd.

Shade couldn't let the little girl miss out. Shade stomped forward, determined to stop the crowd as she readied herself to yell. But before she could do anything, Sonic raised his arms upward as he said: "Please, silence for a moment.". And with those words, the crowd went silent near instantly. Sonic then turned to look at the girl beside him.

"You've tugging for a while now. What do want to tell me?" Sonic asked the little girl kindly. Shade was quite surprised by this. She didn't think he'd notice the little girl. But he did, and he paused the entire crowd just to listen to her. Suffice it so, Shade was touched, and very much impressed.

"Umm..." The little girl replied as she stepped back a bit.

"Don't be shy. I'm not mad. Please, what's up." Sonic asked, kneeling down to be in eye contact with the little girl, giving her a warm and comforting smile.

"I... I just wanted to say... thank you..." The little girl said timidly, shuffling her feet as she placed her hands behind her back. She was very embarrassed. So much so that she couldn't even look Sonic in the eye properly.

"Thank me? For what?" Sonic asked, raising a brow.

"For everything. It was you who helped free us from lord Ix's rule... and... and now... you're gonna be our new Imperator... so... thank you..." The girl said with a shaky voice. But despite that, there was a deep sincerity in her words that struck Sonic. It kinda left him speechless.

"But I..." Sonic began, but couldn't finish. There was uncertainty in Sonic's thoughts. He looked away from the girl, unable to bring himself to tell her his answer.

"Are you okay, Impertor Sonic?" The girl asked, her eyes lined with a saddened look.

Whether or not she knew about Sonic's uncertainty was unsure. But she had asked him in a way that she did. And Sonic felt it in her words.

Sonic slowly turned back to look at the girl, and what he saw was something he couldn't believe he would see again...

Sonic looked at the little echidna girl's eyes, and he saw something in them that he could only remember so long ago... Her eyes were lined with a sense of sadness and fear... It wasn't a deep kind of fear that stems from the thought of death or some kind of trauma. It was a simple fear. The kind that children often have. It was the fear of being alone... with no one to guide them... and desperate for someone, anyone who would care enough to look after them...

It was a look that Sonic only saw once in his entire lifetime... and there was only one person he knew very well who gave him the exact same look long ago...

*Tails...* Sonic thought, as he recalled the time when he had first met the young fox. But that was such a long time ago... looking at the boy now, it would seem that moment had only happened in another lifetime... somewhere far away that seemed almost like a dream. But here it was again, haunting Sonic with that exact same feeling he had felt when Tails asked him not to leave him alone...

It was a mixture of guilt and pity... But at the same time, there was a feeling responsibility. The kind only those who have also been left alone in their lives could feel. And a feeling that he didn't want it to happen to anyone else.

Sonic then slowly turned away from the girl as he looked at the large crowd around him. He saw in them almost the same thing he saw in the little girl. Although in varying degrees.

Sonic gave himself a mental nod. This was it. He knew what his answer was...

"Everyone, listen to me." Sonic said as he stood up to face the crowd. "You haven't known me for too long. Yet you would willingly accept me as your leader. I am flattered and all, but I have no idea about how to be a leader. At least being THIS kind of leader."

Sonic then looked to his side and the little girl. He extended his hand to her, and she took it without question.

"But that doesn't mean I won't try." Sonic said, as he turned back to the crowd. "So, let me make it official. I, Sonic the hedgehog, will become New Nocturne's Imperator!"

And with those words said, the crowd erupted with cheers. And as the crowd cheered, the front of the wave of people ran up the steps of the citadel, and each greeted their new Imperator with enthusiastic and happy faces.

Sonic has never seen such happiness before. He has been in crowds before. Many times when he had saved the world, he has had crowds swarm him. Fans as far as the eye can see, and all of them cheerful and glad to see him. But this crowd was different. He didn't really know why, but their happiness kinda made him feel happy too...

Was it because they were echidnas? Was it because they were the enemy once? Or perhaps, it was because these were his people now...

*My people...* Sonic thought with a small chuckle of sorts. It was so odd to refer to them as such. He knew nothing of them. Or they of him. But he will learn. He won't stop till he knows everything of them from top to bottom. And he will share himself with them as well. They will know freedom just as much as he does, and in time, perhaps Ix's taint on their history will just be a long forgotten memory.

And as Sonic shared a rather unique bonding moment with his people, Shade simply watched and smiled, not taking her eyes off of Sonic.

*Oh Sonic...*

But as she did, that all too unfamiliar feeling came to her again... but this time, something came with it that made Shade truly confused...

She brought her hand to her chest and she felt it beat harder than anything she had ever felt it do before... And it only seemed to get stronger every time she thought of Sonic...

*What... is this feeling...?*

As the crowd died down, Shade escorted Sonic back into the citadel, and they walked down the hallway once again. But this time, they did not stop at Sonic's original room. No. They pushed onward, and eventually, Shade lead Sonic to what will be the place where he will lead the Nocturnus. A giant elaborate door stood before them. Larger than the citadel's own front doors, and adorned with the same runic markings on Sonic robes.

"Welcome to the throne room, Imperator Sonic." Was Shade's words as she pushed the doors open and gestured Sonic in. Sonic was at awe. He had never seen such a grand room. It was large, and it was surrounded by glowing runic markings on steel plated floors and walls. Yet the despite it's steel-clad look, the room was also draped with purple and gold tapestries, and around the room, windows upon windows so large that you could see the sky from any angle other than the ceiling. And there, at the far end was the throne.

It was a seat like you couldn't imagine. The seat itself was built onto the wall itself, with it's back-rest rising all the way up to the ceiling. It was gold in color, and was surrounded by light-blue neon. The throne looked the same in design as Sonic's now Imperator gauntlets. But as grand as the room was, Sonic couldn't fully admire it just yet. There was one last thing he wanted to say before this all became his.

"Shade, I need to talk to you." Sonic began, approaching Shade near the center of the room.

"Yes, Imperator?" Shade asked, turning to face Sonic and ending with a bow.

"Well first off, don't do that. I don't like being bowed to."

"I shall try to resist the need for it my lord." Shade replied half laughing as she stood up straight with her arms behind her back, smiling at Sonic.

"Are you teasing me?" Sonic asked, putting his hands to his waist as he tapped his foot, ending with a raised brow and his usual smirk.

"Perhaps." Shade replied, tilting her head up as she looked at Sonic.

"Yes, yes, that's nice, but listen... there's something I need to say..." Sonic said, turning serious.

"And that is?" Shad replied, turning serious as well as she straightened herself up.

"I know that I'm Imperator now. But despite that, there's still something I have to do in order for me not to have any doubts about my decision." Sonic said, as he walked about the room.

"Then tell me, I shall do whatever it takes to ensure your readiness to lead." Shade said, as she kneeled down before Sonic.

"Um, yeah..." Sonic said, surprised that Shade kneeled before him. "Listen, my friends... they don't know about all of this... and... I need you to bring them here. All of them."

"I see... You wish for them to know?" Shade replied calmly. She knew that was somehow gonna come up sooner or later.

"Yes. I need them to know about all of this. After all, I'm giving up a lot of things by becoming Imperator."

"I understand. I shall tell my unit to pursue and retrieve your friends and bring them here."

"I don't like you referring 'Inviting' them as 'Pursue'." Sonic said, raising his hands and doing the quote-and-quote gesture. "It kinda makes it sound bad."

"Right, I apologize." Shade replied, beginning to walk away. "I shall go and inform my unit now. Please, make yourself comfortable."

And with that Shade walked out of the throne room, leaving Sonic to himself and his thoughts. He knew telling his friends was the right thing to do. After all, they had the right to know. But the question that has Sonic worried about the meeting was how they would all react... especially two very particular people...

"This will not end well..."

To be Continued...