Chapter 10: The Glass Rose

The rage too much for her to handle anymore and the insanity coming closer with each second, Amy pulled out her hammer and with as much power as she could possibly gather, brought it down on Shadow's foot. He didn't yell or scream in pain, but he simple looked up at her. She was panting, mostly because she had been struggling to keep up, but that didn't surprise Shadow. Putting as much energy and emotion into his voice as he possibly could, Shadow whispered in monotone, "Ow."

Amy clenched her teeth. That had been the last straw. "OH THAT'S IT!" she yelled, pulling up her hammer and putting it away as she stomped off.

Shadow put on a confused expression as she began to pace back and forth. "Why did you-"

"I have had it up to here with you, Shadow the hedgehog! Not once since I saw you dance have you actually said more than five syllables to me at the same time!" Amy yelled, stopping Shadow mid-sentence. In his surprise, he let her continue, "You have become this reclusive no good inconsiderate idiot who won't even bare to talk to me for even a mere sixty seconds. And for what, me seeing you dancing! That is ridiculous!"

Shadow looked at the ground, feeling just a hint of shame. "And here I was thinking you were more mature than Sonic, but hey, everyone makes mistakes! I just made a great mistake that ended in what, me realizing that once again I am wasting my time! You're just as bad as he is..." Amy growled, folding her arms and turning away from Shadow.

Furrowing his brow, Shadow looked at the ground, "Don't compare me to-"

"To Sonic!" Amy yelled, wiping back with fire raging in her eyes. "Let me tell you something. The day you are able to be embarrassed or hurt without having to turn into some kind of mime is the day that it rains stereos shaped like Jared Beaver's hair! Did you realize that on that day you had saved me from Eggman, Sonic had not only yelled at me where countless citizens could see me, but he also pushed me to the ground? And all that happened to you was me seeing you dance! And might I add, it was the best dancing I have seen in my entire life, but no, that is too weird and stupid looking that you need to go all emo about it! I was able to get over it, why won't you? If it wasn't for the fact that you were hurt, I would have left several days ago. And since you are almost better now, I might just leave since you are driving me insane! You just... UGH!"

Shadow was speechless. Although he had pretty much been speechless for a week now, he actually didn't know what to say this time. Every time Amy had talked to him (in which he failed to respond); Shadow had a perfectly legitimate answer that he never spoke. This time, there were no words that came to mind. Amy was still glaring at him, her teeth gritted. The fact that he could so clearly see her canines scared him a little, because that showed that she was not angry, but felt an emotion much stronger than that. Hate, perhaps?

Finally after several seconds, tears began to fill Amy's eyes. She twisted around, "Fine... I see how it is." She began to walk off again. Shadow looked at the ground, the guilt filling his heart in full. He didn't want her to feel sad, but he didn't want to end up looking like a fool. Silently as he searched his mind for a solution, Shadow followed. As he did, he heard her silently speak more.

"I don't know if you're ever mad at me or if you're happy, or if you even want me to be around you. I wish you'd actually talk again. But... you don't want to and I can't make you." Amy sighed, making Shadow look down at the ground yet again.

Why was he doing this? Although yes, he was still feeling idiotic for having let Amy see him, he really hated how doing this was hurting her. She was someone who loved to be around friends, and being ignored was something she hated. For most of her life that had been all she had ever known, and now was probably the worst time to do so. Even if he wanted to though, he had no idea what to say. He was far too nervous and far too hard-headed to negotiate to talking at the moment. If only he could tell her his thoughts without words...

"Shadow, do you even feel sad that I yelled at you? Or anything at all?" Amy asked, looking over her shoulder with no hint of her ever crying in sight. He nodded his gaze far off, making her sigh yet again.

How could he do such a task? He desperately wanted to talk to her, but he was so scared to do so. There had to be some way he could do it. Ideas and images sorted themselves out in his mind in order to find some answer. He didn't have a cell phone, so he couldn't text her. She didn't know sign-language, so that was an impossibility, and there was no way he was going to have one of her friends deliver a message for her. He didn't have any paper or pens either... what was he to do!

He growled to himself as he put his hands on his head. Everything he thought up was either too cheesy or impossible to do! It had to be something heart-felt and special. He did very much like Amy and her company, and he didn't want her to leave, but what else could he do? Amy Rose... he knew what type of things she liked, but he didn't know how to fit them altogether to be able to talk to her. His mind was in such chaos that he couldn't think straight...

That was it! The idea born from mixed words was a little childish and silly in his opinion, but perhaps it would work. For just a second, Shadow closed his eyes, excitement flooding his body into heavy but quick breaths. A large amount of chaos energy would be needed for the task. Although he could rely on the chaos energy within him, such a task that required so much would be far more dangerous than what he wished to go through. The last thing he wanted to do was open that wound again.

Sometimes, there would be natural "ponds" (as Shadow referred to it) where large amounts of chaos energy would be stored. Usually they were in places with lots of foliage and wild-life, or even bodies of water. Such places almost always had chaos energy within them. Luckily, being someone so skilled with the chaos arts, finding such riches in energy was not difficult. Shadow's eyes closed and his breathing slowed. He let the chaos energy inside his body take over and instantly, he ran off, leaving Amy far behind. She was yelling again, but he couldn't hear her. He couldn't even see where he was going, but he knew he was heading in the right direction.

The energy itself feeling as if it was beginning to flow into his body (after several minutes of running) Shadow eventually opened his eyes. A small pond surrounded by an unknown amount of trees was what his vision showed, making him smile. Yes, this was the perfect place. He looked down as he grinned, the chaos incantation fresh in his mind. Once again, he closed his eyes.

"Chaos form." He said in a strong voice, holding out his hands. The energy began to move towards a central point in between his hands, moving rather slowly. It was more energy than he had expected, and that made him quite pleased. Some of it swirled around in such a delicate way that soon, something happened. He had seen it only a few other times, and he always loved to see it too. The energy was now visible, swirling towards his hands in a beautiful array of pinks, greens, reds, blues, and so many other florescent colors that sparkled in the few rays of light that touched it. It was so breath-taking that he had to simply watch in awe, gaping at the unquestionable beauty the radiant sight held. Although he had seen it before, it had never been as beautiful as this.

Although it took awhile, there was now enough energy to finish what he had started. Taking a deep breath in, Shadow looked at the rippling colors in his hand. "Chaos heart-beat." He said, a clear image in his mind. The energy pulsed a few times, and suddenly began to compress into itself. The round shape was changing, now becoming narrow at the bottom, but still keeping a round shape at the top of its structure. Slowly, the bright light of the energy died down, and its true shape was finally revealed.

It was transparent and slightly tinted red, making Shadow nod to himself, as that was a sign that it had worked. The object was made of glass, but it seemed to breath and move, and amazingly it did! Although it had seemed like an odd idea in his mind, he was now holding a glass rose. It was in a budded state, and Shadow grinned at such a thought. It had worked!

When the small joy entered his heart, the flower opened. Although it was only a small opening, it made the flower almost seem happier. His breathes were heavy, but they were filled with a sense of accomplishment and happiness. Before he was allowed to admire his work another second, he heard footsteps and angry breathes behind him. She had come just in time.

"Shadow the Hedgehog, I am going to kill you!" Amy's voice called out, Shadow turning so he could see her. She had a few leaves stuck in her clothes and spines, and a furious expression had taken over her countenance. "When I'm done with you, you're going to be so messed up, you won't even be able to tie your shoes! I'm going to-" her eyes found the rose and she stopped. She walked a little closer with curious eyes, "What's..."

"This?" Shadow asked, holding it out. It was floating in between his hands, and that made Amy's eyes a little wider. It glowed slightly, and Shadow bit his lip before he began to speak. "It's... a glass rose. I made it for you." he said, the shyness and embarrassment suddenly taking over. He motioned it over to her, and it silently floated over. As she looked at it with amazement, he spoke once again. "Since you've been so mad about me not expressing myself, I decided to make this. It... shows my emotions in the form of a rose. It won't break if you drop it... so yeah."

As Amy's fingers wrapped around it, the expression of child-like curiosity growing. When she said nothing after holding it for a few seconds, Shadow turned around. What the heck had he been thinking! Like she'd ever like it; she probably thought he was an idiot! Oh now what was he going to do? He looked like some desperate moron who never had a friend in the world that was trying to-

"Shadow!" Amy said, stopping the worst case scenario rampage in his brain. He slowly turned, Amy's smile wide as she held the now budded rose close. "I love it! You have no reason to think otherwise. It's beautiful!"

His eyes wide, Shadow spoke, "You do?"

"Of course I do! Why wouldn't I?" she said in a joyful voice. The fear in his heart dying down, Shadow looked at the ground. She had loved it... thank heaven! A giggle escaping from Amy's mouth yet again, Shadow looked at her. "Come on!" she said as she began to walk off, "We need to go to that city!" Shadow let out a "ha" and nodded, following her as she walked off.

Amy began to hum after a while, and soon after, she yelled out, "Ah ha!" Shadow raised his eyebrows as she spoke, "Now I can talk to you about anything without any issues. I'll know how you'll be feeling, so the rest of the journey should be no problem!" she looked at Shadow, a peaceful smile resting on her face. "Right?"

Shadow looked at her for a second and smiled. He nodded, "Yeah."

The rose opened just a little bit in her hand, perking up in a new-found joy.