"Wow, it took three games just to get it all sorted out?"

"Unfortunately. The last one wasn't even all that great- the only memorable thing about it was how over-the-top it was. Oh, and the homing attack will end up killing you 90% of the time, so be smart and use weapons."

"Alright. How are you feeling?"

"Much better, thank you."

"Great! Let's go back to the party, then!"

"It's still going on? How long was I out for?"

"Long enough to take you here."

"...Fine." Shadow pulled himself up and onto his feet. He took Maria by the arm and they began to walk back to the reception hall. "So... how exactly did you come back?" Maria shook her head.

"I'm not quite sure how to explain it. I guess we could ask someone once we get there."

When they arrived back at the reception hall, many of the agents had gathered around the stage, watching Sonic, accompanied by Amy, Tails, and Blaze, with fierce admiration and wonder. Onstage, Cream was hiding inside the top hat that Blaze was holding.

"Ms. Blaze, I have to go potty," she whispered.

"Chao chao..."

"Hold it just a little more, Cream. He's starting the trick now."

"Watch, my friends, as I pull a rabbit out of this hat!" cried Sonic, as if on cue. Blaze handed him the hat with a nervous smile. The blue hedgehog paused slightly for dramatic effect, then pulled the little rabbit out of the hat by her ears. The crowd clapped hysterically.

"Mr. Sonic, can you put me down, please? This really hurts..."

"Chao chao chao!"'

"Now for my next trick," said Sonic, acknowledging Cream's plea by setting her down quietly, "I'm going to make this entire bathtub full of chilidogs... DISAPPEAR!"

"Just what are you doing?" asked Shadow once he got closer. "I go unconscious at a party and the minute they haul me off to the infirmary, you start performing magic tricks?"

"ILLUSIONS, Shadow."

"WHATEVER."

"Shadow, be nice!" Maria piped up. "Mr. Sonic went to all this trouble just to keep these people entertained when you were hurt." Shadow sighed and tried to regain his composure as Sonic grinned gleefully onstage.

"Only for you, Maria. Where is the Commander?"

"Beats me," said Sonic, hopping off the stage with a spin jump. "I take it that you'd like to know about your living dead girl?"

"Yes."

"Please," added Maria. Shadow sighed.

"Yes please."

"Well, she wasn't cloned, but it's the first thing they tried. Then they tried alchemy, but then some short dude with a metal arm and leg came and yelled at them about it, so that was a bust. The rest is classified, but I am allowed to tell you that they used that lock of hair you had as a DNA sample."

"...Alright. I take it that they're keeping it classified so that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands?"

"Let me rephrase that- I know how they did it, but you don't get to know."

"WHAT?"

"Yup. Sucks to be you, doesn't it?"

"Maria, do you mind if I say something er, private, to Sonic?"

"Oh, go right ahead. I'll go get us some dinner. Let's see if I remember your favorites!" She skipped happily away to the refreshments table. Shadow smiled to see her off, then regained his normal, cold expression when looking at the snidely grinning blue hedgehog.

"I want you to know something."

"Alrighty then. Go right ahead."

"I will find out how she has come back eventually. However, if you EVER do anything like this again, be it acting like a wolf in sheep's clothing to fool Maria or retaining information from me for ANY reason, I will rip that smirk right off your face and wipe the floor with it, along with your dismembered corpse."

"Just like you say you'll do everyday?"

Before Shadow could reply, Maria came back carrying two bowls of baked ziti and a loaf of garlic bread.

"C'mon, Shadow- let's go find a table!"

Shadow begrudgingly began to follow, but quickly turned around and hissed "This time I'll let you go, but the next time you won't be so lucky."

Ten chapters in! I cannot thank you all enough for all of the hits and reviews I've received since posting this story here. To celebrate, I am going to be hosting a contest. Throughout the story, you may have noticed quite a few shout-outs to many different series, bands, and such. Whoever can PM me the list with the most shout-outs from chapters one through ten will receive a FREE commission via my deviantART account (i.e., a cover for your fanfic). The first one to PM me the ENTIRE list will receive that along with an even BIGGER prize! Here are a few popular targets to help get you started:

Direct quotes from any Sonic continuity

Hamtaro (anime)

Fullmetal Alchemist (2003 anime)

TV Tropes (I've named a few tropes here and there)

Arrested Development (sitcom)

Panda Express (restaurant)

Early '90s SEGA Genesis ads (the 'Genesis Does What NintenDON'T' ones)

The Sims (game series)

*This isn't even the entire list. Please send them in this format:

Chapter # Quote Series

One more thing: PLEASE have your PM account on so that I may contact you if you win.

Happy hunting and may the odds be ever in your favor! ;)