Chapter 11: A shadow of a friend
"Hey Karla!" I say while running up to her in the living room with money. "Want to get some ice cream with me?"
I worked hard for that money,it was my allowance I got from doing these chores around the house. Not at all fun but hey,I learned that I like really like money. Plus I hear it's what normal teens do,and that's what I'm trying to go for,so..
"Sorry Lacey,but I can't." She said while brushing her hair. "I have to go to court."
"Again?" I asked annoyed.
"Yep." She sighed to herself.
Now a normal person would have asked what she was going into court for,but considering this wouldn't be the first time,and the fact that I kinda already have an idea of what she'll say,I just don't bother anymore. I mean,I've heard it all. From "She started it first! I only did it because I didn't think I would get caught!" to "Hey he was asking for it! He yelled at me for walking on his grass!" and the occasional "I was framed! The system just doesn't like me!"
"...Uh,well good luck with that." I said right before she walked out the door.
Hmm...well hey,I guess Tails can be pretty fun too. I run to the kitchen where he would more likely be making breakfast or something.
"Hey Tails I-hello?" The kitchen was empty,come to think of it,the whole house was kinda quiet.
I walk up to the fridge noticing a note held by a magnet. It said 'Dear Lacey and Karla,off on mission. Please don't make mess. There's leftovers in fridge. Might be back late. Tails'
"Well fine then!" I say while crumbling the note.
I run to Sonic's room,hoping that maybe he'll want to join me.
"Hey Sonic!" I say while knocking on his door. "Open up! I want to ask you something!"
His door opens and he steps out with a smile. "Hey Sonic,want t-"
"Hey Lacey. Nice to see you. Gotta go,bye!" He said while ruffling up my hair and dashing out.
"Wait!" I yelled,tripping him with my tail. "What's the rush? You didn't even let me finish my sentence."
"Sorry,but I gotta get going,Eggman's causing trouble again. I let Tails get a head start on his plane while I got ready."
"Oh..." I said.
"Yep,see you later!" He said right before rushing out of the house.
*growl!* Well who needs him?! ...Besides a whole city. Well that only leaves two more people here. I run over to Knuckles' door but find his room empty. I faced palmed myself. "Well duh! Of course he's not here!"
He must of left with Tails and Sonic,they are kind of like a group. So that only leaves one person.
"Shadow! Hey Shadow!" I say while knocking on his door. "Shadow! Shadow stop ignoring me! I know you're in there! Shadow!"
"What!" He yelled while slamming his door open,almost hitting my nose in the process.
"Hey Shadow want to get some ice cream?" I ask. "I'm buying."
"Lacey,I don't have time for your games." He said while stepping out of his room,closing the door behind him.
"Aw why not? I'll let you win." I say,wagging my tail.
"Not now Lacey. I have a mission for G.U.N to complete!" He said,pushing past me.
"Cool,can I come?"
"No!"
"Aw why? I love adventure!"
"Chaos control!"
*growl* It's not fair! Everyone is gone and it's just me...well me,and my friend's mentally screwed dog.
"Well fine!" I yell. "If everyone's gone then I'll...I'll..I'll have fun by myself!...Yeah!"
I jump on the couch and turn on the Tv,flipping through the channels. "Nope. Nope. Boring. No. Ahh! ...Didn't need to see that. No. No. Ugh! There's nothing on!" I turn off the Tv and throw the remote on the other chair. "Well fine! I'll just uhhh,read! Yeah!"
My reading and talking skills still needed some work,so I figured I'd just read through some books. Tails said that was the best way to learn. I went to his bookshelf and was looking through all the books. It was hard finding one that I liked,hardly any of them had pictures! I came across two that looked pretty cool. One was about genies and stuff,the other was about Knights and talking swords. I was on this one page that talked about these three highly skilled knights that stayed together,like a group,roundtable I think. Apparently they worked for this king,they seemed pretty close.
"Why can't I have friends who will never leave?" I asked myself. "These guys seem pretty cool."
I began to turn the page,but accidentally made a small rip on the edge of the page. "Aw-freaking crud! Man! Why can't I do anything right?!"
This kind of frustrated me,cause I knew how much Tails cared about his things. First off,he might spaz out about how I unorganized his books,then lets not forget how his reaction may be when he sees a rip on one of his books. I'll never hear the end of it!
"I wish I had a SANE friend who'd just understand me...and not just leave me hanging" I said while putting the books back in place.
While doing so,I noticed that there was this strange,golden,sparkling powdery stuff on my thumb and index finger of my right hand. Shrugging it off as nothing,I just simply rubbed it off on the carpet and went back downstairs. I figured that perhaps I'd have more fun playing video games,but as I went digging for a controller,I heard footsteps upstairs,along with someone struggling to open Tails' door.
Gasping,I yelled "Robber!" then leapt over the couch and dived into the kitchen,quietly closing the door. Which...now that I think of it,that was pretty stupid,since I had already yelled in a loud manner,making my presence known.
As the footsteps slowly went down the stairs,I crept closer and closer to the backdoor leading to my freedom. Just when I grabbed the doorknob and began twisting,a huge blade with strange golden markings came through the kitchen door. Screaming,I yanked the backdoor open and dashed out. I had no clue what was going on,but what confused me the most was the fact that the intruder was wielding a sword. I mean,what the heck?! What kinda robber was this guy? Honestly,he really needs to upgrade!
I don't know how long I had been running,but I ended up resting under a tree at the park. Now if your sitting here,wondering why I didn't try to get the police involved,well I did,but they didn't exactly take me seriously. You see,it wasn't the first time I came to them with a ridiculous story,so I was like the ferret who cried hawk. They just simply patted my shoulder and said for me not to skip my medication again. Hey! I didn't skip! I made sure to take my Claritin! (Allergy pills). I also would've told Tails that his house was being robbed by a some sword dude,but he was too busy helping Sonic save the world and wouldn't answer his phone. In fact,no one was answering their phones,they were all just too busy I guess.
"You there!" A gruff voice interrupted my thoughts. "Young maiden."
"What the-" I turned my head and see a sword guy running towards me. "Ah! It's you again!" I yelled before jumping to my feet.
Really this guy didn't scare me at all,not until I recognized his sword that is. Before I could run away,there was a bright green flash and I bumped into some hard metal before falling on my back.
"Thou finished fleeing?" The sword guy said to me.
I looked up and noticed that this guy was covered in armor,and looked like...Shadow? HEY! Angered,I leaped to my feet and came up to his face. "Shadow!? W-what's the meaning of this?! I get that your a mean rude person,but s-scaring me like that?! What were you hoping to gain out of it? You-y-you JERK! And I'm telling Tails that it was YOU who had damage his door!" I yelled while pushing past him like he did to me.
But he grabbed onto my arm and said "I know not who this 'Shadow' person is,but I am not he."
Now this made me even more mad. "Oh so now you're lying to me? Shadow,tricking me isn't going to work like this! How stupid do you think I am?! Ok so you managed to scare me and get me out here,so what now? Huh? What now?! What's next for your sick joke?!" I was actually kinda surprised by my own anger. I mean its very rare that I get angry with someone.
"Miss please listen to me,I meant no trickery or harm to you. Also,I am not Shadow. I am Sir. Lancelot." He said while bowing slightly.
"What?" I asked while grabbing his hand off my arm. "You're crazy-hey where's your G.U.N communicator?" I asked,not seeing his wrist communicator he usually had on for missions.
"Pardon?" He asked.
"*Growl* Shadow! Drop the act already! You're not fooling anyone!" I yelled,when my phone suddenly rang. "Uh hello?" I answered.
"Lacey! Stop leaving stupid messages on my phone! How'd you even get this number anyway?!" That was Shadow's voice.
"...S-Shadow?" I pondered while looking at the Shadow lookalike in front of me. "You're still at G.U.N,right?"
"Yes!"
"B-but you're right h-..how did you-..how are you even-..Ugh! Never mind!" I said before hanging up.
"Madam,are you feeling alright?" The Shadow lookalike asked me.
"Yes,why?" I asked while slumping against the tree.
"Well you were just talking to a black box a few moments ago..."
"Hm? Oh that! No,see its a device we use to talk to one another at far distances." I explained while showing him my phone.
"Similar to that of a messenger pidgin?" He asked while raising a brow.
"Well...sure,I guess. It runs on electricity though."
"Ah...this world is very intriguing. Far different from where I come from."
"Oh really?...Hey! If you meant no harm,then why did you come after me with that sword of yours?" I asked.
"Well when I heard a scream of a girl,informing me of robbery in the home,I felt that I should help her. Then when I heard her go to the other room,I thought that perhaps she was being held captive with the door locked."
"So you stabbed the door?"
"I only did what I felt needed to be done in order to save her,'her' now clearly being you."
"Oh,well I thought you were the robber." I said.
"Why is that?" He asked.
"Uh hello! You-"
"Hello." He interrupted.
"Wha?-ugh! I mean,well duh! You broke into the house for crying out loud! What else was I suppose to expect?"
"Robbery common for you?"
"Well no,but...well hey! Why should I try to explain myself to you?" I asked. "If anything,you should be explaining to me! Like explain to me what you were doing in the house in the first place!"
"You weren't expecting me." He seemed to have said to himself other than me. "You didn't know of my appearance?"
"No! Why would I? You just came! Why did you come anyways? What were you even doing in the house?" I asked,trying to read his face,which didn't work out well since he was wearing a knight's mask thingy.
"Well don't get upset with me young maiden. You're the one who summoned me." He said. "I am away from my home and lost,for it is I with the questions here."
"What? I did not summon anyone here!" I defended. "Now you're just talking crazy!"
"The gateway."
"What?"
"You,your the one who opened a gateway." He explained. "I was heading home,when an opening ripped in front of me. I heard a voice,that sounded troubled. A voice of perhaps a young child,so I followed it."
"...You mean the rip in the page?" I asked.
"Is that what you've called it?"
"...Uh yeah. Cause that's what it is so.."
"You were the troubled one,weren't you?" He asked.
"Well yes but I-..could you take your mask off already? It's not like you need it. You're in the modern world now,try to blend in a little." I said as he did so. "Anyways,yes I was troubled I guess,but it's all ok now. So you can leave."
"What was it that you were troubled with?"
Now rethinking of why I was even upset in the first place now made me realize how stupid it was. "Well I...was uhh trying to uh hang out! Yeah! With some friends,but it didn't work out so.."
"You were upset with not hanging out with friends?" He asked while raising a brow. "Well then you should be happy,happy that you live another day without the hanging out...sure that may not be the same for your friends but-"
"But it's not fair!" I said. "I'm sure their all hanging out with someone,anyone but me!" Sure the only person Karla would be hanging out with right now would probably be the judge of law,and Shadow's with some G.U.N members,but the Sonic team sure must be having fun!...right? More than what I'm doing,that's for sure.
"Young maiden I'm not sure what's going on in your life,but why would you want to be hanging out?" He asked. "Surely you have more to live for. If your friends are hanging then I pity them,but it's best to know that they shall be in a far better place...possibly,depending on what they were killed for,but that's besides the point I-"
"Wait what?" I asked,now confused. "My friends weren't killed. What are you talking about?"
"Didn't you say your friends were hanging out?" He asked.
Suddenly a flashback of a movie came to my mind,it showed how people were once executed in the old days. "...Wait,did you think...oh! No,no they weren't killed. No,see you got it all wrong." I explained. "What hanging out means is like being with your friends. And just having fun,like hang out,you know?"
"Um no I don't know." He said while raising a brow.
"*sigh* Well anyways,long story short,I'm alone with no friends cause they all have something to do. That's my problem."
"Oh I think I see it now." He said.
"Yeah,so uhh...sorry for summoning you then." I said a little unsure of what was to come next. I felt kinda bad for this guy,I really did. I mean there he was just minding his own business,when all of a sudden I accidentally lured him here. Away from his home and everything he's ever known,and-Wait! "Hey! How did you know you came from a rip in a page? A 'Page Way' that is." I asked,now confused.
"Well...I didn't,not until now." He said while looking away.
"Well how did you find out?" I asked.
"When I went through the rip formed by you,I-I found myself...crawling,out of a book. I looked through it,and it seemed to know everything about me,my king,my fellow knights,everything. I didn't want to believe it,but now it all seems to add up."
"Oh...sorry to hear that. Long day?" I asked.
"It has been a very long day." He said. "All I wanted to do was go home,but no,I end up in this world. Then I meet you,the one who summons Gatewa-..er I mean,Rips in the page. If you have that gift to make rips to another world,could you please send me back?" He asked.
What? Is he really asking me that? Snatching people from another world is NOT my gift! Oh wait,he's not from here,so he doesn't know that I'm a huge screw up. "Oh,uh...heh heh,well you see,that was just an accident. So um..."
"What?!" He exclaimed. "Are you saying that I'm stuck here?"
"Well I-"
"I can't stay here young maiden!" He said. "I'm needed at my home. Be it a book or not!"
"Ok well,hey calm down. If you crawled out of a book,then why not try crawling back in the book." I suggested.
"You think that'll work?" He asked.
"Positive." Ok so no,I wasn't at all sure if it would work. But hey why upset the guy even more? I mean come on,he had a sword.
"Then would you be kind enough to take me back? To the book that is." He said.
"Yeah let's go." I said while getting up and leading the way. "Oh but first I need to do something real quick,is that ok?" I asked.
"...Make it quick."
"Ok!"
A FEW MINUTES LATER
"Young maiden,what is that?" Lancelot asked me as I walked over to him with two ice cream cones.
"Enough of the 'young maiden' stuff. The name's Lacey,I'm a ferret." I said while handing him an ice cream. "It's called an ice cream cone,you eat it."
"Well ok then,now can you take me to the book?" He asked.
"Yeah,yeah. Will do,just trying to have fun here." I said. "Cause there's no one home."
"You have issues with being alone,don't you?" He asked as we walked forward.
"No! Not at all! I just get bored real easily,and aside from one person,I tend to irritate others with my very existence." Cute right?
"Uhhhh.."
I could tell this might have been one of those times I may have said too much information. Oops,my bad,that's just another one of my slight issues...I guess.
"Well,what gives you the idea that your existence is irritating?" He asked. "You can't help that you exist, who exactly told you that?"
"Eh...pretty much everyone. Ok so not everyone. Just a few people who I tend to run into. Also, while not many HATE me exactly, they don't really like me either. But when they do hate me, they really make sure to let me know...like Shadow." I say with a giggle as I think back at all the times I ever made him mad, which happened very frequently.
"Well,I know not who this Shadow character is,but his words shouldn't be any of your concern." He said to me. "In fact,the next time he tells you something,just challenge him,it'll show that you will stand up for yourself in battle,no matter the odds."
"...Uhh,ok I don't know how things go back at your place,but over here,we don't solve our problems with duels...much." I say. "But uh,I'll be sure to heed your advice. Yes." I said while we continued ahead.
Now we may have been heading back home,but that doesn't mean we were getting there anytime soon. I mean psh,what if the plan didn't go as I was hoping? This guy apparently thinks that I can somehow summon portals,I don't want to be the one to tell him that he's possibly stuck here! So I stalled,I mean I REALLY stalled.
"Lacey,what exactly are you doing?" Lancelot asked while looking down at me.
I was on the sidewalk with my ear to the concrete. 'Come on Lacey,stall! Your good at wasting people's lives and time.'
"Shhhhh!" I hushed him. "I'm listening..."
"Listening for what?" He asked,looking confused.
"Water." I said. "...It's giving me a message...a message that I shall be receiving,by listening...listening by receiving,the message...yes. Which I shall be-"
"Lacey what are you talking about?"
"Pie."
"What?" He asked,looking slightly irritated.
"...If I listen closely,the water will guide me to my next pie." I said in a mesmerized tone. Leaping up to my feet I said "Never mind! Wrong log! Hey let's go now,huh."
"Lacey,you do realize that there is no water around us...right? And the fact that,that isn't a log?" Lancelot asked.
"What's your point?" I asked while we walked on.
A FEW MINUTES LATER
"The voices are yelling at me!" I yelled while holding my ears.
"Who?" Lancelot asked.
"Them!" I yelled while pointing at the clouds.
That didn't seem to slow us down much though,he just grabbed me by the arm and tugged us along. "Sorry if they talk to you often."
I continued stupid stuff like this for the rest of the walk. From that,to falling a lot,randomly digging in the ground,taking us to the wrong direction,pretending to be easily distracted by random stuff such as pennies,yeah we both had a long day. And it was really getting on his nerves I could tell.
"Lacey.." He said.
"Yeah?"
"I'm beginning to see why this 'hanging out' stuff is an issue." He said. "Please,take it from me when I say that its best not to hang out."
"Well hey,hold it there knight dude. Don't hate on something new." I said. "And besides it-"
"Look!" He interrupted me. We were now nearing towards the park that we were at earlier. "I know the rest of the way from here."
'Aw crud! That's what I was trying to avoid!'
"Well?" He asked.
"Hm?"
"Lets go,I've spent more than enough time here." He said while walking ahead.
"But I-"
"No more." He said,dragging me along. "You brought me here,so I have a feeling you're needed to send me back. You're the one who makes the pageways."
'Ah well,worth a shot. '
He continues to drag on forward until we finally made it to the house. "Ok let's make this quick." I said. "If any of the people who live here see you,they'll flip. especially if it's Shadow."
We walk inside and head up the stairs,that is until we heard a noise in the kitchen. Guess we weren't alone after all.
"Lacey,stop playing." We hear Shadow growl. "I can hear you,you know."
He must think I'm trying to scare him again. "Go to the room and find the book." I whispered to the Shadow look alike. "I'll catch up."
With that said,we go our separate ways,and I go into the kitchen. "Hehe,how right you are Shadow." I say in a playful tone. "Gosh,there's no tricking you,now is there? Your just too smart."
"Uhh,ok then?" He said,looking slightly confused with my agreement.
We hear a thump above our heads upstairs,man this isn't going as easy.
"What was that?" Shadow asked,as he made his way out of the kitchen.
"Wait Shadow no!" I yell as I wrap my arms around his ankles. "Please don't! I-I...want to spend more time with you in the kitchen. Yeah,I mean we hardly talk as it is,and the kitchen is just so cool and all. How bout we stay here? I can bake you some cookies!"
"Lacey I have no idea what this is all about,but you're really getting on my nerves." Shadow said. "And any food of yours isn't inviting even the slightest."
"Aw,but I'm inviting. I'm inviting you,to eat my cookies." I say.
"Out of my way." Shadow said,while walking out of the kitchen,dragging me with him. Suddenly there was a strange *whoosh* sound that came from Tails' room upstairs. "What the?"
"Shadow wait!" I beg,my grip around his ankles tightening.
But of course,he didn't listen. No,he walks up to Tails' room to investigate,but-
"There's nothing here." He said as he looked around. Strange enough,he was right. There was nothing there,just a bedroom.
Taking advantage of the great timing,I go along with it. "Y-yeah! Haha! See? I made you fall for it! Bet you were real scared now,weren't you?"
"Not even a little." He growled before leaving the room.
Now taking a sigh of relief,I began looking for Lancelot. Surely he was hiding somewhere in here. To my surprise and slight disappointment,he wasn't anywhere in sight. Crawling on the floor,I catch a glimpse of the book that a ripped earlier. Opening the book,I see that it was indeed Lancelot's book,I mean it had knights and kings and everything. Everything that suited him well. I flipped through the pages and passed by picture,immediately flipping back,I see that it's a picture of the three skilled knights,the one in the middle was-
"Lancelot." It appeared that he made it back in his world with no problem. "Well,glad to see that you didn't need my help,friend."
Ok so I don't know if we're actually friends or not,but I like to think that we are. Why not? We didn't really fight or anything,so I guess that means that we're on good terms.
2-11-13
Well hope that was somewhat enjoyable for whoever might be reading this. I was just digging through some of my older Sonic games,then came across one that gave me an idea and yeah.
Funny Statement
*Gets kicked by guy sitting across my desk*
Me- Gahh! Move it! You and your giant feet!
Guy- Heh heh,you know what they say about big feet..
Me- That you have a high chance at a clowning career?