This is finally the end of the story. I hope you've all enjoyed it and I will try to do even better for my next ShadAmy stories. :D

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Shadow the Hedgehog, the game or any of the characters. They belong to SEGA.


A Hero's Promise

Chapter Eleven : A Tragic Past Left Behind

The once quiet main room had burst to life with mutually shared enthusiasm, a smile on everyone's faces.

"Yeah, he did it! The Black Comet is destroyed!"

Sonic completely agreed with Tails, impressed himself. "Shadow, that was sweet!"

"I hope he's okay," Rouge said, with concern.

Amy held her hands together, staring out the window with an optimistic smile on her face. "I'm sure he's fine Rouge. After all, he is Shadow!"

"How about giving me back those Chaos Emeralds now?" Eggman cut in, interrupting the moment. Against the idea, Knuckles pursued Eggman who did his best to stay clear of the angry echidna.

"Hey! Get back here you creep!" he growled unremittingly. Laughs resonated throughout the metal walls as Knuckles continued to chase after a retreating Eggman.

Amy, who had been enjoying the moment, saw a familiar hedgehog turn around the distant hallway corner. She hurried after him, the others too occupied in the upbeat atmosphere to notice her quietly slip out of the room. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, her hopeful eyes spotting the Ultimate Lifeform in the darkness, which soon vanished, the moonlight shining through the window of that same empty room that brought them together a couple of times before.

Arms folded tightly across his chest, he stared out at the planet below, the silver glow of the moonlight stunning against his contrasting black fur. Amy took small timid steps forward before throwing the hesitation aside and hugging Shadow tightly. Taken by surprise, his stability was momentarily lost, his body inclining forward before he recognized the warmth of the gesture. Regaining his steady poise, he turned to smile at Amy, who returned it with a delighted beam.

"Shadow, you did it!" She didn't want to let go of the heroic hedgehog, her arms holding him closer.

"I said I'd keep my promise," he reminded Amy, who rested her head against his shoulder. As Amy got into a comfortable position, she felt the picture fall to the ground. Tempted, she was about to reach and out and take it back but Shadow already had the photo in his hand. A thoughtful expression took place of the smile as he stared at the picture for a long moment. Amy decided to break the eerie silence.

"Shadow, I'm sorry. I found it in your room and-" Amy stopped speaking in mid-sentence when all the worry washed away from his face, his eyes looking away from the picture.

"I left the past behind me. Maria was my friend but...I've found someone else." A very good friend.

"Someone else?" Amy repeated, tempted to rest on Shadow's shoulder again but decided against it, trying to give him space.

He could only nod in response, before he took Amy's hand, the other holding the picture, now pushed aside from his attention. Getting the hint, Amy's smile grew wider, eyes shining with happiness. Taking the gesture as a safe sign, she leaned against his shoulder again, enjoying every moment Shadow let her to be close to him.

"Hey, you two. Ready to go?" Sonic asked, standing in the door. Amy pulled away from Shadow and nodded, trying to fight back a blush. Without a word, the three made their way to the ship where the rest of the Team was waiting for them, except for Eggman who had left long ago on his own ship, most likely to plot another of his usual schemes.

Shadow took one last look at the smiling faces of Maria and him together in the old picture, a moment captured in time fifty years ago. He tore his gaze away, whispering, "Goodbye forever, Shadow the Hedgehog." Feeling a new sense of resolution, he gently tossed the picture over his shoulder, walking aboard the ship with his friends. With the past put behind him for good, he could look towards his future rather than be trapped in the past. Sonic gave him a thumbs up when their gazes locked for a moment as though in a rare sense of mutual respect.

With no idea what the future held in store for him, all Shadow could do was wait. Only time would tell his fate.


"We interrupt this program to bring you the latest update regarding the return of the Black Comet. Not too long, it came here and wrecked havoc on the city. When we thought all was lost, Shadow came to the rescue and saved us all. Since the Black Comet had been destroyed, we haven't heard any news of the aliens that attacked the city a couple of weeks ago. What's next for our new hero? Stay tuned for the next update."

The Team decided to pay a visit to Amy's house, the group gathered around her television. Two days passed since the planet had been saved and the Black Comet, destroyed beyond repair. Most of the city was under reconstruction, roads and parts of houses destroyed when the comet planted itself to the ground. The city made much progress in the first couple of days, the people filled with hope. Shadow's promise was kept and humanity were grateful for his heroic actions.

Shadow didn't want that attention. The happiness he felt knowing he saved the planet for the sake of Amy and Maria was all he needed. Beside him on the couch was Amy, who seemed content to be sitting next to him. Sonic with a knowing grin on his face, was satisfied standing by the door and watching the television from there. Knuckles and Rouge were having their usual argument while Cream was watching the news in wonder with Amy explaining what happened during their trip to space.

"Mr. Shadow really is a hero!" she exclaimed with a joyful smile on her innocent face. Shadow frowned and continued to stare at the screen. Amy nudged him on the shoulder.

"Shadow, cheer up! You saved the planet. You should be happy!" she said with enthusiasm.

"I am happy..." he said in a lower volume directed at only Amy. "But this attention, I don't want it. I just wanted to be left alone but the humans think I'm some kind of hero."

"But you are! The people say you're a hero because you saved them from Black Doom! If anyone should be happy, it's you!" Amy insisted, giving Shadow's hand a gentle squeeze, the Ultimate Lifeform allowing those gestures but only with her.

A couple of knocks rang out on the door, Sonic answering it in a flash. Much to his surprise, he was face to face with one of the President's assistants. "Hey, what's up?"

"Mr. Sonic, is Shadow there?" Sonic turned to see said hedgehog's eyes stare directly back. He nodded.

"You bet! He's over there!" Sonic replied, pointing to his dark look alike.

"Thank you," the assistant said, allowing himself to come in. "Shadow, the President is very grateful for you heroism and wants to invite you and your friends to his party he's holding tonight. The party starts at eight in the President's office. Do you think you can go?"

Before Shadow had a chance to even open his mouth, Sonic beat him to it. "Of course he'd want to go! Wouldn't even think of missing it." He grinned at Shadow who gave him a blank stare.

"Very well then. I shall tell the President you will be going. I'll see all of you there then." As soon as the door closed, Sonic had already grabbed the remote and turned off the television.

"No use standing around here doing nothing! We better get ready to party! Right Shadow?" Sonic asked, resting an elbow on his rival's shoulder. "Don't be such a party pooper!"

"Hmph." Shadow pulled away from the cheerful, blue hero and went out of the open door, waiting for Amy who skipped over to his side and linked arms with him. Sonic chuckled in amusement, his grin fading when Shadow sent a death glare over his shoulder.

"Watch it, faker," Shadow threatened, narrowing his red eyes. Getting the hint, Sonic decided to play it safe and stuck with Tails and Cream, trying hard not to laugh all over again.

Knuckles and Rouge left a while ago, the bat needing to be there early due to being an agent working with the government. She made arrangements beforehand, not resisting to drag the 'knucklehead,' along with her, assuring the echidna her Master Emerald would be safe. After some threats and whatnot, the two finally came to an agreement, Knuckles warning Rouge that if the Master Emerald was gone, she was going to be in trouble.

The clock struck eight, the group already ushered inside the White House with a warm welcome. Shadow, not sure of what to do, followed Amy. He never attended a party before, the experience quite new to him. Amy wore a cherry red party dress and shoes to match. Her headband was replaced with a shiny, ivory ribbon.

"You look beautiful," Shadow had told Amy, who lightly blushed at the compliment, which Shadow rarely ever gave out. It made her feel special. A feeling that was new to her.

"Shadow, I'm glad to see you're here. We've been waiting for you," the President greeted the Ultimate Lifeform.

"What did you want to speak to me about?" he asked, a little uncertain of himself, never have spoken with the humans very often, let alone GUN, who took everything he loved away fifty years ago. But since he put his past behind him, attending the party was the first step for change.

"You heard from my assistant we were very grateful for your help earlier. We wanted to thank you for fighting for our planet. We had thought the professor made a mistake to create you but we should be apologizing to you for the way we treated you before. We were all wrong about the professor and you, Shadow. As our way of saying thanks, we would like to make an offer."

"An...offer?" Shadow questioned.

"We'd like to offer you a position as a GUN agent. Accommodations will be provided and you will be rewarded for your efforts. From seeing your bravery earlier, we have no doubts about you, Shadow." He noticed the stunned expression on Shadow's face. "You don't have to decide right away. Think about it for a while and you can give us your answer when you feel you are ready. Enjoy the party all of you. Let us know if you need anything." The President stood from his seat, the GUN Commander following behind to greet the other guests who had arrived.

Sonic, who was impressed by the offer, spoke up. "Shads, what do you think? You gonna take the offer?"

"I know they mean well, but I just need some time," Shadow replied.

Nodding in understanding, Sonic reverted back to his happy go lucky attitude. "Until then, let's party!"

Gentle music rang out from the speakers, several people dancing in pairs or helping themselves to the table of refreshments. Shadow could only take so much cheerfulness for so long. Needing some quiet to think the offer over, he stepped out of the office onto the balcony, folding his arms on the railing, deep in thought.

Amy, who noticed Shadow's absence, asked anyone else if they saw where Shadow went. Eventually, someone lead her to the balcony. "Thank you!" she said, opening the door and hurrying over to Shadow's side. He allowed her to hold his hand and lean against his shoulder at the same time, the two standing close together under the moonlight. "Why are you out here Shadow?"

"I...was thinking about the offer," he said, almost in a strained voice. "I know GUN has changed but I'm not sure about working with them..."

"Maria wanted everyone to be happy, right? I think they would be happy if you said you'd help them," Amy replied.

"Hmmm." For the first time that night, a smile broke through his collected, neutral expression. "You could be right. My past is behind me now. You are right about Maria. She did want the humans to be happy... If working with GUN means keeping my promise to her, then I'll consider it. For you too, Amy," he said, his voice uncharacteristically soft as he spoke her name. "Thank you."

Amy was almost bursting with joy at those words. Shadow rarely thanked anyone and was usually stuck to his opinions but he was listening to her tonight.

"I'll keep my promise, no matter what. I swear it." He held her a little closer to him, their foreheads finally touching. Under the moonlight, the two remained together, looking ahead for the future, the past now a memory.

Maria wanted happiness for everyone. And that was exactly what would happen. For the future. For his friends.

For Amy Rose.