Chapter 11: Never Any Doubt

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Sega and Sonic Team.

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"Here are the records I found on you and the Biolizard," Rouge explained, handing Shadow a stack of papers, "and I managed to get print-outs of Doctor Gerald Robotnik's diary as well." She handed him a second stack, even thicker than the first.

"I thought all the data was lost…" Shadow trailed off, looking at the second stack, his eyes unfocused.

"I figured they'd come in handy. They contain records to match the first stack of papers," Rouge explained, "and further prove that you are, without a doubt, the ultimate life form Gerald Robotnik created. The Biolizard was his failed attempt, not you." There was a hint of remorse in her voice. After all, she had questioned his authenticity as the ultimate life form mere months ago. In turn, her doubt had bred uncertainty in Shadow, causing him to question himself.

Shadow gave Rouge a reassuring smile to let her know he held no grudge against her, then handed the records to the chao doctor.

"Thank you," the doctor said, absently adjusting the stethoscope around his neck, "this could take quite some time. Come back in the morning, and I'll discuss the results with you."

The group left the chao doctor's office, standing inside the chao kindergarten, which also had a principal, fortune-teller, and black market as well within the small building.

"So, what now?" Tails inquired.

"No sense returning to Earth," Sonic replied, "we're going to be back here in the morning."

"We could stay in the chao gardens," Amy suggested, "Tails and I could check on the regular chao, see how they're all doing."

"That's a good idea," Knuckles agreed, "Sonic, you and I could go to the Hero Garden, and camp for the night."

"I guess that leaves you and me in the Dark Garden, then." Rouge turned to Shadow, blushing slightly.

"We'll meet in the chao lobby first thing in the morning, then." Shadow declared.

"Right." Sonic said, the group leaving the kindergarten and entering the chao lobby. Sonic and Knuckles headed up the spiralling stairway leading to the Hero Garden, the entrance adorned with statues of halo-clad chao.

"G'night." The pair called, enetering the garden, vanishing, or so it appeared, in thin air.

Tails and Amy walked straight ahead to the neutral garden, its archway adorned with neutral, good-natured chao. "See you guys in the morning!" Amy called in a sing-song voice. Rouge waved to them, the pink hedgehog and fox disappearing from view.

"Shall we?" she said to Shadow after a moment, the black and red hedgehog lost in thought.

He started, and said, "Oh, yes. Of course."

The two walked down the right staircase, statues of mischievous dark chao at the entrance, bows and arrows in their hands.

They entered the garden, all of the chao sound asleep. Spike and Luna were curled up, side-by-side under one of the trees on the far left. Spiras slept on the lone bit of land at the far side of the pool, where the gravestone (no longer bearing Shadow's name) was. Charlie was lying on his stomach by the radio, Pyro a few feet from him, snoring loudly.

Shadow's gaze lingered on the fly-type for a moment, and he smiled. Rouge gently put his hand in her own, and led him off to the far right, where a large, dead tree with a cage dangling from it, stood.

"Shadow, I need to talk to you." She whispered urgently.

He looked at her, puzzled. The pair of them sat beneath the tree, the pool of red lapping gently beside them.

"I just needed…I just wanted to say…" Rouge stammered, unsure how to proceed.

Shadow waited patiently as Rouge struggled to find the words. He didn't know what she wanted to say; if he did, he would have spared her what followed.

"Oh, Shadow! I'm so, so, sorry!" she sobbed, catching him off-guard.

"Sorry? Rouge, what are you talking about…?"

"When I said…you weren't the true…ultimate…but you are…and then you died…or so we thought…and I just…" she went on incoherently, tears flowing freely, "I'm just really, really sorry…if you'd been dead, and the last thought I put in your head was doubt…"

"Rouge, stop torturing yourself," Shadow put a comforting hand on her shoulder, "it's alright. Everything turned out fine, in the end."

Rouge wiped the tears form her eyes, "I'm sorry," she apologized again, "I've just been feeling so bad, all this time…"

"Rouge, it was a mistake anyone could have made, even me," Shadow stated, "I forgive you. When are you going to forgive yourself?"

Rouge smiled weakly. "Thank you, Shadow."

The two hugged for a moment, Rouge backing away in embarrassment. "Well, um, good night, Shadow." She said softly, flying up into the tree, and hanging upside-down.

"Sleep well." Shadow replied, lying between the trees' roots. A strange warmth spread over him. What is this feeling? He wondered, his gaze falling on Rouge, who had already drifted off to sleep, her eyes closed, her breathing even. Can it be? Is this…what friendship is? Or is it something more? He was left to ponder this strange new sensation until sleep finally overtook him.

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Shadow awoke to a large pair of baby blues' staring at him. Pyro stood next to his head, staring down at him.

"Master Shadow, you're awake." He chattered in chao language.

"Yes, Pyro, I am now." What had I been dreaming about? It was so pleasant…why can't I remember?

"Good morning!" Rouge glided over to him from the opposite side of the garden, having just finished gathering breakfast for the chao, her arms now laden with fruit for her and Shadow.

He smiled, taking s spiky, orange fruit from her, and biting into it. It was both sweet and tart, tasting something like a cross between a cantaloupe and a kiwi.

"We better eat up quickly," Rouge declared, passing a fruit to Pyro, and nibbling on one herself, "the others will be meeting us in the lobby soon."

Shadow nodded, and turned to Pyro. "Do you want to come with us?"

Pyro exclaimed excitedly, smiling. Shadow and Rouge chuckled, and the three set off for the lobby.

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Sonic, Amy, Tails, and Knuckles were already waiting for them in the lobby, all looking anxious.

"Well, here goes." Shadow muttered, and they set off for the chao doctor's office. They entered the kindergarten, and knocked on the office door.

"Come in." the chao doctor called. The seven piled in, Shadow in the lead. "Well, doctor?" he inquired, Pyro clutching his right hand.

"The records you provided matched my findings almost perfectly."

"What do you mean, 'almost'?"

"Your brainwaves have increased an infinitesimal amount since you were created," the chao doctor explained, "I have a theory as to why, but I want to run more tests to be sure."

"What's your theory?"

"I have two, actually," the doctor replied, "one is that perhaps this Dr. Eggman managed to altar your brainwaves ever-so-slightly, and would have succeeded in his intentions to make you a destructive force, if not for your bat friend turning the machine off when she did, and getting you out."

"And your other theory?" Shadow pressed.

"Well, I can't be sure, like I said, I need to run more tests to know which theory is correct, if either, but I believe that when you stopped ARK from crashing to Earth, some strange power changed you…advancing your evolution further than your creator ever anticipated."

"I don't understand. What do you mean?"

"My boy, I think you may be…indestructible."

"That can't be, I nearly died," Shadow protested, "I suspect I only survived because Eggman placed me in that capsule."

"Whether this invulnerability came before or after your sacrifice, I do not know," the chao doctor stated, "but with these tests, we'll soon find out."

"Okay, let's get started." Shadow replied, Pyro squeezing his hand even more tightly.

"Wait a minute," Sonic interjected, "even if it's true that he's indestructible, no matter how it happened, whether from his sacrifice or Eggman's plans, what will it all mean?"

"I assume, then," the doctor replied, a tone of surprise, " you have not heard of the prophecy?"

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Author's note: Yet another cliff-hanger, I know. Chapter 12 will reveal, to some extent, but chapter 13 will reveal on the prophecy, and more to come. I promise to get chapters up as much as I can.