OMC (oh my chaos. sorry, found it in a different fanfiction and fell in love with it immediately) I am so sorry...I've been busy. GC, school, homework, I'm shocked I got this on. Okay: WARNING: I cried while writing this...part of the problem was I was listening to sad music. Yeah...go to youtube and listen to sad songs while reading this. I have a whole list:

Safe and Sound-Taylor Swift

Haunted-Taylor Swift

God Bless the Broken Road-Rascal Flatts

Hurry Up and Save Me- Tiffany Giardina

Remember me for Centuries- Fall Out Boy

Listen to Your Heart-Edmee

Don't Deserve You- Plumb

Never Alone- Barlow Girl

Only Hope- Mandy More

Yeah...you'll be bawling if you're like me...anyway...let's get this over with...

Nicole POV:

I breached the water, gasping for air. The twenty foot drop had sunk me about ten feet underwater and since it was hard to see in, I hadn't been exactly sure which way was up. It took me about ten seconds to figure that out and by then I was sort of low on oxygen. So saying I was grateful for the air was an understatement.

I shook the water out of my ear and strained my listening skills, trying to pick up anything that might tell me what exactly had just happened. Instead of answers, all I found was silence…and I mean dead silence. No birds chirping, no wind, no nothing. It was sort of creepy.

Pondering the scene, I tried to re-live what had exactly happened. Shadow had yelled and suddenly I had been pushed off the cliff. Then there had been gunshots… I froze then quickly looked around for ripples in the water. The giant lake was completely still except for the splashes that I was making. Almost reluctantly I softly called out.

"Shadow?"

No answer.

I looked up to the top of the cliff. Shouldn't be too difficult to climb up…or fly up in my case. I swam over to the edge of the water and hoisted myself up. In a jiffy, I shook myself as dry as possible; although the clothes were spoiled…I'd have to yell at Shadow for that. I shook my head, "Focus."

I was about to fly up to the top when I heard something. It was a small sound, almost nothing; but after the minutes of complete silence it was loud enough. A small click…sounded a lot like-

Years of training kicked in as I ducked behind a boulder. Gun shots rang out and splattered the dirt where I had previously been standing. I crouched down even further as the bullets hit the rock I was hiding behind. Without thinking I teleported up onto the cliff and punched my would-be killer from behind.

Arianna yelped in pain and dropped the gun. Unfortunately, she recovered quickly and attacked. My sparing against my sister seemed tame compared to the onslaught of punches and kicks I was blocking. At one scary point she pulled an eight-inch long knife and attempted to stab me. I quickly dodged and grabbed her wrist. Twisting and pulling it out with one fluid movement, I was tempted to use her weapon against her, but quickly changed my mind. Even though she just tried to kill me, Ari was still my sister.

Eventually, I cornered my killer sister with her back to the forest. "You tried to kill me? I wasn't sure if I should scream in anger, or throw up in disgust. My own sister…

Arianna snarled. "Well, you won't join. So you must be destroyed…"

"Just because I'm with Shadow, doesn't mean we have to be enemies."

A cruel laugh came out of my sister's mouth. "You were with Shadow."

I frowned. "What?"

"You'll see." Arianna gave me a wicked smirk then disappeared.

I felt a foreboding sinking feeling enter my heart. Ari had been shooting at me…which Shadow wouldn't allow…unless. I slowly turned around; facing the cliff, still setting sun, and the lake. Lying on the ground about five feet from the edge was a black and red form. I felt my heart stop.

Without a word, I walked over and kneeled down next to him and examined him. At first, everything looked fine. Then I placed my glove on his back and felt a sticky substance. Pulling the glove away, black blood covered my hand. After further examination I found ten bullets through the Ultimate's back (two through the heart) and two through his head. Yet he was still breathing…which I didn't completely understand. Gently, I turned him over.

Shadow groaned in pain then slowly opened his eyes. He stared at me with one of those glares. "Get started."

I almost smiled. He doesn't give up easily. Without orders I already knew what he wanted.

"No. The pain would kill you. If I could do them one at a time with twenty minute intervals it might work, but by then you would have bleed to death. Besides, you've already lost too much blood."

My dying mentor glared and opened his mouth to protest but all that came out were several lung hacking coughs. After catching his breath he just glared at me.

Taking a deep breath I launched into the best speech I could do. "You did a really good job; kept me…them…everyone safe. I sometimes think, I never deserved that, I mean look at me! A cheap copy…" I trailed off. This was supposed to cheer him up, not hear my complaints.

"You're…wrong."

I started and looked at him.

"You…may be…a…copy…but I…always…cared."

I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry at this. I decided to do neither and just listen.

"Help…the…others…You're…in…charge."

I almost laughed at that idea. Me…in charge…yeah that was going to happen, but I kept my mouth shut.

"They…are…too…much…like…their…parents…You…are…something…new…unique…different…they…need…that…in…this…life."

I shook my head slowly. "You have no idea how different I am."

Shadow continued. Seriously, how long does it take for him to die? Then it hit me. He was going to die…like stop breathing die. No more training…we were on our own. He was going to leave me…just like that.

At this thought I burst into silent tears.

"Stay strong. I…know…you…will…and…help…Ari…something's…wrong…with…her."

Shadow must have seen my tears because he reached up and wiped them away.

Shadow's POV:

I almost smiled…but I remembered that I wasn't coming back. After Nicole refused to do the time healing I knew I was gone. Without a second thought I accepted it. I had lived too long anyway…but still. I noticed the tears streaming down her face and reached up and wiped them.

"Don't cry…I'll…be…fine." I burst into another coughing fit and tasted blood. I knew my time was short, but I didn't have the strength to continue talking. Instead I grabbed Nicole's hand and reached into my pocket and pulled out the red chaos emerald from my pocket. Placing it in her hand, I closed my eyes and thought about all I wanted to tell her. I felt my memories begin to run through and Nicole gasped in shock.

Re-living the past with someone else is really…weird. Images flashed by; GUN soldiers, Maria, Eggman, Cream, Team Sonic first and second generation, Martha, Thomas, Nicole, Arianna, and a few others. All the memories I wanted her to understand…like why she lived. Then as quickly as it had started it stopped.

Nicole withdrew her hand in shock and looked at me. The tears had returned, but I knew why. I closed my eyes and laid my head back down. Suddenly, I felt really tired. Sleep seemed like a really good idea. My pain had become a dull throb. My life flashed before my eyes, but it was pleasant memories; old memories; but some newer ones.

"Shadow? Don't me leave me alone. Ever."

"I won't."

My eyes shot open as I realized those words had been said just minutes ago. There's no way I could leave Nicole like that.

My young protégé seemed to know what I was thinking.

"Close your eyes."

My stubbornness had returned. "No. I don't want you to be more like me."

"Maria isn't you."

"If only that was true." This scene had become disturbingly familiar but instead of me being in a capsule, Nicole was locked in it and I was the one pulling the lever. "Never again. I won't let it happen."

The girl just smiled at me. "You're already gone. It's time for you to go home. Maria is waiting for you…say hi for me, okay?"

I shook my head and tried to sit up but felt a firm hand push me back down.

"Shadow…I can't see you in anymore pain. Please…do it for me…"

My vision started to tunnel and blur. "Nicole…"

I felt a cool hand on my face and a soft 'Shh.' Reluctantly I closed my eyes again. Maria wouldn't have to wait much longer…but Nicole. My soul refused to rest and I didn't try to leave. I drew each breath holding on for dear life. Suddenly, I heard a soft voice singing. It was soothing and comforting; I'd go so far to say angel like. The song comforted me…but was sorrowful just the same.

Song: Safe and Sound

Artist: Taylor Swift

I remember tears streaming down your face
When I said, "I'll never let you go"
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone"
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound

Don't you dare look out your window darling
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold onto this lullaby
Even when the music's gone
Gone

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound

Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh
La La (La La)
La La (La La)
Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh
La La (La La)

Just close your eyes
You'll be alright
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe and sound...

Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh oh oh

I felt myself begin to slip away as the song stopped.

A soft voice whispered in my ear, "Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog."

I squeezed Nicole's hand softly then welcomed the folds of darkness.

"Goodbye…my daughter."

DON'T KILL ME! It had to happen! You'll understand later! I'm sorry! *bawls in corner and begs for life* R&R please! I'm wondering how well I did the sadness...is that a sentence?