Geez, did I ever make this chapter short...oh well, can't be helped I guess. Hope you all like it, read and review!
"You know, you're lucky Shadow just so happened to be going to stare aimlessly at the Master Emerald when you were sent off the island Blue Boy. If he hadn't you certainly would be dead at the bottom of the ocean by now." The voice of Rouge was all that Sonic heard as he awoke, coughing a little.
"What did you do Faker?" Shadow asked his rival, wanting to know how he had annoyed Knuckles enough that she blasted him off her island.
"I uh...said I was going to stay on the island for a while to protect her." The blue hedgehog admitted.
"So you hurt her pride." The black one summed up, the bat shaking her head.
"It's not quite that simple Shadow. Knuckles doesn't really know how to handle being around Sonic right now, things have gotten rather...complicated for her right now." The thief explained, the hero and anti-hero alike looking at her oddly. Suddenly the skater sniffed the air, walking closer to the speedster and sniffed again. Looking confused, the red eyed male closed his eyes and focused before rather suddenly smirking.
"Didn't think you had it in you Faker." He stated, the green eyed male only looking at in all the more confusion while the blue-green eyed woman groaned.
"What are you talking about Shadow?" Sonic asked him.
"Shadow, that's enough." Rouge said before Shadow could say a thing, the black and red hedgehog looking at his GUN partner. He crossed his arms and turned towards Angel Island again, the blue one not realising that they were on the shore below said island until then, clearly not caring enough to continue.
"It might be best if you stayed away from Knuckles for a bit Blue boy, she's pretty...emotional right now." The bat tried to convince the runner, who shook his head as she had earlier.
"I promised to protect her, she's in danger." The hero disagreed, the anti-hero suddenly staring at him.
"A promise..." He murmured before nodding slightly to himself. "I will help you out Faker, so leave staying on the island to me."
"W-what? Really Shadow?!" The green eyed boy and the blue-green eyed woman were both shocked at the red eyed male's statement to help.
"Yes." Shadow said simply, looking at Rouge and nodding before Chaos Controlling up to the island.
"Echidna." Knuckles turned at the dark voice to see Shadow at the bottom of the shrine.
"What is it, want to stare at the Master Emerald again?" She called back down, the hedgehog's eyes narrowing.
"It would seem that you and the Faker had a fight of sorts...however he made a promise to protect you, and I will not allow any rival of mine to break a promise." The echidna blinked before her own eyes narrowed, she didn't want Sonic on her island.
"He's not allowed here." She stated.
"Because it is his child you carry?" The red eyed male questioned, the violet eyed girl's eyes widening. "It was in his Chaos Energy...yours as well." He explained.
"This is...all very complicated Shadow. It isn't like I forced him into doing anything, nor did he to me but..." The guardian trailed off, unsure if the anti-hero would even understand the severe emotional turmoil considering he was rather distant even to his two friends.
"He has promised to protect you, so he must stay on this island. He, and obviously someone else, seems to think you're in danger. It is easier for everyone if you just let him do as he wants."
"But...but I..." Knuckles sighed, knowing there was no real point to arguing with Shadow...the hedgehog would always win. "Fine, I'll let him stay. But that doesn't mean I'm happy about it." She finally relented. The anti-hero nodded.
"I never said you had to be." He stated before disappearing in that customary flash of green Chaos light.
"It has been taken care of." Shadow stated as he appeared on the shore of the mainland once more.
"You really convinced Knux to let me stay on the island?" Sonic asked, trying not to show how hopeful he was.
"And protect her, for as long as needed." The black hedgehog confirmed, Sonic smiling widely.
"Thanks Shadow." The blue hedgehog disappeared in a flash of his own Chaos Control to the island.
"...Why did you agree to help him? It's not like you Shadow." Rouge pointed out after several minutes, confused by her partner's actions.
"No rival of mine will break a promise." The skater stated simply, leaving.
"So that's it...a promise..." The bat sighed before looking at the island with a sad smile. "I promised to help you, even if I didn't say it outright...if being with Sonic is what will help you, even if it's not part of my original promise, than I'll make sure things work out. Because after everything you've been through Knuckles...you deserve to be happy, not have some jealous thief trying to take away your happiness."
Yay, Sonic didn't die! Rouge has realised how selfish she was being and Shadow was surprisingly helpful to our favourite blue hero...of course, I always thought that promises were something that Shadow would care very much about considering his promise to Maria and all. See you all for the next chapter!