Chapter 14: A New Found Friend

Shadow descended into the dark again to check on his captive. It had been all too easy, but he wished Eggman hadn't made him capture her again. They did need her, that was for certain, the power she possessed could help them find the chaos emeralds! Sonic and his friends were too stupid to see just how special she really was…only she was happy there and he liked it when she was happy. He'd just have to try his best to make her happy here, which wasn't going to be easy since she was so depressed at the moment and wouldn't say anything. Maybe it was because he wasn't very talkative. He'd just have to try harder to be a little friendlier this time.

He entered the dark room and spotted her curled against the wall of her cage, shaking so badly that her whole body moved. Shadow paused a moment and listened to see if the leaking water pipe he had fixed earlier for her was leaking again. Satisfied that it wouldn't bother her, he continued to approach the iron bars that held her captive in the dark cell. He studied her and as he did his heart filled with pity. She laid there, small, weak, fragile, and pitiful quietly wallowing in a sadness Shadow could understand. He was there when she had destroyed Eggman's ship along with her home and family. He wished there was something more he could do, but Eggman wanted her here until he was certain Sonic wouldn't try to rescue her. It would almost be better if Sonic did rescue her.

The black hedgehog opened the door after a while and stepped inside the prison. He approached the trembling blue vixen, paused again and thought about how to make friendly conversation, cursed himself for being an idiot and thinking he could start a friendly conversation or that she would even listen to him, and backed away. He was almost out the cage door when she lifted her head and stared at him with piercing blue eyes wet with tears. Her ears drooped forward and her bushy tail was limp on the cold floor. He paused, looking at her over his shoulder, and she shakily stood up to her full height and warily approached him. Shadow didn't move, wondering what the vixen planned to do. She couldn't possibly escape; he was to fast even if her talent helped her find a way out. He waited, watching her with his deep red eyes until she finally stood by his side, and when she wobbled he instinctively reached out and caught her. She leaned against him, buried her face into his chest, and he felt the warm trickle of tears soaking into his black fur. She sobbed for a while and then whimpered quietly, "I'm sorry, Shadow. I don't blame you for what happened anymore and I'm sorry if I ever did."

Shadow stood frozen in shock as Breeze continued to clutch him and cry. She repeatedly told him she was sorry and wanted him to forgive her as she entwined her fingers in his fur. He finally recovered from the shock of being embraced and apologized to instead of the hateful hits or words he had expected and said in a calming but deep voice, "There's nothing to forgive."

She sniffed and said a little forcefully, "Yes there is. I blamed you for destroying all that I loved and held closest to my heart, but now I'm accepting that it was me who killed them and all the blame should rest on my own shoulders." Her face was still in his chest when she said this and it came out a little muffled, but Shadow understood perfectly.

"It was my fault. If I hadn't been chasing you it never would have happened," he said carefully, not sure how his words would cause Breeze to react.

"You can think what you'd like, but I'm not blaming anyone for anything anymore," was all she said and he didn't push the issue. They stayed like that for a minute more; Shadow standing still and rigid beneath Breeze's frantic grasp, until he finally placed his hands on Breeze's shoulders and pulled her off of him so he could leave. He thought she might like something to eat or maybe Rouge could come down and do something about her. He had never been in a situation like this before and was a little uncomfortable.

As he pushed her away she got a frantic look in her eye and tried to grab any part of him she could. Her sudden action startled him and he let go of her only to be immediately embraced again and have the blonde head jammed back into it's place on his chest.

"No, please don't go away! I hate being alone down here in the dark with their faces haunting me. Please just stay with me, please…" she pleaded again and stroked his fur with her hands.

Shadow had never been so amazed and surprised in his life. Someone actually wanted him. Someone valued his presence enough to plead and cry for him. He had never felt this way before and he put arms around her small body to see what her reaction would be. She sighed when she felt the warmth of his arms and snuggled closer, her whimpering ceasing and quieted to small sniffs and sobs. He hugged her closer and slowly moved with her to a wall of the cell that he could lean against. He sat down with her in his lap, still burying into his soul, and he gently stroked her messy blonde hair with one hand while his other cradled her protectively. This was a completely new feeling. He felt comfortable and warm. He felt caring and protecting. He felt what it must feel like to be loved, a feeling that he hadn't felt in a long, long time.

"I won't ever leave you, Breeze," he whispered to her and watched as she soon fell into a restful and contented sleep in his dark arms.

That was how Rouge found them. Both were asleep, her in his arms, leaning up against a cold prison wall. The sassy jewel thief shook her head at the sight and chuckled. Shadow could be so strange at times and he always developed the strangest relationships in the oddest places with the oddest people.

"Hey, Shadow. Whatcha' doing to that poor kid?" she said to him as she knelt down beside his black form.

He jerked with a start, looked around wildly and then remembered where he was. He turned to look at her coldly. "That's none of your business, thief."

She laughed again and poked him in the side. "You didn't just steal that little foxy again so you could cuddle with her did you? I never took you for much of a cuddly person."

He glared at her and felt the heat of embarrassment rise up in his cheeks. Despite what he felt, he still didn't get up from his position with Breeze. He only coolly said, "What are you doing here, Rouge?"

"I came down to see if you really had captured the little girl again. What are you doing here…other than the obvious?"

"She didn't want me to leave her…if that's what you mean. She doesn't like to be alone down here," Shadow said and he brushed some strands of gold hair from Breeze's sleeping face.

"Aw, how sweet. Shadow has a little girl friend!" Rouge teased and Shadow ignored her.

"Why don't you just leave," he said.

"Actually, I'm not the only one who's going to be leaving. I forgot to mention that Eggman wants to see the girl and she'll be coming with me," Rouge said with a sly grin and reached out to take Breeze from him.

Shadow moved Breeze away from her grasp. "No she won't be going with you, I'm taking her."

"Suite yourself," the bat shrugged and flew out of the cage with beating wings. She hovered in the room and looked back at Shadow. "Well, you coming?"

Shadow frowned at her and then lifted Breeze into both of his arms. He slowly stood up and walked out of the cell, cradling the sleeping vixen carefully so not to jostle her when he stepped. Rouge led the way and the two of them made their way down the hallway back into the dimly lighted fortress. Rouge soon landed and walked beside Shadow, the hallway was becoming too small for proper flying, and Breeze began to stir.

She twisted in Shadows arms and he held onto her tighter so he wouldn't drop her. She felt the increased pressure and slowly opened her eyes. The light in the hall blinded her a little and her eyes began to water. She then became aware that she was being carried and she struggled.

"Wh—where am I? What's happening?" she cried pathetically and then more vigorously tried to free herself. Her tail lashed in frustration, hitting Rouge who backed away a little.

"She's a fighter isn't she?" Rouge commented to Shadow as he tried to calm the fighting vixen.

"Breeze, calm down now. It's me, Shadow, Remember," Shadow said calmly into her ear.

She stopped struggling and looked up at him with fearful eyes. "Where are you taking me, Shadow?"

"Hey kid, remember me?" Rouge cut in before Shadow could answer.

Breeze looked at her with a start and recognition crossed her face. She nodded, "Rouge."

"That's right, honey. I was the only one who cared about you while you were here the first time. Anyways, you're going to see Eggman," the bat boasted.

"Eggman! Oh, I don't want to see him," the little vixen trembled.

"He wants to see you, but don't worry, nothing will happen," Shadow assured her.

"I'm not so sure…" Breeze was saying, but it was already too late. They had approached Dr. Eggman's control room and the double doors slid open to allow them to enter. Breeze tensed up in Shadow's arms as they entered and she looked around to see if she could spot the evil doctor before he saw her. No such luck.

"Good afternoon, Breeze. I trust your stay was to your enjoyment," the evil Dr. Eggman's voice said coming from a swivel chair facing a control panel of switches. Two robots sat at desks nearby typing away and grumbling at each other from time to time.

Breeze didn't say anything in return to the doctor. Of course her stay had been anything but enjoyable, but she didn't feel like back talking a man of so much power. Dr. Eggman turned in his chair and smiled when he saw her startled face. He was huge! His stomach was big enough to be another person and he was very tall, even sitting down. He had no hair on his head and a very long mustache below hid prominent nose. Covering he eyes were a pair of darkly tinted glasses and she wondered what his eyes were like behind them.

"Shadow, why don't you bring her closer to me so we can have a decent chat," Eggman said and Shadow complied as Breeze tried to shrink as far away from the big man as she could while Shadow carried her.

"Now put her down and back away a little," the doctor commanded again and Shadow set her down carefully and stepped back a step or two.

Breeze held her arms and tried to look small as the doctor then examined her. He put his hand under his chin and grunted, "You don't look like much, but apparently size isn't everything now is it?"

"Are you talking about how well I can shoot an arrow, sir?" Breeze asked. She couldn't help herself this time, she was too curious as to why he wanted her so bad.

"Well, that's an added bonus…you don't even know what you're capable of do you? Well good, I'd like to keep it that way so if you do get back into the wrong hands you can't be used against me," he mused.

Breeze looked at him in confusion. What was he talking about? She couldn't do anything else special?

"You'll help us find what we're looking for either way. You really don't have much choice in the matter," the doctor continued and then he reached out with his mammoth hand as if to grab her. She leaped back in fright and bumped into Shadow who she hid her face in to escape Eggman's grasp.

"Please take me away, Shadow. I want to go home. Please stay with me," she whimpered to him in fright.

"Hmpf," Eggman grunted. "Shadow, bring her back over here."

But Shadow's heart had been touched again by the little vixen's pleas and he put an arm around her and turned her away from Eggman. "Let me talk to her and get her to do what you want. You frighten her," he said to the fuming man.

"What do you care? She's mine and I'll have her do as I want."

"He cares because he's made another little pet out of this one. You know, like Maria and Molly," Rouge answered for Shadow casually and sashayed over to Eggman's seat. "I think he's right though. Let Shadow worry about the little girl and all you have to do is reap the rewards."

"Well…I guess that way I wouldn't have to put up with the little brat. Alright, Shadow, she's all yours. She seems to like you enough anyhow," the doctor said, giving in. Shadow nodded his head at Rouge in gratitude and she gave him the "don't mention it" look.

"Take her somewhere out of my sight until I need her again and try to keep an eye on her this time," Eggman said, waving them off with a hand gesture.

"Don't worry, Breeze. I won't let anything hurt you. I won't leave you, just like I promised," Shadow said calmly again while leading the already weeping vixen towards the door. He picked her up again and was about to leave when there was a massive explosion sound from somewhere outside and the whole fortress shook.

There's two more chapters! Thanks for the feedback, it really keeps me going! See 'ya next time!