Love Struck

Chapter 25 - A Doctor's Prospective

Dr. Mile's POV

"Nurse!" I shouted.

"Here sir." She replied as she handed me my designator.

I took it in my hand and reopened Shadow's stomach flaps so that I would be able to see his liver.

Once I pushed by his intestines I griped the liver.

I quickly and closely had to mark the part that had to be cut in order to replace it with his friend's.

I slowly put the designator aside and pulled back up my blade.

I slowly cut into his liver and due to the fact that this hedgehog has had already 30mg of morphine he wasn't able to react to most of the pain.

I slowly cut the part of his liver out. It came out and I could see the injury. Part of it was black. Something this hog did was killing it from the inside. The most likely cause was drugs of some sort. I didn't have time to worry. I also found the cut. This injury by judging it I would have to say was caused by a impact this hog took before the drug use. It would have to be a huge impact in order for his liver to break from the inside. As if he was crushed by whatever it was.

I quickly went back and handed the nurse the destroyed part of his liver. The injury didn't spread thank god. I quickly picked up the replacement part and went back to the designator.

Slowly I went inside Shadow and marked the area that the laser needed to hit. Carefully I went all the way around his liver making sure not to hurt anything else. As soon as the liver was marked I went for the replacement.

"Nurse!" I shouted.

The nurse was looking at Ghost.

"Nurse!" I shouted again.

She broke from thought and looked at me.

"I need the machine online!" I ordered.

She nodded and pulled the machine over to Shadow's body and placed it above his stomach section so that the laser was ready for adjustments.

She quickly activated the machine and the non lethal blue laser came down on Shadow's stomach.

I quickly gave her the pass code and she adjusted it to Shadow's liver.

I slowly moved inside and placed Ghost's replacement on the designated part of Shadow's liver.

As soon as I nodded she activated the machine and up popped the red laser which immediately began to attached the liver.

I had to watch my fingers otherwise I'm losing one.

I slowly held the liver as the nurse moved the machine according to the place the laser had to go.

Slowly the laser attached ghost's replacement on Shadow's liver and they were perfect for each other.

Same size and same everything.

I had a feeling Shadow was going to pull through.

"Nurse stop!" I ordered her.

She listened and immediately turned of the laser so that it was not going to be able to cut anything in his body.

She quickly pulled it away and handed me back my pass code.

I looked at the new combined liver and it was perfect. I looked quickly at his reading and Shadow was going up in heart rate.

It was minor nothing to worry about.

All that was left was to get him stitched up.

I quickly stitched his skin flaps together and as soon as I was done the nurse brought back over the laser. I gave her my pass code and she reactivated the red laser on top of Shadow's stitches.

Slowly we dragged the laser across each stitch and melted his skin back together as if nothing happened.

We got to the pelvis and we stopped there.

The nurse quickly took away the machine as I noticed the heart rate was still raising.

"Good job doctor." Complemented one of the nurses.

I ignored her and quickly went to the machine that held his ratings.

Shadow's rate is 110 beats a minute.

"Nurse!" I shouted in fear.

"He must be reacting from the morphine sir all the pain is coming through. He's just going to have to deal with it." Stated the nurse.

I slowly looked away and went to clean my tools off.

"As soon as we're done cleaning up I want him in a separate room and I want Ghost taken care of properly." I ordered calmly.

"Yes sir." Replied all the nurses as they wrapped up the machines.

Shadow's POV

I could feel all the pain. It was unbearable.

"What happened?" I asked myself.

I gently opened my eyes to find out I was in a medical room along with a doctor and a few nurses.

"Ghost must have gotten me to safety." I thought to myself.

I slowly looked to my right to find a trail of blood. I began to follow it.

As soon as my eyes made contact on where the trail lead I lost all control over my emotions. My heart began to beat fast and I felt my limbs freeze in place. Out of no where I felt my heart stop and I let out a huge gasp of warm air into the room. I felt nothing after that. It was as if my soul left my body.

Dr. Miles POV

As I was cleaning my tools I heard Shadow's monitor go off. Me and all the nurses looked in shock as both of the monitors now ran in a straight line.

"Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppppppppppp pppppppppp!"

I quickly panicked and dropped my tools in the sink and ran at him.

"Nurse!" I shouted at any of them.

They were too stunned to move.

"Nurses!" I screamed at all of them.

They quickly broke from fear and ran at me.

"Get me the defibrillator!" I ordered as I held Shadow's chest.

One of the nurses ran for it and quickly turned it back on.

As I waited I looked at the other nurse.

"Get me some morphine!" I ordered her.

She didn't move.

"Sorry sir we ran out." She stated.

My heart began to give way. I'm not losing both of them.

The nurse came back over with the defib at hand. I took it as she readied it.

She nodded at me once it was good.

I looked at Shadow and raised the paddles.

"Clear!"

Shadow's POV unknown

It was dark with no where to go. I didn't know where I was, all I remember was seeing Ghost…!

I stopped myself at the image of him.

I looked around the dark room in hope of finding a way out.

It was cold and eerie.

I began to hit the walls in force hoping that they would fall and to my surprise they did.

The wall fell backwards and hit the floor hard.

I slowly walked on top of it and proceeded into the next room.

The next room was just as dark and cold but this time I felt someone else's presence.

"I see you found your way out of the first room." He stated.

I panicked and looked around for the unknown man.

"Come on out!" I ordered him.

"Your yelling in the wind my boy. This is a place where all the dead can't hear you." He stated.

"What!?" I questioned in confusion.

"Your on the verge of death my dear hedgehog and I believe your friend is as well." He replied.

"Ghost! Where is he!?" I asked in rage.

"He's around here but unable to find his way out. If you want to live and save your friends life you must travel through both of your pasts." He replied.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"You ever hear the saying " A man who will die for nothing isn't fit to live?" He asked.

I kept looking around for the man but this room made his voice bounce.

"You will die for nothing, both of you. Unless you find a reason to want to save each other." Stated the man.

I didn't reply.

"You have three tests to face. Your friend can't help you. No one can. The first test is pain. The second is love. And the third is choice." Stated the man.

I waited as he continued.

"You have only one choice in each test. Even if it seems like you have another it is not an option. Now proceed to the first test. The test of pain." He ordered as a wall fell down to my left.

I slowly looked away and proceed into the next room.

As soon as I hit the floor I was overcome by a bright light.

ARK 12 years ago

The light remained as I heard the man again.

"The test of pain. Will you change your past for him or will you deal with all the suffering of watching her die all over again?" He asked me.

"What?" I asked not wanting to know the answer.

The light disappeared and my eyes widened in shock.

"Run Shadow!" I heard her scream at me from behind.

I was running and I didn't even know it till I looked at my legs. I immediately looked behind me and Maria was there holding my hand.

"Don't stop Shadow run!" She screamed as men from G.U.N cased us down the hall.

It was weird I knew I was ten years old but I felt like I was still twenty two.

I ran with Maria at my side and I passed a sign that read Escape pods.

We ran in the room and Maria let my hand go and she locked the door behind us.

As soon as the door locked she took my hand and ran me to the nearest escape pod.

I looked into her eyes as she knelt down in front of me.

"I love you Shadow, but you have to go." She said as she began to cry.

"What!?" I asked in confusion.

"The men are going to get in soon and they'll kill you. You have to take this pod and leave." She replied.

"But I can't leave you!" I shouted.

"Please Shadow you have to!" She stated.

I began to cry as I looked at the pod to my left.

"Please Shadow." She begged.

I knew I had to make a choice and I had to do something I never thought I would have to go through again.

"No!" I shouted at her.

"Please Shadow!" She screamed.

I wouldn't budge.

Maria panicked and looked over at the door as the men shot the lock.

"Please Shadow go!" She begged.

"No!" I replied in rage.

Two men and Robotnik approached us.

Maria was scared and so was I, but I knew what I had to do.

"Hand him over!" Ordered Robotnik.

Maria looked at me in fear.

"No!" Shouted Maria as she hugged me tightly.

The men aimed their guns and readied themselves for the shot.

"Please Maria, just hand him over and I won't have to hurt you." Stated robotnik.

"I won't let you hurt him!" Replied Maria.

Robotnik nodded his head and looked at his men.

"Them I'm sorry Maria but you gave me no other choice."

Maria hugged me tightly as she shut her eyes.

I did the same.

"Fire!" Shouted Robotnik.

The men opened fire hitting me and Maria.

I took a round to my arm as Maria was shot in her chest.

As soon as I heard her scream it was over.

I opened my eyes and shouted.

"CHAOS BLAST!"

I haven't done this in ages and this one was bigger then normal. I was going to kill them all.

Maria barely held onto me as the blast went out at everyone.

The blast blew Robotnik and his men across the room. His men were killed by it's force as Robotnik rolled on his back in pain.

Maria slipped off me and fell down on her side bleeding on the floor.

I watched as this happened.

My anger took over and I approached Robotnik.

I quickly picked up his gun and aimed it at his head.

"I couldn't kill you before but I can now!" I screamed as I pulled the trigger.

"BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!"

I shot until the gun ran out of ammo.

Robotnik died on the first shot due to it hitting his head but I felt as if I need to put more into the fat fuck.

My rage came out in waves of red and I slowly let the gun hit the ground.

"Shadow…." I heard Maria call out to me.

I immediately turned and ran at her bloody body.

She was not going to make it and I knew it and I think she did too.

I never thought I had to go through all this again, but I knew this wasn't over. There's a reason this is called the pain test. I had to change my past to save Ghost.

I gently fell to my butt and lifted her beautiful head onto my legs.

"I love you Shadow." She stated as she cried.

I began to cry and I can't believe I had to do this, this way.

I slowly raised her head onto my chin and hugged her tightly.

I wrapped my arms around her neck and held her tightly.

I began to cry and as I readied myself I felt her touch.

Maria put her hand on my face and I looked into her eyes.

"Please Shadow, go after this and help all those people down there." She pleaded to me.

"I promise Maria." I replied as tears rolled down both our faces.

She smiled softly as I growled in pain at this.

"AGHHHHHHHH!" I screamed as I turned her.

"SNAP!"

I let her body rest on my legs as I cried out in pain from what I have just done.

Even now she was still smiling at me.

I let my tears hit her wet face as a light overtook me again.

Room 2

I was back to normal but my feelings have been crushed. I still remember the sound of her neck.

"I will admit Shadow that was hard to watch, but you passed the first test good job." Stated the man.

I felt my anger build up.

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT FROM ME!" I screamed.

"I want you to pass the last two tests. So lets begin." Stated the man as the wall fell down again but this time to my right.

I hesitated and walked inside.

The light took me again and I was transported.

Across from the capital

I was on the roof top again across from the capital and I slowly looked to my right to find Dark.

"HQ this Viper 2-7." Said Dark into his headpiece.

"HQ what's the call 2-7." Replied HQ

"Target has been spotted. We're ready to engage." Replied Dark.

"Copy that viper 2-7 you're cleared hot." Replied HQ.

"Alright Shadow this is it. Target is almost ready." Stated Dark.

I slowly looked through my scope and found Amy giving her speech. God was she still so….! I quickly looked out of the scope and rested my head to the side. I knew what I had to do. "Why!?" I asked myself.

"Afghanistan. What is that one place to all of us?" Asked Amy.

"Alright Shadow target is in position. Fire when ready." Stated Dark.

I slowly forced myself to look back in the scope at Amy. I slowly then forced myself to aim at her head. Then it hurt to remember how I had to aim.

I slowly raised to my third mil dot and moved to the right of her. Once it was ready I began to tear up again.

"We will gain our freedom! We will live! We will give our children a place to call their home!" She shouted in pure enthusiasm.

I couldn't do it. I quickly aimed away at Nexus just like before.

"Shadow! Do it now!" Shouted Dark.

The fact hit me again in all it's force and I knew Ghost and me were dead if I didn't.

I immediately aimed back at Amy and griped the trigger.

"Kill her!" Shouted Dark.

I was fighting my past every inch of the way and this was too much for me to do. I knew the stakes and I had to do it. Tears filled my eyes as I looked down the scope.

"Shadow!" Screamed Dark.

I had to hurt her. I griped the trigger again and pulled once.

"BANG!"

As soon as the round went I watched as it sailed at her.

The bullet went straight into her forehead and she was sent into the wall behind her. Her brains splattered and Nexus and everyone screamed. Nexus ran to her and felt for a pulse.

I lowered my head in depression as Dark stood up.

"Come on let's go!" He shouted as he went for my shoulder.

I stayed down and Dark forced me up. He then dragged me to the ropes.

I regained control and we lowered ourselves down to the street.

"HQ this is Viper 2-7. Target is dead!" Stated Dark as we ran through the same thing as before. Everything was the same. The tank, the troops, everything.

Dark and I ran to the LZ and waited for the chopper. I knew the sniper was there and slowly I peered my head up to find him on the roof as the chopper landed for us.

My eyes widened as he came into view.

"Ghost!" I shouted in shock.

"BANG!"

Ghost shot at me and I jumped to the left. He missed and Dark quickly ran to the chopper. He got on and looked at me.

"Come on Shadow!" He screamed.

I was confused. "Why is Ghost there?" I asked myself.

"Shadow!" Shouted Dark.

I broke from thought and ran at the chopper.

"BANG!"

Ghost missed again and I fell into the chopper.

"Go!" Shouted Dark.

The pilot nodded and the hatched closed as we took off to safety.

My mind was fucked. "Was Ghost the one who shot me before back when this went to shit? No. It can't be him. He would have told me." I thought to myself as we flew back to base.

"HQ this is Super 85 mission accomplished." Stated the pilot.

"Roger Super 85, great work." Stated HQ.

As soon as I felt the chopper land Dark took my shoulder.

"Great shot Shadow. That bitch got what was coming to her." Stated Dark.

I immediately punched Dark in his mouth and the light overtook me again.

Room 3

I was back in the Dark room with the man, wherever he was.

"Are you ready for the final test?" He asked.

I was still crying.

"I know its hard Shadow, but your doing it for Ghost remember?" He asked me.

"I don't know if I want to." I replied.

"Why?" He asked in a surprised voice.

I didn't reply.

"The tests are meant to be more then just tests." He stated.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"There meant to open your eyes." He replied as the wall behind me fell.

I looked and slowly approached the next room where as soon as I hit the ground the light took me for the last time.

Unknown location

I opened my eyes and the test of choice was among me.

I held a hand gun as two bodies laid in front of me barley alive.

On the left was Dark and on the right was Ghost.

Both who were on the verge of death.

I slowly undid the mag and it only held one bullet.

"Shadow please." I heard Ghost beg.

I looked as tears consumed my face.

"Shadow I'm your brother don't let him trick you any longer!" Shouted Dark.

I slowly reloaded the clip and lowered the gun.

"Shadow, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you." Stated Ghost.

"I know brother." I said to him.

"What Shadow!? You can't be serious! I'm your brother not him!" Shouted Dark.

"I know that!" I shouted as I looked at the gun in confusion.

"Please Shadow save me." Begged Ghost.

"Don't listen to him Shadow! Stick by your blood and end him!" Shouted Dark.

"I don't know what to do." I said to myself.

I had to make a choice.

After what has happened and all I have seen I want to kill both of them. Dark for him leaving me to die and Ghost for being the reason this all happened to me.

They watched as I held the gun tightly.

I knew what had to be done.

I slowly raised the gun and brought it to my head.

Ghost and Dark looked in shock.

"SHADOW NO!" They both screamed as I pulled the trigger.

Normal POV

"BANG!"

The steel bullet went into the hog's head splattering his brain across the desk behind him. His body hit the floor in front of the two people he cared the most about. The two people who caused all this with there own set of choices. But only one person caused Shadow to make that choice on his own. The right choice, the choice that let him pass test three. The test of choice.

Shadow's POV

I somehow managed to be sent back to the black room.

The man was waiting.

"I see you made the ultimate choice my boy." He stated.

"What happened?" I asked.

"You died for something. That's what happened." Replied the man.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"Congratulations Shadow the hedgehog. You pass." Stated the man as the light took me over again.

"Wait!" I screamed.

Dr. Mile's POV

We gave up after the third try and waited as Logan was coming back to see what I have done.

"I'm so fired." I said to myself.

"Doctor, what happened?" Asked one of the nurses.

"I don't know he just…!"

I stopped once I saw Shadow's monitor beep.

I instantly watched in shock as his rate went up again.

The nurses watched in shock as well as he started to move.

His rate hit 100 and then out of no where he jumped up.

Shadow's POV

"AGHHHHH!" I screamed as I woke up on the table.

I immediately looked around at everyone who was staring at me in shock.

I didn't care, I stood up as soon as I saw Ghost.

I quickly limped over to his body.

The doctors put him back together, but did it work.

"Come on Ghost! Wake up!" I screamed.

Logan came bashing through the door with Archer and Jason at his side. Amy then came in behind all them.

I grabbed Ghost and raised his head into my shoulder and I began to cry.

"Wake up Brother!" I screamed as his stats still read zero.

No one went near me as I screamed.

"I didn't go through all that hell to only save myself! Come on Ghost wake up! He promised I would save you if I did all that! Please wake up!" I screamed as I cried into his quills.

Everyone began to feel sad watching me hold my dead brother's body trying to revive him.

"Please Ghost…I love you." I stated as my last tear hit his head.

"Beep!"

Everyone was shocked when we heard Ghost's monitor go off.

I looked at him in hope as I held him tightly.

"I love you Ghost! Come on pull through!" I begged.

"Beep! Beep! Beep!"

His rate went faster and faster as I finished my sentence.

"We have both been alone our whole lives and now that I found you I can't let you go! You're my brother Ghost!" Please don't leave me alone!

I cried as I felt his hand wrap around my back.

I looked down at him and looked into his golden eyes.

"I will…never…let you go…alone." He stated.

I smiled like never before as he cried.

We instantly hugged each other tightly as everyone was shocked in place.

"I saw…everything you…went through Shadow." Stated Ghost.

"I wasn't going to let you die in there." I replied.

"Was it…worth it?" Asked Ghost.

"As long as I knew I could save you Ghost it was always going to be worth it." I replied.

Ghost began to cry heavily at the response as I cried with him freely.

I held his quills tightly as he held me together. I don't care what differences we have, I only know he's my brother and I will do anything to keep him with me and never let him go.