-Chapter 26-

The rest of the afternoon was somewhat quiet. Knuckles, Rouge, Shadow, and Tails were discussing on what to do about Mephiles next. Meanwhile, Sonic, Cream, and Vanilla were keeping a non-stop vigil on a now sleeping Amy. After Tails got her set up in his infirmary, she fell asleep, being greatly exhausted. The sakura hedgehog wasn't going to leave Sonic's sights after all that had happened.

Even though she was fast asleep, Amy had a difficult time keeping it that way. Her mind was doing a good job in playing tricks on her. The young female was having frequent visions of Mephiles tormenting her in every way possible. Finally, not being able to take it anymore, Amy fluttered her eyes open. Her vision was a bit blurry, but it was enough to remind her where she was. She quickly buried her head into the pillow she rested on and turned onto her side to make the others think she was still asleep. Amy could hear Vanilla and Cream exchanging comments to each other. Cream sounded very worried about her friend's condition. Amy wondered if Sonic was there. She hadn't heard his voice at all. She also had to wonder if he had told them about her pregnancy. By the sound of Vanilla and Cream's chit-chat, it didn't seem like they knew. Thank God.

Meanwhile, back at Soleanna, Mephiles was staring unemotionally at the empty chamber in which he had kept his mate in. Not helping but feel an empty void build up inside him because of her absense. However, he wasn't too worried about her safety. Those goody-goodies that stole her away from him had too much morale to compromise the fruitation of his seed inside her. Getting Amy back wouldn't be too much of a problem anyway. What with playing with the cherry pink female's head and beating the life of those pathetic imbeciles.

Mephiles had to wonder if Shadow made much of the memories the demon had implanted in him. Perhaps it was time to pay him a visit, And if he was lucky, Mephiles would be able to successfully lead the ebony hedgehog astray this time. The sun was starting to set when Mephiles decided to take off from his hideout. He went straight to Station Square. Searching throughout the city for the Ultimate Lifeform.

Shadow had gone out for a walk. It was actually him jumping from rooftop to rooftop. Sitting around doing nothing but listen Rouge and Knuckles exchange conversation wasn't in his interests. The night sky above him was being blinded out by the bright city lights. It gave Shadow a feeling of nostalgia. He had been here once before. Only he was the villain and everyone at Tails' Workshop was his enemy. Except maybe Rouge. But that was a long time ago.

Suddenly, Shadow sensed that he wasn't alone. He looked to his left and right and saw nothing. That alone didn't stop him from being suspicious. He continued on his way as though he were trying to escape or lure out whatever or whoever was apparently tailing him. Even though he covered quite a lot of distance, Shadow could still feel a presence stalking him. It was like it was mocking him now. About this time anyone else would have gone back to base, but not Shadow. He wanted to ferret out and confront whatever was after him. Then, the demon abruptly appeared out of nowhere before him. Shadow narrowed his blood-red eyes.

"Hello, Shadow." Mephiles sneered.

Amy hadn't moved from her position since she woke up. Maintaining it was pretty hard though. She was starting to get stiff. Amy still hoped that Vanilla and Cream were thinking she was still asleep. But Sonic wasn't fooled. He had seen Amy do this before in one of her 'pouting jags'. The cerulean hedgehog waited until Vanilla and Cream decided to leave for a quick bite to eat before going inside the room in which his sakura counterpart was in. He then grabbed a chair and sat beside her bed.

"I know you're awake, Amy." Sonic said in a somewhat scolding tone.

Amy flinched, then let out a big sigh. She slowly turned herself over to face Sonic, not looking at him. Sonic noticed that she was holding her stomach in a rather gingerly way.

"Does it hurt?" he asked.

Amy blinked.

"Does what hurt?" she stammered.

"Your stomach silly." Sonic replied.

Amy made a face. Clearly she wasn't comfortable about discussing the condition of her belly. Sonic leant forward and rubbed it gently. It felt a little hard to him. Amy blushed madly. Then after remembering who the father was, her ears drooped.

"What am I going to do?" she said quietly.

"What do you want to do?" Sonic asked her.

"I don't know. I really don't know. I'm scared."

There was a brief silence between the two.

"Did you tell the others?" Amy asked nervously.

"No." Sonic said honestly. "And I won't unless if you want me to. But I think you should tell them. They're going to start noticing anyway."

He was right. The rest of the gang would notice that something is up when Amy's stomach gets larger. The only thing that was bothering her was what their reaction will be.

"I don't think I can do it, Sonic." Amy said in a tiny voice.

"Why not?" Sonic asked.

"What if...What if they get mad at me?"

"I didn't get mad. And why would they get mad?"

"Well let's see, I'm carrying the child of a monster."

Sonic made a really stern face at that bitter remark.

"That'll be enough of that." he told her. "I don't ever want you talking like that again, Amy. Understand?"

The sakura hedgehog gave a slow nod and a single tear fell from her eye. Sonic wiped it away with his thumb and proceed to stroke her muzzle with it. Amy could feel her emotions running wild. Soon more tears started running down her face. Sonic could tell what was coming up and wrapped his arms around Amy's now trembling frame. A second didn't pass before the young flower had another breakdown. Vanilla and Cream returned shortly thereafter and immediately became concerned.

"What happened?" Cream asked.

"Nothing, Cream." Sonic quietly replied. "She'll be alright."