Heeeello Readers!

Oh I bet you are all so excited to see this update XD It took me a looong time to come up with something that could follow the previous chapter... It was almost too perfect lol

Anyway, as always, THANK YOU REVIEWERS! Ya'll are the reason I forced myself to write this lol So thank you: Abril378, ROCKCHIC179, Shadowy Chica, Aragorn Van Hellsing (special thanks to you my friend :) ), Angel-kohai, Heartless demon wolf (thank you my friend), janaynoodle, BitterKiss (My gorgeous irlish friend), Amefloza13, Pirilaxa, inyShinyy, pinksakura271, ErrieBRO(thanks for the enthusiasm bro, can't wait to hear more from you XD), shad-amy01. You guys make all this worth it.

ROCKCHIC179: Thank you for the continued support of my stories! And I love your stories so of course I would review! I can't wait to hear what you think of this chapter as well.

The rest of my lovely Guest reviewers: Y'all are too cute! Your consistent comments helped remind me to continue and not to give up! Thanks!

If I did not reply to your review, please let me know! I love chatting with all of you and am sorry when I miss someone, so please shoot me a PM or let me know in your comment of this chapter :)

GUYS! I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE SONIC MOVIE, especially now that they fixed our hero's design lol, Who else is gonna go see it? I am curious.

Also, I will be addressing this in my other story too when I upload, but a little bit ago someone sent me a link to a story that was similar to my other story, Team Dark's Rose. I am grateful for you guys looking out for me, I took a look at the story, and the reviews on the story. There were some similarities to my story, and someone pointed them out in the review section. The author kindly addressed the reader's concern and promised to review and said that it shouldn't continue. So I felt no need to say anything or look into it further. I am excited to see this author grow, and develop an amazing Shadamy as we all know we can always use more of those.

Anyways, Love you guys and I super duper look forward to your reactions to this chapter (this story is almost done... it's been a crazy ride XD)

CHAPTER 31: Totally Backwards, Batshit Crazy Love

Shadow had been on battlefields, floated aimlessly through space, destroyed hundreds of buildings, and killed thousands of people. Seen things that could've only come from hell, blood and brain matter splattered in mud like discarded afterbirth. But nothing had come close to the feeling of pure dread that filled his chest as he now stood before a shattered front door, staring into a silent house. How could it compare, since he had been sure of survival in hell, but when faced by the fury of Rouge, a person who could very well kill him, was like he was staring death in the face.

"They might not be back yet…"The voice beside him was soft and a hand touched his elbow, "Knuckles is pretty big… it would be difficult for Rouge to carry him by herself. O-or maybe they went to the hospital..."

If possible, he felt even worse from that statement. Chaos… not only did I nearly kill the guy, but I didn't even stick around long enough to help. He gulped, the fur on his arms rising in caution. He knew they were in there, his sensitive ears could pick up shuffling in a room above them. That wasn't what was causing him to hesitate. No, what was making the blood within him run cold was the very strong, murderous aura that filled the house. The air was electric and tense, like the feel of a battlefield in the moments before two enemies met on rough ground to spill each other's blood.

"Shadow…"

"I know Rose," He sighed, shaking out the tension in his body, "Let's get this over with."

He stepped into the house, and almost bristled his quills at the intensity of the atmosphere. He looked over at Amy who had less control over her instincts, and could see that her body was reacting. Her quills were bristled and the fur on her arms were almost standing straight up. The corner of her mouth was twitching with the urge to growl and flash fangs for whatever was threatening her. Primal instincts taking control of the buttons and switches in her mind.

Amy trembled, she felt all the cells in her body scream to run. She wanted out of the house, she wanted to put as much distance as possible between her and whatever was lying in wait for her here. Her foot took a step back, but before she could give into the feeling, she felt a hand grip hers. She looked down, and then up to see Shadow staring at her with intensity. He didn't say anything, but with a nod of her head, he started forward, gently guiding her through the house and to the stairs. Whatever they had to face, they would face together.

Despite the comfort that filtered in from their connected hands, the closer they got to the source of such anger the more they felt the desire to flee. It's just Rouge… She wouldn't do anything... crazy... would she? Amy gulped at the thought. She realized quite suddenly that although she and the bat had been friends for years, there was more unknown about Rouge then known. Rouge was chatty with her friends, but there was always a line she never crossed. A barrier that protected a side of her that Amy knew nothing about, and on the rare occasions that the thief became truly enraged or emotional she'd seen just little glimpses of that person. But never like this.

No… this felt like she was walking to her own demise.

They finally made it to the top floor, which was one large master bedroom. They stood before it like two children called for divine punishment after breaking something of value in the house. Amy flinched as they heard a chillingly calm voice call from within,

"Enter."

Shadow just about bolted. Maybe he should let her cool down before attempting to reconcile. But against his better judgement, he willed his body moved forward, and his hand reached for the door knob.

The interior to the master bedroom was less extravagant then Shadow would've guessed. There was a large bed in the center, and on either side was the couple's respective space. Rouge's side had a large walk-in closet where all her shoes, purses, outfits and jewels were placed on display. While on Knuckles' side there was the bathroom, jumbo television,and trophies from various competitions displayed in a similar fashion to his girlfriend's accessories. Not to mention small vistages of disorder; a piece of underwear thrown there, some junk food trash wedged in tight corners and spaces, and odd knick knacks that served no purpose but to clutter the shelves.

The echidna himself was lying in bed, and both hedgehogs felt a brief moment of relief as they saw him fidget and groan beneath the covers. He was obviously banged up pretty good, but the movement was encouragement that he wasn't immediate danger. Their solace was short lived because of the demoness that sat beside him. Rouge was staring at them with eyes that could rival Medusa, and her mouth was grimacing with pure anger.

No one spoke for several minutes, the three Mobians simply stared back and forth at each other, waiting for the first strike. The tension was only broken when a loud groan emanated from the large mound in the sheets, and a huge gloved hand smacked outwards, sports tape and fabric torn, with spots of stained blood.

Amy made a jolt towards Knuckles, immediately wanting to help her friend, but she was stopped in her tracks by a vengeful bat. Rouge had her wings spread wide open, and her large pointed ears were pressed against her head. Her make-up was running, giving her the impression of a ghoul, and her fur and hair were on ends. She glared at Amy and the effect was instantaneous. The female hedgehog jumped backwards and placed herself behind Shadow, who instinctively stuck out his arms in defense of his girlfriend.

"Wow!" Rouge growled, her finger coming up to point at them accusingly, her right eye twitching with restrained wrath, "Isn't this just precious? The hedgehog terrors protecting each other? Shadow, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you changed."

Rouge huffed, her fangs glinting between moist lips as she sneered at them, "But you haven't. Just look at what you've done to Knuckles! If we weren't on Angel Island he would be dead right now!"

Shadow's ears twitched slightly, and Amy felt him tense beneath her grasp on his arms. But other than that his face remained stone cold, his ruby gaze fixed on the enraged bat in front of him. His silence did nothing to help the situation, it just seemed to anger the bat further. Her face was glowing red beneath snow white fur, and her eyes were snapping back and forth like a cornered animal.

"What? Have nothing to say? Not going to try to deny the monster that you are? You fucking asshole! How could you?!" She was screaming at this point, her nose inches from Shadow's. Still the Ultimate Lifeform stood stiff and strong, the only sign of his torment was relayed through his hand as it slowly fisted, and small sparks of yellow Chaos energy tickled his fur. Amy slowly lowered her hand, holding his tightly in her grasp, her face flinched slightly at the electrical shock that tickled painful at the areas of connection.

"Oh wait," Rouge corrected herself while pacing back to the foot of her bed, her teeth biting furiously at her own nails, "I know how… Project Shadow, the ultimate weapon. You just have to destroy everything you touch. Really gets you going, doesn't it? I bet you just want to come and finish him off, dontcha?"

At this Amy felt a spike of pain enter her heart, she knew that Shadow probably felt worse than her, but he just stood there, taking on his ex-partner's abuse. Amy didn't know how he could stand it, she knew that Rouge had every right to be angry, but to use Shadow's deepest fears and insecurities against him? A lesser male would've devolved into fits of rage.

"Well I won't let you!" The bat continued, advancing on Shadow until she was almost nose to nose with him, "You'll have to kill me first! Should be easy for you –"

Amy couldn't take it anymore, she pushed her way between her two friends, her face was desperate, and her body trembling with emotion.

"Stop this! Please! Rouge, Shadow may have done something horrible, but he isn't a monster! Sure… He's quick to anger, but he would never intentionally harm his friends –"

"HA!" Rouge scoffed, "That is rich, coming from you!"

Rouge smacked Amy's hand from her arm, and practically spat out the next accusation, "Considering last night you thought he was a cold, uncaring monster that killed children with no remorse! You don't have the right to defend him, when you yourself think the same as me. So get off your high horse and shut the fuck up!"

The silence that followed this statement was sharp and painful. Amy's ears rang and burned with regret, embarrassment, and fear. She hadn't said those words exactly to Rouge or Shadow, but she had thought them… felt them in her heart… and shared them with Sonic. She knew that Rouge hadn't heard it from Sonic, they weren't close like that, but she was even more saddened to realize that last night her face must have betrayed her thoughts. With this came the realization that Shadow hadn't needed to hear her say it… he'd known by the look on her face.

The room felt cold, and she could feel Shadow's presence behind her, but she could not determine his mood. Was he angry? Sad? Hurt? Or worst of all betrayed? She couldn't tell unless she looked him in the eyes… unless she submitted herself to their ruby gaze. Something she couldn't bring herself to do, in fear of the truth that would shine within them. Amy felt small, worthless, like a disgusting worm. How could she have ever felt this way about Shadow? And how could she have made it so obvious? Her hands clamped together in front of her, her head was bowed, not meeting anyone's eyes, and she tried to stop the hot tears that threatened to spill.

After a moment, Amy gulped, a painful lump catching in her throat, but she needed to say something. She couldn't have Shadow thinking that she felt that way about him.

"I-i… Sha-Shadow I-"

Strong arms turned her around, and pulled her to a bare chest, enveloping her in a leather jacket and covering her face with floofy white fur. She was stiff in his arms, afraid of what would happen next, but his lips brushed against her perked pointed ears.

"It's okay, let me handle this."

Without releasing her Shadow lifted his head and looked down at the female who stood before him. His blood red irises burned, and his usually aloof demeanor was broken with bristling of quills. He was ready to tear a new one into the bat, she could abuse him all she wanted but to attack Amy? To attack their relationship? This bat knew nothing and she was going to pay for her ignorance.

However, just as he opened his mouth, he was stopped. Rouge did not look as vengeful as before. Her wings were lowered, along with her ears, and her seafoam eyes glared to the right. Although they simmered in fury, they shone with tears. She obviously regretted what she'd said, but it had been spoken and there was no taking it back. He inwardly groaned… How could he tear into her when it was obvious she was just as, if not more, distressed than him? And did he honestly have a right to get upset considering the events that had just transpired? 'Haven't changed' my ass. Living with Amy has turned me into a damn soft hearted punk.

He sighed, and his thumb rubbed Amy's back as he started to speak, his voice calm, and – surprisingly – gentle.

"Rouge, you have every right to be pissed off," she'd flinched at the sound of her name, something that Shadow hardly ever called her by, but when he'd validated her feelings, her eyes had snapped to his with a look of shocked curiosity.

"I will not apologize for what I did. Your crazy mate brought it upon himself by attacking me out of nowhere. He asked for it."

The rage returned faster than a lightning strike into turquoise eyes, "How dare you, you –"

"Don't interrupt," Shadow snapped, a growl returning to his tone, one of his hands leaving Amy's back to face swipe through the air.

"Although the dipshit got what was coming to him… I'll admit... he was right."

Rouge, who had been frozen in indignation suddenly shook to life, and her head slightly tilted as she looked at him, "Right? Right about what?"

Shadow felt a physical, sickening response to the question. The answer was not simple, and it would require him to share… share his feelings. There was literally nothing worse for him than to lay his heart out, especially to anyone other than Amy. His teeth gritted, and he almost backed out of answering, but he felt Amy lift her arms and squeezed his waist gently. A silent action of encouragement. His body relaxed, everything would be alright.

"He was right when he said I don't treat you well. That I'm an asshole to you," It was getting harder now, and his arms tightened around Amy to draw strength from her small body. He looked out the window. It mocked him with a freedom he could not obtain as he stood stiff and his face twisted like he'd eaten something rotten.

"You… you're probably the closest thing I have to a – cough – best friend," Shadow wanted to gag, and the last two words had come out as a grumble. Forced from his throat like the last ounce of toothpaste from the tube. He refused to look at anyone in the room in fear that he would bolt from embarrassment.

"You've had my back since day one… and I know I haven't been the easiest to be around. And I just recently realized that this needs to change, however –" he paused, the change in topic now allowing him to turn his deadly glare back to his ex-partner who had an odd look on her face that he refused to analyze.

"However, let me make something painfully clear. I would've never gotten to this conclusion without Amy's influence. You say I haven't changed, that I'm a monster, and maybe a few months ago I would've agreed, hell I've said it myself plenty of times."

Rouge's face melted into guilt, her eyes breaking from their crimson hold to look at a corner of the room. Shadow narrowed his eyes slightly but continued with harshness in his tone,

"I no longer think of myself as some useless, cast away tool. Tossed aside by the Doctor, and then by G.U.N. an unwanted twisted existence. I've realized that I am much more than this, I am an individual. And the person that showed me this, was Amy."

Amy jolted at her name, and her head bent back to look up at Shadow's face. But he wasn't looking at her, his attention remained on their friend behind her.

"I don't care if Amy thought that I was a monster, because it is the truth. I was a monster in the past. But not anymore. You can either accept this, or ignore it, but don't you dare try to say that she thinks I am still a monster. I trust her, and I know that she doesn't feel that way anymore."

Silence once again filled the room. Amy felt a warmth within her spread from her chest to her limbs. She didn't deserve the faith this hedgehog had in her, but she'd be damned if she didn't try to earn it. She sighed, he'd done enough to mend the hurt, and now it was her turn. She pulled away from Shadow, feeling an instant chill replace the heat from his body. The movement caused him to look down, he was worried she was upset again, but she merely smiled softly up at him. She patted his chest gently before she turned and walked up to Rouge, placing her hands on either side of the bat's shoulders.

The bat refused to meet her eyes, her ears flattened, and her body tense and folded in on itself. Amy had never seen her friend like this, and all she could do was thank Chaos that Knuckles hadn't died, because she was sure Rouge would not have recovered from that.

"Rouge, look at me," Amy whispered, her hands giving a slight squeeze of encouragement. Rouge's lips trembled, but her eyes slowly moved to obey. Amy felt tears start to build in the corner of her eyes, but her voice was still able to come forth with strength as she uttered the words that so desperately needed to be said and heard, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry."

A single tear fell from the bat's eye, and she tried to shake Amy off, but the girl had a grip like an iron clamp. She smiled gently and warmly at her best friend through a trail of tears that now streamed steadily from bright green eyes.

"This guy back there can't say it –" She said pointedly, jerking a thumb in Shadow's direction, "I'm working on that," she smirked in good humor, and the corner of Rouge's mouth twitched ever so slightly,

"Yeah…" Rouge's voice was thick and gravely, but she tried at a smirk, "Good luck with that."

Amy's brows bent and she her smile turned sad, "He may not be able to apologize, but I can. And I want to. Rouge I know that I use you as a punching bag, and unjustifiably get mad with you about inane things. It's stupid… but I think I do it because I love you and I know I'm safe to express myself to you. Like somehow you're my mom, sister, and friend all wrapped up in one, and you just get all the emotional terror that I bottle up all at once… How backwards is that?"

At this a small chuckle left Rouge's throat, and she smirked before agreeing, "Totally backwards, batshit crazy."

The girls laughed, but tears were now falling down both their cheeks, salting their lips, and water logging their voices.

"I can't say I won't do it again in the future, but I'll try to be better," Amy continued, her voice breaking the more she talked, "I just ask… please don't disown me, okay? You're like my only family in this world… my amazing, gorgeous big sister."

At this both girls burst into sobs, and they hugged each other tightly. Shadow stood back, an odd mixture of emotions running through him, relief, annoyance and disgust at the display of raw emotion… he would never be able to understand girls… but at least it looked like they were making up… maybe? And that meant they were off the hook.

"Ameh, I feel – shame way, you're my little sister! 'M sworry too! I shouldn'tve said those things!" Rouge's wail was muffled in Amy's quills, snot and tears wetting the young girl's shoulder.

"I formgive you! I don't blame you at all. Dew you formgive me?" Amy blubbered just as muffled in Rouge's shoulder.

"Yesh! O' course!"

"I ruve yooou!"

"I lurve you too!"

The two girls continued to cry and blubber in each other's arms while a garden groaned and moaned behind them. Shadow stood watching with a half disgusted and half amused look on his face. He was grateful that it was over. He smirked as he waited for the two females to calm down… it had been a day of victories for him, and he'd even gotten away without apologizing.

"Are you sure Knuckles doesn't need to be taken to the hospital?" Amy asked as she and Rouge walked down the winding path that led to the Temple. Rouge shook her head, and gave a little grin. She looked more like herself now, sporting a purple tank top, black shorts, heart design flip flops and a fresh coat of make-up on her face.

"It's one of the perks of dating the guardian of the Master Emerald," Rouge replied, pulling Amy closer by their linked arms, "If he gets damaged, I just need to get him to touch the gem and BAM! healed."

Amy giggled, and pulled herself upwards a bit while they walked so that she could speak softly in her friend's ear.

"Also doesn't hurt to be dating an all powerful being who can carry Knuckles' fat ass to the Temple."

"Hey!" Rouge exclaimed good naturedly, "My boy ain't fat, just buff! At least he doesn't look like he could snap in two from a strong wind!"

"Hey! I feed Shadow well," Amy retorted, an evil smirk growing on her face, "Haven't you seen the little food baby I'm trying to grow?"

Rouge smirked back, and dramatically squinted her eyes, a hand coming up to her forehead, "True… his thighs are looking a little thick."

"It would do you well, bat, to shut that mouth of yours." Shadow growled from several feet in front of them. He was carrying Knuckles like a sack of potatoes over one shoulder, and his entire body was almost covered from view by the massive red echidna. But no amount of cover could hide the venom in the hedgehog's voice. However, the toxicity of his statement was lost as it just served to make the girls burst out in a fit of giggles.

"Fuck this, I don't need to hear this shit." He growled, and his rocket shoes came to life as he sped ahead of them to the temple, wanting this nightmare to end.

Rouge and Amy watched him speed away, neither one feeling the least bit guilty. They walked in silence for a bit, their faces split in happy grins. Amy tilted her head upwards, her face absorbing the warm rays of the sun. She felt a tranquil energy begin to enter her exhausted limbs, and she realized that she finally felt relaxed. It had been a stressful night and day, and now that the worst was behind her, she couldn't help but feel tired. There was nothing more that she wanted in that moment than to curl up and take a long, and well deserved, nap.

"So… I take it you've finally had a taste of the forbidden fruit. How was it?"

Jade eyes snapped open, and suddenly Amy was on edge again. She glanced over at Rouge, who was staring at her with one raised brow and an all knowing grin.

"I-i… I-i don't kn-know what y-you're talking about Rouge." Amy tried, her ears folded back in an innocent and hopefully convincing way.

The bat scoffed, her sea-foam eyes rolling to the sky before they stared at her sharply.

"You can't lie to me, hun. I know all the signs. And believe me, you and mister not-so-dark-and-gloomy, have been practically shoving them in my face all morning."

Amy studied her friend's face, before sighing. There really was no point in keeping it from the bat any longer. One, Rouge was her only adult female friend whom she could speak to about this. Two, Rouge was an ex-spy, ex-treasure hunter, and world class thief, once she set her eyes on something, nothing could deter her from getting it. And this bat wanted the deets.

"...Fine… yes. It did happen."

Rouge squealed with delight, nearly ripping off Amy's arm in her excitement. Amy instantly regretted saying anything.

"Oh this is just too delicious! Oh man! I just can't even believe this is happening, and it's so confusing too! Like I'm happy for you both, but also protective or is it anxious… like how dare he spoil my little sister's goods, but also how dare you tarnish his innocence –"

"I-i don't don't think he was innocent…" Amy mumbled, suddenly feeling a sickening spike of jealousy enter her. That's right… she hadn't thought about it until now, because she hadn't wanted to… but something hadn't felt right. Mostly because it hadn't been too awkward, or too painful… his body moving in a steady rhythm, and with a purposeful motion… as though it's done this a hundred times.

"He seemed way too used to what he was doing for it to be his first time," Amy grumbled, her face turning darker. Rouge gulped, suddenly the air around them felt heavier. She could almost see the steam rising from Amy like a boiling pot.

"You wouldn't know anything about that... would you, Rouge?" The sharp glare and prodding look was suddenly turned onto the bat, and Rouge could feel cold sweat forming at the base of her neck. She laughed nervously and tried to pull away from Amy, not liking the dangerous look in her eyes, but Amy's grip was like steel and there was no escape. So she stared at the girl head on, and scoffed,

"Are you implying that Shadow and I…"

"What? Shadow and you what?" Amy asked, a warning tone in her voice, "It wouldn't be crazy, right? Two Mobians, living together, doing missions together… no one else around to satisfy any cravings –"

Rouge gagged, and managed to tear her arm away to cover her mouth as she waved the other frantically in Amy's face.

"Oh Chaos… don't even say it… so gross." She gagged again, and then shook her head, "Amy, you have nothing to worry about from me. I may have been a little flirtatious with the guy from time to time, but I would never, and I mean never do anything like that with him. He's like a brother to me. So disgusting."

Amy would've been relieved, if not for the fact that she still felt a nagging suspicion nipping at the recesses of her mind. "If not you… then who?"

Rouge looked over at her young friend, suddenly realizing the implications. She started to feel a little nervous… "I'm not sure… You know Shadow, he wouldn't have said anything to me even if he had been with someone."

Amy flinched, and stopped dead in her tracks. Why was this bothering her so much? It shouldn't right? I mean it was in his past… He's with me now and that's what matters… but she didn't even sound convincing to herself.

Rouge stopped too and looked at her friend. This was not good. She recognized that look in Amy's face, it's been one she'd had so many years ago… when she'd first been betrayed by a male. She sighed, and gently placed a hand on the girl's shoulder.

"Look… I think the fact that I don't know is proof enough that it's nothing you should worry about."

Amy's eyes slowly moved to meet Rouge, her ears twitching in her direction, eager to hear something that would comfort her fears.

"What do you mean?"

"Well…" Rouge replied slowly, sweat now dripping down the highway of her spine, "Since I don't know about anyone, that means that if there was anyone, they were not important enough to Shadow for him to mention. Unlike you."

Rouge smiled warmly, and felt relief enter her as Amy blinked, and the darkness subsided slightly.

"I mean really Amy. You have that guy wrapped around your little pinky. I've never had the 'Ultimate Lifeform,' contact me so many times for advice and help than since he started living with you. And my goodness! Ever since you guys started dating, he hasn't shut-up about you."

Amy's mouth twitched, "Really?"

Rouge rolled her eyes again, a large smile spreading over her face. "Gurl, it's plain to see that he is sold out to you. I have never seen him treat anyone close to how he treats you. Rest assured, that boy isn't going anywhere."

Amy giggled, and rocked a little bashfully from side to side.

"Besides," Rouge continued, "If he ever even glances in another female's direction, Knuckles and I will open a big can of whoop ass on –"

BANG!

The ground beneath them shook, and the birds around them took to flight, their beaks pointed away from the direction of the Temple. The girls were almost thrown to the ground by the rippling of the ground beneath them, and they looked at each other, first in shock, and then in panic.

Without a word, they both turned and ran/flew towards the temple, their hearts beating quickly, trying to drown out the horrible instinct that something was wrong… so very, very wrong. They burst from the tree line, and as soon as the temple came into view they were crushed to the ground by an invisible force. Rouge was on top of Amy, and it took all the younger girl's strength just to wiggle out from underneath.

Amy tried to stand, but whatever was pushing down on them just grew stronger, until she was almost melded into the ground. Rouge was doing no better, she was groaning and clawing at the dirt, trying to lift herself up. What the hell is going on?! But the answer to Amy's unspoken question was right in front of them.

Amy struggled to move her head until she could see what horror was unfolding in front of her. A rainbow of glowing colors were shining like 7 horrible lighthouses. After months of searching and hours of painstaking research, the subject of their obsession was now right in front of them. The Chaos Emeralds were spinning like tops on top of their respective pillars that circled the inner temple, and beams of light were connecting them to a frantically flickering Master Emerald. However the light beams weren't bright like usual, no, they had a darker more sinister look to them. Worse was where their beams of evil light were touching the gleaming gem mounted in the center, a black swirling color was slowly invading the green light of the Master Emerald.

This would've been a disturbing enough image, if it wasn't for the purple wolf that stood maniacally at the top of the temple steps, grinning down at the two females flattened to the ground. Around his neck were two necklaces, and his yellow eyes stared at them with sick humor.

"Flower! You're here!" Paul shouted with glee, his fangs glinting with saliva.

Amy felt a cold, dark terror enter her body as her eyes made contact with the star of her nightmares. No… he can't be here… not here.

She shut her eyes in rejection of reality, willing herself to wake up.

"Aww! Don't go to sleep, otherwise you'll miss the show!"

The pure dark joy that was laced in his voice caused Amy to force her eyes open. That chilling instinct of something being horribly wrong had not gone away, and now it was intensified by 1,000. When Paul saw her eyes open, he literally jumped for joy before reaching behind him and pulling a body to the front for view.

Amy's eyes opened wide, and bile rose to the back of her throat as her stomach ceased at the horrific scene before her. She pushed herself upwards, fighting against gravity that was pushing on her. She tried not to look, but it was all her eyes would focus on; Shadow, impaled by a thick green and black Chaos Spear. Blood was gathering at the gapping flesh around the spear of energy, and his mouth was a gap with bubbling blood dripping down the corners of his lips. His eyes were open, but it was obvious he was unconscious from pain as they were glazed and unseeing. How...?

Paul laughed as he watched her struggle to stand, his toxic jasper eyes glaring down at her with pure elation.

"Don't be upset my flower. He deserves this for the shit he pulled yesterday," he twisted the spear as he spoke, sparks of green and black energy spiking through ebony fur. Shadow was snapped awake from the new pain, and he screamed blood onto the steps, red streams of liquid slowly painting the temple's steps.

Amy screamed in response as though she felt the twisting of the spear herself, and through pure will power she managed to stand. She braced herself, and stuck out her right hand, her fingers snapping and her signature pink hammer appeared in a poof of smoke.

"You BASTARD! LET HIM GO!" She bellowed, any apprehensions she may have had of the wolf, was completely drowned by the furry and fear she had for her mate's life.

"Tsk, tsk! That's no way to speak to your lover," Paul chided, and he jerked the spear causing another sound of intense pain from Shadow, before the hedgehog's eyelids closed and he passed out for the second time.

"YOU SICK, DELUSIONAL FUCKER!" Amy shrieked, and she took two steps forward, her muscles were twitching with effort to combat the force of gravity. Paul smirked, and retreated a few steps back, still holding onto the ebony hedgehog like a security blanket.

"As fun as this is, I don't have time for this. The boss wants this Master Emerald, and the red buffoon with it," He laughed, and lifted the spear up in the air so that Shadow's impaled body was horizontal on the Chaos weapon, his body slowly lowering on it like a piece of meat on a morbid shishkabob.

"And I think I'll take this monster as an added prize. Until the next time, flower."

Suddenly the whole area was filled with a greenish-blackish light, and Amy's attention snapped to the Master Emerald. While she had been distracted, the gem had been engulfed in the black swirling energy, and now only a toxic sage glow emitted from the deepest depths of the emerald.

Amy growled, and pushed with all her might. She felt like she'd been frozen in a glacier, and she was trying to push through solid ice. Must get to him… I have to save him…

But she was too late.

With one more blinding flash, they were gone. The Emeralds and all three male Mobians had vanished into thin air. As soon as the light subsided, so did the gravitational force, and Amy was thrust forward from her own attempts at walking. She fell face first into the dirt, and she could hear a groan of pain and anguish from behind her, but she hardly cared.

She burst upwards, running as fast as she could up the steps, her heart impossibly hoping that she would find him standing at the top, his tanned muzzle split in a cocky grin. But when she reached the top, she fell to the ground by the force of reality, and emptiness. The temple was bare, and all that remained of her love was a cooling pool of blood. Her hand shook as she reached towards it, and her fingers clawed in it, as though she could pull him from the crimson depths.

It was impossible… it was a nightmare… and yet, it was all too real.

A single tear fell from her cheek and splashed into red puddle. Shadow was gone, and she had been powerless to stop it.

Who knows how long she would've stayed there, staring at the drying pool of blood, if it weren't for terrifying tremors that rumbled from within the floating island. It was powerful and strong, but then suddenly it stopped, and the island went deathly silent. She stood, her eyes scanning the surrounding area to try and figure out what was happening. All she could see was a dark cloud hovering over the forest and trees, it looked like it was vibrating. She squinted her eyes trying to make sense of the sudden and odd weather formation that had developed in the sky. Then came the noise, a horrible wave of frantic animal wails and caws of birds. Her ears flattened against her head, and she hissed at the ringing pain within them.

The cloud shot into the air, travelling many miles up at an alarming rate, and then she noticed the white clouds started to do the same. Amy moved her leg forward to take a step, and her foot felt lighter than a feather as it moved through the air, what the… it was surreal feeling. She felt her whole body become weightless, and her stomach jumped into her throat. Her brain was working overtime to make sense of all that was happening. Then a scream pierced the confused fog in her mind, and she turned with wide eyes to see Rouge running towards her, panic twisting her face, and Amy's name being shouted from her throat.

Why…? And then she knew. The dark cloud had not been a cloud at all, it'd been the accumulation of all the birds on the island taking flight all at once. She turned her head, time seemed to move slowly as she watched more and more clouds whip into the air in a frenzy. They were falling. Or more accurately, the island was falling.

Without the Master Emerald, the mysterious force that kept Angel Island in the heavens was ripped away. The large mass of Mobius was being pulled downwards to crash into the ocean and beach below. The pure terror of her situation froze Amy in place, and she found she could not move.

"Amy! AMY! We have to get out of here!"

She barely heard Rouge's desperate plea, and when the bat had reached her and grabbed hold of her waist, roughly taking flight, she hardly registered the pain of being jerked into the air. The two females shot into the sky just as suddenly and quickly as the birds before, the intense speed at which the island fell gave the false impression that they were moving at the speed of a launched missile.

Amy could hear her friend breathing heavily as she flapped her wings frantically and kept them in place thousands of feet above sea level, but her focus was below her. She watched as the land mass continued to fall, barely making a sound as it careened towards the planet below. She watched as it finally hit the ocean, and a sliver of it pushed into sand. The crash and boom of it landing did not reach their eyes right away, and when it did a force pushed them further into the air. Massive waves spread outwards like sinister ripples toward the expanse of ocean.

Debris was still falling, lighter objects that had a slower rate of fall floated down to the depths below, and all Amy could do was watch… mesmerized by the powerful destruction, and loss of everything she held dear.

Amy...

She wanted to go home… she wanted to see him there waiting for her.

Amy.

She would even take a scolding for making him wait.. Anything was better than the hell she was living.

"AMY! Snap out of it!"

The pink hedgehog jerked, her breath bursting from her chest, and she began to hyperventilate as her body realized she hadn't been breathing for several minutes, her breath caught in her throat. She blinked, and twisted her head to try and look at Rouge.

"Rouge… What just happened?" She didn't ask because she didn't know. She asked hoping that she would be given a different answer than the reality that surrounded them. But before Rouge could respond, the swarm of birds had reached them as they all dove towards Bygone Island below them.

Beaks and claws scratched at them and tore their skin, Rouge gasped in pain as her thin webbed wings were assaulted. Her wings instinctively retracted, and then they were in free fall. Amy felt her body be ripped from Rouge's grasp as powerful wind rushed up from beneath them.

It was a thing of nightmares. Angry birds and debris rushed at her from all directions, and she felt tears and air being ripped from her body by the force and speed of her fall. The ground was getting closer, and she struggled to turn her head until she was looking out to the sparkling blues of the ocean beyond.

This is it… this is how I die.

How ironic. Just a few months ago she'd wanted this. Death. And yet when she had accidentally fallen, she'd been filled with unimaginable fear and regret. She'd grasped above her to the hedgehog above her, his hand outstretched and his bracelet reflecting the moon's light into her eyes.

However, now she watched death's fast approaching, and she felt nothing. There was a sort of acceptance of her fate entering her heart, and a chilling peace filling her and making her feel despondent. It's okay…

She was a couple hundreds yards from the ground at this point, and she shut her eyes. An image of Shadow's impaled body suddenly flashed before her, and she realized suddenly why she was okay with death. Shadow, her love, was surely dead. He'd been gutted by a Chaos Spear. It was on the list of things that could kill him that he'd whispered gently into her ear the night before.

She was okay with dying, because then she could be with him once again.

A sickening popping sound exploded in her right ear, and her recently healed arm was set on fire. She screamed, a blood curdling sound, and then everything went black.