Warning:
-OOC(?)
-Possible grammar/spelling errors
-Mentioned character death
-First half is kind of a songfic
-I can't type to save my life
-Your mileage may very

"BLAH" = Talking or air quote
'BLAH' = Thinking
"BLAH" = lyrics

If you're reading this I've gone back & fixed/updated the older chapters. I mentioned I'd be doing that when I posted this chapter. Considering some stuff like with how I use to some how spell "kept" as "kelp", it's really needed.

Been a while since I updated the fanfiction ver of this to the point I hadn't put this chapter up yet, whoops

Shadow sped threw the woods, the snow had stopped coming down by now and the moon lit some of the woods up. Shadow knew now that he was close to finding Sonic, he could finally get him and try to help repair the damage. Shadow started to slow down as all the info finally caught up with him again. The implications of finding Sonic after learning about his struggles had made him push back everything else for now... Well until he suddenly was alone with his thoughts again.

Putting things together he was now more aware of Sonic likely being a traumatized wreck thanks to not just the war but from the neglect he suffered. It hurt to think that Sonic managed to hide this to the point others had to tell about it to get him help. Probably didn't help that likely a large amount of the memories caused by trauma were now blocked with the only way to get them back leading to Sonic likely ending up in the hospital. Shadow doesn't want to admit it but Sonic is starting to feel a little to much like himself if he had more control over himself.

Shadow was now walking as he starts to think on something that was now messing with him without the dark hedgehog realizing it until now... How did he feel about Sonic? Vanilla had asked him already which he answered truthfully but now it had him thinking more on it.

At the start Shadow felt like Sonic was just an annoying faker but as time went on though he wouldn't admit it he felt like Sonic was one of his best friends... Now though Shadow couldn't think about what it'd be like without Sonic, the blue hedgehog and his friends were why he had somewhat of a life on Mobius and is trying to help out.(1) Shadow clutches his chest some as he realizes he cares more than he seems to be aware of and his thoughts might be going in circles.

With each moment the dark hedgehog starts to become a little more angry about everything... Angry at Eggman for causing this... Angry at Sonic's friends that abandoned him... Angry at himself for not being there for Sonic in his time of need...

"I promise... I promise to be there for you from now on..." Shadow mutters as he finally gains the strength to let go of his chest. These last two days have been stressful to say the least along with his emotions seemingly being all over the place...

'Maybe it's time to finally take Rouge up on her offer to get help once this is taken care of...' Shadow thinks as he gets ready to head where he thinks Sonic might be.

"In a dream I can see you are not far away... Anytime, anyplace I can see your face~."

Shadow looked startled when he heard that. Who's singing in the woods in this weather/time of night? He searched around but found nothing and much to his dread was now becoming lost. Shadow was about to punch the tree he was leaning against when the voice came back.

"You are that special one that I've been waiting for... And I hope you're looking for someone like.. Me."

Shadow started to notice the singing was coming from a certain direction. Though it felt stupid especially with the mission at hand, Shadow followed the voice. Desperately hoping it'd in some way lead him to Sonic.

"In my dreams... I can hear you calling me. In the night~ everything's so sweet..."

As Shadow followed the voice he started to notice somethings like that the singer was female, likely an adult from what he could guess. There was also the sound of a cello being played which made it that much more confusing that this voice was seemingly guiding him. He couldn't help but feel like something about the singing was aimed at him as if the voice though he was going to do something. He felt a little stupid when he thought about that, it's pretty obvious especially since she's guiding him.

"In your eyes... I feel there's so much inside...

In the nights, dream delight... I want to see you standing there.
In the nights, dream delight... I've found someone who really cares...
In the nights, dream delight... I want to see you smile again~...
In the nights, dream delight... You are the one I've waited for..."(2)

Shadow couldn't help but think of Sonic again as he followed the voice, he use to think of Maria and while he still did he now thought of things to do with Sonic. The now snow covered hedgehog couldn't help but miss the times the blue blur. He still remembers the fact Sonic once tracked him down just to give him a scarf Sonic had made just for him. It was a little funny to hear that he'd gotten lessons from Vanilla just so he make an admittedly very nice scarf with Shadow's icon on it.(3) Come to think about it Sonic often tracked him down to do stuff with Shadow so he didn't feel left out when he tried to stay away from everything.

"In a dream we can do, everything we want to... There's no where I'd rather be
oh but here with you.

The stars above light the way, only for you and I.
I'm so glad I've found the one I've been looking for..."

The more Shadow listened to the song he was following, the more he came to understand he wanted to be by Sonic's side. Even if everything went back to normal with the likelihood of dragging Sonic to a councilor, even if things changed for better or worse... He'd finally accepted that he wants to be close with Sonic, a part of him still seems to tell him he hasn't fully figured this out yet but Shadow knows he's in the right direction at least and will work it out more when he can.

"Keep the dream~ of the one you're hoping for... Love can come~ through an open door... Just be strong, and you're sure to find... The one..."

It felt funny to think about how following a song and being alone with his thoughts could cause Shadow to realize how much he cared for Sonic. His thoughts almost going in circles again as he had a slight smile on his face at the thought of Sonic blushing and teasing him about being more social now. It's hard to believe he misses the blue blur that use to annoy him to no end. As much as he wants to laugh Shadow knows that what he wants/thinks he'll semi return to will take a long time to happen.

For now Sonic needs help/support, this won't go away in a day. Shadow wonders if any of them will be able to move past this... Despite his growing worries, he knows that even with the others turning their back on Sonic there are still others that will be there for them. As mentioned it's going to be a long journey but they have what they need to get the help everyone needs...

"In the nights, dream delight... I want to see you standing there~...
In the nights, dream delight... I've found someone who really cares~...

In the nights, dream delight... I want to see you smile again...
In the nights, dream delight... You are the one I've waited for."

As the song came to an end Shadow found himself in front of a tiny rundown house that from what he could understand is where Sonic currently lives. The lights are out, the windows are both frosted and possibly to dusty to look out of, looking around Shadow can see what he can only guess is solar panels on the roof covered in snow. Aside from the snow hiding stuff the house looks like it's seen better days and likely hasn't been cared for in months. The snow covered hedgehog wasn't looking forward to going inside.

Just as Shadow finished looking at the damage and was about to look for a way in, he heard the front door open. This lead to then jumping back in shock as he realized a hooded figure that wasn't there a moment ago had opened the door for him. He was hesitant as the hooded figure pulled their hood off to revel a mane of long/messy dark purple hair/quills. As Shadow took in the details more he realized this was an older female hedgehog and probably the "phantom singer". She had a gentle smile on her tired face and what looked like some kind of gold crown.

"Thank you... For coming here..." She said as watched Shadow for a reaction, he just quietly nodded.

"My son is lucky to have someone that cares about him enough to come out here... I wish I could do more but I don't have much time left..." The purple hedgehog explains, confirming herself as Sonic's mom. Shadow continued to stay silent, he had so much he wanted to ask about. Possibly picking up on this, Sonic's mom continued to talk.

"I am Queen Aleena, I use to be the monarch of Angel Island 50 something years ago... I was forced to separate my only children for their safety due to Robotnik's take over, I watched/helped from the shadows as they formed a band that helped the resistance... I'm also responsible for the Hidden Knights program... I'm telling you this now because I know you can be trusted to protect Sonikku." Aleena explains as Shadow takes everything in.

Underground wasn't just helping the queen in the rebellion, they were her children. It's a bit shocking to believe Sonic of all people is a prince but then again when he tries he can be a good leader. Shadow knew he'd have to make Knuckles explain everything else later. Aleena must have realized what he was thinking because she gave him a sad smile.

"Sonic had a lot he was struggling with that he hid along with having to deal everything being on his shoulders. My poor son feared that he'd fail as a leader and was fighting some inner demons... In the end he didn't become part of the council but not because of talking things out..."

"...What...What do you mean?"

"...Sonic disappeared... It was a celebration after the defeat of Robotnik when Knuckles screamed that Sonic fell off the edge of Angel Island... We never found him but we knew he was out there... Even while repairing the damage caused by Robotnik we never stopped looking... Sonikku has been through so much and I was unable to protect him nor see the signs something was wrong until it was to late..." Aleena says, regretting her inability to be the mother her son needed. Shadow couldn't help but feel she was being to hard on herself, many of these things were out of her control and as far as he could tell if Sonic hadn't disappeared Aleena likely would have worked things out with him.

"Why can't you help now?" Shadow asks, a little nervous for the answer.

Aleena smiled sadly at him and looked down, Shadow blinked some and looked down as well before flinching. He hadn't realized it due to the snow and the darkness(the moonlight could only light up so much) but Aleena's lower body(at least where the legs likely were under her dress/hooded robe) was transparent. Shadow felt confused until he put two and two together again, the events of Sonic's past was over 50 years ago, Aleena had likely died of old age by now.

"I died with only two of my children and my brother-in-law at my side... I died without any proof that my youngest child was alive... The only thing that will let me rest at last is knowing my son is safe." Aleena says firmly, tears slowly running down her face. Shadow stared at her before giving her a reassuring look, probably the first one he had in a long time.

"You have my word... That I'll help Sonic..." Shadow promised, this seemed to help calm Aleena down.

"I have a feeling that I can trust you with him... Thank you..." She says after a while and moves out of the way for Shadow. He nodded before walking into the small house as Aleena's ghost waited at the door.

~s~

The place was dark aside from the glow of a static on the TV, Shadow took a flashlight out of his pocket and turned it on. The room that he walked into from outside looked to be a made into a little living room, in the corner is a book case with the TV next to it hooked to a game console and a cushion to sit on as Shadow realized the TV is on the floor. Shadow couldn't help but wonder if Sonic had a meltdown or something as there were cobwebs everywhere including a large one connecting half of the side of the TV to the book case. The book case's middle shelf had part way fallen onto the bottom one books likely from both scattered/torn on the floor with very little on both shelves. The TV(that Shadow questioned how it still had power) had a cracked screen while the cushion was torn open with stuffing spilling out of it.

'How can Sonic stand living here for so long? The place is dirty and looks abandoned...' Shadow mentally groaned as he walked around, covering his nose and mouth a little in case the dust messes with him.

As he walked further into the room he saw a room connected to the front room/living room. Walking closer and shining his flashlight Shadow could see it was a small kitchen with a door leading to a very empty pantry. The more he looked around the more he worried for Sonic, the conditions left behind/implied so far isn't healthy. This place with some repairs could be used to live in again but there's cobwebs and dust everywhere, there's no power and Sonic is likely starving.

Leaving the room and shining his flashlight around Shadow found on last room attached to the wall across from the one leading to the kitchen. Sonic had to be in there, there were no other rooms he could be in. Taking in a nervous breath, Shadow walked to the door as if something bad would happen(in all honesty was probably true) and he'd be powerless to stop.(Probably also true as much as he hates to accept it) Removing his hand from his face, Shadow hesitantly began to open the door. As he slowly pushed it open his flashlight hit the wall to the left, he could make out a bathroom. He can't fully see into it but he can see that the mirror has been shattered.

Shadow shakily moved his flashlight around the room, trying to check for where Sonic is. The room seemed to be empty besides a small dresser in the corner, however the next thing he saw almost made him drop his flashlight... There was a bed against the wall, there laying on the bed is a hedgehog wearing jeans and an off the shoulder long sleeved shirt. Their quills/hair is very long to the point of spilling over the bed, but what horrifies Shadow is that the hedgehog is unhealthily thin as if they haven't eaten in a long time. The hedgehog isn't moving and their eyes are glazed over seemingly looking dead. If it weren't for the royal/cobalt blue fur and the dull eyes being green when the flashlight shined on the hedgehog the gloves, socks and familiar shoes abandoned on the floor at the corner of the bed were a dead give away...

"SONIC!?"

This was longer than I expected it to be but I wanted a cliff hanger. Holy shit this is longer than normal. I wasn't entirely sure if I wanted to use for the bit were I half assed a song fic chapter. I almost wanted to use Shelter by Madeon and Porter Robinson but for some reason I felt like Dreams Dreams was better.
The song is Dreams Dreams Sweet Snow ver from NiGHTS Journey of Dreams.

This chapter is a fucking nightmare to edit, mostly due to issues leading me to have to go threw & manually check for my typing habits.(Translations: I tried to replace all the "&" with "and" in the chapter text) It then lead to having to do the HTML code for this multiple times & it's 1:35am, I'm going to sleep when I finish fucking fixing this.

I'm kind of amazed how much I've managed to work on this story this year. I have some other stories I want to prepare for or get back to but I want to make sure this is worked on especially since I feel like I'm on a roll. I kind of ended up working on an oneshot that isn't finished but I was using to get back in the mood to work on my fanfics. Maybe if I'm lucky I can get back to my Rise of the Guardians fanfic though I need to check something before doing so... I should go sleep...

Fun fact: I actually made a plot idea comic page that the second half(I call it that but it's pretty much the part when Shadow is inside the house) is based on. This comic page is the entire inspiration/idea for this fanfic existing. I might re-draw the comic later but for now below is a link before the notes.

http: slash slash fav dot me /d6wb0gu(ff is a bitch so gotta show link some how)

1) It was at this moment Miles had realized he forgot what he was writing & tried everything he could while on a van to finish the paragraph

2) It was at that moment I realized I don't have enough of an idea for what Shadow's doing to put lyrics in between the text.