Chapter 65: Family Bonding

Mother and daughter. In the garden full of roses. They stare each other down. Quiet amongst them with the birds chirping. Shadow stands a few feet away from Amy. He can sense the connection between them.

Ailinda: "Aren't you gonna give your mother a hug?"

Her voice sounds a lot like Amy's. More blissful. She takes one step forward and walks faster into her arms smiling. A tear is shed down her eye and she squeezes. She kiss her hair and holds onto her. the tension between the two is strong. Shadow folds his arms.

Amy: *sniff* "It's been too long mom."

Ailinda: "I know. I was worried. I thought you might have forgotten about me."

Amy: "Never. Not in a million years."

Shadow smiles looking at the two. Both are united again. He thinks about Maria for a moment but puts her aside. He can only think of this. It's one of the most beautiful scenes he's ever seen. It's amazing to him. A breath taking moment. A parents love for a child. Especially Amy. Ailinda Rose the hedgehog holding her daughter for the first time in years.

Shadow's conscience: "I honestly can't believe it. She's beautiful. Extraordinary."

He walks up slowly. Amy lets go.

Ailinda: "You've gotten bigger. Last time you were here was when you were-"

Amy: "12. Yeah. I'm 18 now."

Ailinda: "Already a woman. I'm so proud."

She looks back to see Shadow still there.

Ailinda: "Care to introduce me."

She walks back and grabs shadow in.

Amy: "Mom. This is Shadow. He's my boyfriend."

Ailinda: "Shadow. Welcome to my lovely estate."

Shadow: "Nice to finally meet you. Ms. Rose"

Ailinda: "Well. Care to tell me how you met?"

Amy: "Oh we got so much to discuss."

She brings shadow close hopping up and down explaining a lot of things that happen in their adventures and battles. While they conversate about a lot, another black hedgehog watches from a good distance one the property. He snuck in without being caught. He stares down at the two pink ones.

Terios: "Mother and daughter. I wonder if I have a mother?"

He thinks to himself if he has any parents. He thinks long and hard about it but continues to spy on them for a little while longer.

Meanwhile

Eggman land/Black comet

Despara: "GOD FUCKING DAMMIT!"

She smashes a wall in. The robots and black arm soldiers get frightened by it. A hole is in the wall and Kylia stands in shock, a few feet away from large debris that could've killed her.

Gloom: "Lady, calm the fuck down."

Despara: "I AM CALM!"

Lev: "Listen it's not really anybody's fault. What we're up against isn't that easy. These creatures in the area are toxic."

Despera: "We are so close to achieving our agenda and your soldiers can't fulfill a simple task. Why is that?"

Gloom: "Do you want to go up there? I mean you're welcome to turn into the rest of the freakshows destroying everything. We need another approach."

The doctor enters the room. Kylia walks in with photos and files of the monsters in holaska.

Eggman: "I got good news, simple news, and bad news."

Lev: "Give us the simple news first."

Eggman: "Simple news is we've been able to understand what's going on up there."

Lev: "Uhh no shit, the place is a biohazard."

Eggman: "Only for you. ya see in the start of the operation, everything was fine until they breached the ice. There's something infecting them at that facility. An outbreak zone to be exact."

Gloom: "Bad news?"

Eggman: "Your kind can't get through it. but here's where the good news kicks in. after looking at the footage, I come to the idea of making these new state of the art suits for the black oaks. It cannot make contact or breath in the toxins floating in that area."

Gloom: "Awesome. I knew you're genius could come in handy."

Eggman: "You guys wanna know something else?"

Gloom: "What?"

Eggman: "Anyone else that's not black arm can't be infected."

Gloom: "Definitely will remember that."

Lev: "So these suits, you've tested them."

Eggman: "Yeah but on different deadly toxins. We brought back some samples and concluded that it's just like any other contagious disease. Just don't breath it in."

Gloom: "Hmph. Good to know. Well let's just get these idiots face or gas mask and head back in there."

Eggman: "For the record, I recommend not doing that but it's an option if you're willing to put more of your men at risk cause, how do we know they won't fail or they break off infecting them? That's why I'm inventing these suits."

Gloom: "Well how long will they be ready?"

Eggman: "Just give me a week. If I were you guys I'd pick out your finest soldiers to be the first to wear these."

Lev: "Hmph. Fine."

Eggman: "Great. Be ready."

He walks away. Kylia picks up the papers and pictures. She sorts them out.

Gloom: "Leave it."

She looks at gloom. She does that and walks away. Gloom looks at the images on the table.

Gloom: "I know what we should do."

He walks leaving lev and despara to contemplate about the other operations. He catches up to the doctor.

Gloom: "Yo doc?"

Eggman: "Hm?"

He turns around to see gloom run up.

Gloom: "Any chance to see if this affects me?"

He shows the pictures.

Meanwhile

The great forest

Knothole

The sky is orange. Evening.

Sonic: "So wait, eggman called you guys in the desert to show you how the laser works?"

Sally: "Yeah."

Sonic: "I'm surprised he didn't turn it on you guys."

Sally: "I'm shocked too. Knowing him and his nature. But we trusted him."

Sonic: "That's your biggest mistake. Falling into what he says. Guys a rat bastard."

Sally: "Tell me about it. During the prison, I saw things on the inside."

Sonic: "What did you see."

Sally: "A lot of things. They were kidnapping people, torturing them. I saw them drop a kid down a well."

Sonic: "Damn. Good thing we stopped them."

Sally: "Yeah. and they were burning evidence."

Sonic: "Why?"

Sally: "I don't know. Guess they were trying to hide it."

Sonic: "So much for hiding. They made their point. I mean shadow sure is a big piece of evidence. Why didn't they erase him?"

Sally: "Oh hush about Shadow. You should stop worrying about them."

Sonic: "I know. I'm not too worried about him."

Sally: "Not too worried about him huh?"

Sonic: "Well, Amy im more concern about."

Sally: *Eye brow raise* "You're more concerned about her?"

Sonic: "I just got this strange feeling in my gut she's about to get dragged into something big. Something beyond hers and my control."

Sally: "She can take care of herself. She made it this far with him along. It seems like she's grown more."

Sonic: "I know."

Sally: "You're not jealous are you?"

A shiver runs down his spine. He keeps his composure and swallows his pride.

Sonic: *Talking Fastly* "Me? Jealous? No way. In fact, it's whatever. I'm totally cool with it. I'm actually more than cool with it. I'm happy for her. Can't you see I'm happy for her? I mean Shadow beat me to the punch. I wasn't that thirsty for her. I'm five thousand percent okay with them. It's his by right. How did those two fall in love? I don't know. not my business. I'd like to know but really, I don't care enough for it. Not that I don't care for her. It just feels strange is all. Nothing to it. let her be-"

He stops right there knowing his brain was on auto pilot. He opens his eyes and slowly glances at Sally. She's smirking and leaning in close to him.

Sally: "So you are jealous?"

Sonic: …

*Wind Blows*

He swallows his spit. Sally was listening to the exact one hundred words that came out of his mouth. He blushes. His face turns red. His heart is racing fast. Faster than him. He's scared to say anything.

Sally: "It's okay. There's nothing wrong with jealousy. But it seems you got a lot on your mind. Besides I know you still love her."

Sonic: *Grunts lightly*

He looks down and around. He walks with his feet shaking a bit but gets a grip.

Sally: "In fact. I won't think of you any different. It's nothing too it. You still love her."

Sonic: "It's not just about that…"

Sally: "Well what is it?"

The blue blur thinks about it. He stands there on the trail him and her always walked on. the sun shining their silhouettes throughout the forest. He breathes in and out. He doesn't know what to say.

Sally: "Sonic?"

In a flash he runs off into the woods. He takes the path he knows. the forest was like his own obstacle course. Sally watches him storm off. She feels a sense of despair run through her.

Sally's conscience: "Was it something I said?"

She starts walking along the trail alone. She thinks about everything she said for a moment. Hoping she didn't hurt him.

Meanwhile with Amy

On the estate in Mercia, five people sit at a table. They eat and drink talking about all their adventures. The waiters served dinner and champagne.

Rob: "My, that's one heck of a story."

Ailinda: "Amazing. I heard about that story on the news. It was you two up there stopping Gerald's machine from firing."

Amy: "Yep. One of our most fun adventures. And I got to know this guy a little more."

Shadow: "For the record I never intended to hurt anyone. I just wanted to fulfill my creators wish is all. For a while it was a dark scary time for me."

Rob: "I'll say. You been asleep for over 50 years and haven't age."

Ailinda: "So, you don't age?"

Shadow: "One of the many perks I developed from my creators. I'm immortal, but not invinsible."

Rob: "So you can still be killed?"

Shadow: "Yeah."

Ailinda: "You know I read about Gerald robotnik. His genius was incomprehensible."

Rouge: "Don't get your hopes up Ms. Rose. He was also a mad man."

Shadow: "Well he did it all for his grand daughter."

He eats his steak that they made for him.

Ailinda: "I hope you don't mind me asking her name?"

Shadow: "Maria. Her name was Maria."

Ailinda: "That is a beautiful name. What happened to her?"

Shadow: "She died on the ark. 50 years ago."

Rob: "Oh. Sorry to hear that."

Ailinda: "Sorry for your lost."

Shadow: "It's alright. It didn't go to waste."

Rob: "You got your vengeance?"

Shadow: "No. not me. I put it all behind me. Well almost all of it."

Amy: "You wanna tell them about Gloom and Terios?"

Rob: "Gloom?"

Shadow: "It turns out I have clones."

Rob: "Clones!?"

Shadow: "Yeah. I have to sibling clones."

Ailinda: "Oh my."

Rob: "So why would he make clones of you."

Shadow: "He was finding a way to cure his grand daughters illness. He made me and the other two for that particular reason."

Rouge: "In other words, you have the power to cure sickness."

Shadow: "heh, I doubt that."

Amy: "But wait. Remember the time I was shot. Gloom and you healed me."

He flashbacks on the ark when Cal was out of control. He drinks down the champagne they made for him.

Shadow: "I don't know what happened that moment. It just felt like I knew what to do. I was following Glooms lead that moment."

Ailinda: "My daughters guardian angel."

Amy: "And his. I helped him too when he was injured."

Rob: "You were injured?"

Shadow: "She saved my life."

Rob: "So how did you two fall in love."

Amy: "On the island. Him and I just opened up one night. We just somehow clicked."

Ailinda: "Aww. Reminds me of Alex."

Amy: "So that was his name."

Shadow: "Alex?"

Ailinda: "Her father."

Shadow: "Oh."

Amy: "So what happen to him?"

Rob: "He saved my life… It was me who couldn't save him."

Amy: "I understand."

Ailinda: "Sweetie, I just want you to know. He loved you more than anything. It was his idea to send you away for the time being."

Amy: "It's okay. I understand he was only trying to protect me."

Rob: "Seems like it didn't matter and worked out as well. The mad doctor would rebuild almost anywhere."

Amy: "I was only trying to escape his chaos."

Ailinda: "So you join the freedom fighters?"

Amy: "Yeah."

Ailinda: "But why?"

Amy: "Well at first I was trying to impress someone. I made friends and went on different adventures. I didn't feel like sitting around doing nothing while everyone else was suffering."

Rouge: "And she's been a big help to a lot of us."

Shadow: "I'll say."

Ailinda: "Seems you found your place in the world. I'm proud of you."

Amy: "Thanks mother."

Ailinda: "So, I heard you were travelling the world with this blue hedgehog."

Rob: "Yeah. Sonic is his name right? The nephew of Sir Charles."

Amy: "Yeah that's him."

Rob: "I saw him on tv at the united federation. How's he doing?"

Amy: "Oh he's doing fine. We said bye to him and Princess Sally before we came here."

Rob: "Heard she's still doing well. How's her old man and king elias?"

Amy: "Oh they're fine. They're actually helping us find a way to stop the black arms."

Ailinda: "I heard about those creatures. They seem to be on a mission."

Shadow: "World domination."

Rob: "Didn't they attack years ago?"

Shadow: "Yeah. It was me who stopped them at first."

Rob: "Of course it was. But I don't understand, we thought the comet was destroyed."

Shadow: "It was but it didn't kill them all. A good population of them were not on the comet when it was destroyed. So they all were either captured, killed, or went into hiding. Without a master to follow to they fell apart. Most of them rebuilt in secret."

Rob: "Hmph, the enemy was crippled. Not destroyed. Well played on their part."

Rouge: "Yep. And the worst part is that the doctor is teaming up with them."

Rob: "Dr. Eggman? Of course he's playing his cards correctly."

Shadow: "I'm not too worried about him. just the new leaders of the black arms."

Ailinda: "You met them?"

Shadow: "One of them is my brother."

Rob: "Your brother. What's his name?"

Shadow: "Which one?"

Rob: "Both. Who are they?"

Amy: "Terios and Gloom. Gloom has a cavalier attitude and Terios we only met once."

Rob: "What's he like."

Shadow: "Innocent. Doesn't talk much. Seems like he's not bound by emotions or has any tyrannical ego."

Rouge: "He wasn't really a bad guy when we first saw him. In fact he was charming fellow. Hardly like a child who said a word."

Ailinda: "Where is he now?"

Shadow: "I wish I'd knew."

Ailinda: "Well, I'm sure you'll see him soon enough. Excuse me, nature is calling."

She stands up. She walks away to the bathroom.

Shadow: "What did she meant by that?"

Amy: "I should tell you right now. I come from a family of fortune tellers. She means it."

Rob: "She's right."

He bites into his food.

Rouge: "Can you tell my future?"

Amy: "Depends on you. My powers are not like hers."

Shadow: "Pssh. Really?"

Amy: "Yeah. Really."

She finishes eating her dinner.

Amy: "I need a shower."

Shadow: "Can I join you?"

Amy: *Giggle* "You wish."

She stands up. She walks away.

Rob: "Not around me knave."

Shadow: "Sorry, was I impolite?"

Rob: "Well not that, I just don't want the image of my cousin in my head."

Shadow: "Oh, sorry."

Rouge: "Excuse shadow here, he has bad manners."

Shadow: "No I just couldn't resist."

He finishes his food.

Rob: "Welp, I'd love to stay and chat some more, but I have to check on my scouts."

Shadow: "Alright."

Rob: "Make yourselves home. I'll be around. Have a good evening."

He leaves the dining room. Rouge finishes eating. The waiters come from behind them.

Waiter: "Would you be interested in desert?"

Shadow: "No, but thank you."

He looks at Rouge.

Rouge: "No thank you sweetie."

He nods and grabs their plates. It's just rouge and shadow in the room. She pulls out her phone.

Rouge: "Hey, I just got a message from omega."

Shadow: "What's it say?"

Rouge: "He says no sightings off anything just yet but he'll be on the look out."

Shadow: "Hmph, he's probably at an electronics store trying to hookup with an old radio."

Rouge: "You leave metal man alone. He's at least doing his job."

Shadow: "Yeah."

He stands up.

Shadow: "I'm going to our room."

Rouge: "Alright. good night."

Shadow: "Night."

He leaves the room.

With Amy

She's unpacking her bags. The room is wide open on a second-floor balcony and has a window. She picks out fresh batch of underwear and goes in the bathroom. She turns on the water and closes the door. Shadow enters the room. He notices Amy is in the shower. A dirty look comes across his face, he thinks he actually might join her until…

Terios: "So, she has a mother."

Shadow stops and looks around. He knows that voice. He looks to the left in the dark corner of the room and He appears from the shadows.

Shadow: "It's been a while."

Terios: "You've been busy."

Shadow: "So have you."

He stands before him in his new armor. He takes of his helmet, revealing his face.

Shadow: "So, here to capture or kill me?"

Terios: "No just watch. Keep a close eye on you. Glooms orders."

Shadow: "Guess he was right about the always watching part."

Terios: "Not always."

Shadow: "So why here, why now?"

Terios: "He never said I couldn't make contact. Besides he won't mind."

Shadow: "So you just wanted to talk?"

Terios: "Yeah."

He sits down in a chair.

Shadow: "So how you been?"

Terios: "Fine."

Shadow: "Does Gloom have anything planning?"

Terios: "A lot. But not at the moment."

Shadow: ...

He walks towards the bed. He sits down. they don't say a word for the next 30 seconds or so.

Terios: "Do we have a mother or father?"

Shadow: "Sadly, no."

Terios: "I see."

Play it if you want. For the mood.

watch?v=QHPFrHzYhoI

Dear My Friend – Sonic Unleashed

He stands up and looks out the window.

Terios: "Brother, may you tell me about this Maria again?"

He is glad to tell him. He starts from scratch.

Shadow: "She was beautiful. She was hyper. Intelligent. She had so many ideas. So many dreams. All she ever wanted was to come down to this planet and enjoy life. She wanted to travel the world more than anything. She was the closest thing I could call to a family. It was a good time for me and her. I could care less about the world. She was the world to me. She always knew how to cheer us up."

Terios: "She was human. She was a good person."

Shadow: "Yeah. She was."

Terios: "But the humans… they cause problems, right?"

Shadow: "Not all of them are bad. Everyone is given a choice. Whether it be right or wrong."

Terios: "What is right or wrong?"

Shadow: "Well little brother. That's something for you to find out."

He sits down on the bed a few feet away from him.

Terios: "How did she die?"

Shadow: "Protecting me."

Terios: "She protected you?"

Shadow: "Yes."

Terios: "Wish I could've met her."

Shadow: "She would've loved you. I think she knew you existed."

Terios: "She knew?"

Shadow: "She left a laptop. Explained almost everything that happen. Documents, Gloom and me. There was a video of you. They all thought you died."

Terios: "They thought I died?"

Shadow: "Yeah. And we thought too."

Terios: "Oh Wow. That's odd."

Shadow: "Yeah. So my question is this, how are you alive? Where have you been?"

Terios thinks back. at least to his oldest memory.

Terios: "I remember being on a beach. I didn't know where I was. Who I was. Nor made contact with anyone. I was stranded for a while. In the jungle with nothing. I adapted. I survived. I fought against all sorts of beast. I was alone in a world trying to kill me."

Shadow: "So you were alone in the jungle?"

Terios: "Not always. I did make one friend."

Shadow: "Who?"

Terios: "An animal. A tiger."

Shadow: "It wasn't mobian."

Terios: "No. It was a full fledged wild tiger. I fought him one day. He was hungry. Tried to kill me at first. I acted in self defense and beat him. I could've killed him there. His wounds were deep."

Shadow: "Did you?"

Terios: "No."

Shadow: "But why?"

Terios: "I saw fear in his eyes. I wanted to kill him but I couldn't. He was beaten. It was the first time I actually made a rational thought. It was more like do I need to kill him? I knew how to get food. I knew how to survive and hunt. He was afraid."

Shadow: "So what did you do?"

Terios: "I let him be. I walked away."

Shadow: "Nice. That's good."

Terios: "He hanged around sometime after that. I fed him some of my kills. For a long time, we worked together as a team."

Shadow: "What happened to him?"

He thinks back to the last day he was with him. He flashbacks to when they came for him.

Terios: "I'd rather not talk about it."

Shadow: "It's alright. You don't have to."

They sit in silent, hearing the water running in the bathroom. A knock comes from the door. Terios jumps up and gets ready.

Shadow: "It's okay. Hide. I'll handle it."

He gets up and walks to the door. Terios gets a text message on his phone. He turns it off quick. The door opens.

Ailinda: "Sorry to disturb you, were you both sleep?"

Shadow: "No Ms. Rose. Amy is in the shower. I'm just waiting for her to return."

Ailinda: "Ah. I was hoping to see her. Didn't get a chance to kiss her good night."

Shadow: "Heh heh. I'll do it for you."

Ailinda: *Giggle* "Aww."

She grabs him and brings his forehead down and kisses him.

Ailinda: "Pass it on for me will you?"

Shadow: "Sure thing, Ms. Rose. I'll let her know."

She walks away humming. He closes the door and exhales. He looks behind him to see the window open and Terios ready to leave.

Shadow: "Leaving so soon?"

Terios: "I'll be in touch again."

Shadow: "Have a good night brother."

He nods and hops out the window. Shadow looks out to see him long gone. He breathes in the fresh air and lets it out. His second encounter with him wasn't so bad. He feels a sense of joy in his chest. A few seconds later the bathroom door opens. Steam exits with the pink hedgehog.

Amy: "Oh Shadow!"

He looks to the left to see her standing half naked. Her hair flailing.

Shadow: "Woah!"

Amy: "You like?"

Shadow: "Yes."

She walks closely to him. She sets her hand on his fur and leans into him. She kisses him passionately and Shadow returns the favor.

Amy: "It's been a while y'know."

Shadow: "I know. Can hardly believe we got to see your mother."

Amy: "Me too."

She pulls him to the bed. She hops on top of him.

Shadow: "So you haven't seen her since you were 12?"

Amy: "Nah. Not really."

Shadow: "why?"

Amy: "Oh I just… I didn't focus on her as much."

Shadow: "You're kidding?"

Amy: "Well not like that. I just. I've been focused on chasing after sonic and having my own life. I always made contact with her but made a dumb excuse not to come."

Shadow looks at her in a bit of shock.

Amy: "I know, it's shocking."

Shadow: "And that's why you were a bit scared and nervous to face her."

Amy: "Yeah. but I know she still loves me."

He knows something is wrong. It's just like back in the cabin on the island. He sits up and kisses her on the neck.

Amy: "Ahh."

He grabs her hand and leads her behind his neck, over his shoulders. He licks her on the side. A shock fills her upper torso and she yelps out a bit. She stops him right there and starts removing her bra. She tosses it on the ground. Shadow venomously licks his lips and digs in onto her chest. She bites her finger taking in every pleasure and satisfaction Shadow has to offer. He stops for a moment. He looks at her in the eyes. He seen her eyes before. A tiny sliver of anxiety. Nervousness but not like the first time. No fear amongst her. She smiles. Shadow kneels in close.

Shadow: "Your mother came by not too long ago."

Amy: "She did? What did she say?"

Shadow: "She said this."

He kisses her on the forehead. She blushes from that and a big smile comes across her face. She grabs him and pulls him in close. They both French kiss. He takes off his gloves and dark matter rings. His shoes and socks all on the floor. He stops and looks down at her. He smiles.

Shadow: "So… Amelia huh?"

Amy: *Giggles*

The night goes on for the two of them in the room.

Meanwhile

In mercia out into one of the farmland towns. A black hedgehog out of sight in the dark is on the phone. He talks with his contact. She is explaining the situation happening.

Terios: "So no one can get in?"

Kylia: "What I mean is no black arm can get in. None of us. But others who are not black arm can."

Terios: "Are you sure about that?"

Kylia: "Yes. Eggman tested it on himself and his robots."

Terios: "Okay."

Kylia: "So what are you gonna do?"

It sets off an idea into his head. He knows what to do and who should do it.

Terios: "I think I know someone who can help. You can't allow gloom or anyone of them to know."

Kylia: "I understand. So how is shadow doing?"

Terios: "He's great. Better than last time."

Kylia: "That's wonderful. Gotta go. Oh and hey listen… just be careful okay."

Terios: "Yeah. Same to you."

He hangs up and looks up at the bright sky. He hops on top of the barn to get a good look at the farm and town. He's amazed at the people and other mobians working around it.

Terios: "This world and it's people. They're not so bad."

To Be Continued…