Once again, thanks for all the views and reviews because they are appreciated. Well, I'll be graduating by next week, and I'm both excited and nervous! I'll soon be college bound. I don't know what'll happen to me beyond this point, but I look forward to what lies ahead because I know I'm in good hands. Wish me luck :)

I tried exploring Shadow's point of view in this chapter because I felt like I haven't been focusing on his thoughts and feelings like I have Sally's, so I hope you enjoy it.

13. Love

It was such a strange feeling, was it not? The desire one held for another and the need one felt for another was almost staggering as well as disgusting. I refused to succumb into such a pointless, weak feeling, for such a feeling was like a rose. Its beauty was alluring, but its thorns were sharp and deadly and could cut even the strongest of shields.

Love, I decided, was a dangerous feeling. It could prick and pierce the heart, causing it to bleed and scar and even shatter into millions of broken pieces without hope of ever being repaired.

If love was as good and glorious of a feeling as others proclaimed it to be, why did it have to, at times, hurt so terribly? I just couldn't grasp why people sought desperately after this feeling, willingly enduring that pain it was sure to inflict upon them.

I was the Ultimate Lifeform, the ultimate weapon. I had lived a great deal of my life in peaceful solitude, and therefore felt that I didn't need any kind of companionship. I tried getting close to someone and she ended up being shot before my very eyes, so it wasn't that hard to understand why I wasn't keen on the idea of love or willing to put my heart on the line for anyone.

Maria Robotnik was my best friend, acting like an older sister to me and guiding me through life, and when she was cruelly ripped from my hands, I vowed never to get close to anyone or let anyone in again. It was my method of protecting myself, and it worked well so far.

However, I found myself slowly changing my views when I encountered Sonic and his friends. I cared not for them, and they were wary of my intentions, but as time progressed, we all formed a friendship with each other. There was one friend in particular that stood out to me though.

Her name was Sally Acorn, and though I've seen beautiful girls before, she was definitely something else; she seemed exotic, rare, and full of life. Her auburn hair fell past her shoulders like the flames of a dying fire, and her eyes were the color of sapphires. Her beauty was unlike any I've ever seen, and I found myself becoming smitten with her.

And who could truly fault me for how I now felt? She had style and grace and carried herself with confidence. She was also easy to be around and easy to talk to. With her, I felt like I was free to speak my mind without fear of being judged.

She also understood my pain, relating to me her own hardships and struggles as well as the challenges and pressures of being a princess. She was, indeed, a very good friend.

I was at a loss; a large part of me wanted to push her away and slip back into my sanctuary of solitude while another part of me wanted to run towards her and embrace her in my arms.

When I was around her, I was rendered speechless, my heart would begin beating viciously against my ribs, and I felt sweaty and nervous. Could it be that I was falling for her? I wasn't sure, but whenever I was in her presence, everything seemed to just fall into place.

We sat beside each other in comfortable silence, each glancing upward at the inky night sky. The numerous stars glittered, gracing us with their soft light. I felt Sally moving, and I glanced at her, an eyebrow raised in question. She gave me a lazy smile and shifted so that she was sitting in my lap, her head resting right above my heart, which began beating quicker.

"Shadow, I really care about you. You mean the world to me," she said, breaking the silence as she peered up at me. Her voice was filled to the brim with raw emotion, and her eyes burned intensely. There was a look in their blue depths that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

Her words struck a cord inside me, and I swore my heart was beating as fast as Sonic ran. Was she aware of what she was saying?

"I know, princess. I feel the same way about you. You know I hold you close to my heart." The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them, and though I seemed calm and collected on the outside, I was a nervous, hopeful wreck on the inside. Could she possibly feel the same way about me that I felt about her, or was I hoping for too much?

Sally smiled in relief, but a look of uncertainty crossed her face as she looked away from me shyly.

"Hey, what's on your mind? Surely, you can tell me?" I asked, my voice gentle. Her actions baffled me, and I wanted her to simply tell me what was the matter. Taking a deep breath, she willed herself to look me in the eyes once more, and she seemed determined, confident.

"I can show you better than I can tell you." Her voice dropped lower and was as soft as the breeze whistling through the leaves of a tree. I felt myself shiver in anticipation. When did she get so close, and why wasn't I pushing her away?

Because you want this just as much as she does, my mind argued.

When her hands cupped my face, I didn't shrug away from her touch. I was fully aware of what she was about to do, and I couldn't stop myself from leaning forward. I was nervous as hell, but I couldn't back down, not now.

When her lips pressed themselves against mine in an innocent, but passionate kiss, I didn't run away. I welcomed the kiss wholeheartedly, wasting no time in pressing my lips against hers. I soon coaxed her mouth open, and we both experienced something too wonderful to describe.

I didn't care about the possibilities of heartache, of sadness, of pain. If it meant that I could hold her close, kiss her senseless, and be the reason behind her smile, I'd endure it all for her. As long as I could be her everything, as long as she stayed by my side, then yes, love was worth everything I may have to face. She was worth everything.