PROJECT: Nightmare
Chapter Seven: Reunited
Sonic sighed. They had been looking over the books for an hour and still hadn't gotten anywhere. "What is the point of this, again?"
"We're just taking care of my curiosity." Amy nodded matter-of-factly.
Rouge set the books up in a row. "Maybe we're going about this the wrong way. The poems mean something. We just have to put them in the right order."
"But what comes in fours?" Knuckles wondered aloud. "Weeks, seasons, meals..."
The mention of seasons reminded Amy of a poem she learned when she was little. "Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. If you can say them, you know them all..." she spoke without thinking.
Silence. They all looked at Amy.
"....Whaaaat?!" She asked defensively.
"Amy..." Sonic's voice was soft, "What did you just say?"
She looked at the ground and gave a tiny grin. "It's just a little poem I was taught in kindergarten..."
"Winter spring summer fall..." Sonic said to himself. "That's it! Amy, you're a genius!" He gave the girl a quick hug. Amy blushed.
Rouge snapped her fingers. "I got an idea. Maybe we could try matching up the elements in the books to the seasons! For example, winter might be water." She put "Waters of Light" at the edge of the table.
Amy giggled, catching on. "Spring is the time when everything is pretty in the world, so it must be earth!" She picked up "Earth of Sound" and set it next to the water book.
" 'Fires of Heat', eh?" Knuckles smirked. "That can only be summer."
Tails picked up the last book. "Which means 'Winds of Time' must represent fall."
Sonic picked up a small pile of paper that had each poem written on it. "Okay, so if that IS the order the books go in, the first-page poems would read like this:
'Cursing Harm At Other Spirits
Embarks Many Evil Realms At Life's Death Sentences.
Creation Occurs Nightly To Renegade Outcasts' Lives,
Never Imagining Greater Hurt Than Marring A Realm Eternal' "
Sonic frowned. "I don't get it."
"Let me see." Knuckles took the paper. "It takes a little analyzing. The first two sentrences mean that hurting another will cause hurt to yourself."
"In other words, what goes around, comes around?"
"Something like that. The third line... 'Outcasts' is plural, meaning there is more than one. These outcasts have... constant creation on their lives... perhaps they learn nightly. Creation of ideas. But they never conjure thoughts of harming anything greater than them; the 'Realm Eternal'."
Sonic nodded. "Two or more creative 'outcasts' that would never even DREAM of hurting something greater than them, because they would get hurt in return. Okay..."
"But there's more to it than that." Rouge picked up a pencil. "The sentences are capitalized, like they mean something." She wrote out each line... " 'Chaos... Emeralds... Con---" She stopped.
"What?" Knuckles asked. "What is it?"
Rouge scrawled out the last bit, slamming the paper into the center of the table for all to see. She drew her hand back.
The other four leaned over and read in her words. At that same time, they all cried, "CHAOS EMERALDS CONTROL NIGHTMARE!"
The books began to glow.
The icons on the back shimmered, and a heart appeared in the center of them. Of course, the gang didn't see this until the glow subsided, and a fifth book landed on the table.
" 'Universe of Life'..." Rouge read aloud with wonder. "Oh wow..."
"Open it, open it!" Tails cried, full of excitement.
She did. "It's another poem."
Everyone groaned.
"This one is different... it rhymes."
Everyone stared at her. "What are you waiting for?" Knuckles prodded. "Go on."
"Oh, o-okay." Rouge cleared her throat.
"After a joyous summer sun
And doleful evening's rain,
8 souls who aren't the least alike
Will meet up once again.
"Two of the 8, they will first meet
By thinking 'He is me!'
They will be identicle only
As far as eyes can see.
"3 and 4 will form a love
Of one Expected pair.
Their faith for one another will teach
Another one to care.
"This 'other one' makes number 5
Who eats and drinks his speed.
No matter how he runs from six,
He'll always want their need.
"The 6th of 8 is pure of heart
And never takes a fall.
They'll be the first - and the last
To know about it all.
"Now 7 and 8 see much alike
But they are enemies.
They might be friends, if only they
Could see what the other sees.
"A soul and a soul, this 1-8
Must once again unite
To pool together Chaos stregth
To win the final fight."
Sonic raised his eyebrows. "....Woah..."
Rouge skimmed the poem over again. "D... do you think this involves us?"
Knuckles cracked his knuckles. "More analyzing?"
"It's late, guys..." Amy noticed. "Why don't we all go to bed and think it over in the morning?"
Four other voices agreed. "Okay."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was dark.
Late, too.
Shadow groaned, sitting up. He didn't know what time it was, nor did he really care. He would've liked to know why something woke him up in the middle of the night. (Maybe I'm needed awake for something...) Whatever the reason, he knew he wouldn't get back to sleep.
He crept out of the cave. A north wind blew, making it seem rather cool in the garden. Shadow held his arms, unprepared for the chill of the night. "I'm not going to be going back to sleep anytime soon..." he murmured to himself. "Maybe I should walk; warm up my muscles a bit."
He made his way down from the rocks and leapt over the pool, using a Homing Attack to get to the exit faster. He turned and looked at the cave one last time before smiling and leaving. "They'll be fine for a little while. I won't be gone long."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Chaos Emeralds Control Nightmare..."
Sonic kept repeating this over and over to himself as he lay on the floor of Amy Rose's apartment. By the time they had finished with the book, it was close to 10, and Amy invited them all to spend the night in her apartment. Amy and Rouge took their slumber in the bedroom, Knuckles sat in a beige recliner, Tails was curled up in a purple velvet armchair, and Sonic had a white leather couch. He was on the floor because he was trying out different positions, hoping to fall into Sleep.
Yet Sleep never came.
The true meaning of the acronym poems.... could it be Nightmare's weakness? But what can be used to stop Chaos power?
Sonic didn't know.
And when Sonic doesn't know, Sonic finds out.
He rose to his feet and quietly crept out the door, trying not to wake anyone. A quick sprint to the train station. The White Island train wasn't running. (That's okay,) Sonic decided. (If the train isn't running, I am.) He made his way over to the appropriate track and became the Sonic Express.
Faster and faster, thorough this tunnel, over this track, within minutes he was at the boarding dock. The beach was deserted. A few forgotten toys and blankets got washed up by the high tide, joining the sea forever. Sonic watched the water flow over the tips of his sneakers. Why WAS the tide so high, anyway?
Sonic look to the sky. A full moon... well, as full as the moon could get from being blown to pieces 7 months ago. Half-gone or not, it still shown down brilliant light, enough to give Sonic the edge he needed to get into the forest. Eggman's base was somehere here.
//There's no way to prove that Robotnik has any play in this.//
Sonic remembered Rouge's words from the night before. True, there was no proof, but history repeats itself, and if a black hedgehog was siding with Eggman before, who's to say it wouldn't happen again?
He stopped for a rest on a medium-sized clearing, with two rivers flowing on either side of it. It reminded Sonic greatly of the battlefield where he and Shadow first fought. Ah, memories...
*rustle rustle*
Sonic's ears pricked.
*rustle snap bamp*
The sounds of a bush moving, a twig snapping, and feet landing.
*step step*
"Who's there?"
Silence. The moon gave enough light to enable Sonic to make out the figure standing at the other edge of the clearing to be...
Could it be? Yes, it was! He had found Nightmare! "YOU!"
The black hedgehog turned and mumbled something to himself. "Sonic... of all places..."
Sonic pointed an accusing finger at the black form. "I've found you... FAKER!"
"Faker?!" Then the hedgehog stopped and placed a hand to his chin in thought. "Waitaminute, haven't I been through this before?"
Sonic did a Homing Attack. "You won't get away now!"
The hedgehog dodged. "What are you talking about, Sonic?"
"You know what I'm--- wait... how do you know my name?"
"Duh." He crossed his arms. "We only saved the world together."
Sonic felt his jaw drop. "....Shadow?"
Two nods.
Time stood still. For a few moments, Sonic felt nothing. Emptiness filled him, momentarily obscuring his vision. What was happening? Was this real? Shadow was alive? Shadow was here? Now? Standing 6 feet away from him!?
A smile spread across the blue hedgehog's face as he broke into a run. "Shadow!!"
Shadow grinned back and met his friend in an embrace. "Oh, it's so good to see you again, Sonic!"
"You're alive... I can hardly believe it!" Sonic pulled back and gripped Shadow by the shoulders. "Where have you been all this time? How have you survived?"
Shadow hesitated to answer. "...I've... been living... in a Chao garden..."
Sonic snickered. "A Chao garden?" He burst out laughing.
Shadow glared. "That's not funny!!"
"Sorry, sorry...." Sonic calmed down. "It's just the thought of you, Mr. tough-guy Ultimate Life Form, living in a Chao garden... it's kinda funny."
"Yeah, maybe..."
A silence between them. Sonic frowned. He hated silences like these. But what do you say to a guy who was thought to be dead? "Shadow... why have you been hiding out? We all miss you."
Shadow looked away, a look of what appeared to be shame crossing his face. "I-I like being dead."
"But... you're alive."
"Nobody knows that... except you, that is." Shadow grabbed Sonic by the shoulders. "Sonic, please. Don't tell anyone that I'm here."
"..."
"Please! Sonic..."
"...but why?" Sonic asked, a calm look on his face. "Why do you want everyone to think you died?"
Shadow sighed. "It's kinda difficult to explain.... all I want is to die, to get my life over with. I've fulfilled my promise to Maria, but I still don't get to be with her..." he blinked back tears.
Sonic sat still. "You really cared about her, huh?"
He sniffed and nodded, his voice quavering. "She was like a sister to me... my only real friend... oh Sonic!!" he wailed, collapsing into the blue hedgehog's arms, "You don't know what it's like to be alone..."
He sobbed deeply. Sonic felt so helpless. What should he do? (Comfort him, you idiot!) "Shh... it's all over, Shadow..." He spoke with a soft, gentle tone. "We're your friends now. Me, and the others... come with us Shadow. Then you won't be alone."
The tears stopped falling. The sobs dimished quietly. Shadow looked up into Sonic's emerald eyes, reading nothing but sincerity as he stared into his soul. Maybe he should go with them. Maybe...
He shook his head and stood up. "No. I can't. The... the Chao need me."
"Say that again?"
Shadow gazed at the half-moon. "They saved me, even though I didn't want to be saved. But they took care of me, after the fall. They are my friends, and I am at peace in the garden. I want to keep that peace." He looked at Sonic. "It's my job to protect them."
"Job?"
"Well... okay, it's something I want to do. Even still... I need to be there should something happen."
"Ah..."
"They're really amazing creatures, Sonic. They're children of the emeralds, and can use Chaos power at will, even if they don't have an emerald! Something that even I can't do..."
Chaos... power... Ah! Sonic slapped his forehead. "Oh jeeze, I forgot!"
"What?"
"The reason I came here was to investigate more on this creature called Nightmare. He looks---"
"Exactly like me."
"....how did you know?"
"I saw him, while I was out gathering seeds for the Chao." Shadow closed his eyes.
"Did you see where he went?"
He opened his eyes. "Actually, yes. I mean, if you saw someone who could be your twin, wouldn't you be curious? Anyway, I watched him go down this path... follow me."
Under the light of the half-moon and the stars, Shadow was able to find the path that took him to the "EggTree". "Look here... if you see, this tree is MUCH bigger than most of the others in the forest. And if you look here..." Shadow pointed, "There's an egg-shaped mark carved into the bark, just at our eye-level."
"...I can't make it out."
"I know, the lighting is poor. But it's there, trust me."
"Okay..."
"I saw Nightmare walk in here. He pulled on this vine..." Shadow pointed it out, "...and a door in the bark slid open. There's a vine inside you use to shut it again."
"Seems easy enough."
"Well, that's Eggman for ya'," Shadow said, shrugging.
Right then, a high-pitched cry echoed through the forest. It was faint, but the hedgehogs were still able to pick up the sound.
"What's that noise?"
Shadow sighed. "It's Sunny. She knows I'm gone."
"She?" Sonic grinned mischeiveously. "C'mon, details, pal!"
"She's a CHAO, Sonic!"
"....oh."
Shadow smiled. "And she's really taken a liking to me. She has this fear that when I leave the garden, I'll never be coming back."
"I see."
"I'd better get going..." Shadow decided as he heard the cry again. "It was nice seeing you again, Sonic."
"Yeah... good luck, Shadow."
He nodded and sped away.
Sonic sped away as well, but he stopped once he arrived at the station. He walked home on the tracks, thinking. White Island has a much bigger secret then Eggman's hidden base; it holds the hidden hedgehog. But... he did promise he wouldn't tell. Oh, but it would be such a hard secret to keep! He kept thinking about as he made his way back into Amy's apartment.
Sonic slipped off his shoes and flopped on the couch. Maybe he needed to sleep on it... yeah, that might help. He stretched and yawned, settling into the soft leather sofa.
And for Sonic, at 3:25 AM, Sleep came.
Chapter Seven: Reunited
Sonic sighed. They had been looking over the books for an hour and still hadn't gotten anywhere. "What is the point of this, again?"
"We're just taking care of my curiosity." Amy nodded matter-of-factly.
Rouge set the books up in a row. "Maybe we're going about this the wrong way. The poems mean something. We just have to put them in the right order."
"But what comes in fours?" Knuckles wondered aloud. "Weeks, seasons, meals..."
The mention of seasons reminded Amy of a poem she learned when she was little. "Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. If you can say them, you know them all..." she spoke without thinking.
Silence. They all looked at Amy.
"....Whaaaat?!" She asked defensively.
"Amy..." Sonic's voice was soft, "What did you just say?"
She looked at the ground and gave a tiny grin. "It's just a little poem I was taught in kindergarten..."
"Winter spring summer fall..." Sonic said to himself. "That's it! Amy, you're a genius!" He gave the girl a quick hug. Amy blushed.
Rouge snapped her fingers. "I got an idea. Maybe we could try matching up the elements in the books to the seasons! For example, winter might be water." She put "Waters of Light" at the edge of the table.
Amy giggled, catching on. "Spring is the time when everything is pretty in the world, so it must be earth!" She picked up "Earth of Sound" and set it next to the water book.
" 'Fires of Heat', eh?" Knuckles smirked. "That can only be summer."
Tails picked up the last book. "Which means 'Winds of Time' must represent fall."
Sonic picked up a small pile of paper that had each poem written on it. "Okay, so if that IS the order the books go in, the first-page poems would read like this:
'Cursing Harm At Other Spirits
Embarks Many Evil Realms At Life's Death Sentences.
Creation Occurs Nightly To Renegade Outcasts' Lives,
Never Imagining Greater Hurt Than Marring A Realm Eternal' "
Sonic frowned. "I don't get it."
"Let me see." Knuckles took the paper. "It takes a little analyzing. The first two sentrences mean that hurting another will cause hurt to yourself."
"In other words, what goes around, comes around?"
"Something like that. The third line... 'Outcasts' is plural, meaning there is more than one. These outcasts have... constant creation on their lives... perhaps they learn nightly. Creation of ideas. But they never conjure thoughts of harming anything greater than them; the 'Realm Eternal'."
Sonic nodded. "Two or more creative 'outcasts' that would never even DREAM of hurting something greater than them, because they would get hurt in return. Okay..."
"But there's more to it than that." Rouge picked up a pencil. "The sentences are capitalized, like they mean something." She wrote out each line... " 'Chaos... Emeralds... Con---" She stopped.
"What?" Knuckles asked. "What is it?"
Rouge scrawled out the last bit, slamming the paper into the center of the table for all to see. She drew her hand back.
The other four leaned over and read in her words. At that same time, they all cried, "CHAOS EMERALDS CONTROL NIGHTMARE!"
The books began to glow.
The icons on the back shimmered, and a heart appeared in the center of them. Of course, the gang didn't see this until the glow subsided, and a fifth book landed on the table.
" 'Universe of Life'..." Rouge read aloud with wonder. "Oh wow..."
"Open it, open it!" Tails cried, full of excitement.
She did. "It's another poem."
Everyone groaned.
"This one is different... it rhymes."
Everyone stared at her. "What are you waiting for?" Knuckles prodded. "Go on."
"Oh, o-okay." Rouge cleared her throat.
"After a joyous summer sun
And doleful evening's rain,
8 souls who aren't the least alike
Will meet up once again.
"Two of the 8, they will first meet
By thinking 'He is me!'
They will be identicle only
As far as eyes can see.
"3 and 4 will form a love
Of one Expected pair.
Their faith for one another will teach
Another one to care.
"This 'other one' makes number 5
Who eats and drinks his speed.
No matter how he runs from six,
He'll always want their need.
"The 6th of 8 is pure of heart
And never takes a fall.
They'll be the first - and the last
To know about it all.
"Now 7 and 8 see much alike
But they are enemies.
They might be friends, if only they
Could see what the other sees.
"A soul and a soul, this 1-8
Must once again unite
To pool together Chaos stregth
To win the final fight."
Sonic raised his eyebrows. "....Woah..."
Rouge skimmed the poem over again. "D... do you think this involves us?"
Knuckles cracked his knuckles. "More analyzing?"
"It's late, guys..." Amy noticed. "Why don't we all go to bed and think it over in the morning?"
Four other voices agreed. "Okay."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was dark.
Late, too.
Shadow groaned, sitting up. He didn't know what time it was, nor did he really care. He would've liked to know why something woke him up in the middle of the night. (Maybe I'm needed awake for something...) Whatever the reason, he knew he wouldn't get back to sleep.
He crept out of the cave. A north wind blew, making it seem rather cool in the garden. Shadow held his arms, unprepared for the chill of the night. "I'm not going to be going back to sleep anytime soon..." he murmured to himself. "Maybe I should walk; warm up my muscles a bit."
He made his way down from the rocks and leapt over the pool, using a Homing Attack to get to the exit faster. He turned and looked at the cave one last time before smiling and leaving. "They'll be fine for a little while. I won't be gone long."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Chaos Emeralds Control Nightmare..."
Sonic kept repeating this over and over to himself as he lay on the floor of Amy Rose's apartment. By the time they had finished with the book, it was close to 10, and Amy invited them all to spend the night in her apartment. Amy and Rouge took their slumber in the bedroom, Knuckles sat in a beige recliner, Tails was curled up in a purple velvet armchair, and Sonic had a white leather couch. He was on the floor because he was trying out different positions, hoping to fall into Sleep.
Yet Sleep never came.
The true meaning of the acronym poems.... could it be Nightmare's weakness? But what can be used to stop Chaos power?
Sonic didn't know.
And when Sonic doesn't know, Sonic finds out.
He rose to his feet and quietly crept out the door, trying not to wake anyone. A quick sprint to the train station. The White Island train wasn't running. (That's okay,) Sonic decided. (If the train isn't running, I am.) He made his way over to the appropriate track and became the Sonic Express.
Faster and faster, thorough this tunnel, over this track, within minutes he was at the boarding dock. The beach was deserted. A few forgotten toys and blankets got washed up by the high tide, joining the sea forever. Sonic watched the water flow over the tips of his sneakers. Why WAS the tide so high, anyway?
Sonic look to the sky. A full moon... well, as full as the moon could get from being blown to pieces 7 months ago. Half-gone or not, it still shown down brilliant light, enough to give Sonic the edge he needed to get into the forest. Eggman's base was somehere here.
//There's no way to prove that Robotnik has any play in this.//
Sonic remembered Rouge's words from the night before. True, there was no proof, but history repeats itself, and if a black hedgehog was siding with Eggman before, who's to say it wouldn't happen again?
He stopped for a rest on a medium-sized clearing, with two rivers flowing on either side of it. It reminded Sonic greatly of the battlefield where he and Shadow first fought. Ah, memories...
*rustle rustle*
Sonic's ears pricked.
*rustle snap bamp*
The sounds of a bush moving, a twig snapping, and feet landing.
*step step*
"Who's there?"
Silence. The moon gave enough light to enable Sonic to make out the figure standing at the other edge of the clearing to be...
Could it be? Yes, it was! He had found Nightmare! "YOU!"
The black hedgehog turned and mumbled something to himself. "Sonic... of all places..."
Sonic pointed an accusing finger at the black form. "I've found you... FAKER!"
"Faker?!" Then the hedgehog stopped and placed a hand to his chin in thought. "Waitaminute, haven't I been through this before?"
Sonic did a Homing Attack. "You won't get away now!"
The hedgehog dodged. "What are you talking about, Sonic?"
"You know what I'm--- wait... how do you know my name?"
"Duh." He crossed his arms. "We only saved the world together."
Sonic felt his jaw drop. "....Shadow?"
Two nods.
Time stood still. For a few moments, Sonic felt nothing. Emptiness filled him, momentarily obscuring his vision. What was happening? Was this real? Shadow was alive? Shadow was here? Now? Standing 6 feet away from him!?
A smile spread across the blue hedgehog's face as he broke into a run. "Shadow!!"
Shadow grinned back and met his friend in an embrace. "Oh, it's so good to see you again, Sonic!"
"You're alive... I can hardly believe it!" Sonic pulled back and gripped Shadow by the shoulders. "Where have you been all this time? How have you survived?"
Shadow hesitated to answer. "...I've... been living... in a Chao garden..."
Sonic snickered. "A Chao garden?" He burst out laughing.
Shadow glared. "That's not funny!!"
"Sorry, sorry...." Sonic calmed down. "It's just the thought of you, Mr. tough-guy Ultimate Life Form, living in a Chao garden... it's kinda funny."
"Yeah, maybe..."
A silence between them. Sonic frowned. He hated silences like these. But what do you say to a guy who was thought to be dead? "Shadow... why have you been hiding out? We all miss you."
Shadow looked away, a look of what appeared to be shame crossing his face. "I-I like being dead."
"But... you're alive."
"Nobody knows that... except you, that is." Shadow grabbed Sonic by the shoulders. "Sonic, please. Don't tell anyone that I'm here."
"..."
"Please! Sonic..."
"...but why?" Sonic asked, a calm look on his face. "Why do you want everyone to think you died?"
Shadow sighed. "It's kinda difficult to explain.... all I want is to die, to get my life over with. I've fulfilled my promise to Maria, but I still don't get to be with her..." he blinked back tears.
Sonic sat still. "You really cared about her, huh?"
He sniffed and nodded, his voice quavering. "She was like a sister to me... my only real friend... oh Sonic!!" he wailed, collapsing into the blue hedgehog's arms, "You don't know what it's like to be alone..."
He sobbed deeply. Sonic felt so helpless. What should he do? (Comfort him, you idiot!) "Shh... it's all over, Shadow..." He spoke with a soft, gentle tone. "We're your friends now. Me, and the others... come with us Shadow. Then you won't be alone."
The tears stopped falling. The sobs dimished quietly. Shadow looked up into Sonic's emerald eyes, reading nothing but sincerity as he stared into his soul. Maybe he should go with them. Maybe...
He shook his head and stood up. "No. I can't. The... the Chao need me."
"Say that again?"
Shadow gazed at the half-moon. "They saved me, even though I didn't want to be saved. But they took care of me, after the fall. They are my friends, and I am at peace in the garden. I want to keep that peace." He looked at Sonic. "It's my job to protect them."
"Job?"
"Well... okay, it's something I want to do. Even still... I need to be there should something happen."
"Ah..."
"They're really amazing creatures, Sonic. They're children of the emeralds, and can use Chaos power at will, even if they don't have an emerald! Something that even I can't do..."
Chaos... power... Ah! Sonic slapped his forehead. "Oh jeeze, I forgot!"
"What?"
"The reason I came here was to investigate more on this creature called Nightmare. He looks---"
"Exactly like me."
"....how did you know?"
"I saw him, while I was out gathering seeds for the Chao." Shadow closed his eyes.
"Did you see where he went?"
He opened his eyes. "Actually, yes. I mean, if you saw someone who could be your twin, wouldn't you be curious? Anyway, I watched him go down this path... follow me."
Under the light of the half-moon and the stars, Shadow was able to find the path that took him to the "EggTree". "Look here... if you see, this tree is MUCH bigger than most of the others in the forest. And if you look here..." Shadow pointed, "There's an egg-shaped mark carved into the bark, just at our eye-level."
"...I can't make it out."
"I know, the lighting is poor. But it's there, trust me."
"Okay..."
"I saw Nightmare walk in here. He pulled on this vine..." Shadow pointed it out, "...and a door in the bark slid open. There's a vine inside you use to shut it again."
"Seems easy enough."
"Well, that's Eggman for ya'," Shadow said, shrugging.
Right then, a high-pitched cry echoed through the forest. It was faint, but the hedgehogs were still able to pick up the sound.
"What's that noise?"
Shadow sighed. "It's Sunny. She knows I'm gone."
"She?" Sonic grinned mischeiveously. "C'mon, details, pal!"
"She's a CHAO, Sonic!"
"....oh."
Shadow smiled. "And she's really taken a liking to me. She has this fear that when I leave the garden, I'll never be coming back."
"I see."
"I'd better get going..." Shadow decided as he heard the cry again. "It was nice seeing you again, Sonic."
"Yeah... good luck, Shadow."
He nodded and sped away.
Sonic sped away as well, but he stopped once he arrived at the station. He walked home on the tracks, thinking. White Island has a much bigger secret then Eggman's hidden base; it holds the hidden hedgehog. But... he did promise he wouldn't tell. Oh, but it would be such a hard secret to keep! He kept thinking about as he made his way back into Amy's apartment.
Sonic slipped off his shoes and flopped on the couch. Maybe he needed to sleep on it... yeah, that might help. He stretched and yawned, settling into the soft leather sofa.
And for Sonic, at 3:25 AM, Sleep came.