Ashes
Dozens of people watched the large screen monitor overlooking the centre of Station Square as it displayed the battle for the Earth... two heroic hedgehogs bashing themselves mercelessly against the FinalHazard. Sonic and Shadow, their names were. Together they fought for the survival of their beloved planet, as the millions of people living there were able to see or hear from their TVs, radios, cell phones, and marketplace squares.
Four stories above the crowds, five-year-old Leena clutched her teddy bear close to her side as she peered out the window. She sucked on her thumb, watching is awe as the people down below cheered on encouragements and shouted out their fears. Leena desprately wanted to join them, but she couldn't. Not only was she too far away for them to hear, but she was physically unable to talk. As much as she tried, she could never make a sound.
Still, that did nothing to cease her curiosity of what was going on high above them. Leena looked up into the sky to see a red spark. (The ARK...) she thought to herself. (I wonder how Sonic and Shadow are doing...)
Every few seconds, Leena could see a white flash, signaling to her that her hedgehog heroes were still fighting for her and her family. Suddenly, the crowd below her was in an uproar. Everyone was cheering, clapping, and whistling.
Curious, Leena slipped out the front door, right by her parents, who were starting in shock and disbelief at their TV. She thought about asking them for permission, but they might say no, and she really wanted to go outside and see what was going on. (I'll only be gone for a few minutes...) she decided. Leena put her feet in her pink bunny slippers and set off down four flights of stairs.
Out in the square, Leena saw that the ARK was now located back in its original position, gently hovering over the Earth. Gradually, her little mind wandered, as did her feet, and she walked away from the crowd. She stood under a streetlamp about two apartment buildings over from her own, and looked up at the sky. My, how pretty it was....
A red spark showed up in the sky. Leena gasped; it was coming closer! Was the ARK still going to hit them? Leena spun around and looked at the monitor. No... the ARK wasn't any threat. But what was this red dot...?
It turned white.
Then, just as suddenly as it appeared, it vanished.
Still, Leena strayed under the streetlamp. Her feet would not move. Her eyes refused to look at anything but the sky.
It began to snow.
But this was a curious snow. It wasn't even cold, nor was it white. It was a light gray, and its smell reminded Leena of the fireplace in their livingroom. Still clutching her teddy, Leena reached out her right hand and caught some of this 'snow' in her tiny hand. She looked at it for a moment, then closed her fist and held it over her heart. With tearful eyes, she looked to the sky and whispered...
"Shadow..."
Dozens of people watched the large screen monitor overlooking the centre of Station Square as it displayed the battle for the Earth... two heroic hedgehogs bashing themselves mercelessly against the FinalHazard. Sonic and Shadow, their names were. Together they fought for the survival of their beloved planet, as the millions of people living there were able to see or hear from their TVs, radios, cell phones, and marketplace squares.
Four stories above the crowds, five-year-old Leena clutched her teddy bear close to her side as she peered out the window. She sucked on her thumb, watching is awe as the people down below cheered on encouragements and shouted out their fears. Leena desprately wanted to join them, but she couldn't. Not only was she too far away for them to hear, but she was physically unable to talk. As much as she tried, she could never make a sound.
Still, that did nothing to cease her curiosity of what was going on high above them. Leena looked up into the sky to see a red spark. (The ARK...) she thought to herself. (I wonder how Sonic and Shadow are doing...)
Every few seconds, Leena could see a white flash, signaling to her that her hedgehog heroes were still fighting for her and her family. Suddenly, the crowd below her was in an uproar. Everyone was cheering, clapping, and whistling.
Curious, Leena slipped out the front door, right by her parents, who were starting in shock and disbelief at their TV. She thought about asking them for permission, but they might say no, and she really wanted to go outside and see what was going on. (I'll only be gone for a few minutes...) she decided. Leena put her feet in her pink bunny slippers and set off down four flights of stairs.
Out in the square, Leena saw that the ARK was now located back in its original position, gently hovering over the Earth. Gradually, her little mind wandered, as did her feet, and she walked away from the crowd. She stood under a streetlamp about two apartment buildings over from her own, and looked up at the sky. My, how pretty it was....
A red spark showed up in the sky. Leena gasped; it was coming closer! Was the ARK still going to hit them? Leena spun around and looked at the monitor. No... the ARK wasn't any threat. But what was this red dot...?
It turned white.
Then, just as suddenly as it appeared, it vanished.
Still, Leena strayed under the streetlamp. Her feet would not move. Her eyes refused to look at anything but the sky.
It began to snow.
But this was a curious snow. It wasn't even cold, nor was it white. It was a light gray, and its smell reminded Leena of the fireplace in their livingroom. Still clutching her teddy, Leena reached out her right hand and caught some of this 'snow' in her tiny hand. She looked at it for a moment, then closed her fist and held it over her heart. With tearful eyes, she looked to the sky and whispered...
"Shadow..."
