A/N: I'm back! Finally! Hope you guys like this story! I think it's going to be a shorter story. Anyway, R&R, please!
Disclaimer: I own the story, but nothing in it. Confusing, huh?
- - - - - -
In the End
Prologue - Forget
The sun disappeared beyond the horizon, darkening the figure of the hedgehog that stood alone, a sole figure in the approaching night. Behind the hedgehog, a dark forest echoed eerily. But the hedgehog stayed, never straying from the cliff-like piece of land that jutted out, overlooking the ocean. Emerald eyes stared at the glistening water, waiting. Waiting for something that never came.
Sonic dropped his head, tearing his gaze away from the water. He slid a finger across a golden bracelet that hung on his thin wrist. The blue hedgehog bit his lip deeply, and blood fought to seep out of the gash.
One year since ARK.
Sonic fought to keep the images out of his head. They came, despite any effort. The blue hedgehog sunk to his knees, throbbing in silent, emotional pain.
"Help me," whispered the dark hedgehog finally. His wide red eyes locked onto Sonic. He wasn't ready to die. Slowly, the hedgehog extended his gloved hand. Sonic stretched his hand out once more, still clinging tightly to Shadow's bracelet.
"Shadow!" he cried, and darted forward. The dark hedgehog looked at him sadly as flames spread slowly across his arms. "No," he whispered. Amy's concerned voice shouted in his ear as he moved forward, trying to catch the red fireball. He stopped finally, knowing that he would never catch Shadow. As his power drained, Sonic took one last look at the fireball that used to be Shadow, now only a red dot over the ocean sea.
Sonic shook his head quietly. He could've saved Shadow. He could've! Even in his mind, the words sounded redundant. The hedgehog gripped his wrist tighter, closing his eyes tighter. A single tear slowly rolled off of his eye.
What was so different about Shadow? Something about him… Sonic refused to let go…to forget…to forgive… Every month, he traveled out to this place, staring at the waters, reliving his pain at seeing the dark hedgehog go. Every month, he blamed himself. The hedgehog would've had another chance at life if it weren't for him…if only Sonic had held on a little longer…
Sonic curled himself into a ball, his emerald eyes watching the water. He hated nature as soon as he did. The hedgehog wished there would be something to signify the one-year anniversary of Shadow's death. Clouds, lightning, waves, something! But the night mocked the hedgehog peacefully, basking in its beauty.
The hedgehog stared down at the bracelet quietly. Why did he pain so much after Shadow's death? It was a question Sonic had asked himself many, many times. Sonic hardly knew the hedgehog, and when he did, for most of it Shadow had been his enemy. So why did he keep hanging on, as if the hedgehog would simply appear right behind him. But he wouldn't. Shadow was dead. D-E-A-D.
Sonic looked up at the stars that twinkled down at him. His haunted emerald eyes reflected the white glow as he thought. What was his relationship with Shadow, anyway? Enemy, friend…something more? Sonic set his heavy head down on top of his hands. He had never mourned so much for anybody, not even his parents…
Nor had he ever been so confused about his feelings. Sighing, he wondered what to consider Shadow. Definitely not an enemy… Maybe a friend? But even a friend didn't seem…right. The hedgehog pressed his palms to his head quietly. The confusion itself tried to rip the hedgehog apart. Calling Shadow an enemy seemed so evil, but calling him a friend didn't seem to match the dark hedgehog. So what was left?
Lover? At the same time he considered it, one half of him rejected it immediately. The other took time to consider.
Sonic withdrew himself from the argument and looked back at the water. The calm waves melted along the shore. The blue hedgehog closed his eyes, trying to draw himself to a decision. Was the other hedgehog really worth this? It didn't really matter; he was dead no matter what he thought. Sonic remembered the words of comfort from Tails and Amy and them saying he should just forget. They didn't understand. And why would they? But Knuckles… He seemed to be the closest to knowing what Sonic was going through. His lavender eyes told Sonic what the echidna wouldn't allow himself to say. The echidna had taken a heavy load off of his shoulders.
"Sonic," he had said as he went back to Angel Island, "What's done is done." Knuckles' words had stopped the flow of considerable "what-ifs" from entering his thoughts, but sometimes, Sonic considered them against his better judgment. So what?
The blue hedgehog sighed. Maybe Amy and Tails were right also. He fingered the bracelet once more. Maybe it was best to forgive and forget. Sonic knew he couldn't forgive himself. But maybe, just maybe, he could forget. Sonic slowly twisted the golden bracelet off of his wrist.
"Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog," he whispered, his voice trailing across the open waters. Slowly, Sonic jerked his hand back and forth. He felt the warm metal leave his hand. The bracelet flew in a small arc, and landed with a small plunk! In the water. Sonic's arm dropped to his side. He stared at the exact spot where it had landed, and then he slowly turned back into the forest, after one more longing look to the water.
Just after the hedgehog left, a island swung into view, the draft from it stirring and spinning the loose leaves lying on the ground. Angel Island towered over Sonic's "secret spot". Bluish arcs of energy danced across the Island, a fight invisible to anyone on the mainland.
- - - - - - -
A/N: Hope you liked it! Please, please review!
2 or 3 reviews before I post the next part.
I'll start working on 'Part 1' as soon as I post this, so if the reviews come in before I finish, don't think I'm backing out on my word, I'm just a little slow! R&R!