Chapter Seven
"Several years from now, Shadow and Cammy will have me. My father adored the fact I looked so much like a mix between him and Sonic. He named me Shadow Jr, but called me Shady for a nickname. I prefer Shady, it distinguishes me from him." Shady started, "Shadow and Sonic finally got along to the point where they considered each other brothers, hence I had an Uncle Sonic. Knuckles was fairly close to Sonic, so I called him my uncle, too. Dad didn't mind, just so long as Knuckles didn't drag me around on treasure-hunting trips for too long. He and Mom were working on Prof. Gerald's research, using me to test the life serum. Slowly, but surely, I was becoming more like Shadow, a full ultimate life form."
"My aunt is Vanilla, Cammy's twin. More often than not, she tried to get my color changed to a pale shade of green. Said it would keep me from looking like a psychotic killer child. Shadow wasn't thrilled. Rouge was a close friend of my mother's, and babysat me on occasion. I played with some of her jewels, using them as marbles. They didn't roll well, so I stopped and contented myself with practicing my Chaos powers with her fake Emerald. Mom researched the poem and learned about our unique Chaos Powers, mine being time altering and speed boosting. Amy Rose became my other aunt only because I saw her hanging around Sonic for so long. Tails was like a role model for me. I admired him and wanted to be like him when I got older. He treated me like a kid brother, the way he had been treated by Sonic."
"The real reason why I time-traveled is because...." Shady stopped and shuddered. "It's hard to say, but I know it was all my fault in some way. My party, why did it happen on my birthday? A cruel gift." he muttered and gazed at Sonic. "Sonic, on my fifth birthday, you were invited to my party. Shadow wanted you to arrive early so you could help him with decorations. You used the north-bound freeway to get to our house faster. On the same route, Eggman's delivery van was speeding, late with its shipment of metal parts and spikes for his robots and traps. There was an accident, it hit a van and turned over as you made it to the intersection. The doors flew open." he said softly as Sonic listened with wide-eyes and a pale look. Everyone listened to the story in horrible anticipation, knowing what would come next, but refusing to hear it.
"The doors flew open. You were going so fast, so intent on getting to my party early with the present all wrapped up." Shady went on, directing his words at Sonic now, "It was over in a matter of seconds. No one knew if you had been in any pain. Witnesses said it was very quick, that you didn't even have time to cry. Sonic, on that day, you died, killed in a highway accident on your way to a birthday party." Everyone gasped and looked to Sonic in shock.
"Bummer." Sonic managed to say, "I thought I'd go down in a fight. That bites." He looked slightly green. "That's what you meant by wanting to save your uncle, you wanted to save me, alter history so I wouldn't die."
"It wasn't your time. You died too soon, so I had to fix the past." Shady muttered, "Because, you see, your death caused a chain reaction that ruined the world." He took another deep breath.
"When Sonic died, Tails took it hard. He went insane, destroying his home and inventions, then using the Cyclone to attack Station Square. Eventually, he was brought down and incarcerated in a mental hospital. He never fully recovered his senses. Tails now spends time talking to the air and attacking anyone who came too near on bad days. To prevent him from escaping the hospital, doctors were forced to cut off one of his tails so he could never fly again." Shady told the group and gazed at Tails to see his reaction. The fox hugged Sonic and sobbed at his horrid future. "I'm sorry." Shady whispered and sighed.
"The chain doesn't end there. Knuckles was affected next, speaking only to the Master Emerald and claiming it had Sonic's essence within, or that it told him Sonic was still alive. He's starved and lost most of his strength. Amy Rose ran for the mountains and never returned. Who knows if she's alive or dead. But the one who was hardest hit by Sonic's death was my father, Shadow." Shady went on and finally faced Shadow. "Days after Sonic's burial, Shadow retreated into himself, speaking to no one and avoiding everyone. Cammy tried to get in touch with him, but he pulled away from her too. One day, he wrote his last note to me, spelling out my full name on the envelope. He wrote only three words. Live and learn. Shadow left it in my room, then went out to steal the shuttle we used to go to ARK for vacations and tests. He hijacked the shuttle, flew it to space, and slammed it into an asteroid, killing himself. Shadow couldn't deal with the death of someone so close to him, someone he had said was the real ultimate life form, so he committed suicide to join him. Dad, you killed yourself when you couldn't face Sonic's death."
"With Shadow dead, Cammy stopped hunting legends and researching the Emeralds, and put all her efforts into finishing up the life serum supply for me. She stopped wearing green and wore only black, in permanent mourning. She lost her life and vitality, no longer the bright, cheery and daring woman she had been. She lost it all the day Shadow died. To support us and help fund Mom's research, Rouge returned to spying for money and jewels, selling some of her own to help us. One day, she was caught overseas and tortured for days before breaking down and revealing our location. She was then killed. Mom and I escaped the foreign military's clutches, but we now live in a cavern on Angel Island. Unable to get out to do anything except run to ARK, we couldn't even escape long enough to keep Eggman from conquering the world at last."
Shady finished the story and hugged himself sadly. The group was silent, letting the story sink into their minds and fully realizing what it meant for them.
"The present Sonic had for me the day he died was the blue Chaos Emerald. When I got it, I asked Mom where it came from and she told me it came from a angel in the sky. Sonic." he added, "Once I learned how all the events were connected, I decided to use my powers to go back in time and change history. By saving Sonic, I would prevent all those unnecessary deaths and prevent the world from ruining itself."
"So, what went wrong?" Tails finally asked. Shady scratched his head.
"I'm not sure. I guess I didn't picture the freeway properly, and now I have to wait until my energy is back up again to try another Time Warp." he replied. "If I had something to eat, and a little rest, I should have enough to get going."
"Why not just go home? You told us what would happen, so I just avoid taking the freeway." Sonic remarked, "Tada! Problem solved!" Shady shook his head.
"Doesn't work that way. I have to change history without you knowing it. It's the only way any of us will have normal lives again." he told the group.
"And how do you do that, since we're going to know all this anyway?" Rouge asked, lifting an eyebrow in challenge. Shady copied her, grinning.
"With my other power. Memory Erase. They don't call me Shady just because it's short for Shadow Jr." he retorted and laughed, "I told you Dad taught me to be sneaky!"
"Just wonderful." Shadow muttered and sneezed again. He rubbed at his nose and sniffed. "Oh, great. Dow my doze iz gedding ztuffed." he struggled to say. Cammy handed him a handkerchief and he blew his nose while Sonic dug around in the first aid kit for another mask. "Thanks. That's a bit better." He put the mask on and sighed.
"Can we get out of here today?" Rouge remarked dryly. The group agreed and ran out of the temple as fast as they could.
Once everyone was outside, Shadow proceeded to plant several Chao seeds and waited for them to speed grow into fruit trees. Shady sat on the grass and leaned against a tree trunk while Tails tended to his injuries, binding up the cuts and putting ice packs on sore spots. Rouge waited for her turn to use the kit while Cammy and Sonic discussed what to do with the robot's remains.
"How did you catch a cold? I know, it's from you running around in this weather without acclimatizing first!! You should have thought ahead, Shadow!" Omochao scolded his friend, "At least I know why I had to come here! I had to lead you to Shady! The star from the future!"
"Id wazn'd like I wanded a code! Id'z all Wouge'z faught! Zhe zhoud ave done diz id da zummer!" Shadow retorted despite a stuffed nose and the mask. Shady smiled at him and laughed a little. "Dow wook! Ztop laughing ad me! Id'z nod fuddy! Diz iz embarrazzing!" Shadow yelled and blew his nose again with the cloth Cammy let him have. Sonic shook his head and smiled as he shook one tree to get the fruit down as Cammy shook the other one. Fruit of all kinds fell to the ground. Tails collected them and began passing them out in equal portions. Shady ate hungrily as Angie attacked another fruit. The group dined on the prizes as the time-traveler closed his eyes and rested to recover his strength.
"The servers are the seven chaos. Chaos is power, enriched by the heart. The controller is the one who unifies the chaos." Cammy muttered as she studied her Emerald and closed her eyes. Meditating on the problem, she felt a flicker of something deep within her. She gasped slightly and looked at her Emerald. "Power is enriched by the heart. Could it be?" she whispered and smiled at Shadow when he glanced her way, "Nothing."
"Iz everyone full and happy dow?" he asked the group. Replies of contentment filled the little camp. Shadow stood and nodded, then stared at the two-tailed fox. "Good. Prower! You challenged! Prepare do fighd!" Sonic choked on a piece of fruit while Shadow blew his nose again.
"Challenge?! When did that happen?!" Sonic exclaimed once Cammy helped him swallow the fruit. Tails stood and looked tense. "Wait a sec. It was back in Station Square. Tails had the phone for a while. Tails! Why'd you challenge Shadow for?! Are you nuts?!" he exclaimed.
"Bring it on, Shadow! I'll beat you!" Tails shouted and Shadow only smiled darkly at him.
"That's what you think." he murmured as they walked over to a large, open area for the battle. The others followed to watch, worried about what might happen. Shadow stood at one end of the clearing, Tails stood at the other. He wasn't going to use the Cyclone. "Ready?" Shadow asked mockingly.
"Here I come!" Tails yelled and flew up into the air to find an opportunity to attack. Shadow watched him, then burrowed underground with a spinning move similar to Sonic's Triple Spin. "Hey!" Tails circled, searching for the black hedgehog. Suddenly, he popped up and slammed Tails from underneath, throwing the fox to the ground and landing on his feet.
"Nice try, Prower, but flying around like a birdie won't help." Shadow laughed and raced after him. Tails jumped to his feet and rolled away from the charge, whirling around to face Shadow as he came around for another try.
"Then let's see you dodge this!" Tails yelled and went into a spinning frenzy, whipping his tails around as he spun. Shadow hit the brakes too late, was knocked around and then thrown backwards across the grass. He tumbled for a bit, then popped to his feet, breathing hard. Tails continued to spin. "I'm untouchable!" he managed to stammer out through the spinning.
"He's also making me dizzy." Sonic muttered. "Tails, be careful! Shadow's a very tricky hedgehog. I should know. He's pulled a few fast ones on me before."
"Go, Shadow! You can win!" Omochao cheered. Shadow nodded and watched the tornado that was Tails before he smiled and burrowed underground. Sonic gasped after a moment.
"Oh no! Tails, look out!" he cried but Shadow had already tunneled up right beneath Tails, bypassing his tornado attack and punching the little fox hard enough to send him flying through the air. Tails tumbled head over heels across the earth and came to a stop, a heap of orange fur. Shadow stood, waiting for a reaction. Tails lay still for a moment, then struggled to his feet as the black hedgehog granted himself time to sneeze a few times.
"I hade diz code." Shadow muttered, "How in de word am I zuppozzed do breade when my doze iz zduffed?" He blew his nose as the fox picked himself up and wobbled a bit. Sonic looked ready to run to his side, but Rouge held him back.
"Wait a second. This is Tails' fight. If you interfere, you'll ruin the whole reason as to why he challenged Shadow to begin with." she told him, "Haven't you ever wondered why Shadow calls Tails by his last name? Because he won't recognize Tails as an independent person. He sees him as a person you have to take care of and who can't handle things on his own. This fight is for Tails to prove his own worth to him. And to you." Sonic blinked at her in surprise, then growled a little at the match going on, staying back. Cammy didn't like the match at all.
"This isn't a fair fight. Tails is just a little kid! He's no match for Shadow!" she declared. They continued to watch the battle.
"Ugh. I'm not out yet, Shadow!" Tails shouted and held up his fists as if to start boxing the air. Shadow laughed.
"Give it up, Prower! You can't win!" he called back. Tails yelled and charged at him, fist out to punch. He jabbed, but Shadow avoided it and used a Homing Attack on him, slamming Tails in the back. The fox hit the ground and whimpered slightly as Shadow jumped back and waited. Tails twitched slightly, then began picking himself up again, slower than before. "You've got spunk, Prower! That's pretty good! But spunk isn't enough to defeat me!"
"I won't give up! I'll beat you!" Tails growled as he got up. Shadow stepped up to him, studied him closely, then gave him a hard kick. Tails flew back and hit the ground again. Sonic winced with each blow.
"Shadow, that's enough!" he shouted angrily, "Stop the match!" Shadow gave him a cold look.
"Stay out of it, Sonic." he warned and looked back at Tails, who struggled to his feet again. Shadow zipped up and gave him another kick, throwing the little fox aside like a limp doll. Tails lay weakly, bruised black and blue and a little bloody at the mouth. Again he tried to get up, but this time he slipped and went down again, breathing hard and fast as he tried to catch his breath.
The onlookers were all growing more and more worried. Sonic most of all. He stared at Tails anxiously, both hands clenched tightly in fists.
"Get up, Tails. Don't give up. Be okay, Tails. Please be okay, little buddy." he whispered as Tails got to all fours, slipped and went down again, all while Shadow watched him a few feet away.
"Ugh." Tails muttered and tried yet again to get up. Once more, he collapsed and sighed one long sigh of defeat, feeling like a complete failure. He had lost the match, was totally humiliated and, now, Shadow would get his Chaos Emerald. The Tornado 2 woouldn't work without it. He'd be crippled tech-wise. Tails opened his eyes a little to look at Sonic, who stared back in sympathy. Tails looked away. How could he face Sonic now? He failed and so didn't deserve to be with his hero anymore. He just didn't have what it took to be a hero, too.
"I messed up. I lost." he whispered to himself tearfully. Suddenly, a hand was thrust out in front of him. He blinked at it, then turned his head to look up and see who it was. Shadow stood there, still holding his hand out to him, smiling gently.
"Grab on, Tails. You did well, for a kid. Sonic must be really lucky to have someone like you on his side." he told him. Tails blinked in surprise, grabbed onto the hand and was helped up.
"Whah? But... I lost to you. Aren't you going to take my Emerald?" he stammered in bewilderment. Shadow shook his head and rubbed Tails' head a little, ruffling the fur.
"Not today, Tails. You proved you're not just any little kid. You're smart and you're persistent. You've got determination and a lot of guts. You're okay in my book, Tails. You're okay." he told him and grinned again. "Keep training. You'll do Sonic proud one day." he added.
"Hey, you called me by my nickname! You called me Tails instead of Prower!" Tails remarked in astonishment. Shadow laughed and nodded.
"You've earned my respect, Tails. You're a good person. Keep up the good work!" he replied and walked off to get another cold pill. Tails stood, feeling proud of himself as Sonic rushed up to him.
"Tails! Are you okay? You're bleeding and bruised and... hey! What's with the doofy grin?" the blue hedgehog cried. Tails smiled up at him tiredly.
"He respects me." he said happily before fainting in his arms, exhausted. Sonic sighed and shook his head with a grin.
"Tails, what am I gonna do with you?" he asked the sleeping fox and carried him back to camp.
An hour passed, then another, as Shady continued to sleep and the others waited to see what would happen next. Sonic started up a small fire for them to stay warm. Tails was grinning through all his bandages at Shadow, who stared back in confusion between sips of soup.
"I think I've created a fanboy." he muttered under his breath at Cammy, who only snickered and giggled. "It's not funny."
"It is to me. Now finish your soup so you can take your medicine." she told him and held up the bottle of pills. Shady stirred and sat up, stretching and yawning.
"Oh, yeah! That was a great sleep!" he declared and stood up, looking at everyone as he pulled out his Emerald. Everyone looked back, watching him. "Well. It's time for me to go." he murmured.
"Good luck." Sonic said softly. Shady nodded.
"If I do this right, I'll be able to save you all." he told them. He looked to Shadow for a few last words.
"Do what you can, Shadow." Shadow replied softly, looking up at him. Shady smiled at him with tears of joy and quickly rubbed them away.
"I'll try my very best, Father!" he declared and held up the Blue Emerald, "Chaos Memory Erase!" A burst of light shone forth and wiped out the memories of Shady, Angie and the stories he told them in an instant from the minds of Sonic, Tails, Rouge, Omochao, Cammy, Shadow, and even little Deiter. "On to Station Square of the future! Chaos Time Warp! Ten minutes before Sonic's death!" Shady cried and vanished in a blaze of light.
Some time later, the group regained their senses and looked around in confusion. What had just happened?
"What are we all doing out here?" Cammy asked aloud. Sonic scratched his head, then shrugged. "Oh well. We destroyed the robot, somehow. We kept Robotnik from getting the diamond gear and Omochao's okay. It's been a pretty good day." she said with a smile. Shadow sneezed again and blew at his nose, still with the cold.
"Good day for you, maybe! Bud I zdill ave diz code!" he yelled, "Wouge! You owe me big dime!" He pulled out his Emerald and Omochao promptly sat on his shoulder. "I'm oudda ere! And don'd bodder me anymore, Badgrrl! Goodbye! Chaoz Condrol! Aaachoo!" Shadow yelled out before warping away.
"There he goes again." Cammy sighed and smiled. "Well. I'll finish up my research here. Then, when I fly back home, I can spend my time hunting him down for a date!" she laughed and waved to the group, "Bye, guys! I left a jeep here, so I'll just drive into town and find my research party! Catch you later!" Tails and Sonic both grinned at each other and prepared to leave the country. Rouge waited for them to get the Cyclone rearranged into the Tornado 2 and the three of them flew back to Station Square.
Ms. Chao and the Chao children were worried. For the past week, Shadow stayed in bed in the attic, sneezing, coughing and generally being a grouchy hedgehog. The school's supply of tissues were being used up and the dust in the attic wasn't helping him any.
"Chao chao chao chao!" the Chao children exclaimed, Let's make something yummy for Shadow! Then he'll feel better! They set about making a yummy meal. Ms. Chao was in a conference with Nurse Chao and Pro. Chao.
"I'll call the teacher's aide to take care of Shadow!" the principal declared as Ms. Chao clapped a hand to her forehead in exasperation.
"Prof. Chao! Shadow is the teacher's aide!!!" she screamed at him. Nurse Chao flipped through his clipboard of papers.
"Stuffy nose, bit of a fever, sneezes, coughing, yep. It's your classic walking-around-in-the-cold-without-a-jacket cold. I give him another couple of days of rest and medicine and fluids before he can be on his feet and go back to being tied up by the Dark Chao." he declared as the door opened. Cammy walked in with Vanni, her sister, and a small Chao in her arms.
"Hello, Prof. Chao! Ms. Chao, Nurse Chao! It's me, Cammy and my sister, Vanni! Look at what my research party gave me when I left! A baby neutral Chao! I've named it Angie! I'm gonna make him an Angel Chao!" she called out. Vanni didn't look too happy. She was dressed in a business-like dress-suit of gray with matching gray shoes and purse, and her no-nonsense glasses. Cammy, on the other hand, had on a hunter green tube top, forest green shorts with torn ends, dark green sneakers, and a light green scarf tied around her neck. Once again, all green, all showy.
"I can't believe you were trapped in a temple for a week! You never called, you never wrote, then I get this letter from your 'friends' and they tell me you went poof, and you come back yapping about how you saved that tribal terror maniac serial rapist hedgehog from a mad scientist after he saved you from a brainwashing robotic flamethrower!" Vanni chattered angrily, "I mean, Camilla, can't you ever go anywhere and not get involved in crazy killer schemes of global domination?! This is just like that whole zoo thing, only worse, because you had two boy hedgehogs with you and neither of them seemed to be very big on keeping their hands to themselves. I mean, for all you know, they could have teamed against you and oh! I don't even want to imagine what might have happened if you didn't have a woman friend with you! And what would Mother think?!"
"Mother would have a heart attack and croak, then I won't have to listen to her blab at me about my work." Cammy grumbled, "And for the last time, Shadow is not a rapist! He's shy around girls! And Sonic already has a girlfriend, but he runs, too!" She pet her new Chao and turned to the teachers. "Is Shadow doing all right? Can I see him? I brought some medicine with me." she told them. Ms. Chao nodded and Nurse Chao led them both up to the attic. Vanni watched them leave and looked down at Prof. Chao.
"Hello and welcome to the Chao Kindergarten! I'm Professor Chao, the principal of the school. Would you like me to call the teacher's aide to give you a tour? Did you know you look just like Shadow's girlfriend? Do you know her name? She's Cammy and you look just like her!" the absent-minded Chao exclaimed cheerfully. Vanni blinked at him blankly, then whipped out a cell phone.
"That's it. I'm calling Mother and telling her we have to get Cammy into that boarding school program right away!" she declared and punched some numbers in. "Once she is taught to be lady-like, Cammy will surely give up all this nonsense and be just like me, a successful house-woman with a decent job and a longer life-span!" she muttered and listened for the tone.
Nurse Chao sat on the bed while Shadow toyed with the thermometer in his mouth. Cammy set the bottle of cold medicine on the bedside table and smiled at him.
"How's our little patient?" she asked sweetly. Shadow pouted as Nurse Chao told him not to chew on the thermometer.
"Ish nah foony." he grumbled around the instrument. Nurse Chao pulled it out and checked it. "Ick." Shadow squirmed deeper into his mound of blankets and peered out from the darkness of the cave he made, red-brown eyes slightly glowing against the black. "My head hurdz and my doze iz zdill zduffed and Zonic won'd zdop bugging me!" he grumbled, "He dried do ged me do ead a chili dog! A chili dog! I can barey breade and he wandz me do ead a chili dog?! You ave to breade drew your doze do ead doze dingz!" Cammy laughed and opened the bottle, pouring out some medicine onto a spoon.
"Open wide!" she exclaimed and put the spoon into the cave. There was a tug and a slurp and she pulled the spoon out. Shadow swallowed the medicine and gagged.
"Ugh!"
"Oh, don't be such a baby! Get up and eat something." Cammy scolded. Ms. Chao watched the Chao children scramble upstairs with a tray of goodies.
"Shadow! The Chao kids brought you a treat! I think." Ms. Chao remarked as the group ran up to him, each set of Chao bringing their own offering. The Angel Chao gave him a plate of fresh baked cookies and a glass of milk.
"Dankz!" Shadow exclaimed and set them aside, "I'll ead dem when I blow my doz a liddle lader." The Angel Chao cheered and climbed onto the bed for the next set. The neutral Chao held up their offering, a plate with a Tupperware dish on it and half a bottle of sports drink. Shadow blinked at it.
"Chao, chao chao chao." one of the neutral Chao said flatly, Hey, we grabbed the first things we saw. At least we got you something. Shadow accepted the offering and watched them climb onto the bed. Last came the Demon Chao. All of them were smiling their toothy grins.
"This looks bad." Cammy muttered as they held up their offering, a plate of pancakes with syrup and a glass of juice.
"Dankz, guyz. Wow, I didn'd dow we zdill ad pancake mix!" Shadow remarked as he took the tray and watched the Demon Chao climb onto the bed. Ms. Chao blinked confusedly.
"Uh, Shadow? We don't have the stuff to make pancakes. And we ran out of apple juice yesterday." she told him. Shadow stared at the tray of 'food' suspiciously.
"We don'd? Den whad iz diz?" he muttered. The Demon Chao just grinned wider. "Okay. I'll jusd leave diz for lader." he said with a plastered on grin. The Demons snickered as he set it aside. The Chao children jumped up and down happily, then ran off to play. "I dink de Demon Chao are drying do kill me." Shadow grumbled.
"Shadow! Don't be twisted! Eat your cookies and drink your milk." Cammy scolded and held out her new Chao, "Look at what I got in Brazil! I named him Angie!"
"Wunderful. More zarcaztic Chao." Shadow muttered through a mouthful of cookie. Cammy grinned at him and pet her Chao.
"Be good, Shadow. I've gotta get going. Vanni's waiting for me and I have to finish up my report. I'll see you later!" she told him and ran off.
Downstairs, Vanni was tapping her foot impatiently. Cammy met up with her and frowned.
"You called Mother again, didn't you? Whatever you two are planning, forget it. I like me the way I am!" Cammy declared.
"Ooh! How is it that you know when I call her?!" Vanni cried.
"We're twins. I know what you're up to because I know you!"
"It was only a mannerisms program!"
"No way! Mother had her chance with you and Daddy had his with me! You were raised by her, I was raised by him! That was their deal!"
"And look at your life now! No family, a dangerous, reckless job, a horrible sense of taste and style, and days of who-knows-what happening to you! Be like me! Get married, settle down into a nice, quiet job and raise a family!"
"No way! Not until I've figured out the mysteries of the Chaos Emeralds and catch Shadow after a very long chase! We haven't even had our first official date yet!"
"Marry that maniac?! Are you crazy?!"
"You call Mother again, and I'll stuff that cell phone into your dainty little mouth." Vanni puffed her cheeks at Cammy's threat and whirled around, storming out of the school. "And I mean it!" Cammy yelled after her and waited a few minutes before leaving the school herself.
Three days passed and as Sonic and Tails were on their daily visit to Shadow, who was all wrapped up in blankets and scowling at them from the depths of his cocoon, Rouge and Knuckles both dropped by, with Amy joining them a few minutes later.
"The whole gang's here" Sonic exclaimed, "Way past cool! What did you guys bring for our sick hedgehog here?" Rouge smirked at them and held out a red scarf.
"This might help him stay warm on winter days, so he can't blame me for anymore colds." she replied. Shadow's eyes narrowed in the darkness of his blanket shell.
"I'm nod wearing dad." he growled. Sonic took the gift for him, gave him a scolding frown, and put the scarf on the bedside table. Knuckles rolled his eyes and held out a plate of food.
"This is an old echidna recipe. It should help that stuffed nose and get the body warmed up." he stated.
"Iz id pancakez?" Shadow asked warily, still narrowing his eyes.
"No."
"Will id kill me?"
"You're immortal."
"Doezn'd madder. If id'z poizonouz, give id do da Demon Chao."
"Just take the food." Tails griped, taking the plate and holding out a spoonful.
"I'm nod a baby! I can feed myzelf!" Shadow growled at him. He crawled out of the blanket shell and took the tray, setting it on his lap. He started eating as Amy held out a picture.
"I drew this awesome drawing of you and your little Chao friends! And Omochao, too!" she exclaimed brightly as the robot Chao flew over to take a look.
"You made my head too fat." Shadow grumbled and blinked down at the dish, "Hey, this stuff actually works. And it doesn't taste all that bad either. Thanks, uh...."
"Knuckles the Echidna. Just call me Knuckles." the echidna replied flatly, "I can't believe you don't know my name."
"Boo hoo. I was busy with Bio-lizard, buddy." Shadow grumbled as Cammy bounded up the stairs with her Emerald in her arms and a CTU hanging around her neck. It and the chain it hung from were green.
"I got it! I've discovered my individual Chaos power!" she exclaimed excitedly and ran up to Shadow, shoving Sonic out of the way. "I did it, Shadow! I've unlocked one of the mysteries of the Chaos Emeralds!" she told him joyfully.
"That's great." Shadow answered, puzzled, "So, what is it?" Cammy planted a hand on his head and he looked up at it in surprise.
"Check it out! I'll show you! You'll be my first test subject!" she replied with a wink and a smile.
"I just had to open my mouth...." Shadow groaned, "All right. Chaos away."
"Chaos Healing!" Cammy declared and a wave of green energy flowed from her into Shadow from where her hand touched him. Shadow stiffened and looked surprised as the wave washed over him and then disappeared. "Well? What do you think?" Everyone stared at her. "Wasn't it awesome?"
"Uh, what exactly did you do?" Tails asked her.
"I healed Shadow! His cold is gone now!" Cammy declared triumphantly, "Thanks to my new Chaos Healing power!" Shadow sniffed and grabbed a nearby thermometer, sticking it in his mouth. After a few minutes, he checked it.
"Well, my temperature's normal, and I don't feel bad anymore. I guess it did work." he remarked.
"See? I'm the bomb!" Cammy declared and laughed, "So now that you're all better, how's about we get started on that chase now, Shadow? If I can catch you by the end of the day, you have to take me out dancing at the club."
"Do I have to?" Shadow whined. Cammy gave him a tiger's grin.
"You get a five-minute head-start so I suggest you get moving, Shadow." she purred. Shadow jumped out of bed, pulled on his shoes, grabbed his Chaos Emerald, and raced out of the school with Omochao hot on his trail.
"Will you give the guy a break?" Sonic asked the green hedgehog. Cammy stretched and looked at her watch, keeping track of the time.
"No. And I hope he makes this a good chase. I love a man who plays hard to get." she replied and smiled at him. Rouge gave Knuckles a charming smile.
"You know, she might have a good idea going for her. How about we make a deal?" she suggested. Knuckles gave her a blank look. "We'll have a treasure hunting contest. Whoever finds the most treasure gets to decide what happens next."
"Oh great. Cammy, you've created a monster!" Knuckles complained and ran off, "Shadow! Wait up!" Amy looked in Sonic's direction. The blue hedgehog was sipping at a soda.
"Don't even think it." he declared after a sip. Amy puffed her cheeks and snapped her fingers.
"No fair! You never wanna do anything with me!" she complained. Cammy smiled suddenly and began to walk away. "Where are you going, Cammy?" Amy Rose called out to her.
"Five minutes are up. I'm going on the hunt. We'll catch up with you later. Bye!" Cammy replied over her shoulder as she bounded down the stairs.