To Musical Angelic Hedgehog: ^_^;; Don't worry... Omochao will not be making an appearance in this fanfic. Thanks for reviewing!
Please enjoy this next chapter!
While Rouge continued on her mad dash through the deep jungle, Shadow, oblivious to the world, lay sleeping in a place, forgotten and untouched by the evils of the outside...
As the sun began to rise anew, it also woke the inhabitants of the tiny clearing.
And as they stretched, ready to meet another day, their eyes were met with a very strange sight, one they had never seen before...
...a black hedgehog?
Curious, not knowing any better, not knowing about the concept of "danger" at all, they crept closer.
Shadow gradually found himself awakening, too... to the sounds of small chirps.
As he opened his eyes, he saw a group of creatures that he'd never seen before.
Small, blue beings, with almost pudding-like bodies. Seven of them, all looking back at him with the same intensity. Yellow spheres floating about their heads, which in itself was a strange feature...
Seeing that their new "playmate" was awake, they began to call out...
"Chao! Chao! Chao!..."
Shadow blinked, surprised that such a small creature could create such a ruckus... albeit, a cute ruckus...
One of them waddled towards Shadow, ready to play a game to start their day.
"Chao chao...?"
"...hi," Shadow said, not quite sure what to say...
"Chao..." The Chao, for that's what the being was, blinked innocently, waiting for the black creature before it to move.
"Chao, chao, chao," the Chao behind the leader chorused.
However, Shadow didn't move, still rather bewildered by the tiny Chao in front of him. Quickly losing patience with him, the Chao began to wander off through the Chao Garden.
One strolled up to a tall tree, almost like a palm tree, with some sort of nuts growing on it. The Chao's stomach complained loudly, and the Chao stared up at the food...
The tree suddenly shook and a ripe Chao Nut fell, nearly striking the surprised Chao. "Chao...?"
"I'm sorry... are you okay?" The Chao looked up to see Shadow, who had his hands still touching the tree trunk. "You're not hurt, are you?"
"Chaao!" The Chao waved one of its small arms in a gesture of thanks. Happily, it grabbed the nearby Chao Nut and began chowing down.
Hearing the satisfied voice of their comrade, the six other Chao began to waddle towards Shadow.
Smiling in spite of himself, Shadow proceeded to obtain more Chao Nuts for his new friends.
~*~
At about eleven o'clock a.m., Prof. Kagaku was beginning to lose hope.
The trek through the jungle was not easy for a man his age... but then again, life in the Mystic Ruins had probably made it easier for him to endure the long walk.
Now, the group had stopped to rest for a moment. But escape was not possible. The professor's hands were bound behind his back, and guards were posted around the camp.
Even though his mind was working away, trying to find a way to flee, he still picked up snatches of conversation...
"...can't believe... let it get away..."
"...what?..."
"...hedgehog... she's... important part... whole project..."
"...why don't... interrogate... old man?"
"...don't know if he'll tell the truth... better to have... evidence... firsthand..."
"What are you plotting?!" Prof. Kagaku burst out, furious.
"This doesn't concern you, old man," one retorted.
Prof. Kagaku slumped back against a tree, knowing that an old man could never fight back against G.U.N.'s forces...
...but he could outwit them.
But as he thought, desperately hoping for the means to escape, his chances suddenly lowered...
G.U.N. wasn't stupid.
They knew better than to leave a fresh trail through the forest...
...just in case.
And this made Rouge's attempt to find them much more difficult.
Several G.U.N. officers went back, covering tracks, making sure that there weren't any visible pieces of evidence to suggest their presence.
And they were good at it.
~*~
Both breakfast and lunch were over.
Not that it mattered. When you're a Chao, you eat when you're hungry, sleep when you're tired, and swim, run, fly, climb whenever you feel like it.
The sun shone down warmly on the seven Chao and one hedgehog. Shadow sought the comfort of the cool shade, for his dark fur became nearly unbearable in the hot afternoon.
As the air warmed, all eight creatures felt the day grow more and more comfortable and lazy...
Shadow yawned, leaning against the cool slab of stone. Closing his eyes, he began to doze off...
...then promptly was awakened. Looking to his right, he noticed a Chao huddled up next to him in the shade.
A strange feeling overcame Shadow... a feeling of absolute power, but at the same time...
...a yearning to protect those weaker than him...
...a feeling he'd long since forgotten.
Something that he vaguely remembered...
...from his days with Maria...
Closing his eyes again, Shadow returned to his afternoon nap...
...not noticing the other Chao begin to crowd around him, seeking his protection.
...not noticing the mist that began to move in from the outside...
...or the smiling figure of an Echidna girl, who was to greet him when he awoke...
A/N: This chapter is a little short, but I wanted to cut it off so that the next chapter can be totally focused. I'm going to start working on it now, so I might even be able to post it by today! Check back soon.
~Ryuko