Sonic, Shadow, etc- none of it belongs to me. They belong to SEGA. Remember that well.
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STORY TITLE: Just A Shadow In the World
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CHAPTER TWO: Pink Polka Dots?
-Jump5 – You Are In My Heart-
Early one spring morning in the urban city of Metropolis, literally meaning urban in itself, a pink head appeared from behind a brick wall. It was early in the morning, with a hazy fog hanging near the city ground, cold winds blowing past her hair, early risers walking through the empty streets. At times like these, with scarce sounds to perk one's ears, everything sounded twice as loud as before, every light, three times brighter than it truly was. What Amy Rose was wondering this cloudless morning was if the water would be warm enough to swim in? After all, spring was almost over and the weather had been unnaturally warm, around the 80s most of the spring!
"It seems warm enough," She stepped out on the porch, pink polka dotted jeans on and a red, sparkling shirt as her wardrobe, "But the weather sure changes too much for my liking. Cursed weather. But perhaps… I'll call Violet and Jack just to make sure!" She rushed back through the contemporary house, through the hall, and into the kitchen where a transparent, pink phone awaited her. The house had three bedrooms, a large kitchen, spacious dining room, full bath, and a small living room. Amy had decorated it with the trendiest designs of large vases springing with fake flowers, light pink walls, rich red carpet, and small roses stamped on the walls.
"Yo, Vi?" She tossed the phone to her left ear, "We still goin' to the beach today?"
"Totally, gal!" Violet responded through her pure British accent, "I wouldn't miss it for the world! I'll call Jack for ya' to make sure. Even if it was raining and thundering, I'd still go! There's so zip to do in this borin' city!"
"Alright-great! I'll pack m'stuff and meet you at your house in twenty minutes, ok?"
"Sure thing, Am's, bye!"
Amy hung up the phone as happy as ever. "Yay! This is going to be so much fun!" She ran into her room to gather up the needed items. "My friends have friends who have friends and that means I'll meet a bunch of new people today! Too bad I don't have as many friends these days." Reminiscing, her girlish face turned downcast. Sonic came to her memory, then Tails and Knuckles. They had been so close, she and Sonic. How she had adored everything about him, even when he was wrong-which never happened. Tails and she had played together so many times and Knuckles had been there as a sort of big brother who scolded her for her wrongs and foolish ideas. But things were different now. She was mature now, she had a life, and she had new, true friends. Sonic was a jerk and she had put him behind her, never to love him again, for that had been a mistake.
"Why does it still hurt when I think about that brat?" She hissed as she shoved sun lotion and other beach items relentlessly into her duffle bag. "Just a worthless, selfish brat. He chose Sally over me so that's just it." Ever since that event, Amy had left Knothole and left her old friends and life behind. She moved to Metropolis for good where she purchased a nice apartment and found a job. With her new life, she found the British cat, Violet, and the jolly squirrel, Jack, who was a major heart-throbber. But, with her new life also came a sense of new responsibility and maturity which couldn't be squalled. What Amy wanted wasn't another silly, school-girl crush on a cutie, but a true man who would love her for her heart. So far, that special someone hadn't come into her life.
-True Vibe – What Do We Wish On Now-
Grabbing her stuff, Amy swung into her pink convertible, blasting music, and drove off down the street. That someone would come she knew, but not fast enough in her opinion, for, although she was young, she wanted love as long as her life would last and every minute that passed shortened that time. A tear slid down her cheek.
Something flashing white suddenly appeared in front of her car! It formulated into a hedgehog! "Get out of the way you stupid loser!" Amy screamed hysterically, desperately trying to dodge the unfortunate pedestrian, "Ah-noo!" To no avail, the car hit the person from the back and knocked him senseless. "Oh my gosh!" She rushed from the car to figure on the ground, motionless. "Sh-Shadow!" Her words failed her miserably at the sight of him-the pitiful, bloody sight of his unconscious body. "Someone help me get this guy to my car so I can take him to the hospital! I just hit this guy!" A polite hedgehog hastened to her aid and the both of them tenderly laid Shadow in the backseat. Looking back at the road, a white object caught her eye. "What's this? A Chaos Emerald!" Amy gasped from the glittering emerald lying on the pavement. She snatched it up, hiding it in the flaps of her large duffle bag, thanked the stranger, and drove away, all the while wondering if this was really Shadow and why was he here?
Amy stole a peak at him… Shadow… He was unconscious. Blood was streaming down the side of his face. She must have hit him very hard, which made her feel even worse. Shadow had personally never done anything against or to hurt her, but she always seemed to manage hurting someone-if not emotionally then physically. But he appeared so pitiful lying there, leaking blood on her velvet seating, staining her expensive car. She didn't care. His life was more important than any 25,000 car and she would do something right for once.
"Yo, Vi? I can't come to the beach today. Some… issues have arisen that are very important. You go though. I might be able to make it later this afternoon if the events that I have do go ok, alright? I'm sorry I can't explain, this is a personal problem." Ya, talk about personal. The track phone rustled in her bag as Amy shoved the bag down beside her. Violet would be so disappointed but Amy couldn't help the situation. This was her fault and she was going to fix it.
She looked back at Shadow again; hoping-wishing-that he would wake up. He'll survive, she told herself, he has to. He's the Ultimate Lift Form. I mean, how lame is that if he dies from this accident? He and Sonic fought together against the Bio Lizard and then they both won against the Metal Overlord. I have faith he'll survive. Her words stunned her. Never had she looked at Shadow as more than Sonic's enemy, thus her enemy. But that was different now: Sonic and she weren't a "thing" anymore, so Shadow wasn't her foe anymore either. What did she see in Shadow now that she had a choice besides that small void she had once lived in, the void where Sonic was everything and there was nothing else worth living for? Oh, Shadow, I could have been your friend. I could have given you the love Maria once gave you if only I could have seen outside my selfish infatuation. Can you forgive me for betraying you? If you survive through this, I promise to take care of you!
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"What are 'ya sayin'?
"He's gone!"
"What? I can't believe this-why'd he go?"
"Perhaps that's not such a mystery as you think, Sonic."
"Knux," Sonic's fist was balled angrily, "How could he have possibly known?"
"Remember: Shadow has the power to use the Chaos Emeralds or… perhaps…"
"What? What?" Sonic bolted from the ground at Knuckles. He grabbed the Echidna around the throat harshly.
"Whoa! Get your hands off of me!"
"Sorry."
Knuckles rubbed his throbbing neck, "All I was going to say is that perhaps there's more to Shadow than what we know he can do. He might have had the ability to talk to the Master Emerald like I do and it could have told him what our plans were."
"Y'know how stupid that sounds?"
"Ya, ya, but Amy left for the same reason I think Shadow left."
"Don't mention her to me… You know I still miss her. Besides, Shadow left because he knew we were going to split him open and rip some chip from his head. Amy left because I became engaged to Sally and she couldn't stand it."
"Of course you do, but I don't understand why you're so upset about this. I don't agree with what you were plannin' to do-dumpin' him an all."
"Aww, Sal, I know what I wanted to do was totally wrong, and I woulda' missed him too."
"Would that have made you still leave him behind?"
Sonic pulled Sally into his lap. They snuggled for a moment, then Sonic sighed into her hair, "Yes, it would have."
"But that's so wrong, sweetie. I can't respect your decision with this. I'm glad Shadow found out and left. It's better for you, better for us… but what about him? He had worked so hard at being accepted, why couldn't you just help him?"
"Helpin' people is a hard thing to do. It's just not my thing to help 'em in that way. Sure, I save the world, but that's not a one-on-one personal thing-ya' know?"
"No, I don't." Sally left his lap slowly and stood over beside Knuckles, who was currently polishing his brass set of picks, the silver, gold, and steel ones already shining like the sun. "It's hard to tell ya', Sonic, but you need to mature when it comes to personal issues. You can't run from them like you run from so many other things. Shadow needed-needs-us and you let him down."
"Hey, I didn't mean to…"
"We need to go find him now before he starts causing trouble. I'm going to call Bunnie and Antoine, k?"
"Cool." The blue hedgehog nodded.
"Knuckles? Can you go find Tails, Cream, and Big? We're going to need them to find Shadow and that last Chaos Emerald." Sally stopped with her cell phone in hand, obviously in deep thought. If she were Shadow, where would she go? What would she do? Nothing made much sense when it came to Shadow, he was such a complex creature, so confused, almost like a little child at times. If I found out that I was going to be forced into a deep sleep against my will to remove a chip that could destroy who I was and then be left all alone, what would I do? Heh, I'm not Shadow, and trying to think like him is so confusing, I just can't do it... All I know is that I would confront the situation by force… Shadow obviously didn't think he could do that.
"Sally? Two pennies for your thoughts?"
"No, I have to call Bunnie."
"How about a pound?"
"Don't think so." The cell phone popped open.
"A sack of gold?"
"Sonic, why don't you go find Rouge for me? I forgot to mention her. We'll need her tracking abilities to find that last Chaos Emerald. I have a feeling that wherever that jewel is, that's where Shadow is.
"Awww, sheesh, must I?"
"Now, now, my super-duper cute hog," She approached with the soothing voice of a harp, rubbing his chin softly, leaning very close to his face, "Will you do this for me? I would appreciate it, baby."
"Do I get a kiss?" Sonic leaned closer, "I really need one to make my day."
"Why not? Just not too many before the wedding." They exchanged a passionate kiss for a minute then Sonic jumped up, refreshed, and whizzed off in the dust. Sally smirked, dialed a number, and cradled the phone under her chin. "Yo, Bunnie?
"Ah! Sal! How are ya'? Bunnie exclaimed in her southern accent, "What's up?"
"We need you right way. Shadow found out that Sonic was planning to capture him and remove that backup programming chip. He ran away with one of the Chaos Emeralds and we can't find him! We need you to help us with our search. Meet us in Knothole in ten minutes, ok?"
"Right thing, sugah! Bunnie out." The phone went dead. Sally pocketed the small phone and ran off towards Knothole anxiously. She couldn't deny the empty void in her life without Shadow. He was more than a friend to her. She couldn't deny the brotherly closeness she had felt around him. They all did everything together from darts to saving the world and now he was gone. What was she going to do if she never heard the silky deepness of his soothing voice or couldn't hug him anymore? He had come so far since they first invited him into their circle. At first, his withdrawn nature had sent shivers up her spine but he slowly revealed his heart to Sally, as well as the rest of the Freedom Fighters, and they had won over his trust and confidence. Was all this just to happen to lose him all over again? She increased her speed as the hot tears sprinkled across her face. They would find him and they would do it before time ran out.
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Metal Arnus navigated perfectly through the jammed streets of Casinopolis with ease. It was 3PM and the traffic was backed up in the city of gamblers; people were constantly honking, screaming, beating each other up, but he didn't care. His objective was to find Shadow the Hedgehog and he would finish his mission no matter what. Eggman had ordered him to bring that troublesome creature back alive, but the doctor didn't say unhurt, did he?
Arnus counted the energy-seeking missiles stacked neatly on his arms, smirked, then checked his energy gage. Full power, ten energy-seeking missiles, as well as a whole range of other abilities: yes, Eggman had created him a far superior to that weak Metal Sonic and it was justified that he had done away with the pathetic machine. Only the strong deserved to survive.
"Dr. I am exiting Casinopolis. I will enter Metropolis within the next hour. Arnus out." His legs changed from feet to huge rocket boosters that blasted full speed from jet fuel. Arms extending and warping into huge metallic wings, the metal hedgehog took off to the skies well over 400 miles per hour. "I will find Shadow and take him back. He will not escape!"
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Amy Rose felt her legs were about to give out underneath her. Her nerves kept jumping. She was bored, anxious, feeling guilty, and hungry. Not to mention she had been sitting in the hospital lobby for over an hour waiting for any news of Shadow. The doctors had rushed him into one of the back rooms to stitch him up and whatever else needed to be done. Of course, she would be the responsible one to pay for his treatment, but it wasn't that she hadn't made up her mind not to pay-she wouldn't have it any other way. She owed Shadow anything he wanted. How her heart pounded thinking about him lying on some bed in pain.
"Miss Rose?" A doctor appeared from within the unknown double doors that only the staff is allowed to pass through. He was a tall, thin man with spiky yellow hair and blue eyes.
"Yes? I'm here. What's the progress?" She soothed her shirt to keep her nerves at a containable level.
"He's doing fine. We had to stitch the side of his head but that's about it aside from the blood he lost. He'll survive. In fact, he's conscious at the moment. Would you like to go see him?"
"If I may." Amy gulped.
"Should we mail the bill to you or give it to you right now?"
"I prefer having it with me now, thank you." She spoke calmly as the paper receipt was passed down to her. The doctor opened the door to her and followed by her side.
"I'm actually surprised at his fast recovery. Most patients aren't doing as well after being knocked by a fast-driving car and only needing stitches! I thought he surely would have had a concussion at the least. This is very strange."
Not for the Ultimate Lifeform. "Well, it's a good thing he only needed stitches. Shadow and I actually know each other. He wasn't just some stranger that happened to be standing in the road." She left out the facts of the light.
"Really? That's good. That means he probably won't sue you or anything of that sort. Here we are. I'll wait outside the door while you go in. You are allowed to visit him two times a day and not past five."
"Thank you." Amy slid her fingers across the door in nervous contemplation. She desperately hoped Shadow wouldn't be vexed with her as she inhaled and slowly pushed the heavy white door open. A sink sat at the right side of the spacey room on a high counter with a computer against the wall on the same counter. A scale stood directly opposite of the counter to the right of the room, some magazines on a vertical rack, and a few pieces of equipment. Amy soaked in the whole room before she finally dared to meet the sight of Shadow propped up against the bed. His arms were folded. He was staring at her rather blankly.
-Toby Mac – Gone-
"Oh, aha, Shadow. Hi." She quickly closed the door, "Um, the doc said I could come see you and all that." He made no response, no shift in character, so Amy scampered to the side of the bed, almost afraid, "How are you feeling?" Still he said nothing. "Well, aha, it looks like you're not in that much pain. I'm allowed to visit you two times a day but I doubt you'll be staying here long. I mean since you're the Ultimate Lifeform and such, you'll heal really fast, right? I'm sorry for hitting you with my car-I hadn't seen you.
Perhaps I should go in to see if I need glasses. Shadow, aren't you going to say anything?" No luck. His expression was serious, not one of malicious hate or anger, just blankness. Suddenly Amy remembered something, "Ah! I forgot. I found this in the street. It must be yours but I don't know if I should give it back to you. I think it's wisest that I keep it for now." She pulled out the sparkling, white Chaos Emerald.
Shadow's expression changed from the previous blandness to that of intense interest. "Give it to me." He calmly stated with an outstretched hand, "You have no right with it."
"Um, no," Amy quivered, "You're not well and besides, I'm going to have you live with me for a while. It's the least I can do for hitting you so stupidly this morning."
"I don't want to live with you. Give me the emerald. You owe that to me, that's all."
"No! You're not having it!" She shoved it back into her duffle bag, "And you are going to live with me for at least a week! You can meet my friends and go hang out with us and stuff. Besides, what were you doing in the middle of the street? I coulda' swore you weren't there before!"
Shadow's arms folded harder. Now he was starting to become annoyed with this preppy pink hedgehog. Amy was her name? He remembered her from the fight against the Metal Overlord, but not much had he even seen of her then. The things he knew were from gossip, words from other people, people he no longer trusted. "I demand you give the emerald to me, Amy."
"I'll-I'll be back in a few hours to see if I can take you home with me. I'll be paying for your bill, so don't worry. Everything's covered." She ran for the door, but he called to her angrily. Just seeing him and hearing him call her by name had shocked her so badly that Amy knew she had to get away and go somewhere quiet.
"Pathetic creature! If you don't give me that emerald, I will take it from you!"
Turning defiantly, fear gone, Amy seethed, "Ya! Just try! I have my own life, my own job, and my own friends! I am no way defenseless! I know how to use pistols as well as my hammer so I'm not exactly stupid!" And she slammed the door, leaving Shadow with his own boiling rage.
Without the Chaos Emerald, I can't use Chaos Control. That little brat. She will regret ever standing in my way. As soon as I get out of here, she will pay for keeping what's rightfully mine away from me.
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The one and only Dr. Eggman Robotnik paced his office, occasionally pounding his fist into anything bendable, to take his rage out on. Shadow had disappeared into the city of Metropolis and Metal Arnus was taking longer than he had expected. Violent plans of how to disassemble the worthless hunk of metal were starting to form.
Turning, he glared at the large chamber on a pedestal of steel and iron. The chamber was six feet tall and four feet around, built of unbreakable plastics and aluminum, and immune to bullets, lasers, or any other kind of weapon that would try to destroy it. Eggman had carefully plotted its perfect design to hold Shadow for his evil plans. He would take over the world with the aid of Shadow, whether the hedgehog wanted it or not! But now, with Arnus taking forever to report back, Eggman felt his brilliant plans at steak!
"Where IS he?" The Doctor slammed his fist onto a steel table, "I told him to report back within an hour! When I get my hands on-"
"Arnus to Eggman."
"Eggman here. You better have a worthwhile report for me, you piece of trash."
"I have located the prey. It is within the vicinity of Old Downtown Metropolis. I will track it down. What will you have me to do?"
"Be careful, Arnus, you're too valuable to lose," Eggman's voice switched tones, "Shadow is very powerful when he has a Chaos Emerald. Remove any emerald he might have in his possession and then you may use any means you deem necessary to capture him-as long as you do NOT severely hurt him! Do NOT damage him!"
With a discontented pause, Arnus replied, "As you wish, Master. I will report back within two hours. Arnus out."
The com went silent and Eggman chuckled. "With this new scheme of mine to conquer the world, I cannot fail!" His fist was balled above his head, "Shadow will be mine to command as I please and he will destroy anyone and anything that gets in my way! This is perfect-not even Sonic can stop me this time!" He threw his head back with pure evilness, "Mwu ha, ha, ha, HA, ha, ha, HA, ha, ha!"