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 THREE: New Life, Old Memories

"Ya got her, sweetie?"

"Yeah, I got her." Sonic strutted into the room with a creamy-white, albino bat closely behind. She had a new look, Sally thought, interested in what the strange lines on Rouge's shoes were.

"Whadda' ya need me for?" Rouge spun casually in the room, "Sonic wouldn't tell me. You know, Sally, I'll do it, but only for jewels." Same old Rouge, same old ambitions, same old personality. No one could mistake Rouge for someone else; she had her own classy air and singular way of presenting herself. The bat had certainly been busy, her new look spoke so. Rouge's one pink, then purple clothes, were now a faded blue and black. Black lines streaked the sides of the skin-tight clothing, sort of resembling a jumper suit, accept Rouge's new wardrobe was also equipped with an awesome pair of new boots. Knee high, they had rocket skates on the bottom, similar to Shadow's for extra speed as well as suction cups.

"We need you to track down the last Chaos Emerald. We know it's located somewhere in Metropolis."

"That's it? Well, this should be a fun alternative to the boring work I've had-hanging around the Chaotix and all. They call themselves professionals but they're just a bunch of slobs."

"As you say," Sally tossed a walkie-talkie to the bat, "I can pay you in jewels. What would a princess be without her own mountains of gems?"

"Gotcha' girl," Rouge hovered a few feet from the ground and winked mischievously, "But I need to know if there's anything else to this mission."

"Well, perhaps you should look out for anyone else who might be on the trail. I don't have the particulars, but I do know the somethin's up-I can feel it."

"Alright. I'll get right on it and don't worry; I'm the world's greatest treasure hunter! You can count on me!"

"Thanks Rouge. We're bringing in the rest of the gang to help us out. I know you'll find it, but we're gonna' be coming in soon anyways. There's more going on here than a lost gem. I sense something very nasty will happen in the next few days."

"If you say so, but it doesn't concern me-just my jewels." One last wink and Rouge was just a dot in the sky heading towards the skyscrapers of the urban city.

"Where are they?" Sally's hands were placed firmly on her hips which meant she was becoming upset. "Nothing can be done till they're here!" Her eyes were narrowed.

"Don't be angry, Sal, Antoine and I are here now, all's well!" Bunnie punched the door open enthusiastically with Antoine behind her, "And we brought Knuckles, Tails, Cream, and Big!"

"Wonderful! Now we can finally go to Metropolis! But first, close the door, we've found some other disturbing things that I haven't told anyone else."

"I saw that bat girl leaving as we came in," Knuckles threw himself snobbishly on a nearby sofa, "What's she doing here?"

"I hired her to find the last Chaos Emerald. No complaints this time, Knux." She whipped out a remote before he could say anything and turned on the TV, sliding a tape in, and clicked the play button. "This is a new tracking machine Tails recently built for us. The map on the screen you see is a portion of Metropolis and the red dot is a figure we can't define. The other dot, the blue one, is a living creature that the machine is tracking. We have no idea who these two are but our first mission is to keep them from each other. As the dots move, the map retracts to show more of the city and if they're closer, it zooms in on a smaller portion. There's a lot we have to do-I feel that Eggman's behind this-so we better start here. Let's get going! Let's go find these things! Knuckles, you take Tails, Antoine, and Bunnie and I will take Sonic, Big, and Cream. We'll split up. Grab a pair of walkie-talkies off the counter and let's move! You guys find the machine and we'll find the creature!"

"Ok!" Knuckles snatched three walkie-talkies, tossing two to his team members, then ran from the building. Sally and her team were close behind and all six headed for the city in Tail's Tornado II.

-

"Dr., I have tracked the creature to a residence in downtown Metropolis. It appears to be hurt."

What do you mean?" Eggman hissed impatiently, "Shadow: hurt? Impossible!"

"He is hurt and is lying in a room all by itself. What will you have me to do?"

"Is there any other life forms in the building?"

"Yes: this is an apartment complex."

"Do not strike, Wait until he's by himself then attack!"

"Yes, Master, as you wish. Arnus out." Arnus closed his eyes to regenerate. So, Shadow was hurt and living with another life form? This was very interesting. By reading all the files on the creature, Arnus would have supposed that the hedgehog would have chosen to be a rogue, to live by himself. Interesting. He'd have to see what the circumstances of this were.

-

"Shadow? I brought you some food. Are ya' hungry?" Amy slid the glass tray across the small desk near the bed. "Are you even awake?" She whispered, hovering above the bed silently. Shadow appeared so helpless, so vulnerable, sleeping so soundly. His mouth was formed into a small open slit, the expression being one of san agony, and he was completely motionless. "Oh no! Is he dead?" Amy snatched up his left arm for a pulse, touching the line of stitches on the left side of his head.

"What?" Shadow whipped up from the covers, sending Amy screaming. "Amy. What were you doing?" His collective calm completely recovered, Shadow's arms were once again folded and he was frowning deeply at her presence in the room.

"Oh, I brought you some food." She stumbled to stand up, "And you were sleeping so… so… motionless that I went to feel for a pulse. Sorta' silly, no?" She chuckled nervously, "Are you hungry? Your food is still nice and hot."

Shadow eyed the tray without turning his head then nodded slowly. "Thank you, Amy." He picked the tray up and positioned it across his legs. Amy stood back watching the perfect manners as the food slowly disappeared. Shadow used his silverware with perfection, never drooled, never talked with his mouth full. He took small sips of his juice between bites and always brought the food to his mouth, not his mouth to the food.

Wow, she thought in awe, He's like perfect! I wonder what he was dreaming just a few minutes ago? He's so good at hiding his feelings; I can't help but envy him. I wish he liked me more… I think I'm suffering from a major crush which I don't need. I can handle this.

"I'm finished."

"Ah, of course," Amy hurried to assist him, "How's your head? Are you hurting or anything?"

"No."

"Good, that's good! Sorry if I seem sorta' weird-I'm a little scared at times." She hastened from the room, but was back within minutes, this time with a glass of water and two pills. "The doctor said you need to take two pills a day for two days."

"I don't need pills." Shadow folded his arms again, glaring, "I will recover fine without them."

"Perhaps so, but this is what the doc said and you need to respect other people's orders besides your own."

Offended, Shadow slid out of the bed, "I did respect other people at one time." His hand slid over hers for a second as he took the pills and the glass, never letting his eyes leave hers, "But that was before I forgot who I was. You understand that I still have trouble remembering things."

"Why are you telling me these things?"
"Because you might be able to help me remember some things about myself."
"That would depend on what you remember. First you'd have to tell me what you know about yourself."

"Alright." Shadow swallowed the pills and the water, placed the glass softly on a dresser nearby, and walked to the window to look at the traffic flowing beneath. "I remember who I am: Shadow the Hedgehog, the Ultimate Life form. I remember being created on the space colony ARK by Professor Gerald Robotnik. And… I remember Maria." He skipped over that fact. It was none of Amy's business to know the closeness he had felt with the child, none of her concern. "But I don't know why I was created. What was my purpose? I fulfilled my promise to Maria. She told me to make the people happy, to give them a new chance to fulfill their dreams. By saving the earth from the ARK, I did that. And now… I have no purpose."

"Everyone always has purpose. Perhaps that was one of the things Maria wished of you, but there's always more. She said to make the people happy, to give them a new chance. You can always do that by helping them."

"You make it sound so simple. I've had a lot of dreams the past week and none of them make sense."

"Is there anything else you remember about yourself?" She asked, dodging such private things as dreams.

"Yes. I remember… Sonic and Tails and Knuckles… and you, of course. Then there were others: Cream, Big, Espio, Charmy, and Vector. And the Metal Overlord. We defeated that monster as well."

"It sounds as though you do know everything about yourself."

"If I do, then why do I feel this gap in my memory? There is something that I'm missing.

"I'm sorry, but I truly cannot help you."

"Hmm. Of course, I don't know why I even told you any of that." His eyes shifted across the streets and roads, pausing on slightly interesting people or sights, but always changing, never staying in one place for longer than a few seconds. Amy wished Shadow wasn't so quiet at that moment, it made her nervous.

"Shadow?"

"Yes?" He looked at her with a void sadness.

"If… if you don't want to stay with me any longer, I can give you your Chaos Emerald and you can go."

"I could have gotten it whenever I wanted," He replied slowly, "But something told me that I needed to stay with you, that you could give me the something-the something-which I lack. That memory that I can't remember. Do you have any idea what that might be?"

"No."

"We'll just have to find out then, won't we?"

-

"What do you suppose Eggman is up to THIS time?" Tails swerved through the mashed streets of the city, "I mean, doesn't he get it about now? He'll never take over the world!"

"Heh! Eggman lives in a demented, fantasy world of his own!" Sonic shoved another chilidog through the hole in his face, then another and another, managing two at times in one bite, "We can handle him, right Knux, ol' pal?"

"Sure, no worries Tails, we got it covered." Knuckles scratched his head confidently, legs propped up to the side of the vehicle.

"We won't fail!" Sally piped in, leaning over the passenger seat, "But no time for talk! This is where we split up!"

"Yes, Auntie Sally!" Tails slammed on the breaks. The Tornado came to an abrupt halt in an empty warehouse parking lot. The two teams instantly broke into three's, heading left and right till neither could be seen. Strangely, though neither team knew it, both were heading in the same directions!

-

The sun was fading through the luminous clouds, thinned, forming hazy streaks through the dusky sky, glowing with hot orange and pink-sometimes purple-always changing hues and positions in the darkening sky. Shadow stood on Amy's back porch. Perhaps he should go and redeem the Chaos Emerald, then hit the road. Did he truly belong here? Parts of his heart told him that it was dangerous to be here and that he could only to good if he left; but another part told him to stay and see what the week would bring. Anything could happen, it whispered, why be so afraid?

He stepped off the porch and skated down to the beach. The water felt cool and welcoming to his hot fingers-something truly wonderful, like the soft touch that Maria had once held him with. His eyes closed against the ripples. Her voice consumed him, the memories playing like a movie in his mind.

-

"Maria, what is it like down on earth?" Shadow had asked one afternoon, though no one could tell day from night in space.

The weak blond had been sitting on the cold floor, Shadow in her arms, her hands tenderly rubbing his arms. "I don't know. Grandpa said it was a wonderful place. He told me about how the people down there see the sun and he said it wasn't how we see it. They see it through the day, which is the blue sky. It warms the streets that the people walk on and the oceans that the people swim in. Grandpa also told me that the moon is like a giant marble hanging in the sky at the night. They see stars, but not nearly as many as we see. I would trade all the stars in the sky to live down there."

"As would I. The professor told me that the reason you're usually weak and sick is because humans need the sun to live off of. He said that the light strengthens your bodies. I wish you could go down there. I know it would heal you."

"I know it would too, but I wouldn't ever go anywhere you were not."

"Maria… don't you wish that you could go down there? What's the one thing you would want to do or see if you could ever go down there?"

There had been a long pause where the two had simply stared out at the watery planet in thought. Maria had stroked his spikes lovingly, held him close to her, given him all the hugs and precious love that all the humans combined could ever have given each other. Everyday they spent together playing games, creating games, just being bored. Sometimes they had made impressive spiraling towers of metal and steel.

"I guess… If I could go down there, I would want to see you happy with someone who loved you and would always be there for you."

"But you love me."

"Yes, but as a sister. I've always wished for you to find happiness with someone of your own that you could love and raise a family with."

"Maria, why didn't you ever tell me this?"

"I guess I thought it didn't matter since I don't ever think I'll go down there. I have no doubt that you will someday though. It hurts to think that I won't be with you."

"What do you mean?" Shadow had shifted his position so his arms where wrapped around her neck, "Why won't you be with me?"
"Oh, Shadow, for such a perfect creature, you have overlooked the logical. I'm a human, I won't live forever. You, on the other hand, will. You were created to be immortal. You will never die of old age." She had cried those words out, tears running down her cheeks, as Shadow had wiped them away.

"Don't cry, don't cry, Maria. If you can't be with me, I won't go. I'll kill myself."

"No! Don't ever kill yourself! I know you're better than that." With a quivering voice, she had said, "Shadow. Remember: I will always be with you. If you feel I am gone, find me. I could never forget you. Always-always know that I love you and when I'm not around anymore, I'll be protecting you from the clouds."

-

-Michelle Tumes – With the Angels-

"Maria…" Shadow slipped his legs, shoeless, into the water. He felt as though his tears could fill the ocean. That memory was a new memory, one he had never remembered now until now. How precious she had been to him-one in all the time of earth and now never to come again!

"Always know that I love you and when I'm not around anymore, I'll be protecting you from the clouds."

"Maria!" Shadow yelled towards the fading clouds, "You said you would always be here with me! What good does that do me if I can't see or hear you? What is my life without you? What did you mean when you told me that you hoped I would find someone to love me? I had someone to love me! Now it's gone… All gone..." His knees sunk into the water. "All gone…"

"Shadow…" A soft voice whispered behind him.

Embarrassed, Shadow stood up, turning to face the person who dared interrupt his depression. Amy Rose stood, trembling, crying heavily, unable to speak. "Amy, why are you here?" Shadow's own voice was still choked from the crying, "Can't I have some time to myself?"

"I'm sorry. Walking along the beach is a habit of mine for months now. I didn't know you were out here. I'm sorry, I'll leave."

"Wait-don't go!" He grabbed her arm desperately. "Stay with me. I need someone to keep my thoughts away from me."

"Are you sure? You won't hurt me?"

"I won't hurt you. I promise. I wouldn't ever hurt you, Maria wouldn't have wanted it."

So they both started down the beach at a slow pace. Shadow had recovered his shoes. Amy was too frightened at the display she had just witnessed to speak and Shadow did nothing to discourage the silence.

By now, the sun was just a tint of blue left behind the mountains. All the hundreds of stars twinkled above, as if they were guarding a most priceless treasure. They reminded Shadow of Maria and all her innocence, love, and purity. She had never wanted anything of herself, just him all the time they spent together. Her heart had been only to please him and give him what he desired. Why hadn't he been able to save her? Why did she have to be selfish that one time in her life and leave him? She could have been selfish at another time. He still couldn't believe, after all this time, that she had saved him and sacrificed herself.

"Uh?" Something soft and warm was holding his hand. He eyed Amy and she smiled back, so he allowed her hand to stay in his.

"Shadow, I want you to know that I'm here always if you need to tell me anything." She stated carefully, "If you ever think you have to just get something out of your system, please come see me. I will understand."

"I don't see how. Besides, you're just a girl."

"No I'm not!" She defended her position, "I am not just a girl. When I left Sonic and came into the city, I took college classes that were far above my level, but I passed. I found new skills and things I didn't even know I could do and I worked to better myself! Now I have a well-paying job, my own apartment, car, and bank account. I am responsible and reasonable. That girl you knew before is so much more now."

"I see. But don't tell me that all of your previous self is gone. That would ruin who you are."

"No… it's all still there, I've just added lots to it."

"That's good." They were silent again. "Amy? Maria told me in the memory I had that she wished for me to find love with someone."

"She did?"

"Yes. And… We've only spent a few days together, but something in me has been… warming up to you, you could say. You're not as annoying as you had been before."

"Annoying! Why you!" Amy grabbed a mound of soggy sand and chucked it at him, "I'll show YOU who's annoying!" another soggy clump hit him in the head.

"Oh, ya?" Shadow started throwing clods back, which sent Amy almost into a hysterical rage, "You can't win!" He mocked.

"Just you watch! Ah!" Another clump smacked her right in the head, "That's not fair!"

"There aren't rules to this game!"

"Yes there are because I made it!"

"Elaborate!" Shadow playfully sprung at her.

"Eeeek!" She screamed upon contact. Rolling a few times, they both hit the water, soaking Amy's clothes through. "Shadow, what's gotten into you? I just can't understand you! One minute you're angry and mourning over someone and the next you're laughing and playing! And… get off of me…"

"No. You're nice and warm. I think I'll stay here."

"But the water is cold!" She wined."

"Be responsible. If you want to get out of this fix, just make me get off."

"Fine!" With a shove, she slung Shadow off her person and popped up out of the water. "You are the weirdest hedgehog ever."

"I thought I was a creature."

"Not hardly. Don't take to heart when people call you that. You look like a hedgehog to me. You're a guy obviously, or one really ugly girl."

He chuckled a little, "Maria and I used to play like that all the time. There are things about me that I don't even know about. It's sort of sudden: it just comes and takes over and I find out that I'm not just a shallow, hollow hole."

"Of course you're not! Let's go back to the house!"

Wringing out her hair, Amy started a slow jog back to her porch with Shadow easily keeping up at her slow pace. Water was dripping off of her in a steady, long stream from the beach to the apartment and she was already chattering from the cold winds that had started whipping around the city. "C-can you go fetch me a towel, Shadow? I don't want to get the carpet wet."

"Sure," Shadow headed into the house. His shoes were dry and his fur was as well. All he had had to do was shake himself off and he was dry in a minute. Amy on the other hand wasn't so lucky. Her clothes kept her cold and wet and girls weren't allowed to walk around the city nude. It just wasn't decent.

Shadow ran down the hall energetically. When he was with Amy, something strange washed over him and it was as if all his cares vanished. No one girl had affected him in that way. Maria had always given him a safe haven of rest and hope, but Amy was giving him a new kind of love that Maria hadn't been able to. It scared him and thrilled him at the same time for he was starting to feel the same way towards the pink hedgehog.

He flipped the light on, but nothing happened. The lights must be out, he reasoned logically, opening the cabinet, pulling out a pink towel.

"Ultimate Lifeform." A robotic voice echoed from the darkness.

"Who's there?" Shadow responded, "Identify yourself. You're trespassing on private property."

"I am Arnus."

"Not you again. Doesn't Eggman ever give up?"

"I will take you back to the doctor-this time you will not escape!" With a flash, Shadow found a net surrounding him.

"You won't beat me that easily!' He shredded the net and lunged at the robot. "Who do you think you are?"

"You cannot use Chaos Control now!" Arnus kicked Shadow off and sprayed the black hedgehog with sleeping gas.

"You-you monster!" Shadow grabbed the left arm of the robot, ripping it off, then threw the machine out of the window. "I have to get the Chaos Emerald!" He ran for Amy's room, but the spray was taking a heavy affect on him. "C-Chaos." He felt for the emerald but couldn't sense it anywhere in the room.

"Looking for this?" Arnus appeared in the door holding the gem sassily. In his other hand struggled Amy.

"So… you grew your arm back…" Shadow's vision was slurring. He looked at Amy helplessly. "Don't worry, Amy, I'll protect you." But his world faded completely.