Chapter 9

In Passing/Tragedy

Shadow looked down at the planet. He smirked, imagining the fretting faces on the humans.

"Pathetic…all of them…" Shadow turned his head slightly to see the brunette standing near a window as she looked at the Earth. Mona's face seemed to be filled with regret.

"Why would they want to take over this planet?" She asked herself. Shadow continued his look but turned back to his original position. "It's just pointless!"

"Pointless? How can it be pointless?" Shadow mused. "You're asking too many questions…"

Mona stood up straight and turned trying to find the origin of the voice as Shadow cursed inwardly about thinking out loud.

"Who are you anyway?" She asked mentally before turning back to the window.

(They're going to be speaking telepathic for a while)

"See?" Shadow smirked. Mona blinked.

"That smirk…it seems familiar…"

"I guess you're having fun now. How did I do?" Shadow asked mentally.

Mona grunted bitterly. "Pitifully. Eggman almost had me at the end of his ray gun."

"Oops. My bad. Do you know who I am now?"

"A really big jerk who wants to see me get killed." She snarled mentally.

"Not quite. I cannot believe you don't know."

"KNOW WHAT!?" Mona clenched the rail near the window as she tried to hold her anger. "YOU ALMOST GETTING ME BLOWN UP!?"

"She's pissed off." Shadow thought to himself. "Kid must've had a rough time at home."

"Sorry…it's how fate is. You'll understand…" He started before Mona jutted in fiercely.

"UNDERSTAND WHAT! JUST GO AWAY!" She yelled. She was mad…

"But…" Shadow turned to see her trying to endure the pain.

"JUST GO! I HATE YOU!"

The word "hate" stabbed through him. Shadow turned back to the window. He knew he wanted revenge, but something wasn't going right. Why did he feel… concerned?

"I'm sorry…but I remain unforgiven due to your judgment…but you'll know why you were brought here…just try to remember." He sighed and turned back to the window before recalling a less painful version between him and Maria.

Mona glared at the planet now as she tried to think that the voice would never come back. She knew but the name was lost in the blink of an eye.

"$!!!" Mona cursed out loud after hitting her hand against the railing. A jolt of pain went through her arm and she grabbed her wrist. "Why won't you just leave me alone?! Haven't I suffered enough? Great! I'll just drown myself in self-pity while I'm at it!" She thought as Rouge showed up adjacent to her. Shadow slightly looked before turning his attention away.

(End tellepathy)

"Easy! You want to break your whole arm?" Rouge asked.

"Hi Rouge…" Mona responded with a sigh. The bat noticed her grim look.

"What's wrong?" Rouge asked.

"Nothing…" She sighed and looked in Shadow's direction, noticing how he wasn't fazed by her shout of angst. "I…there's…just…nothing…" She muttered before walking into a different area showing she wanted to be alone. Rouge sighed before spotting Shadow with a downcast look.

"Great…we've got two melancholy people. Better see what's wrong with Shadow." She thought before walking near him.

"Why so melancholy?" Rouge asked causing Shadow to turn towards her. "That was so unexpected, so unlike you Shadow, to come and rescue us. But your ability to use Chaos Control certainly comes in handy!" Shadow turned his attention towards the window and huffed.

"You know, I didn't just come to save you. I came back for the Chaos Emeralds." Shadow announced.

Yeah right…I know what went through your head as you tried to make up your mind. He heard Mona think.

"Smart aleck…" Shadow thought towards her.

Shut up!

Shadow kept himself firm but started cursing mentally. "Great…I'm allowing myself to get told off by a kid!"

"Yeah, yeah, but that isn't the whole story is it?" Rouge asked. Shadow almost smirked at the treasue hunter's remark.

"Bat-girl…you don't know the half of it!" Shadow thought before the trio heard the sound of the slide door opening before Eggman walked in.

"Well let's go! It's show time!" Eggman announced as Rouge and Shadow turned around. Mona just stayed in her place as she looked out the window, ignoring him.

"Are you sure? We only have six of the seven Chaos Emeralds you know!" Rouge started.

"That's more than enough for the demonstration." Shadow smirked as he walked towards the sliding door. "Now, let's get this show on the road." He noticed Rouge walk over to Mona.

"Aren't you going to watch?" She asked. Mona shook her head.

"I already know what's going to happen…" She responded.

"You sure?" Rouge asked.

"Yes…" Mona nodded as Rouge walked ahead of Shadow who continued his gaze before shaking it off and walking after Eggman.

C'mon kid…you helped do this. Get over it. He thought.

Rouge stopped before looking at Mona. "I'll be fine…" Rouge sighed at her new friend's response before walking out of the room.

"I suppose you were at the wrong place and at the wrong time kid…" Rouge mused.

Mona walked over to the window and looked at the planet.

"Why do we always have to find things through destruction?" She asked herself.

----

Shadow: And this…is Imperfection's retry at angst.

I could replace you with another muse…

Shadow: You wouldn't…

HEY SONIC!

Sonic: Yeah?

Shadow: NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! NOT HIM!! YOU CAN'T!!

Can you please get me a soda?

Sonic: No problem!

Shadow: (faints from false-panic)

Dude…I just needed a soda. Ease up…