(On to Chapter 3. I don't own Sonic. I just own the Nega-5, and Toya/Ambient.)

CHAPTER 3

At the hospital, Rouge was in a hospital bed, wrapped in bandages on her arms, legs and back, and an IV needle pumping fresh blood into her veins. Sonic, Tails and Shadow had gotten her there just in time.

Outside of the room, Shadow was relaying to Sonic and Tails of what happened before he arrived. "So after we went outside to check on Omega, we were ambushed by 5 femme fatales from GUN. Obviously they were sent to recapture me, but the worst part was, they attacked Rouge, just because she was defending me, and even tried to kill her."

"Damn… That's REALLY cold blooded." Sonic said.

Shadow nodded. "They obviously want to terminate any acquaintances I have so I'd be easier to catch, which means, they'd probably come after anyone who would even come to my aid. So Sonic, Tails, it'd be wise NOT to help me. You'd only be putting yourselves in unnecessary danger. I'll have to take care of these bitches myself and get my revenge on GUN for killing Maria, before they decide to hurt anyone else."

Sonic didn't like the tone of Shadow's voice. It sounded somber, despondent, and dark, like he had a death wish. 'Damn that GUN…. That's fine that they locked up Eggman, but do they still have to continue going after Shadow? Can't they just let him live his life in peace?'

"I couldn't protect Maria when I wanted to… But GUN's to blame for her death, I know that. All because of some stupid suspicion did they try to destroy ARK, and drove Professor Gerald to insanity, it's their fault! They either try to control or destroy whatever they don't understand, but I'm not going to let them do this anymore! They have controlled me and ruined my life for long enough!" Shadow's fists trembled angrily.

Sonic stood up. "Shadow… I may not know what you're going through, but it sounds to me like all you want to do is throw your life away. Do you think Maria would want that?"

Shadow just sighed. "I don't know anymore. My life?" Shadow shook his head. "Sonic… I don't know if I have a life. All I know is that I'm just… I'm just a lonely hedgehog." Chaos emerald in hand, he vanished from the inside of the Hospital, relocating to the rooftop. "Why can't those fools understand? Why must they continue to hunt me down and take away what I hold dear! I'm no one's property! I'm a living creature too!" Shadow could feel tears stinging in his eyes. 'Screw it, I don't care anymore if someone sees this.' For the first time in years, Shadow the Hedgehog, the Ultimate Life Form, cried.

"Shadow…" Sonic's heart went out to Shadow at that moment. He wanted to help, but he didn't know how.

Suddenly the doors flew open and in charged a very anxious, and distraught, Knuckles the Echidna. "Where is she! Is she ok!"

"Knuckles!" Sonic said, taken aback. "Are you talking about Rouge?"

"I heard she was in an accident and I got over as quickly as I could!" The Red Echidna's eyes showed a pleading for some good news.

"Knuckles…" Sonic began. "Rouge was hurt badly out there, and lost some blood, but the Doctors managed to fix her up and give her a blood transfusion. She'll live, but it'll be a while before she wakes up…"

Knuckles gave a sigh of relief. "Well, just so long as she's not dying."

AHEM

Team Sonic all turned towards the outside of Rouge's room, to see a doctor standing there. "You're all Rouge that Bat's friends am I correct?" The yellow duck enquired.

"How is she, Dr. Quack?" Tails asked.

"Well, the blood transfusion is almost complete, and she should be fine. The only serious injury was on her back and that should heal quickly with the medicine we administered. She seems to have regained some consciousness, but it's likely she's fallen back asleep now, as she will need some rest. If you want to visit her, I suggest you do it now."

"Let me go in first." Knuckles said simply, and he half walked, half ran into the room.

Sonic and Tails shot each other a confused look.

Knuckles turned his gaze toward the bed. There, lay Rouge lightly bandaged around the arms, legs and forehead, but obviously heavily bandaged along her back. Knuckles stepped forward, and gazed at the bat girl. "She's even beautiful when she's asleep…" He said as he watched Rouge's form. "Rouge… I came here as quickly as I could when I heard what happened. Please get better soon. I like having you around, believe it or not. You may be a sneaky jewel thief, but you're my sneaky jewel thief." He stroked the side of Rouge's face. Mustering up his courage he bent down and kissed Rouge on the cheek. "I love you…." He turned back to the door and walked out of the room.

Unbeknownst to him, Rouge wasn't fully asleep as he thought. Rouge's eyes opened slowly. "Knuckles… He loves me?" Rouge's heartbeat accelerated and she felt herself blush.

Hovering above the skies of Station Square, Fury was leering down at the people below. "Shadow… I know you're out there. You've just signed your death warrant, opposing GUN. If you really WERE the Ultimate Life Form, you'd have no need for emotions… Pining for that weak human girl…" She snarled. "You're pathetic." She vanished from sight.

Elsewhere in Station Square…

Sonic and Tails were enjoying chili dogs a few blocks away from the hospital. Knuckles had decided to stick around at the hospital in case Rouge made any improvement. Sonic's mind, however, was on other things besides chilidogs, like what happened after they left the hospital.

FLASHBACK

"Hi guys!"

Sonic froze at the voice. 'Ah man! Amy! Of all the times to show up, why now!' Sonic turned around nervously. "H-h-hey Amy…" His eyes bugged out of his head.

Amy Rose, who had grown up over the years, had ditched her usual red sun dress for something more attractive and sexy. She was wearing a pair of cut off shorts that accentuated her round derriere, and a small t-shirt that bared her midriff and hugged tightly around her perky C-cup breasts. Her quills had also grown over the years and were know as long as Sonic's, but still in her usual hair style.

'Damnit!' Sonic cursed in his mind. 'Why did she have to dress so sexy?' "Amy! You look beautiful today…" He felt his face heat up as he spoke to her. 'Geez… I'm getting all nervous here…'

Amy blushed and smiled cutely. "Aw thank you Sonic!" She gave Sonic a big hug.

Sonic felt EXTREMELY hot as he felt Amy's breasts press up against him. 'Woah! I don't remember them being THAT big.'

Tails couldn't help but snicker at Sonic's "nervous as hell" look. 'He REALLY needs to loosen up.'

Amy looked at her watch. "Whoops, I gotta go." Amy released Sonic. "See you guys later!" She ran off, but not before blowing Sonic a kiss.

Sonic mega blushed and just stared at Amy's retreating form.

END FLASHBACK

Sonic let out a huge sigh. "Aw man. I really cut a pitiful figure up there. Must've been a -5 on the manliness scale…" He groaned.

Tails laughed. "Sonic, women aren't anything to be afraid, especially not Amy."

Sonic shook his head. "You know I don't hate her. It's just that no girl has ever shown me that much love and attention before. Sometimes she can come on a little too strong. Now I've gotten worse. Did you see how attractive she looked? I was a nervous wreck around her."

"Sonic, she won't bite you. She obviously thinks you're good enough, and she doesn't like you just because you're a hero. She likes you for who you are."

Sonic sighed. 'If that's so… Why do I still get nervous, being around her?' He thought.

While Sonic and Tails were talking, however, someone in the shadows was watching them intently.

"So… That's the famous Sonic the Hedgehog, and Miles "Tails" Prower…" Sorrow the Bat ran a manicured, purple furred hand through her midnight blue hair. Her onyx eyes watched the famed duo with interest. Her eyes cast down onto a miniature, dual screen Computer, which had the stats of Sonic on the bottom screen and the stats of Tails on the bottom screen. She gazed at Sonic's side to read the notes and stats. "Mach 1 and beyond, speed eh? Amazing… He can do some shield manipulation too, hm? What's this! Sonic can use Chaos Control just like Shadow? Interesting… I thought that we, the Nega-5, and Shadow could use this ability. But apparently Sonic has that power too… Chaos Control, super mach speed, special chaos emerald transformations, shield manipulation… Sonic is quite an interesting individual…" She smiled. "His little friend doesn't appear to be a slouch either, boasting some flight and attack abilities with those twin tails, and he can use them for speed to keep up with Sonic as well… He even has an IQ to rival Eggman's, and can transform using emerald energies too… What a pair…" She tapped some buttons on the computer. "Wonder what the info on the third is, despite the fact he's not present…" Both screens of Sonic and Tails disappeared, with the bottom screen now boasting Knuckles' stats. "Well, that's the speed and the flight of Team Sonic, but now to check on the muscle… "Hm… He has some of the basic speed attacks too, and emerald transformations…but he also has gliding, digging and climbing abilities. He's also strong, with those sharp knuckles… Guess with his fighting techniques, that makes him the perfect strongman for Team Sonic…" Sorrow closed her computer up. I'd best show this info to Fury…but first…" Wrapping her hand around her own personal chaos emerald, she vanished.

After eating lunch and paying, Sonic and Tails were about to leave when…

"Hold it you two!" A female voice yelled, before Sonic and Tails were grabbed from behind and taken away into thin air.

Next thing Sonic knew, he and Tails were thrown into the ground on the outskirts of the Mystic Ruins. "OW! What the hell happened!"

"I happened!"

Before Sonic's eyes, a sexy purple/blue bat materialized in front of him. By the look in her eyes, she was itching for a fight. "Who do you think you are!"

"I'm Sorrow…" The bat said with an air of arrogance. "And when this fight begins, Sonic the Hedgehog, you and Tails Prower shall wish you never met me!"

Sonic leapt up. "Hey! I've got nothing against you, and I don't even know you! Why do I have to fight you?"

"Don't ask questions!" Sorrow lunged at Sonic, her long claws extended from her fingers…

TO BE CONTINUED

(Sonic and Tails have their first battle with one of the Nega-5… What kind of techniques does Sorrow the Bat have though?)