Chapter 5: Memory

"Big brother! Look at this!" The young Amy poke the hermit crab's shell, and it came out. Then, John, who is young now, came over. "What is that?"

"It's a hermit crab, remember?"

"No." John shook his head.

"Because you were playing with Mirror, while I was going with Terry."

"You called?" A blue echidna sat on the rock. "Geez, Mirror. Stop sneaking behind us." John said. Mirror jumped off the rock. "What? I always find you hanging around you're little sister."

John wrestled him. "No, it's not that."

Mirror toppled him. "Oh? And why are you blushing?"

John blushed. "Now you're blushing." Mirror laughed.

"No. I'm just mad. Amy and I have to stay with you and your sister's house, while my parents are in some military training." Mirror let go of him. Terry called out. "Mirror, John, Amy, time for lunch."

"Race you, guys," John said.

"You're on," Mirror stand in line.

"I'm up," Amy stand besides John.

"Ready." John got down on his knees.

"Set." Mirror was in set stance.

"Go!" The three ran when Amy said go.

"Is that mom?" Shad asked.

"Yes, that's her." Shadow said with a sniff.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's follow her." Thunder got up, but the three grabbed him back.

"Don't Thunder. If you do, something will happen to the future." Shikuya said.

"Let's just find another way to follow." Shadow skated to the other direction.

They look very familiar to me. Shadow thought.

---

"Shadow, time for dinner." Maria called out. Shadow skated to the kitchen with his friend, Rob O' the hedgehog. "I beat you, blue boy." Shadow said.

"In your dreams." Rob jumped on the chair.

"How is everything going?" Maria asked.

"Fine." Shadow said.

"My mother is gonna pick me up tomorrow." Rob said, sadly. "I'm gonna miss you, guys. You were all wonderful to me."

"Don't worry. Shadow and I will visit you someday if he doesn't mind." Maria said. Shadow was eating so fast on his sandwich that he turned blue and got water. "Don't eat too fast, brother. You'll choke." Shadow blushed. "Hey, Shadow. May you visit me someday?" Rob asked. Shadow nodded. "Sure." Rob held out his fist. "Promise?" Shadow held out his fist and punched Rob's fist lightly. "Promise."

---

Shadow was daydreaming about his old friend. "Dad, wake up!" Shad said. Shikuya shook him up from his daydreaming.

"Hmm? Wha…?" Shadow finally woke up.

"Are you daydreaming again?" Shikuya said.

Shadow shook his head. "No."

"Yes, you are."

"You sound like my wife."

Shikuya smiled. "She said that to me to surprise you."

Shadow blushed. "Hey, guys. Come over here." Thunder waved. The three looked out and trampled over Thunder. Why me? Thunder thought. "Come on." Shad grabbed Thunder. "Look at that. It's huge." Shikuya said. They were in front of a base that says "N.O.A.H." "What does that say?" Shadow asked.

"I have no idea." Shad said.

"Somebody's coming." Thunder looked behind. The three ran over him to the bush. "Come on. Don't just lay there." Shad grabbed him. Why don't you stop running over me? Thunder thought. Military cars were coming. The Shadow and Shikuya looked outside. Shadow saw the girl, John, and Amy on one of the cars, but the blue echidna was nowhere. Shikuya asked, "Shadow. What's that?" Shadow looked at the large metal container. Mirror must be in there. He thought since he was nowhere on those vehicles.

"That girl was crying, daddy." Shad said. Shadow looked at the girl. It reminded him somehow.

---

"Grandpa. Please don't." Maria asked. Rob pushed her grandfather and the other scientist away from Shadow. "Leave Shadow alone!" The two of the scientists grabbed Rob by the arms. "Professor, tell them to let go of Rob!" Shadow demanded. General grabbed Shadow to the room.

"Grandpa! You promised!" Maria was crying. The professor looked behind.

"Robotnik, this is why your other experiments failed. You pushed them too hard." Rob said. "They respect you and give their best, but did you give them respect?"

General Robotnik let go of Shadow's arm. He skated to Maria, and she stopped crying. General was crying.