CHAPTER 1

THE GRAVEYARD

Shadow sat near a small stream staring at the water as it flowed south in a continuos path. The weather was warm and a nice cool breeze blew his black and red spiky quills. The sun was out and not a cloud could be seen.

A perfect summer day.

To everyone except Shadow.

The dark hedgehog paid little attention to the warm weather and freshness of the day. All he could think about was the nightmares he kept on having every night. And every day his dreams seemed more and more real.

He looked at the sky. He could almost see the winged creature flying down at him...

Someone put their hand on his shoulder and he jumped a mile.

"Hey, it's just me," said a familiar female voice.

Shadow turned. Rouge the bat was standing over him looking confused.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said with a shrug. "Just thought I'd come down here and see if you wanted some company.

He let out a long sigh. "Whatever," he muttered.

The bat sat on the grass next to him.

"There's something bothering you isn't there," she said not too casualy.

"No," he said a little too quickly. "Why do you ask?"

"Because you've been acting jumpy the last few days and that isn't like you," she replied.

"I've just been thinking about something," he said quietly.

She put her hand on his shoulder again. He looked at her. "That's not it is it?" she asked. "Something is bothering you."

"It's nothing," he lied.

"Yes, it is," Rouge pride. "What's the matter?"

Shadow looked away. Rouge would never understand. "It's none of your business," he growled, shaking her hand off. "Why can't you bother someone else and leave me alone?"

Rouge looked at him startled. He never acted like this. "Okay, okay," she said backing off. "I didn't mean to offend you."

"Why can't you stop poking your nose in my business?" he snapped standing. "You pry way too often. One of these days that's going to get you in big trouble."

"Shadow, I..." she began.

Shadow put up a hand. "I don't want to hear it."

He turned and walked away, leaving the bat sitting on the grass staring after him in confusion.

Shadow walked a little ways into the forest and sat down leaning against a tree. Why does Rouge have to be so nosy? he thought folding his arms and resting his head on his knees. She should stop poking her nose into my life!

That's not like you, a small voice in his head seemed to say. Rouge was only asking you that because she's worried.

He sighed. He knew that voice was right. Why was I a jerk to her anyway? She didn't do anything. Maybe I should apologize to her.

He stood up but instead of heading back to the place where he had left her he headed to the cemetery. He was going to visit a special person's grave.

On his way to the cemetery he stopped to pick some white flowers. When he had enough he stood and walked into the graveyard. After a minute he reached a small white tombstone with flowers carved on either side of a name carved in fluid handwritting Maria Robotnick. He stopped and stared at it for a moment.

Memories filled his head and his eyes filled with tears that he held back.

"Maria," he said, falling to his knees and resting his head on the stone. "I wish you hadn't died."

The flowers fell from his hand and landed in front of the stone in a cross shape. He stared at them a moment then lost it. He started to cry.

Suddenly he sensed someone coming from behind him and he froze.

He heard the sound of leaves rustling in the soft summer breeze and the trickle of water in a nearby stream. He didn't hear any sounds that didn't belong where they were. Still he felt like someone's eyes were boring into his back and he felt cold.

Slowly he stood and turned around. He saw no one. Was I just imagining it? he thought. No, I wasn't. Something is out there and it's after me.

He heard footsteps and ducked behind Maria's tombstone. A moment later he saw Sonic and Amy walk by. Amy's face was sad and she held flowers in her right hand. Sonic had his hand on her shoulder and he too looked sad for some reason.

What are they doing here? Shadow thought watching them.

From his hiding place the dark hedgehog watched as the two other hedgehogs leaned over a grave. Amy dropped the flowers into a little vase then stood. The two walked away.

When they were gone Shadow returned to his position in front of Maria's grave. "I'm sorry about what I had done," he said remembering his past. "I hope you'll forgive me."

"Talking to that tombstone again, faker?" a voice asked startling him.

Shadow looked over his shoulder. Sonic was standing a few feet away leaning on a headstone and staring at him.

"What?" he demanded, hoping the blue hedgehog wouldn't notice he had been crying.

"You heard me," Sonic said not moving from his casual position. "You talk to that stone too much. Get a life."

"I do have a life," Shadow growled, getting to his feet and facing the blue hedgehog.

"Sure you do," Sonic said. "all you want is revenge because your dear old friend Maria got killed. Maria was related to Dr. Eggman so she was probably just as bad as he was."

Now Shadow was angry. "How dare you say that about Maria!" he shouted rushing headlong at Sonic. "I'm gonna teach you to call Maria evil!"

Sonic jumped out of the way and Shadow hurt his fist on a tombstone. Fighting the urge to cry out he turned on the other hedgehog. He ran at Sonic and swung his fists. Sonic just kept on jumping back.

Suddenly Sonic turned and ran.

"Get back here!" Shadow shouted.

"No way!" Sonic called back.

Shadow took off after him.

Shadow chased Sonic through the graveyard and into the woods. Sonic always stayed a few feet ahead but Shadow never lost sight of him. Shadow added speed to his shoes and caught up with the blue hedgehog. He grabbed Sonic's left arm forcing him to come to a stop.

"Let me go!" Sonic shouted, struggling to free his arm.

Shadow tightened his grip on the hedgehog's arm until Sonic let out a yelp. The black hedgehog then twisted it behind the blue hedgehog's back and shoved it into his spine.

"Never call Maria evil, you hear!" Shadow growled angrily in Sonic's ear. "You hear me? Never!"

Sonic elbowed Shadow in the stomach and he fell back, the wind knocked out of him. Sonic turned and tried to punch Shadow in the face. Shadow's hand shot up grabbing the blue hedgehog's fist.

"You're going to regret what you said," Shadow hissed.

He grabbed Sonic by the throat and began to choke him. Sonic, in reaction, did the exact same thing. They struggled for a moment then began to roll down a hill at high speeds.

When they hit the bottom they crashed into a stone and Shadow was flung three feet away. He quickly regained his balance and charged Sonic who was just getting up.

Shadow raised his fist and socked Sonic in the face. Sonic fell back holding his eye. Sonic removed his fingers and saw blood on them. "That's it! No more Mr. Nice Guy!" the blue hedgehog roared. "You're dead!"

He charged Shadow and punched his left eye. With a groan Shadow kicked Sonic in the shin. Sonic yowled and grabbed his leg. Shadow tried to kick Sonic in the face but the blue hedgehog grabbed his ankle and threw it around.

Shadow spun in the air in a complete circle then landed flat on his stomach on the ground. The dark hedgehog tried to get up but felt a weight on his back.

"Let's see you try to get out of this one," Sonic said in his ear.

"Get off me! NOW!" Shadow ordered trying to hoist Sonic off.

"No way," Sonic said twisting the dark hedgehogs arm behind his back. "I'm not going to let you go so you can beat me up somemore."

Shadow struggled but that just caused Sonic to tighten his grip. I've have enough of this! he thought. "Chaos Control!" he shouted.

He vanished then appeared behind Sonic.

"Play time is over," he growled. "Take this!"

He kicked Sonic so hard he flew across the clearing and into a tree. Sonic crumbled to the ground. Shadow walked up to him ready to finish him off when he stopped and stared at something above Sonic's head.

Sonic looked up curious about what the other hedgehog was looking at. It was a building, a big gray spiral building.

As Shadow stared at it his head began to fill with flashbacks of his nightmares. That was the building from his dreams!

"NO! NO!" he shouted moving back. "It can't be true!"

"Huh?" Sonic said watching the disturbed hedgehog.

Suddenly Shadow bolted and dashed off into the trees like he was being chased by something.

Sonic watched him go then looked back up at the gray building. I wonder why that place freaked him out so much, he thought. I wonder what he ment by 'it can't be true'?

Author note: Dear reader, I hope you people don't mind Shadow acting like that I always thought nightmares change peoples personalities a bit especialy continuos ones. So, what do you think of it so far? Well I'd better start chapter 2 now.