Chapter 6

Back to the Remedy

Disclaimer: I hate disclaimers, I don't own any of the Sonic characters! I own that...uh...Faye person. Yep, because I'm cool like that.

I'm. Absolutely. Freezing. And I seriously need reviews guys, come onnn...please? Fine, be mean. I never liked you anyway, you jerks. I'm gonna go find a corner now.

---

"That sounded like-..." The frustrated hedgehog didn't allow the gator to finish his sentence, it sounded like Dr. Eggman. Who else was it going to be? His freaking mother.

"That IS Dr. Robotnick." Vector looked at Shadow and nodded his head, like Shadow needed some kind of support in the fact that he was right. Amy smiled at Shadow's frustration and shook her own head. Poor thing, she knew the ARK was the last place that black hedgehog wanted to be.

"Well, well, well...it seems the five of you have fallen perfectly into my little trap." Shadow's right eye twitched as he suppressed the urge to scream. What little trap was he even talking about? He took deep breaths, so as to not go insane with anger. This place had infuriated him, ever since he stopped that black comet from destroying the Earth. He didn't want to be there, he didn't want to remember Maria, Gerald, any of them. He wanted to forget it all. How could he forget it if he was standing in the very location he had spoken with them?

"What trap, Egg-head?" Sonic was annoyed to a degree, not angry by any means. Just annoyed with the fact that Eggman might have outsmarted them this time. He was getting really sick of playing the hero, but it looked like he was going to have to do it again. This triggered a laugh from the egotistical doctor.

"You, see, boys...you have the only chaos emeralds I need. Mecha has done a fine job of getting me the rest of them, you have the three I need." Tails blinked, so they had been wrong. Eggman hadn't lost control of Mecha this time. He knew this was just as important as he made it out to be.

"Hn, so why'd you have to bring us to the ARK, Doctor?" They didn't know where to direct their questions, so they were just looking up, or around, as the spoke. Another laugh via the doctor ensued this comment from Shadow.

"Because I know you like it so much up here, Shadow." The red-eyed hedgehog snarled furiously after this, "Not to mention, I can use the Eclipse cannon to blow the Earth to pieces."

Shadow let out a grunt, "How original..." A mocking gesture, indeed. He had every right to it though, the Eclipse cannon? How damned cliche!

Sonic paused as he thought, but Eggman wanted to...take over the world. This couldn't have possibly been Eggman? Or could it have been? "Then I can make each of you watch each other die slowly and painfully! I'll make sure to make it as gory as possible." The so-called Eggman's cackle filled the center room of the ARK.

Shadow gritted his teeth, he just closed his eyes, as he attempted to contain his own rage, "Sadistic."

"It is, isn't it?" A click and the voice was gone, the sizzling sound the intercom had previously been making silenced. Shadow looked at everyone else in the large room. Amy sunk to her knees and stared down at the clear floor, leading straight out into the open expanse of space itself.

Sonic met his eyes once he looked at him, "...now what?" Shadow shook his head, he didn't have any answers. Yes, he had been told by Black Doom how he had been created. He remembered Maria, the biolizard, Gerald Robotnick. But, did they really think he could recall the complex little details of this huge space colony. Not a chance.

Amy shook her head furiously, "We can't die! We have to find away out of here! Can't you warp us, Shadow...just use chaos control?" Shadow looked at her then looked back at the emerald around his neck. They could do that, he wasn't sure leaving now was the best of plans. But, as he remembered, this was one of the emeralds and you needed all seven to access the full power of the Eclipse Cannon. He concentrated for a second, then stared blankly at the emerald. It had absolutely no energy.

"It's...not working." Sonic shook his head and turned away, looking around the large room. Staring in bewilderment at all the doors that could lead to any different place on the colony.

"Yeah, if Eggman managed to get us up here, I'm sure he found a way to disable Shadow from using chaos control to leave that easily." Shadow sighed and just nodded his head, he looked over to Amy who was shivering. Why had they brought her? That was the stupidest thing he thought he had ever allowed to happen. For now, the threat of each of them being slowly killed fell on deaf ears.

"Don't worry, Amy! We'll be fine!" Tails put his hand on Amy's shoulder, she looked at him and gave him a smile through a few tears. He nodded to her, trying to comfort her, but a small furry fox didn't give off the most protective of vibes.

Rouge sighed and clenched her fists, she seriously regretted leaving that planet without Knuckles now. She had never wanted to see anybody as bad as she wanted to see him right now. Trying to keep her composure so she didn't wind up like Amy, she took a few deep breaths and looked to the two supposed heroes on the ARK, "Well, guys...it looks like you're gonna have to figure something out fast." They both nodded.

Vector put his hand to his forehead, "Aw...man, I bet that's where Espio disappeared off to." He caught Sonic's attention with that, the blue hedgehog's head whipped in his direction now. He quirked an eyebrow.

"Espio disappeared, Vector?" The gator nodded, the threat wasn't exactly on deaf ears now, just hard of hearing ears. Shadow made a face and shrugged.

"Yeah!" Charmy drooped his head as Vector responded. He shook his head regretfully.

"So I've been stuck here with only Vector...I think I'm going insane." Vector gritted his teeth at the small bee. Shadow shot Sonic a concerned glance, he seemed pretty caught up in his own thoughts about the situation though.

"Then I guess we'll just have to be a little more cautious than usual." Shadow looked back at the rest of the little clan. Shadow snapped at Vector a moment later when he tried to speak again. He grabbed his snout after he didn't heed his warnings about shutting up. "Vector...please, I'm not in the mood for your voice!" He released it, and flung Vector's head back. Sonic chuckled slightly at that.

"Someone's testyy..." Charmy sang and buzzed around, for someone who was on the brink of insanity, he sure was cheerful. Shadow snarled at him too. Amy slowly began to get a grip on what was going on. She couldn't just fall apart, she promised Shadow she wouldn't get in the way and she was determined to keep that promise. She slowly got to her feet and gulped.

"Maybe we oughta split up." She received 'you're-an-idiot' looks from three of the six people in the room, and Tails just didn't give her one because he was too nice. She sighed and looked at them all, "Think about it! If we walk around here in a little huddle, we'll never figure anything out! And we're not going to get anywhere by just standing here yelling at each other either. We won't go alone, we'll go in pairs."

Shadow inhaled slowly and looked into her green eyes after a moment, then nodded his head, "Amy, I think you might actually have a point...the sooner we get off the ARK, the better." She smiled and nodded her head, she wasn't in the way!

Vector decided to speak up, despite being warned on two occasions not to, "But, who's going to go with who? Me and Charmy'll go together! We've stuck together through being up here! So why change things now?" Rouge smiled and nodded her head, she didn't think it was necessary for the black hedgehog to be so mean to him.

"Agreed, and no one else wants to deal with either of you." Shadow managed to keep that low through gritted teeth. He looked up, Amy had Sonic by the hand. She was staring steadily at him, wanting to meet his eyes. This was her only chance to be alone with him. She knew it was wrong to be thinking like this when their lives could be in danger, but she couldn't help it. She loved him, she really did.

Sonic shot Shadow a quick glance, one kind of in search of sympathy. Shadow just smiled at him and shook his head, "Go with her, Faker." Sonic gave him a sulking expression and he laughed. Amy smiled and he returned a slightly weaker smile right back at her.

"Uh...?" He looked at Tails and Rouge, "Guess that leaves...us?" Rouge nodded, unfortunately there were ten doors leading out into different directions. There were only three groups of them, so, they were going to be at a serious loss regardless.

The three newly formed groups set off through the farthest doors from one another as possible, in hopes of figuring something out. Rouge kept her eyes on Shadow for a long time, he glanced over to her and gave her a 'what-do-you-want' look. She just looked back at the ground. Tails dragged his feet behind them, lucky Amy. That would mean two guys in this group that thought that.

After no longer than five minutes of feeling completely idiotic as he was being followed by Rouge and Tails, Tails piped up, "...hey, guys...just hold on...I thought I..." He was already halfway down another hallway before he finished.

"Tails, wait!" Shadow watched Rouge call after him, but he didn't really care one way or the other. She glanced over at him, and then just sighed. Tails obviously knew what he was doing. Not to mention, this was Shadow. She told Sonic she had been afraid to ask him anything like she asked Sonic just two days earlier. "Hey, Shadow?" He glanced over at her. "You like him, don't you?"

Shadow just quirked an eyebrow, "Are you implying I like Tails?" Rouge laughed slightly, they both knew he didn't think that's what she was asking. But, Rouge should have known the Ultimate Life Form would throw that out there.

"Not him, Sonic, you dumbass!" Shadow gave her a half smirk and looked off down the hall Tails had run. He still didn't answer her question, well, he basically actually did answer her question. As if that wasn't a good enough response. "You do?" She questioned this as if he had said yes aloud.

Shadow nodded his head slightly, then looked at her. "I like girls...it's so weird. I never in a thousand years thought I'd like a guy. It's weird...and really scary." Rouge raised an eyebrow at him.

"I think it's hot." He gave her a look.

"You would."

Rouge laughed and then eyed him for another minute, he wasn't looking at her anymore. He looked like he was thinking about something. It may have been Sonic, Maria, or he may have been questioning why the floor was blue? Hell if she knew. "Sh-..."

He cut her off, "I don't think I'm gay...because...other than Sonic, the idea of that is the grossest thing that has ever entered my mind." She smiled sweetly at him, Shadow was honestly really cute. Especially when he was thinking, she always had a slight crush on him, not one that would just break her heart to know he didn't like her that way, but still, like you would fall in love with one of the heroes you see on TV, that you know truly don't exist.

She giggled slightly, "You're funny..." His glance jerked up towards her.

"Rouge, did you just...giggle?" Shadow was officially disturbed, he liked a guy and Rouge giggled, yep, the world was ending. He was absolutely positive of this fact.

She smiled slightly at him and shook her head, "Why is that so weird, Shadow?" She put one hand on her hip and had that cocky, I'm so much better than you stance. He rolled his eyes at it, and she thought it was odd that he found it weird that she giggled. Yeah, look at this woman, she was probably more mature and full of herself than he would ever be. She didn't give him a chance to respond though, "Do you mind if we split up, I don't think Tails is coming back...and...I want to..."

"It's fine." He didn't want to know what she wanted to go off and do, but he figured if he was alone, maybe a memory would strike him and he could suddenly recall where the escape routes were. A minuscule chance, but a chance nonetheless. He whirled and started off, he felt her eyes burning into his back for the longest time. It was an awkward feeling, but he tried to just ignore it.

---

"Just...one time..." He stared into green eyes that almost matched his own, she wanted to kiss him. He couldn't, he didn't want to kiss her. What if he got that same feeling with two completely different people? It would mean that anything up until now was void, how could he feel it twice, though? It felt great, he wasn't going to lie, but then...what would he do? What about Shadow? But, now, what about Amy? He stared blankly at her. "Just a kiss, that's all." He could feel her breath now. Her voice was so soft, as she ran her hands down his arm. Her skin was like her voice, soft as silk almost.

"Just a kiss." He echoed her words, hesitation flooding his own, he kept his eyes locked on hers. She gave him another weak smile, she had to know. Could she make him feel like she felt? A kiss, that would have to sort things out for her. Maybe she didn't love him.

She finally nodded her head, his eyes were so pretty. She raised her mouth, close enough to his where all he had to do was give a little. It wouldn't be a big deal, he knew that. He had kissed Shadow, he could kiss Amy. Then a feeling of dread entered his mind, he had kissed Shadow, and he had liked it. What if Shadow saw him kiss Amy? Even if he didn't see, the fact that he had done it. But, what if he didn't feel anything? His stomach churned at the thought, what if he did? "Sonic, I want to know..."

His eyes drifted to the floor, he felt her grip tighten on his shoulders. He could feel the desire flowing through her body, radiating from it, yet Shadow kept flashing through his mind. It wasn't like he pledged any loyalty to Shadow. His own words played like a scratched record through his mind.

"...so...as you said before, maybe we ought to just leave well enough alone and go with that for a little while?"

For how long? What did Shadow think that meant, what had he meant? "Just leave well enough alone", right. She ran her hand down his face, she wanted him to kiss her. He could feel it, he couldn't refuse her. Just a kiss, one kiss. "Are you sure...you want to know, Amy?" She nodded her head and stared at him for a long time, a slight smile crossed her lips. A real one. He didn't want to know, he didn't want to know one little bit.

"I'm sure, Sonic...I want to know. Don't you?" No. No, he didn't. He shrugged his shoulders just slightly, she knew she just had to push a little more. Just get a few more inches and their lips would connect, and Amy would get the answers she longed for. He took a deep breath.

"Are you going to..." He stared into those emerald green eyes for longer than he ever had, she stared at him curiously and shook her head. Her heart was going like it did every time she was near him, she had to know. But, she wasn't going to do this. If Sonic didn't put forth any effort, it wasn't going to be worth it, she'd have her answer before they kissed.

"Sonic...you...please, just this once." Just once. That was all she wanted. Why couldn't he comply with that simple request? Why was the thought of Shadow haunting him like a memory of a dead relative? He gritted his teeth, and tensed up. She ran her hand down his arms again and tried to loosen him up. "One time."

He leaned forward, and their lips finally connected. It was nothing like when Sonic had kissed Shadow, it was completely different. His heart didn't race the same way it had that night, nothing. He felt absolutely nothing, he didn't want to tell Amy that, but...nothing at all. There was an up and down side to that, so...it wasn't just the nervousness of kissing or being kissed. It was Shadow, that cocky black and red hedgehog had made him feel that way. He pulled back from her after a second. "...did you get the answer you were looking for?" He questioned her, his voice firm and somber. That was the Sonic she knew, he never seemed to change. To just let himself fall into a moment, that's what she thought.

She had fallen hard into that moment, her heart felt like it was about to burst. She could feel every single beat, quicker than the usual pace in her chest. Her cheeks burnt, they were on fire. Amy smiled and nodded at him, she searched him for any kind of a sign. Nothing. Had he not felt that? How could he have not felt that? She desperately hoped he felt something from it, her heart almost sank. Tears burned furiously at her eyes, like little knives sticking into her sockets. "Yes. Did you...?" She didn't get to finish, Sonic whirled at the sound of the door's mechanical sound.

"Cute." Shadow's red eyes stared hard into Sonic's for a moment. He couldn't quite get the vibes he was sending, was he mad? He couldn't put much out there as Amy was standing right next to Sonic. "What are you...dating?" The voice was cruel, sarcastic, outright mean. He was mad, Sonic heard the tone. He really didn't like that tone at all.

"That's ridiculous." He sent him a hot glance. How? Why had Shadow been there? This huge colony and he was watching the two of them! Why wasn't he with Rouge and Tails? Where were they even? Why had he gone and let Amy kiss him.

"Ridiculous?" Now Amy's feelings were hurt, she stared at him. He wouldn't look over to her though. He couldn't just throw out at her that he happened to have a crush on this guy! Shadow, yeah, he was just going to throw that up in Amy's face right after they kissed. Sorry, Amy, you're kiss made me gay. That was what he was going to say, yeah, right. Sonic didn't respond though, he didn't deny that's what he said or meant.

Shadow grabbed her by the arm and looked at her for a moment, "Look, he didn't mean that...can I talk to him for a second alone?" She looked up at him and nodded her head. Confoundment danced through Sonic's emerald orbs, now Shadow defended him? What was thisguy thinking about? The red eyes were really piercing from the right angle, or maybe it was his mood. Great, that's what he wanted to do, be alone with Shadow. Amy left the room, she did her best to soothe her curiosity by telling herself it was wrong to spy, but it didn't work.

"Got a girlfriend, now, Faker?" He had a mixture of hurt and fury lingering about in his voice. Shadow cocked an eyebrow at him, the blue hedgehog growled and shook his head. He let Shadow fume for a moment, just glaring at him. When he saw the look in his eyes soften up, that's when Sonic decided to talk. To explain.

"She wanted to see if...she felt anything, if I felt anything." Shadow stared at him now, the look severely softened. It wasn't going to get that same original anger it had, it was the softening that you could never properly build back up. He actually just got slightly worried, what if Sonic had felt something when Amy kissed him?

"...did you?" Sonic guessed Shadow really didn't care what Amy thought of the situation, he looked into those crimson eyes for a really long time. A slight smile crossed his lips as he shook his head, the breath Shadow took then was shaky, so utterly relieved that he seemed willing to forget that he was stuck on the ARK, the space colony where all of his haunting memories dwelled, and that Sonic had just let his long time friend kiss him.

Amy stared into the glass, the glass so easily seen through. The glass Sonic wished he had been more knowledgeable of. They were simply talking, she saw the gentle smile on Sonic's face. A spark of jealousy touched her for no more than a second and then quickly subsided. Shadow returned the smile, he certainly didn't stay mad for very long. Shadow seemed to have been mad that they kissed, did he like her? Or did he like Sonic? Confusion in many different forms flew through Amy's mind as she tried to sort everything out. "So...they really could..." She stared blankly at them, wishing they would do something to give her a sign. They knew she could see right through the glass, they knew she was looking. She knew her hero well enough to know he would never flaunt anything like that in her face. She wouldn't get her sign.

Sonic looked to the floor, then back to Shadow, "I told you I liked you. Why would I have felt anything with her?" Confidence, did he hear confidence in the azure hedgehog's voice? Though, Shadow didn't know the answer to Sonic's question, he just knew it scared the hell out of him that Sonic could have felt something. He didn't realize the thought of losing someone could scare him like this. He shook it off, then just smirked at Sonic.

"You were the one who was all confused on what 'like' was." He grinned as Sonic gave him an adorable look of skepticism. He glanced back at Amy for a split second, then turned back to Sonic. He cocked his head slightly to the side, notifying Sonic that he had a job to do though. The green-eyed hedgehog nodded his head.

"I like you different than I like her...or anyone else." Shadow shrugged his shoulders and nodded his head. He could definitely relate to that, he couldn't help feel slightly bad for the pink hedgehog outside the room though. He knew she loved Sonic, he hated to hurt her, she was so alike with Maria, even he realized this. He didn't want Sonic to hurt her either, but better her than himself. Damn, he felt selfish.

Shadow just hit him upside the head and smiled, "You're one of a kind, Sonic the hedgehog." He whirled, his thoughts in something of a jumble.

"Thanks! I get that a lot!" He has a cocky air about his tone. With his back turned, Shadow just looked back with his eyes and rolled them. "I saw that." He knew Sonic had seen it though, it was his intent for him to see it. The mechanical door smoothly slid open.

Amy met them at the door, "Did you enjoy your little 'alone talk'?" She smiled innocently at them, Shadow raised an eyebrow at her. As if she hadn't been staring at them, keeping them from doing absolutely anything interesting. Her eyes went from Sonic to Shadow to Sonic, the question that buzzed around in her mind was going to have to go unspoken.

"Sure, Amy, it was just awesome." Shadow brushed by her, this time he felt both of their eyes on him. He hated that feeling, that people were staring at you and you couldn't see them, well he hated it, unless that certain person happened to be Sonic. He stopped, knowing one of them was bound to ask him a question. He was willing to bet it was going to be Amy.

"Shadow, hey...where did Tails and Rouge go?" Shadow shrugged his shoulders at her, yep, he had been right.

"We split up. Tails thought he saw something and took off, then it was her idea we go our separate ways...said she had something to do." Sonic shook his head at Shadow, glad he was the one he stumbled across now though.

"Not the smartest idea, Shadow." Shadow turned and half smiled at Sonic after that comment, when he thought back on it, maybe it wasn't the most intelligent thing to do to let Rouge and Tails go off by themselves. Amy rolled her eyes at him.

"Nah, they'll be fine..." Sonic fixed his glance on those dark red eyes, and shook his head. He had to admit, it wasn't like him to worry. Though, the fact that Tails had run off by himself was giving him an uneasy feeling. Why would he have just taken off like that? He shrugged the feeling off though.

"I hope so, after that little threat from Doctor Eggman..." Shadow looked at Amy as she spoke. Good job, Amy, just make him feel like a total idiot. That was the ticket.

"I'm sure Rouge is just wishing Knuckles was here." Sonic smirked, and Amy giggled and nodded her head. Shadow looked at her, memories of the blonde-haired girl entered his mind every time he saw her. She was so much like Maria, her laugh sounded almost identical. That stupid look she gave when she didn't know what she was talking about. Sonic nodded his head and ran his fingers over her quills, shoving them all forward, this of course made Amy mad, well, that fake, secretly loving it mad. "Sonic!"

"You think he is here?" Amy looked at Sonic like he was insane, how would Knuckles be here? They had been searching for him? Did Sonic not remember he had not come with them? He wasn't asking her the question though, it was directed at Shadow. Shadow obviously forgot too, because he shrugged his shoulders. Amy chimed in after a second.

"How could Knuckles be here, guys, he didn't come with us." Sonic shook his head, he gave Amy a half-hearted smile. She hated that smile, she hated that smile because it was all she was ever going to get. Heart-ache tugged at her once more, but again, she dismissed it temporarily.

"He may have gotten here another way." She gave him a confused look, what other way? Did he just hitchhike to the ARK or what? Sonic had to be going crazy. Shadow too, since he was agreeing with him, or either Shadow just felt really sorry for Sonic because he was going crazy.

A scream jerked them out of the close to silence, Tails' scream. Sonic was taken aback, Amy had to suppress a scream of her own when she heard Tails. Sonic had no idea where it came from, it seemed to bounce off every wall over and over. "That can't be good..." Shadow jerked his head around a few times to lock on to the sound, but it was to no avail.

After several mind changes, Shadow finally turned his body a certain way and took off. Sonic grabbed Amy's hand and followed Shadow. "Good sense of direction." Amy sounded exasperated, they were back in the center room somehow. Eggman stood in the room though, along with another figure. Sonic scanned the room for Tails, he wasn't in there. After careful deliberation...it was Espio, unconscious, mind you, but Espio regardless!

Eggman pulled the ray gun up pointed at all three of them, that was just swell. He grinned evilly and looked them up and down. "Well, well, if it isn't Sonic and Shadow...and little miss Amy. Cowering behind people, as usual, I see." Amy snarled at him, but Sonic kept her back. Eggman seemed to cackle as he pulled the ray gun into firing position. He released the trigger, and the laser slammed into Sonic's chest. A contact that sent him sprawling across the room, leaving him disoriented on the other end of it.

"Oh my God! Sonic, are you alright?" Sonic sent a glare in Eggman's direction, after staggering back up. He looked at Amy and nodded his head, Shadow jerked his head back. Blood. Why would a laser...? He noted the protruding annoyance, which was what left a gash in Sonic's side. He gritted his teeth, trying to force the concern down his own throat.

"Sonic, are you okay!" Sonic deemed it slightly more serious when Shadow asked him, he still just nodded his head at him though. He was. Of course he was fine, the fact that the room was spinning meant absolutely nothing.

A high-heeled boot to Eggman's head proved useful as he stumbled across the room. Low and behold, this was the real Eggman. Rouge put her hands on her hips and stared at the doctor in annoyance, "You're really nerve racking, Doctor." Rouge kicked at Espio for a moment, Eggman smirked.

"Trust me, Rouge...he isn't going to get up..." He wasn't dead though, why wasn't he going to get up? Rouge sent him a glare.

"What'd you do?" Shadow inquired this before Rouge could. Eggman just grinned evilly at them both and refused to answer. Amy stood there, shivering helplessly behind no one but Shadow now.

'When did you learn to multiply?' Sonic tried hard to focus on one individual Eggman, but as he got close to doing this, ten more appeared. He finally let himself hit the ground, dizziness creeping up into his mind. Suddenly everything seemed like it was at the end of a long tunnel, including sound itself.

The last thing he heard at the end of the never ending tunnel was Shadow's voice saying something. He couldn't hear him clearly, as he blacked out, "Sonic please..." Shadow begged helplessly as he felt Sonic fall limp against the newly formed hold he had on him. He had not deemed Eggman important enough to keep him away from Sonic in his current state. Rouge was glaring at Eggman, and Amy was trying to, she just looked like she was about to cry, or throw up, one. Amy wanted desperately to go see if Sonic was okay, but her fear honestly had her paralyzed.

"Ironic...after all that, a simple blast from my laser cannon kills the wretched hedgehog." Shadow fought tears like he never had before, he stared at Sonic. The green-eyed hedgehog wasn't dead, but he wasn't in a certain living state either.

"He won't die!" Shadow viciously corrected Eggman, red eyes piercing right into him. Had looks been capable of killing, the doctor would have been dead twenty times over. Amy nodded her head, as the fear began to let up its hold on her a little bit, worry for Sonic taking its place.

That fox, Faye, skipped into the room. Rouge stared at it, blank, "What...is...?" Knuckles followed soon after it, stumbling slightly. "Knuckles!" Her voice sounded oddly happy. He glanced up at her, gasping for breath. A wormhole, this thing led him through a wormhole and here was Rouge. Where was he, the ARK? What the hell was going on here! He hadn't been paying attention, but as he saw Dr. Eggman, he began to put things into perspective.

"This is my little pet, do you like it, Knuckles?" Knuckles glared at him, he wondered if it was another robot. He just needed to know where the Master Emerald was, from the looks of things, it couldn't have been anywhere good. He looked around the room, Amy, Rouge, Shadow and ...Sonic!

"No, and you're going down, Eggman!" The doctor simply laughed at Knuckles' threat. Then looked at the little fox which seemed to just disappear after a moment of running past Eggman. Knuckles gawked for a moment. "...what?"

The familiar cackle rung in everyone's ears, "Oh...and by the way, Knuckle-head...the master emerald is still on Earth...you're just so easy to trick." Knuckles snarled and kicked the floor, which hurt really bad. On Earth? On the fucking planet he came from? It was probably hidden a stupid bush!

Amy ran over to Sonic and Shadow, Shadow flipped the blue hedgehog over to look at the damage the laser has done. His eyes widened, he sucked in at the sight, his breath shortening, nothing but a messy swamp of black and red. Burnt blood, torn almost directly through him. "Sonic! He has to be okay! He has to be!" Amy shook her head and stared at Shadow, who was as frightened as her at the moment.

He lifted the limp hedgehog slightly, suppressing what few tears he had control over now, "...Sonic...don't die, Sonic...you can't! You don't have permission to! Because...I love you." He whispered it, those final three words of his sentence. Amy couldn't even hear the last words, Sonic did though. His body just seemed to get a chill, his breath quickening.

Love! That was it! It wasn't like at all! That was the word he had meant.

---

Wasn't that just sweet? I think the next chapter will be the last, I know, I know...oh darn. This has been fun though! I'm really starting to think this is hot. Hehe! Yayyy...hey, I'm trying here! (I didn't put anyone down! -looks shamefully away from reviewer-)