On Broken Wings Chapter 12

Shadow was sitting with Katana in his room. He had placed the sheet of his bed on the windowsill to block the light from coming in. He was dwelling in is grief and despair. The darkness consumed him inside and out.

There was a knock on his door which was locked once again. "Shadow? Wanna talk?" it was Sonic. Shadow opened his mouth to say something but closed it. "Can I come in?"

"Sonic..." he could hear Sonic trying to open the door.

"Come on, Shadow. Let me help you." Katana flew over to the door and unlocked it. Sonic opened it and thanked the chao.

"Wow it's dark in here." He said before turning to Shadow. "How ya doin?"

"Sonic...I'm sorry..."

"For what?"

"S-sorry..." Sonic came over to him.

"You have nothing to be sorry about, Shadow."

"But what about-"

"You were confused. You just wanted to fulfill your promise even though the promise got distorted." Shadow looked like he wanted to say something but kept quiet. "Somethin you wanna say?"

"Uh..." Shadow thought then shook his head. "No, it's nothing..."

"Hm, ok. Why don't you come upstairs?" he held out a hand to him. Shadow looked at it and hesitated to take it but when he did, Sonic helped him up then let go. Katana sat on Sonic's head.

When they made it upstairs, Shadow squinted his eyes for they were unused to the light.

"I think everyone is in the den." He looked behind him to Shadow who stood there. Shadow looked uneasy about them all.

They walked into the room to find everyone playing video games and didn't notice Shadow yet. He stood in the doorway and watched. Sonic went over to join the others.

"Ok, Knuckles! You and me! Let's go!" Rouge said taking one of the controllers

"You're on!" Knuckles took the other controller. Everyone watched and cheered them on.

'They seem so happy.' Shadow thought. Cream walked over to Shadow.

"Come join!" she said happily then tugged on his arm. Shadow just looked at them.

'It still hurts inside. Can I be healed? Am I...forgiven? Do I make everyone sad? Would it be good for me to hide or good for them if I wasn't here?'

Rouge jumped up in triumph and startled Shadow. "Yeah!" Knuckles just growled obviously upset that Rouge had won.

"How many times has she beaten you?" Amy asked. Rouge noticed Shadow and pulled him over and gave him the controller.

"Shadow's turn!"

"I'll play him!" Sonic said taking the other from Knuckles. It was a game that Tails had created which had fighting, racing and searching games.

"How do you use this thing?" Shadow asked.

"This is jump, and this is forward." Sonic pointed to the buttons while explaining. "We'll play a racing game!"

"Ok." He started the game and they both began. Shadow had to get used to it at first but soon was neck-and-neck with Sonic.

In the end, Sonic won but it was still fin for both of them. Rouge ruffled Shadow's fur on his head. "Good job, Shadow! You almost had him there!"

"But I'm still the fastest!"

"I wanna play next!" Amy said.

"Let me play too, Amy!" Cream said.

"Sure!"

They all took turned for hours and played. They eventually all fell asleep...except for Shadow.

Shadow decided to take a walk alone to think. The night was cool and dark with a full moon. He walked and walked until he came to a spot by the shore.

He sat down on a rock and watched waves surround him. then back away. He looked up at the moon.

"I wish you could see this, Maria..." Shadow said. 'They don't seem mad at me...or depressed that I'm around...or are they just hiding it?' he thought as he looked down into the water; He saw his reflection. 'I want to fulfill my promise to you...'

morning-

"Hey, Amy?"

"Yes, Rouge?"

"Have you seen Shadow?"

"No, I haven't. Isn't he in his room?"

"No, he's not..."

"Breakfast!" Sonic said now entering the room with Tails.

"Sonic, have you seen Shadow?"

"Huh?"

"He's not in his room. I can't find him."

"Don't worry Rouge, I'll find him!" Sonic zipped off.

He was soon outside and ran around like a maniac in search for his friend. He first searched the forest but found nothing. Sonic went around a second time and looked in any possible hiding spot because if Shadow wanted to be alone to think or something it would make sense for him to hide. Then it hit Sonic. What if Shadow didn't want to be found?

He pushed that thought aside and went searching along the water and almost passed by a sleeping hedgehog on a rock. He walked up to him and nudged him. "Hey, Shadow. What are you doing out here?"

"Huh? What?" he said drowsily. Sonic pushed him off the rock and into the shallow water. Shadow sat up in it and shook his head. "What'd you do that for?" Sonic laughed. "W-what?" Shadow blushed.

"You were sleeping."

"Couldn't you have woken me up in a more subtle way?"

"I tried. Wasn't fast enough. So, what are you doing out here?"

"Thinking."

"Breakfast is ready. Come eat."

"Sonic?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you." Sonic stared at him.

"Jeez, you're weird! You say random things!" Shadow stared back at him.

"Sorry..."

"And you don't have to say sorry all the time!"

"Sorry..." Shadow said. Sonic hung his head but then started running off.

"Race you!" he said to Shadow who fallowed.

'Is it ok for me to be here?'

FeatherWings: oops! almost forgot the review responses!

...- awsome, thank you!

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aki- thank you very much!

Air girl14- yay! favorite authors list!

Yersi Fanel- yup, I shall continue

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shadow-conker- ok

pheonix-maker- there's ur chapter! please keep reviewing D

Kyra the Hedgehog- don't worry i shall keep updating. and it's almost summer vacation! more time to update!