Shadow awoke the next morning before Peach, who had a decidedly non-cartoonishly-distorted face when he looked over at her. He smiled, thinking about how beautiful she looked lying in bed. Then, he let out an evil little snicker as he got an idea: he nibbled Peach's ear. As he was doing so, she slowly woke up, but her eyes sprang open and she gasped when it became apparent what was happening to her.

"SHADDY!"

Peach smacked Shadow around a few times before he dislodged from her. He continued smiling, however.

"What?" said Shadow.

Peach frowned. "Ugh! Couldn't you be kind enough to wake me up with a kiss instead?"

"I could, but that wouldn't have been nearly as fun. Besides, I can tell you enjoyed that."

Peach glared at Shadow. As much as she was annoyed with him for nibbling her ear, the more she looked at his seductive, smiling face, the less she could resist him, and she giggled.

"Oh, Shaddy!"

Peach wrapped her arms around Shadow and kissed him, and he did the same. Things could only get better for him from this point on. Then, they broke away, and someone knocked on the door.

"Come in!" said Peach.

The door opened, and Toad pushed in a rather large cart with various foods and drinks on it.

"Good morning, Your Majesty!" said Toad. "Breakfast is served! I even brewed you some coffee, Shadow!"

Shadow let out a contented sigh. "I can smell it, and it smells like you did a good job! Thank you!"

Shadow and Peach got two bed trays and served themselves up some breakfast.

"So, anything else on the agenda before I head back to Mobius?" asked Shadow.

"As a matter of fact, we're going to have a huge victory parade on Toadstool Street! Who knows, there might just be a little surprise, too!" Peach ate a slice of ham.

"In the past, I would have no interest in those formalities, but considering my change in attitude, I'm actually looking forward to this!"

"Glad to hear it!"

"Oh, and before we go anywhere, and because you've been so good to me, I'm letting you keep the guns, ammo and accessories I've loaned to you for as long as you so desire. If a day ever comes where you don't want them, just send them back to me."

"Thank you, Shaddy! You're so sweet!"

After breakfast and the rest of their morning routine, Shadow and Peach got ready for the massive victory parade that was being held. The weather was right for it, too, being warm, but not exceedingly hot, and there was nary a cloud in the sky. Pretty much everyone in Toad Town and some residents from other municipalities in the Mushroom Kingdom had shown up. There was loads upon loads of confetti being thrown about, and the Royal Mushroom Marching Band was there, playing a rendition of the Grand Prix victory music from Mario Kart 64.

Shadow and Peach stood atop a float that resembled a large cake with white frosting and pink icing. Peach gladly waved to the throngs of adoring people with a bright smile on her face. Shadow waved too, albeit a bit more reservedly as even though he'd grown kinder during his adventure with Peach, he still wasn't used to the adoration of large crowds. One thing he noticed about the crowds was that there were few humans there, much like in the Kingdom of Mobius. It didn't matter to him too much, for he got the impression that the Mushroom Kingdom was a place where racism wasn't as prevalent. That aside, Koopski and Harold were also permitted to be on the float with Shadow and Peach. Both Koopas were actually quite nervous about being here, mainly because they feared that people would judge them just for being Koopas.

All that aside, the procession eventually came to Toadstool Square, where a large stage had been erected. Also here was a statue of King Toadington I, the first ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, and a distant ancestor of Peach. Once everything stopped, Peach took Shadow's hand and led him to the stage, and Koopski and Harold followed. Peach then stepped up to the podium to give a speech:

"Ladies, gentlemen, and people of alternate identities, we are gathered here to celebrate another victory in the defense of the Mushroom Kingdom. While this was not my first time adventuring in the service of my homeland, I can safely say that this was perhaps my finest, and I feel like I've not only grown as your ruler, but as a woman and a person. However, I feel as though I owe a debt of gratitude to others, so today, it is my grand privilege to award the Mushroom Kingdom's highest military honor – the Royal Cross of Heroism – to the three gentlemen who assisted me for at least part of my quest: Shadow the Hedgehog, Koopski the Koopa and Harold the Hammer Bro."

The crowd cheered, and Toadsworth presented three Royal Crosses of Heroism – which resembled the Victoria Cross, but with a Super/1-Up Mushroom superimposed over the cross in addition to a red ribbon – to Peach, who draped each of them around Shadow's, Koopski's and Harold's necks.

"Shaddy, would you care to say a few words to the crowd?" asked Peach.

Shadow nodded and stepped up to the podium, where Toad had put a stool for Shadow.

"I want to thank everyone here for allowing me the privilege of visiting the Mushroom Kingdom for this grand quest," said Shadow. "Considering the rivalry that my fellow Mobians and I had with your kingdom, I am extraordinarily grateful to visit as a comrade in arms. Prior to this visit, much of my life had been choked by darkness, but thanks to the kind, loving nature of your Princess and her willingness to enlist my aid for her quest, I have been given a new outlook on life, and I will do my best to make this world a better one for everybody, no matter who or what they are. After all, an old friend of mine made me promise to give people a chance to be happy, and I feel more committed to that promise than ever before. Before I take up too much of your time, I would like to conclude by saying that it's been the greatest of honors to spend time with Princess Peach, and I pray that our time together can usher in a new age of cooperation for both of our nations. Amen."

Shadow's speech got a solid round of applause, which put a smile on his face. However, before he got too choked up with happiness, he stepped aside and let Koopski have a turn:

"Hello, everyone! I just want to say how happy I feel to be here today. I realize a lot of you probably look down on me just because I'm a Koopa, and I understand your hesitance, but are my wants, needs, hopes and fears not any different from yours? I mean, for much of my life, I was taught to help others out, and I spent much of my time trying to do good not only for others, but also for myself. However, much of my goodness was overshadowed by the selfish, warlike nature of King Bowser, and hearing about the evil, horrific acts he'd committed, I decided I couldn't blindly obey him any longer. Even so, I felt lost and confused as to how I was going to stop him, as did my fellow KLSF members. Fortunately, with the grace of the Mushroom Kingdom and the Kingdom of Mobius, I gained a strength like I'd never known before, and it is with this strength that I hope to overcome prejudice and bring love to everyone around the world, because I know that's what my girlfriend would want. Thank you!"

Koopski also got his fair share of applause, and he stepped down so Harold could do his bit:

"I uh…I really don't have much to say, but I wanna give a big shout-out to Shadow the Hedgehog and Princess Peach for bailin' me and my buddies out, and I wanna give the BIGGEST shout-out to my boss and best friend Koopski for bein' with me all these years through thick and thin. Peace out!"

Even Harold got plenty of applause. After the speeches, the Toadstool Symphony Orchestra played a rendition of the "Finale" music from Return of the Jedi. Shadow had a big smile on his face, mainly because it wasn't long now until he was going to go home.

After the ceremony, Shadow was riding in the Cadillac with Peach and Toadsworth.

"Hey Toadsworth, I want to say I'm sorry for threatening you when we first met," said Shadow. "I wasn't doing exceedingly well at the time, and to be honest, I was extremely nervous about meeting Peach. I just pray you can forgive me."

"Oh, it's quite all right, Shadow! I used to be quite the ruffian in my younger days, too! Admittedly, though, I never dispatched any of my opponents with a .44 Magnum revolver, as Peach tells me you have done."

Shadow stared at Peach. "I'm going to let that one go, Peach."

Peach giggled. "Hey, I didn't mean it to be insulting, Shaddy!"

"I know." Shadow turned back to Toadsworth. "By the way, do you want to hear a joke, Toadsworth?"

"Very well."

"OK, how much room do fungi need to grow?"

Toadsworth shrugged. "I'm afraid you've got me perplexed there."

"As mushroom as possible!"

Shadow flashed a cheeky little smile after the punchline. Toadsworth, however, scowled at Shadow.

"Yada blah blah blah blah!" exclaimed Toadsworth. "That was a horrendous attempt at humor! How could you possibly expect anybody to laugh at that!? You should be ashamed of yourself, young lad!"

Shadow and Peach had a good laugh, while Toadsworth merely shook his head, wondering how such low-brow humor could have taken over the world.

At Toadstool International Airport, Shadow, Peach and Toadsworth boarded a specially-modified McDonnell Douglas DC-10 known as "Toadstool One". The plane was painted pink with white stripes and had Peach's "crown" emblem on the vertical stabilizer. With that, Shadow was well on his way home.

"Peach, I've probably already said this before, but I can't thank you enough for calling upon me to help you out," said Shadow. "I'll never forget the time we've spent together."

"You're welcome, Shaddy! I had a really enjoyable time with you, too!"

Shadow smiled. "Though I will admit, I'm somewhat sad that I won't get to witness the peace ceremony between you and Bowser."

"It's OK! I'll have Toad videotape it!"

Shadow chuckled. Then, he pulled out a pen and a pad of sticky notes, writing something down on one before handing it to Peach.

"If you ever want to talk to me about anything, that's my phone number and primary E-mail address. I'm unemployed at the moment, so odds are, whatever hour you attempt to reach me at, I'll get back to you in short order.

"Awww…thank you, Shaddy! May I please see that pen and sticky notes?"

Shadow handed the pen and the sticky notes to Peach, who wrote down her phone number and E-mail as well, along with " - Peach".

"I may not always be able to get back to you because of my duties as a Princess, but I'll do my best to respond!" said Peach.

Shadow nodded. "Thanks."

"You're welcome!"

Eventually, Toadstool One landed at G.U.N.'s Mobius Command.

"Well, Peach, I guess this is goodbye," said Shadow. "I'm really going to miss you."

"I'll miss you too, Shaddy, but I'll always have you in my heart!"

Peach gave Shadow one last kiss. Though rather bittersweet for him, it was perhaps one of the better kisses he'd received thus far from her.

"Have a nice day, Shaddy!" Peach waved at Shadow.

"You too, Peach! Bye, Toadsworth!"

"Farewell, Shadow!" said Toadsworth. "Blessed be you!"

Shadow then exited the plane and proceeded down the stairs of the stair truck that had pulled up to the plane. Then, his Hedgehog Sense tingled, and it was for a pleasant reason…

"SHADDY!"

Upon seeing each other, Rouge and Shadow ran over to each other and gave each other a big hug.

"I'm so glad to see you again!" said Rouge. "I missed my little Shaddy baby!"

"I missed you too, Rouge!"

Rouge and Shadow backed away, but kept their arms wrapped around each other.

"Wow, you've changed!" said Rouge. "I've never seen you this happy ever since I met you!"

"Well…let's just say that Princess Peach gave me a new way of looking at things. I mean, not that you weren't helpful, but…"

"But you just needed another woman's perspective to better help you see that light at the end of the tunnel, right?"

Shadow averted his gaze, but kept smiling. "I guess…"

Rouge put her hands on Shadow's cheeks and got him to look at her again. "Shaddy, it's OK! I totally understand if you need to get a second opinion! You'll always be my little Shaddy baby! You know that, right?"

Shadow didn't say anything else; he just hugged Rouge again and purred. Rouge squeezed him a bit tighter upon hearing him purr. Knowing that he was so contented, it made her feel good, too.

"Come on, boy; I'm preparing a nice barbecued brisket for supper, and I don't want it to burn!"

"Gladly!"

Shadow and Rouge wrapped an arm around each other as they headed back to her Corvette. Meanwhile, Peach – who'd been watching the whole thing – smiled, knowing that it was a woman's touch that helped save the world.

Criticism is gold. Negativity and nitpicking are pyrite.