Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters that Sega owns…--throws rock at disclaimer-- Now I feel better….

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Melody cried out in pain, holding her stomach as she fell to the ground. Amy stood in absolute shock, unable to move even as Melody shrieked, "RUN! I'LL BE FINE!" Her pain doubled and she couldn't stop yelling, voice rending through the previous silence of the forest.

Shadow shook Amy's shoulders and hissed in her ear, "We need to leave!"

"But…what about Melody? I can't just leave her here she's my friend!" Amy protested.

Shadow sighed with exasperation and answered, "Anybody who wants to harm you can never be your friend!" He scooped her up into his arms despite her struggling and looked over at Lizzey, "Keep up or be lost." Then he took off running, gaining speed until he broke the sound barrier. The sonic boom he caused roared through the forest, uprooting trees and churning up the soil.

"Shadow…please go back…we can help her…" Amy's pleas fell on deaf ears.

Lizzey felt tears brimming at her eyes as she looked around in panic, finding no place to hide. Melody quieted down, still lying on the ground. Lizzey tentatively took a few steps toward the motionless panther, softly calling out, "Melody? Are you okay?" A few seconds of utter silence passed and Lizzey crept closer, eventually reaching Melody and placing a shaking hand on her shoulder. "Please say something…"

Melody's eyes snapped open, irises a deep shade of red and face expressionless. Lizzey whimpered in fear as she stepped back, eyes downward to avoid Melody's intense glare of hatred. Melody drew her sword and stared at her, advancing threateningly.

Lizzey screamed, scrambling to escape, running through brambles and branches and ripping her way through bushes covered in thorns. She had no time to stop or express her pain as she ran out of pure terror, each pounding step pushing the thorns deeper into her flesh. "HELP ME!" She cried, voice quickly fading as her lungs used each breath to supply her muscles with enough oxygen to continue running.

She came to an abrupt halt as Melody appeared right in front of her, wings outstretched to prevent Lizzey from getting around her. Lizzey felt her legs freeze with fear and exhaustion as she shook with fear and pleaded, "Melody…please snap out of it…please don't kill me…"

Melody didn't answer but instead slashed at her with her sword, cutting her shoulder deeply and knocking her forcefully into a tree. Lizzey put her hand over the cut, feeling warm blood seeping out slowly. Melody swung her sword again, this time aiming for her chest.

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Shadow finally stopped and Amy pushed herself away from him, eyes moist with tears as she shouted in Shadow's ears, "YOU LEFT HER!" She took a few deep breaths to calm down her nerves, "You know she couldn't run as fast as you…don't you care about anybody but yourself!"

Shadow leaned against a tree and answered quietly, "I'm sorry, Amy, but in such a hard, cruel world…it's every man…er…hedgehog for himself."

Amy wiped away her tears and tried to say in a patient voice, "Shadow…the world is only hard and cruel because people sometimes do things that hurt people…whether by accident or on purpose. If everybody tries to do what's right and help others…the world would slowly turn into a better place. Please try to understand…" When Shadow didn't reply, she asked, "Will you take me back? I need to make sure Lizzey is alright…"

Shadow shook his head stubbornly, "No…it's too late by now…" He leapt out of Amy's way as she ran at him with her hammer screaming, "SHADOW, PLEASE HAVE A HEART!"

Shadow shook his head sadly, "I'm sorry, Amy…but I can't risk losing you…not like I lost Maria…"

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Lizzey closed her eyes tightly, knowing her end was near as the air cut through the air toward her heart. A split second later she heard a loud clash of steel and opened her eyes to discover that she was still alive and that a strange angel was standing in front of her, his sword, blocking Melody's. His fur was of similar color to Melody's, a gentle tan, and his muscles finely toned. He stood firmly, pushing against Melody's strength as he said in a calm voice, "Calm down…there isn't a need for killing her."

Melody snarled and pushed harder, freeing her sword from his with a sharp flick of her wrist. She stabbed at his chest, sword moving like lightning. The panther angel smiled confidently, fending off the sword with ease and aiming for her shoulders. Melody neatly sidestepped, leaping up into the air and slashing down toward his head. The panther angel stumbled backwards to avoid the menacing blade but in the process trapping himself against a tree. Melody held the sword point against his chest as she stared at him with murderous eyes.

"Say goodbye…" she hissed.

Recognition dawned on the endangered angel as he caught a good look at her face. He realized the danger he was in but still managed to say cheerfully, "Melody…I haven't seen you in a while…"

She glared at him, not responding.

"Snap out of it…" He ordered.

"She's cursed…" Lizzey whimpered to him, "And now we're both going to die…" She started crying again.

The angel's mind raced for a possible solutions and escapes but he could find none. "Melody…" he pleaded, "please stop…what's wrong with you?"

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Well…that was a bit longer than I usually write in one chapter…and hopefully it was good…don't forget to send in a review and tell me what you think. Sorry about the slow update…and I'm sad to report that the next update might be a bit slow in the coming. But I'll get it up as soon as possible.