UlTTrRa SiK pRoDuCtIoNs pReSeNtZ:

LoVe'S bUrN

By: UlTtrA ShAdDow

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Sega's characters….but I'd be a very happy guy if I did! But I do own Scythe & Daisy!

"You can close your eyes to things you don't want to see, but you can't close your heart to things you don't want to feel."

Third Person POV:

The Station Square Hospital...

Sonic, Tails, Cream, and Rouge were gathered in a huddle looking over at Shadow. They all were looking upon the unconscious hedgehog knowing that when he woke up, someone was in big trouble. That someone being Sonic.

"Is Mr. Shadow awake yet?"

"You have eyes, DOES HE LOOK LIKE HE'S UP YET?"

"You're the one responsible for putting him down there in the first place, jerk!"

"Oh are you so lucky you're a girl!"

"…Even if I was a guy, you wouldn't be able to reach me anyways."

"OH THAT'S IT! THAT'S—"

"Shut up! Look, he's moving!"

"Tails, Did you tell me to shut up?"

"Look mister Sonic, he's awakening!

Shadow emitted a light groan, rubbing his head as he slowly opened his eyes. The images of his friends slowly became clearer as he sat blinking up at everyone. He saw Tails, Rouge and Cream smiling at him.

Then his sights fell upon the blue hedgehog…Tails, Rouge, and Cream all stopped smiling once they saw the anger that ignited in the dark hedgehog's eyes.

"Uh-oh," Tails said, with his ears dropping slightly.

"All battle stations...get ready," Rouge said more so under her breath.

"Why you—" Shadow growled.

Because of his agility, Shadow was able to get his hands around Sonic's neck, before both Tails and Rouge could react. From where they stood, it seemed as if the furious hedgehog was trying to ring the last drops of life out of the blue hero who was now screaming hysterically.

And who could blame him for screaming like a two-year older; at the angle the ultimate life form had positioned himself above Sonic, shadows slipped across his face, and both his sharp fangs and red eyes were vibrant.

At this very moment Shadow looked very much like a hell-bent demon. Fortunately for Sonic, Tails, Rouge and Cream were there to pull him off and put some distance between the two.

"Just let me murder him…it'll be clean, and quick," Shadow hissed.

"Shadow! We didn't risk putting you two in the same room for nothing! Please listen to me! And calm down! You're scaring Cream!" Rouge cried.

Shadow snorted, ran his hand through his quills, then turned to look at Rouge with his composure regained. Rouge sighed a breath of relief; it looked the day is saved...Then she blinked, remembering her previous thoughts.

"Phew! Okay, before we all kill each other, we are thinking of having a party for Amy…sorry you weren't….around to hear it," Rouge said to Shadow, smiling slightly as he frowned.

Then Sonic perked to life, as usual, at one of the worst moments. "I knocked you out good! We dumped tons of buckets of water on you, and you still didn't come back!" Sonic said gleefully.

There was an awkward silence for a moment, and everyone knew what was going to come next.

Shadow narrowed his eyes, and started a beeline for Sonic, some how bringing out his seemingly possessed 'alter ego.' Saved yet again, Rouge jumped in his way as Tails and Cream ran to Sonic. Shadow stopped before the shorter bat, staring at her with furious eyes.

"As I was saying, we were going to do something nice for Amy, make her feel special. I mean, in the accident, she lost most of her hearing," Rouge said, hoping to deter the dark hedgehog before her.

Shadow's demeanor took a complete revolution as he stared at Rouge with unusually large eyes, " What...happened to her?"

It seemed as if the tension in the room had multiplied; everyone stood tensely, suddenly finding Shadow's face much too complicated to stare at.

"...She lost her hearing in an accident," Rouge replied softly, trying to ignore the fact that she had told him a half-truth.

"...How terrible," Shadow started softly.

"But..." Tails stepped forward, " Why do you--"

The young fox stopped mid-sentence as he gazed upon the stern faces of Sonic and Rouge; apparently, they wished him to keep his information to himself.

Tails receded, then stared at the floor. An uncomfortable silence filled the air, as Shadow half wondered why the child had stopped speaking so suddenly. Well, whatever reason why he stopped, it had left a stale, uncomfortable atmosphere in the air.

The dark hedgehog coughed, then began, "Where is the rose hedgehog now?"

" Oh!" Tails said, snapping out of his trance-like state, "Currently? She's painting a sculptor in the art wing...Why do you ask?"

"Mild curiosity," Shadow replied.

"Okay, okay, but onto the party," Sonic replied.

" Yeah, so…what's the plan?" Cream asked.

A slightly devilish smile played upon Rouge's face as she took a step forward, towards the group. Blinking, everyone gazed at her, "We're gonna have some kind of celebration for Amy, and she'll love it!'

"Oh! How wonderful!" Cream cried, delighted.

"That'd be cool!" Tails said smiling.

" Yup, I thought so! We're going to hold it at the Sapphire park…you know, where we were at night," Rouge said winking suggestively at Shadow.

Sonic, Tails, and Cream turned to look at Shadow with mild interest, and Rouge's grin widened. But Shadow looked clueless.

"A park? I don't remember a thing…" Shadow said blandly.

Rouge's smile disappeared, "You don't remember?"

Then a thought hit the white bat and she frowned, "Oh yeah Eggman's stupid machine…" she thought.

"Anyways," Sonic interjected, "How are we gonna do this and surprise thing?"

"Well Sonic, we already thought of that," Tails said, "See, we're gonna have you and Shadow keep her distracted until six PM and—"

"WHAT? I am NOT keeping Amy company, especially with that thing!" Sonic cried, gesturing to a glowering Shadow.

"And I'm certainly not operating with that blue moron," Shadow huffed, making Sonic scowl.

" And just what are you trying to get at faker?"

"Is that the only insult you are capable of formulating ,O intelligent one?"

"No! You fa—fa— SHADOW!"

"Will you two stop?" Rouge hissed, "Amy's in the art room right now! Hurry and find her!"

"No! Not until I get that ultimate wife-form!"

While Rouge was busy talking Sonic out of murdering Shadow, the black hedgehog sighed and lazily rolled his eyes.

"Sonic! Will you calm down? He didn't say anything about your mama…And Shadow, will you quit it?"

This piqued Shadow's attention, he frowned slightly and turned to face the white bat, "Why are you taking his side?"

Rouge's jaw stopped; he couldn't be serious! His tone almost sounded as if he was pouting...slightly," I am not taking his side!"

"Yes you are, why don't you tell him to grow up?" Shadow said, gesturing toward the azure hedgehog.

"I didn't say that to you!"

"Well, you certainly implied that."

"I did not!"

"Did too."

"Did not!"

"Did too…"

"Did not!"

Sonic, Tails, and Cream all exchanged looks at each other all wondering just what was going on.

"Well, whatever, I've got other matters to attend to," Shadow answered.

"In another words, he doesn't want to do it," Sonic said.

Rouge glowered, "Like what? Being a jerk? You've been ice cold this whole day!"

"Ooooh!" Sonic, Tails and Cream cooed.

"Don't take that!" Sonic piped, clearly the blue hedgehog was bored, maybe if he pushed them hard enough they'd fight.

"What are you doing?" Tails whispered to his older companion.

"Hopefully, this'll turn into a full on fight!" Sonic snickered, " And if it does...I put my money on Rouge; look at her, she just looks ready to commence world war three!"

"Sonic! That's terrible! We don't want them to fight!" Tails said, shocked that his best friend could even be thinking of such things, "...And how could you possibly say she'd win against him? My bet's with Shadow."

"What is your problem? Why are you always like this?" Shadow hissed.

"Like what? You're the one being a bastard! You bastard!" Rouge retorted.

"Whatever."

Every time Rouge and Shadow exchanged words, Sonic, Tails and Cream would interestedly look at the person speaking.

"Next time I need someone to wreck my mood, Shadow, you're second to none."

"…."

"What, too scared to talk your highness?"

"…"

"Hello? I'm talking to you here!"

Being ignored by Shadow was definitely eating away at Rouge's nerves and Shadow knew it was getting to her, he could see the expression upon her face. And now they were glaring at each other in a deadlock stare, not saying one word.

"Whoa, they've been staring at each other for at least ten minutes now," Tails said.

"Hey, if you're gonna kiss, do it already!" Sonic exclaimed.

The death glares being exchanged between Shadow and Rouge were broken up immediately and they both snapped their heads around to glare at Sonic.

"Whoa, my bad!" Sonic whimpered, " Go on, stare at each other maliciously again, I won't bother you ..."

Then Rouge sighed, there had to be another way to solve this problem, Shadow was being obstinate again, so..."Sonic please step up to the plate and find Amy…"

Sonic scoffed, "And what makes you think that I'm gonna listen to you?"

" Um, Sonic...wrong move," Tails replied, concern appearing on his face.

"Wha--?" Sonic began.

Before Sonic could squeeze out another word, Rouge zipped over to him and grabbed him by the collar, raising him to her eye level. Sonic was extremely surprised and was speechless, staring straight into Rouge's burning embers called eyes.

If they thought Shadow was intimidating when he first regained consciousness, they had seen nothing; compared to Rouge, she made him seem as friendly as a puppy.

"Now listen here, Sonic T. Hedgehog, I swear, if you don't make this thing work, I will personally remove what is making you a man," Rouge growled, " Now then, you and Shadow will keep Amy busy until six then lead her to Sapphire Lake where we shall celebrate. Am I in any way unclear?"

Sonic shook his head, but Shadow rolled his eyes; however he did this once he wisely distanced himself from her, "I'm sorry for that rose hedgehog, but I've got more important things to do."

And with that said, the dark hedgehog headed down the hallway, turning a corner. "Shadow? Get back here!" Rouge cried. She heaved Sonic to the side as if he weighed little and pursued the dark hedgehog.

"Are you okay, Mister Sonic?" Cream asked, " I thought you were going to die!"

"...And yet, I wonder why she doesn't use her hands to fight...she has plenty of strength," Sonic muttered.

Rouge quickly followed after Shadow who seemed to be just barely out of ear shot. Every corner she rounded, she appeared just in time to see the last of his magnificent quills vanish from sight.

'Sheesh, even when he's not trying to loose someone he's fast!'

Rouge made a mad dash and exited the hospital, "...?"

However, he was nowhere in sight. In front of her laid a busy block of Station Square…but there was no Shadow.

"Shadow? Shadow! Come back!" Rouge beckoned.

When there was no response, the white bat frowned, looking rather miserable and alone in the middle of a bumbling street.

"...Oh..."

A suburban neighbor hood in Station Square (4:30 PM)...

"Hey, whatcha doin', Scythe?"

The young hedgehog girl, no more than fifteen years of age, wandered into her room.And with her, she brought a tray of sweet pastries and tea made fresh from her kitchen. She entered her room and saw no sight of the black and silver hedgehog.

" Hmm, where'd he go?" she asked herself.

Then she caught glimpse of her window.

It was open.

She gently placed the tray down and rushed to the window. She looked out and saw a quick blur swoosh by on her roof. She stared harder and that same blur went by again. With a little more concentration she realized that her target, Scythe, was jumping and darting around throwing attacks with an amazing agility.

"Whoa!" she cried impressed.

The girl was beyond awed with his presentation of skills. She watched him secretly for a couple of minutes, enjoying his stealth and lithe combat dexterity.

" Maybe I should get a closer look! He wouldn't mind having an audience."

And with that, Daisy determined that she had to get a better look. She started her ascension by starting to climb the roof. The estate she scaled was multiple stories, and the roof would make a very far way to fall. And the higher she climbed, the more she began to regret it.

Before long, she was close to her goal, and was almost able to see Scythe clearly. She was almost close enough to catch the glinting of his silver irises; Daisy smiled. She took each step slowly, edging closer, frowning in thought, 'Boy, now I wish I hadn't had wore these clunky Mary janes...or this skirt today for that matter.'

…Then Daisy did something very impractical that every person says not to do, she looked down.

At that very moment she just realized how high up she was, and how crazy she was for pulling a stunt like this. Vertigo hit her like a semi-truck and she suddenly turned her foot the wrong way and fell. She let out a piercing shriek as she felt herself falling.

'It's over, I'm gonna die so young…' she thought.

She closed her eyes, expecting the worst, but once she realized that she felt no wind whizzing past her, she opened one eye. In her view, she saw an upside-down Scythe, looking at her unenthusiastically.

"Scythe! You saved me!" Daisy said sounding a good mixed of shocked and disbelief. "What are you doing, girl?" He retorted sharply, ignoring her previous statement.

Daisy was dangling over her parents' estate with Scythe's grip upon her left leg as her only insurance from the ground below. She stared at the dark hedgehog before her, finding herself amazed; he had darted over so quickly!

And if he saved her, then to some extent, he must have cared about her! Although his cold, piercing silver eyes said otherwise. Then Daisy frowned; wait a minute! Why was he upside down?

"Are you upside down? That's cool!" she cried, beginning to feel the blood rushing to her head.

"No, you are."

"Huh?" it was then, she realized that she was the one upside-down…and in a dress.

"Eep!" She gasped, her face burning, "Hey! I'm wearing a dress here!"

Scythe rolled his eyes, "Whatever, that's your fault…and you're fourteen, you don't have anything."

He moved her above the roof and instantly dropped her, none too gently. Daisy rubbed her head then turned to look fiercely at Scythe who went back to throwing punches at thin air.

He did a few back flips consecutively, then, feeling irked, he turned to look at the girl in the purple dress. He knew her eyes were on him, and for some reason he couldn't focus.

"WHAT?" he hissed, turning to look at her.

"Who are you?" she asked, unusually soft, " Normal people can't do that kind stuff! Are you a ninja? A samurai?"

Scythe smirked, "I guess you can say that."

Daisy smiled at the tall hedgehog, then noticed that he turned his gaze else where. Just when it seemed like they were actually starting a half decent conversation.

"Who's home?" Scythe asked.

Daisy maneuvered around Scythe to understand what he meant, then she saw a royal blue Escalade zoom into the estate's drive way. Daisy released a piercing scream that rattled Scythe's skull. He turned and looked at her irritably.

"Oh no! My parents are home! Oh no, oh no, oh no! They're gonna freak if they see you! I can't just bring a stranger home!"

"Didn't you?" he replied nonchalantly.

"I gotta hide you. Quick, use your ninja skills and get us out of here!" she cried.

Scythe stared at her a little longer, picked her up, then darted to and fro until they were both safely out of sight. " Ahhhh-- hey! This is kinda fun!" Daisy squealed with delight.

The Station Square Hospital...

Amy was painting a clay sculptor with careful strokes, every gentle swoop she made, was bound to be her finest. Both her apron and her arms were covered with clay and paint, but she didn't seem to mind. Sonic silently rolled up behind her then…

"HEY AMES!"

Amy screamed, then turned around and splattered paint all over another patient's work. "Oops," she whispered. Then she turned to face Sonic, "YES?"

"Hehe, hey Ames," Sonic said sheepishly, "Whatcha' makin'? Is that Shadow?"

Amy arched an eyebrow, " 'ince when was 'hadow boo?"

Now Sonic was the one who arched an eyebrow, " 'Orry I speak weird, swoshen 'ongue."

"Ahh," Sonic said understanding, Amy's face darkened, "Swollen ass." He said gesturing to himself.

Amy laughed, then she turned her head and she saw Shadow enter the room. She was a little ruffed by his presence, but he didn't appear hostile.

"…That's a pretty good Sonic," Shadow said looking at Amy's sculpture.

"Ohhhh, she made me! That's why it's blue!" Sonic said laughing, feeling stupid.

Both Shadow and Amy stared at Sonic as if he had missed the world easiest question. Then Sonic coughed, ready to change the subject, " Ames, what if we, Shadow and yours truly, said we'd take you out on a shopping spree?"

"REALLY?"

"Yep!"

"You're good to go and everything, right?"

"YEAH!"

Sonic smiled, "Let's blow this Popsicle stand!"

Sonic was ready to lead Amy out of the hospital, but he noticed that his dark counterpart had vanished yet again.

" Where's 'Hadow?" Amy asked.

"Bah, don't bother with him, he's been in one of his moods lately," Sonic said, " I think he just finally realized out that I'm better than he is."

The azure one led Amy to the Station Square mall…where she shopped until her heart was content. She bought thousands of shirts, dresses, and shoes, and traveled to hundreds of stores. After spending an hour with the pink hedgehog, Sonic was exhausted. And Amy was still revving to go.

"I…can't…go on…any longer…" Sonic moaned.

"If this is what it took to make you suffer why didn't I think of it earlier?"

Sonic's bored gaze cleared away and his green eyes found Shadow making steps his direction.

" Hey I thought you had—"

Sonic's cell phone began to chirp, but Shadow beat Sonic to punch and picked up the phone, "Sonic, are you there? It's me, Rouge."

"No, it's Shadow," he answered.

Rouge was silent for awhile, then there was a very clear change in her tone, "Hmph…where's Sonic?"

Shadow turned to look at Sonic who was being squeezed to death by Amy, the blue hedgehog looked miserable and Shadow was loving every second of it.

"He's busy, what do you want?"

Rouge was quite again, contemplating her next move, "…Well, tell Sonic that we're almost done here---Tails! Move that banner higher! Cream! Amy's allergic to blue cheese cookies! Tails, I don't care if you like airplanes…remove them immediately! We're almost done here just hang on!"

"She's a murder Rouge!" Sonic cried from across the mall, "Everything she sees she has to have! What kind of creature are we really dealing with?"

"…Tell Sonic I'm almost done here…"

"Fine…"

There was an awkward silence, then Shadow began to speak, "Umm, Rouge, I have something to tell yo—"

"Nuh-uh! Whatever it is, save it!" she hissed

"WHAT?"

Click. The line went dead...

" Hello? HELLO? What? SHE JUST HUNG UP ON ME? PSSH!"

Shadow, infuriated, closed the phone, threw it on the floor and stormed out muttering to himself. Sonic and Amy blinked, watching him tear off into the distance.

"Hey, if you didn't like Verzion that much, I'll switch…" Sonic piped.

A suburban neighborhood in Station Square (5:30 PM)...

The young hedgehog child was busy roaming through her mother's closet. She tried on dresses in all colors of the rainbow and even the unknown hues. She also stacked her arms with multiple golden bracelets and puckered her lips as she placed on lipstick. Finally, after spending hours on her appearance, she topped it all off by placing a flower in her hair.

"I'm so gorgeous!" she squealed, "Not even that hardcore hottie will be able to resist me!"

While looking at her reflection she giggled then exited the master bedroom. She skipped out of the bedroom and she gasped, being greeted by two expected guests.

"Mom, dad?" she croaked.

"Hello Daisy! Playing dress up again?" Her mother asked, "My, do I have such a pretty little daughter!"

"Don't got any boys up there, do you honey?" Her father asked arching a playful eyebrow.

Both of her parents laughed and then WHAM! A door closed and walking out of the bathroom came Scythe. Both of her parents' turned pale and her mother screamed wildly. But Scythe strolled right by.

"Where's your room girl, I require rest," Scythe said to Daisy as if her parents weren't even standing there.

She pointed down the hall and he went straight into Daisy's room and both of her parents became silent, blinking up at him in both horror and curiosity. Momentarily, Scythe returned their gazes, " ...It's a good thing you take after your mother..."

Then he sauntered off towards his destination. Once the door closed, her parents found their voices.

"Daisy, who was that?" Her mother squealed.

"How old is that boy!?" Her father roared.

"He's my umm…Math tutor!" Daisy cried desperately.

"You're in honor's Algebra darling," her mother said slowly.

"Did I say math? I meant…um…Chemistry!"

A look of relief washed over both of her parents' faces, and Daisy slowly turned to follow Scythe. Then her mother put her hands on her hips, looking rather peeved, "Get back here right now young lady! Do I look stupid to you?"

Daisy stopped in her tracks and gulped, "N-no mother…"

"I was a young girl once too, you know!" She barked, "And he obviously isn't a tutor! So you better explain to me right now who he is, 'cause when were math instructors ever that hot?"

At Sapphire Lake Park (6:00 P.M.)...

Sonic brought the oblivious Amy over to Sapphire Park a little while after six when the sky was blossoming into a veil of magenta. Amy complimented all the scenery around her from the lovely cherry blossom trees to the sparkling Sapphire Lake.

Once Amy reached the meadows lit by lamps and incense, she gasped once she saw picnic tables filled with exquisite foods and all her friends standing around her.

"Surprise!"

Amy's eyes grew wide from the shock, then once she realized what was going on, she smiled and her eyes filled with tears of happiness.

"I'm so happy!" she said.

Amy turned to see Rouge approaching her in a rather elegant black, fluttering dress; the kind the wind loved to pluck. Amy's smile widened as Rouge burst out laughing.

"ROUGE! YOU! YOU!" Amy cried playfully attacking her.

Then she hugged the ivory bat, "Thank you so much, Rouge."

"You're welcome Amy," Rouge said smiling, "Tails, Cream and I invited all your closet friends and family to your welcome back party."

Amy felt someone tap her shoulder, and to her surprise she saw Sonic upon crutches smiling at her, "Would you care to dance milady? The night is young…I'm hot…you're lookin' pretty good …my ass is sore…"

Amy smiled deviously, "Let's rock!"

"Hey! That's my line!" Sonic cried, then he returned her evil smile, "Now let's do this thang…Sonic-crutch style baby!"

Then Rouge arched an eyebrow, " Umm, Sonic, are you suppose to be on crutches yet?"

"Naaaww, but what's the worst that can happen?" He answered.

Rouge watched Amy and Sonic head off to the dance floor where people were dancing and laughing. Rouge smiled then took a seat at a nearby chair. She cheered them both on, laughing at Sonic's foolish antics.

Then she realized something. Everyone but her had their…to say, mate. Sonic and Amy were cranking it up on the dance floor, Tails and Cream were even dancing together, taking turns spinning each other, and even Amy's parents were eating together, laughing. Rouge sat alone now looking miserable, but hoping, just hoping that a certain someone would show up and…

"Excuse me miss, but is this seat taken?"

Rouge looked up to see a male bat hovering above her. He looked like her male counterpart, familiar glossy, pristine ivory fur, and two honest deep, lovely eyes.

"Oh, no, help yourself," She said smiling.

He took the closet seat next to her, and followed her lonely gaze to the dance floor, "Are you here alone?"

"Yes," Rouge answered, her eyes glinting with sadness.

"A lovely girl like yourself alone? Now that's a crime," he said with an almost over-friendly smile. Blushing, Rouge looked over at the boy next to her. Taking a better look at him, she noticed just how handsome he was.

…Especially those exquisite azure eyes, partially hidden away under three strands of bangs.

"By the way, I'm Terrance, what's your name? Goddess?"

Rouge beamed, "My name is Rouge…it's a pleasure to meet you, Terrance."

He smiled, throwing a wink, " The pleasure's all mine--Oh, you have something on your cheek, here--I'll get it."

"Oh, um, thanks," Rouge replied. Terrance bent in closer removing the foreign substance from her face.

The black hedgehog had made a mad dash for Amy's party, after searching store after store, he had finally found her the perfect gift. Although he had to pass through a few states to find it, it was well worth it.

Shadow made his way to a hill where he stood a couple of meters from the party. He couldn't help but smile slightly as he viewed the invited company. Slowly surveying the scene, he caught scent of a young, attractive bat sitting by herself in a form-flattering dress.

Just as Shadow made his way over towards her, another bat, this time a male, took the nearest seat to her.

Thinking nothing of their idle chat, Shadow continued his care-free amble towards the two. Then suddenly, the white bat leaned into her, Shadow stopped walking immediately.

...They were kissing...

"There, all better," Terrance said smiling, "Apparently, you enjoyed the cake a little too much."

Rouge laughed, coloring slightly, " What can I say, it's a vanilla white cake!"

The smile on the male bat's face grew, " Well, I'm definitely glad I came here to meet you, you're amazing."

Rouge blinked, flustered; she had barely known this guy for more than five minutes and here he was calling her amazing...it's kinda nice, actually. But before Rouge could reply...

"…But I wish I could say the same thing about you."

Both Rouge and Terrance turned around to see a familiar black hedgehog walking in from behind them. Terrance raised an eyebrow and Rouge gasped, "Shadow?"

To be continued!

Chapter Fourteen Theme: ' Lonely no more.'-Rob Thomas