Disclaimer: I do not own Sonic or any characters in the franchise. They're are all owned by Sega.


They walked into the house both Shadow and Eclipse shares. Blaze took the appearance of their home. It's not as dark or gloomy as she expected, but it's a nice and comfortable.

"Make yourself at home, princess," said Shadow as he walked into his living room.

"This place is very nice and cozy," Blaze said as she continues to look around. "I think I'll be just fine here."

Eclipse sat down on the couch and turns on the TV. He turned to Boomerang because he enjoys old cartoons a lot. What was on at the moment was Tom & Jerry. He enjoyed watching Tom and Jerry bicker over anything continuously. It also gives him ideas on how to mess with Shadow once in awhile.

Shadow shifts his gaze to Blaze, "Want anything? Any refreshments?"

Blaze looks over to Shadow and shook her head in response, "Thank you for the offer though."

"Well, allow me to show you to your room since you're staying with us." Shadow motions Blaze to the hallway. Blaze followed Shadow into the room she will be sleeping in.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention," Shadow spoke up once again. "There's someone else that's staying with us since the commander at my job ordered me to take care of him. His name is Infinite."

Blaze looks at Shadow in confusion. "I never heard of him before."

"That's because he just came around. He was a villain at one point, but due to certain circumstances G.U.N. recruited just so that he doesn't do anything again. Since I defeated him before, I'm supervising him. And you'll be sleeping in his room until he gets back." Shadow affirms.

Blaze looked thoughtfully at him. Trying to process this information about this new character.

Shadow broke her thought process, "Don't worry about him though. G.U.N. has Infinite on a trip, so he won't be around for a few days."

"Will I ever get to meet Infinite?" Blaze asked.

"Yes, eventually," Shadow answered as he starts walking towards the door. "Well, you look drained, so I'll let you rest. Good night, princess."

As he began to close the door Blaze calls out to him, "Shadow wait."

Shadow moves the door over and looks at her with a blank expression. "I told you before to stop calling me princess," Blaze said.

A smirk forms across Shadow lips. "Very well...your highness." And with that, Shadow left before Blaze could retort.

'What am I gonna do with that hedgehog?' Blaze thought as she chuckles to herself. Eventually Blaze took off her clothes and went to sleep.

Meanwhile, Shadow walks down the hallway towards the living room to see his brother enjoying his cartoons. "I'm going to bed," Shadow stated as he walked towards his room.

"Alright. What's the plan for tomorrow? Are we helping her find the last emerald," Eclipse asked as he turns to brother.

"Well, I'm not sure," Shadow said. "Depends on what Blaze wants to do. We still have to go to work tomorrow too, but I'm sure we can figure something out. For the time being, I'm too tired to plan ahead. Good night."

"Good night Shadow." Eclipse said.

'Hm, I wonder what those emeralds look like since they're different from our Chaos Emeralds. Maybe things will get interesting.' Eclipse thought as he starts drifting into his slumber.

Shadow's alarm went off. Once Shadow finally got up to turn it off, Shadow went into the bathroom to take a shower and brush his teeth. Once he was done with that, he woke up Eclipse, so that he could get ready as well. Shadow walks up to Blaze's room and opened the door.

"WAKE UP, YOUR HIGHNESS!" Shadow screams very loudly.

Blaze jolts up from her bed immediately. She looks around to see Shadow standing there with a devious grin on his face.

"Was that really necessary?" Blaze whines as she rubbed her eyes.

"I can't have you missing breakfast," Shadow smiles slightly he teases the purple feline.

When Blaze started removing the covers, Shadow's eyes grew large. Blaze wasn't wearing any clothes. Shadow immediately covers his eyes, so that he couldn't abuse her modesty.

"Shadow, what's wrong?" Blaze asked, slightly confused at her ebony friend's action.

"Blaze...y-your clothes." Shadow stammered.

Blaze finally realizee why he covered his eyes. "OH MY GOD!" Blaze exclaimed as her muzzle turn into a bright red color and immediately covers herself.

"I'm very sorry... I-I'm gonna go now... Breakfast will be ready soon, so come to the dining room soon." Shadow states as he backs away from the door and walks away.

Shadow walks in the kitchen with rosy cheeks. Eclipse notices Shadow as he was cooking some bacon and eggs. "What happened to you?" Eclipse asks, as he cooked the meal.

"I don't want to talk about it." Shadow said sheepishly.

That was an embarrassing moment. He recalls when he accidentally walked into Rouge's room while she was naked when they were roommates. At least with Blaze the most he seen was fur, but Rouge was a different story. She even tried seducing him just to tease him for the fun of it. Shadow shook his head for reminiscing that embarrassing moment.

Once Blaze finished her hygiene routine, she went to the kitchen and looks at Shadow in embarrassment. Shadow scratches his quills nervously and mouths 'sorry' once again.

Blaze smiles nervously, then smells the food. "Wow, that smells really good," Blaze said as she sat at the dinner table.

"It's just about done." Eclipse said with a smile.

The Black Arms that Eclipse took came into the room with famished looks. Shadow helped served the food to the Black Arms and made plates for Blaze, Eclipse and himself. It was eggs and a lot of bacon. Eclipse explained to Blaze that the Black Arms needs a lot of protein to be in top condition.

"So the alien side of you is called the Black Arms?" Blaze asked.

"Correct. Me, Eclipse, and those creepy slugs over there are the last of our kind." Shadow said.

Eclipse glares at Shadow at the last remark and hisses at Shadow mentally, 'They're not creepy slugs. Besides you're to blame for the Black Arms being nearly extinct.'

Shadow glares back at Eclipse, 'I really don't want to have this conversation right now, so can we drop it.'

'Tch!' Eclipse responds in disgust.

Blaze stares at the both of them in confusion. She decides not to probe and focus on what she was about to devour. As they chowed down on their food, Eclipse starts the conversation.

"So what do you have planned for today Blaze?" Eclipse queries.

Blaze did not answer right away as she feels a sense of uncertainty swelling inside her. She remains quiet for a few more seconds which made Shadow and Eclipse watch her more intently.

Blaze finally spoke up, "I'm not exactly sure what I should. I have to find the Sol Emerald as soon as possible, but I don't know where to start."

Shadow thought a few seconds, then made a suggestion, "Maybe you could meet with our commander. I'm sure he can find a way to track the emerald down."

"Good idea." Eclipse says in agreement.

Blaze began to frown, then looks at the two brothers, "That's not necessary. I can find a way to get my Sol Emerald back."

Eclipse raises an eyebrow, "Did you not just say you don't know where to start to search for it?"

"Yes, but-," Blaze began.

"I know what you're going to say princess," Shadow cuts her off quickly. "You are fully capable of finding the Sol Emerald by yourself without any help from others."

Blaze sighs in defeat, then continues eating the food on her plate.

Shadow continues, "I know you don't like asking for help. But what other choice do you have?"

"You don't have to help me guys. Don't let my failures of watching my emeralds bother you guys." Blaze says with a flustered look on her face.

Shadow remains stubborn, "We're gonna help you. No point in trying to convince us not to. Alright?"

Blaze remains silent for a few more moments, then complies, "Ok fine. Let's hope this speeds up my search for my emerald."

Shadow nods in response, "Alright, once we're done eating I'll make an appointment with the commander so that you could speak with him," Shadow said as he finished the last of his meal.

"Sounds like a plan." Eclipse responds after taking a sip of his water.

Once everyone was done eating they headed to Central City where G.U.N. headquarters was located. Once they got to their destination, a lot of people were staring at them more than usual. Shadow was used to it, considering the people here have done that since he started working here, but Blaze was attracting a lot of attention. Some people were snickering as the trio went to check in for the day. As he went up to Jerry, the man who works up the front desk, Jerry shot a look at the purple feline who was with them.

Shadow was about to begin, but Jerry cuts him off, "Shadow, Eclipse, and Shadow's new girlfriend. Alright you're all good."

Shadow and Blaze froze as they replay the words Jerry has said in their mind. Shadow was the first to get his nerves back, "She's not my girlfriend!" Shadow states out of anger and embarrassment.

"It's ok man," Jerry said casually. "Since you and Rouge never worked out, it was only fair for you to find another one. I gotta say, she's an eye catcher."

Jerry began to laugh, completely oblivious to a furious hedgehog ready to lunge at his neck. Shadow tried to move, but his limbs were unresponsive. Shadow realizes that this was Eclipse's doing, then he thanks Eclipse mentally for stopping him.

Once Shadow regained his composure, Shadow shot back, "Haha very funny Jerry. If you haven't realized by now, Rouge and I were only teammates. Nothing more or less. And Blaze is just a good friend of mine."

"Well if that's the case, then why hasn't your 'girlfriend' disagree yet?" Jerry said, then he shifts his gaze towards Blaze.

Blaze was dying of embarrassment and didn't know what to do. Her muzzle was a bright red and she couldn't think clearly.

Shadow instinctively steps in front of her and grabs her hand, "Leave her alone and mind your business!" Shadow snarled at Jerry and took Blaze away from the front desk with Eclipse trailing behind them. Eventually, they made it to the cafeteria.

Blaze's muzzle was still rosy as she stood next to Shadow, "Uh Shadow," Blaze called. He looks at her waiting for her response, "Thank you for saving me from that."

Shadow fully faces her, "It's fine. I don't need you getting caught up in these rumors about me." Shadow said. "Now I made the appointment when we were on our way here, so the meeting doesn't start in half an hour."

Shadow noticed that Blaze still seem bothered by the exchange from earlier.

"Are you hungry?" Shadow asked.

Shadow was not one to create small talk. It's very rare for him to bother, but he needed to do something. Once Blaze nodded, Shadow took her hand and walked over to the line, glaring daggers at anyone who bothers to look at them. They finally got their food and made their way to the table that Shadow usually sits at, but that was a big mistake. When they came up to the table, the seductive treasure hunter, Rouge the Bat, was sitting at the table and notice the new guest.

"Well if it isn't the blazing princess," Rouge said as she looks up at Blaze.

"Rouge," Blaze said as she glares at the treasure hunter. Anger was building up as she remembered Rouge nearly having her world destroyed.

"Never thought I'd see you here," Rouge states in a tone that annoyed the lilac feline. "So, what brings you here? Lost the emeralds once again?"

Blaze bares her teeth in anger, then lunges at Rouge, but luckily Shadow pulls the feline away while Eclipse steps in front of Rouge to prevent any escalation.

"Why are you protecting her!? She is asking to get burned!" Blaze exclaims, then set herself and Shadow on fire.

"Oh shi-," Shadow steps away from Blaze and was just about to panic. Shadow stops, then calms himself. Focusing on putting the flames out with his inner chaos. The last of the flames dispersed.

'Thank chaos I could do that,' Shadow thought as he checks his body for any burn marks.

"Oh Shadow, I'm so sorry. I hope you can forgive me," Blaze said with an apologetic look once she realized the mistake she made.

Shadow reassured that she was already forgiven. Once everything calmed down, Shadow began, "Blaze, you have to control your temper, and you shouldn't hold a grudge against Rouge for something that happened years ago," Shadow states, while Eclipse nods his head in agreement behind him. "And Rouge, you shouldn't provoke Blaze like that. It's not very nice of you to do that. Not only is it insensitive, but it's also unprofessional. It's bad when me of all people has to play mediator on this." Shadow finished his lecture, but Rouge always has to have the last word for everything.

"Shadow, I wasn't provoking Blaze," Rouge said with an annoyed look. "And you're the last person to ever say anything about being insensitive considering your past actions."

Shadow was going to make a rebuttal, but Rouge stood up from the table, took her plate and sat at the table where Topaz sat. Shadow sighs in defeat, wishing he could make some sort of resolution, but Blaze and Rouge are too stubborn to compromise. Shadow sat down with Eclipse and Blaze, so they could finish their food.

Eclipse went off to G.U.N. Research and Development quarters to get his work started, leaving Shadow and Blaze alone.

"You have a few minutes left before the meeting with Commander Towers," Shadow said, then shifts his gaze towards his feline friend. "We should head up there now. Shall I escort you?"

Shadow offers his arm to Blaze, just to mess with the idiots who love to gossip about the ebony hedgehog. Blaze chuckles and took his arm, then the two began walking up to the Commander's office. Once they got off the elevator to the same floor as the commander's office, Shadow bows just for his and Blaze's entertainment. Blaze laughs hysterically, before she took a few more steps towards the office door.

"See ya later, 'your highness'." Shadow said with a large smirk painted on his face.

Blaze waves at Shadow as she giggles uncontrollably, then went inside the office.

'At least she went inside on a happy note,' Shadow thought as he made his way towards the training grounds.

Once he got there, he went to the console and pulled up the schedule for today. 'Seems like it's just combat and stealth practice. This will be easy,' Shadow thought as he got started.