Chapter 7

Later that same night, Shadow heard a crash and crazy chirping coming from the training room. The animal was back and had been caught in the trap.

Shadow threw the covers off himself and ran to the training room, eager to get to it before the doctor did. When he got to the training room, he went inside and walked up to the trap, peering in.

Inside the cage was a little blue Chao. Shadow was shocked, the blue color almost as royal as Sonic's. The Chao looked up at him with its bright green eyes, filled with fear and curiosity.

Shadow sighed. He knew what Eggman was wanting to do with this creature, but he couldn't let him do it. He couldn't let him kill this innocent creature.

'So what do I do then?' He thought to himself. And then, he had an idea.

…

"Don't worry little one, I'm taking you somewhere safe." Shadow promised the panicking Chao, who was still in the cage.

Shadow walked quickly and silently through the night, heading into the city. He was on his way to the Chao Garden, sure that the Chao in the cage would be safe there and perhaps would even be adopted. The Chao was cute enough and was such a unique blue color. Shadow couldn't help but be reminded of Sonic whenever he looked into its bright green eyes.

When Shadow got to the Chao Garden, as expected, it was closed. The door was locked and the lights were off, however, this would not stop the ebony hedgie.

A master of stealth and agility, Shadow quietly made his way to the back of the glass dome. The dome had plenty of windows that he could get open, with the right tools. Anticipating that this would happen, Shadow set the cage down and reached into his quills, pulling out a lockpick. He stuck it into the lock on one of the windows and carefully unlocked it. He then opened the window, picked the cage back up, and carefully stepped inside.

The Chaos in the garden were all peacefully asleep, not bothered by his presence at all. Shadow walked to the middle of the garden and gently set the cage down. He then pulled the door open, allowing the Chao to exit the cage.

"Go on now," He encouraged the little blue creature. "You'll be safe here."

The Chao chirped and flew out of the cage, flying up to his height and nuzzling his face. Shadow couldn't help but chuckle at the affection.

"You're welcome." He told it. "Now when you're adopted, don't go sneaking into other people's houses again, ok?"

The Chao chirped in agreement before flying to one of the trees, nestling into its branches and falling asleep. Shadow smiled, picked the cage back up, and quickly left, locking the window closed once more.

As he skated back home, he couldn't help but feel proud of what he's done.

And he knew, that if Maria was there… she would be proud too.

…

When Shadow got back home, he went over to the training area to put the cage back and act like nothing happened. However, his hopes were crushed when he saw Eggman in the room, looking for the trap.

"Shadow." He said to the hedgehog. "What are you doing?"

"T-The trap caught the animal." Shadow explained. "It was a Chao. I… I took care of it for you."

"Did you now?" Eggman challenged him, crossing his arms. "And please, do tell me, how did you manage that?"

"I… I took him to the Chao Garden. He won't be breaking in anymore."

"Oh really? And what, did he tell you that himself?"

"What?" Shadow was confused, and shamefully, a little afraid. "No, doctor, I-I took him all the way into the city. He'll be adopted, surely, and there'll be no reason for him to try finding food anywhere else."

"Shadow, he's a wild animal, the moment he has freedom he's gonna run off and quite surely, he'll find his way back here." Eggman sneered. "I told you to let me handle it."

"I was just…" Shadow started, but was interrupted.

"You were being a child, as per usual." Eggman growled. The comment made Shadow flatten his ears against his head in shame. "Despite what you may have thought when you were with Maria, not everything is sunshine and daisies. Do you understand?"

"... Yes sir." Shadow nodded shamefully.

"Now grow up and get your head out of the clouds. Start being serious. You're the Ultimate Lifeform and it's high time you started acting like it."

"... ok." Shadow nodded again, small tears starting to fill his eyes.

"Now go back to bed. We're on the hunt for a Chaos Emerald tomorrow and you need to be well rested in case we run into Sonic and his pesky friends."

"Yes sir." Shadow once again nodded as the doctor walked away. He wiped at his eyes, feeling ashamed for crying over a simple scolding.

But really, all he was trying to do was help. Was that so bad?

As he went back to bed, he thought about his play dates with Sonic in Terabithia.

Childish. Disgraceful. Head in the clouds.

That's what Eggman would say about it.

… But he liked pretending with Sonic in the forest.

… What was he going to do now?