Chapter 8
Explosions, fire, and shouts emitted in the Jungle Zone. It was the next day and Team Sonic and Team Eggman were battling with each other to obtain the prize of a white Chaos Emerald.
Tails, Amy, and Knuckles were busy destroying Eggman's robots, while Sonic was busy battling it out with Shadow.
Shadow unfortunately didn't like fighting with Sonic like this. Not after the bond they have been sharing when in Terabithia. It felt… wrong.
Shadow quickly shook his head, shaking that thought out as Sonic suddenly tackled him to the forest floor. He couldn't think about that now.
"So," Sonic smiled at him, his arms making a cage around the black hedgehog as he hovered above him, their noses practically touching. "Are we gonna fight that troll after this?"
Shadow felt the heat rushing to his cheeks as Sonic hovered above him. For some reason, he liked this position. The world seemed to slow down around them as he laid there on the ground, with Sonic right above him… his lips so close…
Shadow quickly shook those thoughts out of his head, finding them rather disturbing. He glared back into the emerald eyes and growled. "There is no troll."
"What?" Sonic asked in confusion, his eyes revealing shock. "What do you mean?"
"You got your head in the clouds, Faker." Shadow sneered, recalling Eggman's words last night. "There is no troll. There is no Dark Master. And there is no Terabithia."
Sonic sighed, his eyes showing hurt as his ears dropped to his head. "Well… you better not let the Terabithians hear you." He warned. "They thought you were their king… and quite frankly… so did I."
Shadow couldn't stop the ache of guilt he felt in his heart when he heard Sonic's crestfallen voice.
He knew he had hurt him.
"Sonic!" Tails called from behind. "Eggman's retreating and we got the emerald! Come on, let's go!"
"Coming Tails!" Sonic called back before looking back down at Shadow. "Pretend to get knocked out."
Shadow quickly nodded, watching as the blue hedgehog raised his fist, then made a show of flinching and being knocked unconscious as Sonic punched the dirt beside his head.
"If you change your mind… let me know."
And with that, Sonic was gone, speeding back to the Tornado to meet up with his friends and leave.
"SHADOW!"
The black and red hedgehog was suddenly splashed with cold water, sending him upright immediately. He coughed and he sputtered, forcing the water out of his lungs.
"What did you do that for?!" He growled at the doctor.
"They got away, we're retreating." Eggman informed. "Let's go." Then he whispered under his breath "Can't believe you failed me again."
Shadow felt his ears drop at that, his expression saddened. Could he not do a single thing right for his cousin?
Shadow lifted his head up to watch the Tornado flying away. And for a brief hopeful minute, he thought he saw Sonic looking back.
"SHADOW!" The hedgehog flinched at Eggman's commanding voice.
"Coming!"
…
That night, Shadow laid in his bed feeling very sore throughout his whole body. He was unable to escape Eggman's rants today and for that, he paid the price.
Eggman was FURIOUS with him. He couldn't believe that Shadow had allowed himself to be beaten by being "knocked out". So, the fat man had doubled the hedgehog's training that day, forcing him to over exert his body.
Shadow winced as a muscle spasmed in his calf, sending a shooting pain through his right leg. He had been exhausted in his training and had landed on his leg wrong. Now his calf wouldn't stop cramping.
He placed his hands against his mouth to keep himself from screaming in pain and irritating the doctor further, tears filling his eyes.
Chaos it hurt so bad! And he knew that if he went to Eggman for a remedy he most likely wouldn't get one. He needed an alternative. He reached for his phone and quickly started texting Sonic.
Hey Sonic.
Hey Shads. What's up?
I'm in pain. :'(
What?! Why?
Eggman was furious with me when we got back. He doubled my training as punishment.
So you over exerted yourself?
Yep. I'm really sore but really it's my leg that's the problem.
What's wrong?
I landed on it wrong and now it won't stop cramping. It really hurts. X,((
Aw, it's ok Shads. Don't cry.
Got any remedies for me?
I got plenty, but it sounds like you need relief fast. The fastest result is a nice hot bath.
Now why didn't I think of that? X))
X)) Too much pain maybe?
Probably. Thanks Sonic, I'll go do that now.
No problem Shadow.
Hey Sonic?
Yeah?
Before I go… I just want to apologize about what I said today.
It's ok Shads. I knew something must be wrong. You were having so much fun in Terabithia with me. What happened?
… I messed up while trying to help Eggman with something and he got really mad. Accused me of acting childish and having my head in the clouds.
Isn't that the same thing you said to me?
Yeah.
You know I really don't like how he treats you.
I don't either, but he's the only family I have left.
Family doesn't treat you like that, Shadow.
…
Are you gonna let him influence you?
… No. Sonic, get ready. Troll hunting starts tomorrow! ;)
XD