Forgiveness
"So, where are we goin'?" Amy asked.
"We aren't going anywhere. I'm leaving and you need to stay," Shadow demanded.
"Pfft! Fat chance of that! What kind of friend would I be if I just let you face danger all by yourself? I've got my hammer-" Amy declared as she gave her piko piko hammer an experimental swing. "Whatever Eggman's got planned I'm sure I can handle it."
"You'd be a good friend! Can't you see that you're one of the few good things in my life? Good friends listen to one another, don't they? If you ever decide to listen to me, ever, let it be now. Leave me alone and let me go. If I don't make it back this time then forget about me. Everything will be better that way."
"Please," Amy gasped as tears welled up from the corner of her eyes. "I don't want to see you hurt."
"W-what would you have me do if you were standing in my place?" Shadow asked.
"I don't know Shadow. I'm not you."
"Exactly. Now, would you let me go?"
"It's not your job to watch over me! I have a duty. Chaos knows I don't want to go, but I have to! Otherwise, I won't be able to live with myself if you got hurt."
"Do you think I could live with myself if I let you go alone?" Amy asked. It was a rhetorical question and Shadow knew that. He hated just how well the pink hedgehog could seemingly read her innermost thoughts.
"C'mon," she continued. "There's gotta be another way!"
"I've tried. I've looked at it every way I could think of and this is the only way," Shadow blinked looking up and away so Amy couldn't see the first glistening drops of tears sliding down his face. "Please, forgive me for being selfish."
"NO!"
Shadow his voice wavering and in a barely audible tone whispered: "Chaos control" and soon vanished in a flash of golden light.
Amy dropped to her knees. She knew that he was probably halfway across the city by now; teleporting from rooftop to rooftop. As usual, it seemed she just couldn't keep up.
"I-it c-can't ever be fair c-can it?" There was silence in her apartment. Her baking equipment wouldn't talk back to her. However, much she wished they would answer back. "F-for what it's w-worth, I d-don't forgive you."