Chapter Seven

Once again it was early night and Shadow was in his bathroom finishing up getting ready for bed. Rouge couldn't make it for some reason that involved spying on Knuckles and attempting to get her hands on the master emerald but she had promised to come over tomorrow afternoon instead.

"Ok now to gulp that pill down and get to bed. Wow I have never been this excited to go to sleep before, must have something to do with those very realistic dreams. I do hope I don't wake up at eight and sleep in later, they just don't last long enough." Shadow softly said to himself as he switched off the bathroom light and walked fast to his bed.

With the pill taken, lamp off and very cosy in bed Shadow closed his eyes with an excited expression on his features...

Shadow opened his eyes and found himself standing beside a shopping cart in a busy supermarket. He looked around then smiled as he saw Maria looking at some cereals with a thinking expression as Gerald was the one controlling the cart. He also noticed other shoppers looking at him with unsure expression and some were even keeping their children very close to them.

"Just try to not take their reactions to heart Shadow, they have never seen or been this close to a Mobian hedgehog before." Gerald whispered down to Shadow as they waited for Maria to pick a box of cereal.

"So I am now classed as a Mobian hedgehog? Do all Mobian hedgehogs look similar to how I look then?" Shadow whispered back at he looked up at his creator curiously.

"Sort of yes, they all have their quills in whatever style they choose and fur colour is varied but you and they are pretty much in the same category, minute the Black Arms blood of course." Gerald whispered back with a small grin.

"Shadow come help me choose!" Maria called out as she gave up trying to decide.

Shadow smiled happily and walked away from his creator and stood next to Maria.

"Ok what looks appealing to you?" Maria asked with a bright tone.

"Erm..." Shadow looked at the many differed boxes, wondering which one looked worthy of being chosen.

"If you want my opinion then go with one made with chocolate." A random human boy said as he stood next to Shadow.

Both Shadow and Maria looked over at the smiling boy with smiles of their own until his father approached and not looking happy.

"Joshua get away from that thing, don't you know Mobians are dangerous." The man said with a suspicious look at Shadow then dragged his son far away.

"But dad..." The boy whined then was dragged around the corner into the next isle.

"Pay that man no attention Shadow, he just doesn't understand and believes what he hears. Shall we try what that boy suggested?" Maria softly said with a smile at Shadow.

Shadow sighed and slowly nodded, now looking a bit upset. His ears were drooped a little and he had his head bowed so he was looking at his feet.

"Cheer up Shadow, not everyone will react to you like that." Maria sweetly said as she lent over and hugged Shadow a little tightly.

That soon put a smile on Shadow's face and definitely cheered him up.

"So chocolate cereal then that narrows it down by a lot." Shadow happily says then Maria broke the hug.

"Yep so how about...this one?" Maria said as she once again scanned the cereal then picked out a box of chocolate covered hoops.

"They look like rings but tasty. Yeah let's go with those." Shadow said with some excitement in his voice then the two finally walked over to Gerald and Maria placed the box in the cart.

"Ok next we need coffee, sugar and tea. That should be in the next isle." Gerald said with a warm tone then began to push the cart with Shadow walking closely to it and Maria walking next to Shadow.

"The next isle." Shadow said with his ears dropping as he didn't want to bump into that man again.

"Don't worry yourself, we are going left from here not right." Gerald softly said then ruffled the top of Shadow's head.

"That's a relief, I do not wish to anger that man more than I already have." Shadow said with a sigh of relief as he walked beside the cart close to Gerald.

"You did nothing Shadow ok, some people just need to get to know you and the more you show yourself the quicker they will get used to you being here." Maria said with a warm tone while looking at Shadow.

"Maria is right Shadow so don't go blaming yourself and feel that you should stay away from all." Gerald agreed then all turned the corner and into the next isle.

"So coffee, sugar and tea...I don't see any down here grandpa." Maria said with a small frown while looked down both lanes of shelving.

"There are jars of things though." Shadow added with a small smile and was wondering what all these jars were filled with.

"Oh let's get some jam and peanut butter and oh marmalade too. Shadow you will love the taste of all those either on toast or in a sandwich." Maria excitedly said with a pleading look at Gerald.

"Well...ok, ok go pick them out my dear." Gerald relented with a soft sigh, smiling warmly when Maria happily left to grab them.

"What is that one professor?" Shadow asked as they had stopped and stood next to more spreads but the one he was pointing to was a black jar with a bright yellow lid.

"That is Marmite and very strong tasting, good on toast too. Could you pick one up and put it in the cart please Shadow." Gerald answered then nicely asked with a grin.

"Ok." Shadow said with a bright tone then carefully grabbed one jar of Marmite and placed it in the cart, having to tiptoe just to reach down to place it in gently.

"I'm back, oh nice, Marmite." Maria announced her return and placed the items in, noticing the jar Shadow placed inside.

"Yeah sounds alright and good on toast apparently." Shadow said with a smile as they all pressed on to look for tea, coffee and sugar...

Shadow stirred from his sleep and opened his eyes half way. He glanced at his clock and growled in announce as it read eight o'clock in the morning.

"Oh come on, can't I seriously sleep in later!" Shadow shouted as he laid there and covered his face with both hands.

"Wait what if I take two? That should have me sleeping in later than eight o'clock." Shadow thought as he uncovered his face and stared up at his ceiling.

"Yeah then I can dream longer and be with Maria longer." Shadow whispered to himself then decide to get up.