(Chapter 2, The promise)
*The Next Day*
I spent all night working on my board for the tournament tomorrow. If anything goes then I need to be ready for just about anything. I looked at the time as it was just now turning noon.
'I guess I better eat.' I thought to myself as I stood up to stretch
"Shadow…" I heard Maria's voice whisper and immediately I look over to see on one else in the room
The room soon changed into a field of roses as I saw Maria standing there with her back facing me.
"Shadow…" She whispered "Will you still keep your promise?
"Promise?" I asked as I couldn't remember anything much after she gave her life for me
"Yes, the promise you made with me." she replied "Doesn't matter what you've done or who you are, you promised me. You don't break promises."
"I…" I tried to say, but she turned around giving me that loving smile of hers
"If you forgot then find this field and sing the song you used to sing to me, Shadow…" she said as her voice faded "You will… remember…" and she vanished
"MARIA!" I shouted as I sat up breathing heavily then looked around
I was still in my room, I must have fallen asleep and not even noticed. Looking at the time it was only five minutes pasted noon.
'Damn it.' I thought to myself as I got up 'find the field and sing.'
I picked up my guitar and set out to find the field of roses Maria had told me about. She was right about one thing, I never break my promises even if it would cost me my life. I didn't really know where to look other than going to the forest.
"Follow the wind…" I heard Maria's voice whisper
Soon a gentle breeze came by as I soon took off following it. The breeze weaved in and out through the trees and sometimes causing me to do u turns, but I started to remember it was like I was playing with Maria again as the thought of it made me smile a bit. It wasn't long until I could see a clearing of a field of roses as the sun was just setting. I closed my eyes and deeply inhaled the nature around me as it calmed me greatly. The field of roses was very beautiful and almost too good to be true. I took out my guitar as I though hard about what song sang to Maria. Nothing had really come into mind as I was about to give up I walked a little further into the field and kicked something. Looking down it was a rusty nail that had pinned down two very old and nearly unreadable tickets to a carnival. It hit me as I pulled out my guitar again and began to strum. It felt as if my hands were moving on their own as I let the sounds of the guitar draw me in. closing my eyes I soon remembered the words then began to sing pouring everything I had into it.
*singing*
"It's all a game.
Avoiding failure, when true colors will bleed.
All in the name of misbehavior and things we don't need.
I lust for after no disaster can touch, touch us anymore.
And more than ever, I hope to never fall…
Where enough is not the same it was before
Come feed the rain, 'cause I'm thirsty for your love
Dancing underneath the skies of lust.
Yeah feed the rain, 'cause without your love my life
Ain't nothing, but this carnival of rust…"
I saw a memory flash of Maria and I as we were running away.
"Shadow please promise me that you will save this world and that you will find happiness within it!" Maria said quickly as we both made a sharp turn.
"Yes I promise you Maria!" I said then saw her get shot "MARIA!"
"Don't worry shadow I will be watching over you, but even if you don't remember or have forgotten then I will find the one for you."
"I won't ever forget, Maria!" I shouted as I tried to go to her
She hit a button and I was trapped into a capsule.
"Farewell Shadow the Hedgehog." She said as she fell to the ground motionless
"Noooo!" I shouted as everything went black
The memory ended as I was now playing the guitar sharper as I let a few tears run down my face as I sang the next part.
*continue singing*
"Don't walk away…
Don't walk away…
Ooohhh
When world is burning
Don't walk away…
Don't walk away…
Oohhoo
When the heart is yearning…
Don't walk away
Don't walk away
Oohhoo
When the world is burning
Don't walk away
Don't walk away
Ooohhhoooo
When the heart is yearning…."
Upon finishing I was breathing heavily as a pain swelled up in my chest from the flash back. I wiped away my tears as I soon realized that someone was watching me and I turned my head immediately to the forest line. To my surprise it was that pink hedgehog from before, but I was now staring at her with very cold stare as she was the only one to have ever seen me like this. She smiles and walks a bit closer.
"That was beautiful!" She quietly said
Her smile for some reason made me relax into a soft expression as I looked down a bit.
"How long were you there?" I asked softly
"Long enough. You sang with so much passion." She replies continuing to smile
"Thanks," I said as I looking up to her "I never got your name by the way."
"Amy, and you are?" She asks
"Shadow," I replied gently then added "would you care to join me to enjoy the night sky for a bit?"
"I would love to!" She says cheerfully coming closer
'Wait a sec why am I being friendly?' I thought to myself as she came closer to me 'This isn't like me and I...'
My thoughts were cut off as she was nearing me. The moon light shined down on to her along with the roses all round making the whole scenery almost breathtaking putting me at a complete loss of words for the beautiful that unfolded right before me.
"So Amy why did you run into me the other day?" I finally managed to ask as I sat down and strummed a soft tone on the guitar
"Oh ya, sorry about that again! I was in a hurry trying to find someone." She said nervously giggling to herself a little
"I take it, it was that blue hedgehog running for his life?" I said laughing slightly as she giggled
"Ya, although I'm pretty sure he didn't know that I was chasing him. It was hard for me to keep up with him considering how fast he was running!" She says as she sits next to me
"Love problems?" I asked then felt a strange bit of hope that she would say no
'Just what is this weird feeling?' I thought to myself as I looked over to her staring into her emerald eyes when she was looking up to the sky
"No, to be honest I have never met him before." She said looking towards me
"Really?" I asked as I look up to the night sky to avoid her eyes as I felt relieved "Why chase after someone you never met?"
"I have some business with him." She replies "Oh, ya!" She added remembering something, "I remember seeing you holding a poster of the battle royal yesterday. Are you going?"
"I'm actually in it." I replied and had stopped strumming on my guitar and looked her in the eyes "In all honesty I would rather not enter the tournament as huge crowds aren't something I'm fond of."
"I'm sure you'll do great!" She says smiling
"I suppose so," I said then without realizing it I reached out and gently placed my hand on her cheek
She blushes a deep crimson red and looks into my eyes.
I quickly notice what just happened and remove my hand quickly with a light blush showing on my cheeks
"I... I'm sorry I didn't mean to." I said
She smiles and gently kisses me on the cheek. I was stunned for a bit, but then looked at her lovingly as I placed my hand on her cheek again and kissed her. I didn't even know that a kiss could feel this good as I wanted this moment to last as I put more passion into it. Passion I never knew I had as I was just going with the flow. Before parting our lips for a breath of air I gently tugged the bottom of her lip with my teeth hearing a slight moan from her. She was blushing like crazy and looks away trying to hide her blush. I smile at her blushing and stand up holding out my hand to help her up.
"It's already late so the least I can do is walk you home." I said as she smiles and taking my hand
"Oh no, It's fine! Since you're in the tournament tomorrow, I don't want to deprive you from your rest!" She said while standing
"Trust me, you thought that blue hedgehog was fast then you really are in for a treat." I said smiling "Just tell me where you live and you'll be there before you know it."
"Well, ok! I live just off the second exit down the street in the first apartment building." She said smiling back
I picked her up and ready my stance then kissed her on the head lightly.
"Hold on tightly." I whispered to her then focused "Chaos control."
In a flash we were in front of the apartment building as she was very surprised at how fast we were already there.
"Wow, that's amazing!" She says amazed
"Wait for it." I said as I turned my head half way listening only for her to give me a puzzled look
A second or so passes by until I hear it.
"You may want to get inside." I said in a serious tone
"What?" She asks giving me an even more confused look
"For that." I pointed out in the distance as a huge cloud of dust was coming towards us like a sand storm "Uh do you mind if I come in?"
She giggles a little while I blush a little in embarrassment which I never would do, but with her I was seeing a side of me I never saw before.
"Not at all, come on in!" She said with a smile as she opens the door to the building
I quickly get in just before the sand storm came rolling in.
"Sorry about that I got a little too carried away." I said shyly
"Its fine," She said continuing to giggle a little, "And I thought the blue hedgehog was fast!"
I laughed a bit then look at her with an eyebrow raised
"So I take it I'm sleeping over then?" I asked her only to see her blushing
"Umm, sure if you would like!" She said as she walked past me down the hall as I smile at her lovingly
"I would be more than happy to, but I don't want to intrude." I said following her
"No, you're not intruding. I always get bored alone anyways!" She said cheerfully continuing to walk down the hall. She stops at a door, opens it, and then walks inside while turning on the lights in the apartment room
"Well then I wouldn't mind keeping you company, Rose." I said softly in her ear hugging her from behind
She turns around and beings to gently kiss me. I lift her up as she wraps her legs around my waist. I kiss her then slowly move from her lips to her neck. I pulled her shirt to the side exposing her collar bone where I gently bit down causing her arched her back in pleasure. Moving my face to hers I gave her another soft kiss then looked into her green eyes. Both of us were blushing, breathing heavily, and most of all I could tell if it went any further I'm sure we'd both go all the way. We stare into each other's eyes only to be followed by a very passionate kiss.