Lots of talking. Also, a little bit longer than the first one. +^-^ (See the plus? Find it in the chapter. Then laugh.)

Disclaimer: Rouge/Shadow/Club Rouge (i.e. The place Shadow and Rouge were. Duh)/Station Square/Storybook series/Cream/Tails all belong to Sonic Team. I own all rights to the idea itself. (Really, it was just a spur on a creative roller coaster).

–

"Sonuva.." The hedgehog groaned and mumbled a few curses. His eyes were closed, as if they we're forced shut. He shook his head, and noticed his breathing was somewhat irregular.

"I have to get out of this place.. Somehow.." He opened his eyes to see the surrounding area was blacker than his previous vision. He looked to the left and right, in front and behind him, to see nothing but darkness. "Where am I?! Someone answer me!"

"You're in your own mind, silly." A mysterious, and yet familiar voice was heard.

"What do you mean?!" He yelled back at the voice.

"Heh heh heh.. I meant what I said; you're in your own mind."

"Wait a second.. You're that hedgehog I saw before I passed out! You must've done this!" Shadow's eyes flashed with anger, and he balled up his fists, ready to hit anything in sight.

"It took you that long to figure it out? You're pathetic."

"I am NOT pathetic!"

"Yes you are. Hehe, I can make you shiver just by a single memory, you know."

"What do you mean by that?

"You're not as strong as you think you are.. It's just what you want others to believe.."

"SHUT UP!"

"You think you're the only one with these problems.."

"Be quiet.."

"You have no idea of the real world."

"Urgh..." he fell face down onto the invisible dark floor, unconscious, again.

–

"Stop doing that, it's impolite!"

"Oh come on, it's completely safe."

"I never said it wasn't safe, I said it was-"

"Ugh.." A mutter of some sort escaped Shadow's mouth, as he felt his head on rocky ground. "What the.. Where am I?"

"Oi, so I see you're awake!"

"Finally! Oh, I'm so relieved."

He heard two voices, one with a slight Irish accent, and rolled over on his back, eyes still closed, cursing mildly.

"Oi, someone woke up on the wrong side of the ground, eh?"

"Teehee! I suppose you're right!"

Hearing voices again, he pushed himself up, holding the side of his head. "Tails..? Cream? Where am I?"

The two young animals looked at each other and had expressions of shock on their faces.

"How did he know our names, Cream?" the orange-yellow fox asked his friend.

"I don't really know, Tails. He's heard of us at the pub, maybe?" the cream rabbit tilted her head to the side, indicating confusion.

"But we don't even go to the pub!" Tails replied, raising his arms in the air, getting a small chuckle from his rabbit companion.

"I know, but it was just an ide-"

"Will you two shut up?!" Shadow interrupted them.

"Oh my.." Cream mumbled.

"That wasn't nice! Especially to me girl!" Tails yelled defensively.

"I don't care. Now- wait.. You're girl?"

"O' course me girl! Whadda ya thinking in that head, ol' chap?"

"N-nothing.. Now, tell me where I am!" Shadow started glaring at the two, an irritated look crossing his face.

"Sorry, but you have to apologize first~!" Cream went up to Shadow, smiling happily.

"Humph. I'm sorry." He muttered.

"Nuh-uh. Ye got two things wrong with that," Tails said, "For starters, it wasn't loud enough, and you have to say it like you mean it."

"Uh-huh!" Cream added.

"Fine. I'm sorry, Tails and Cream. Now where am I?"

"Thank you. Now, to answer your question, ye be in the land of Irela!" Cream clapped her hands and spun around twice.

"What?"

"Ye must've heard her, she said Irela silly!" Tails also clapped his hands and spun around.

"Irela?" Shadow cocked his head in confusion, wondering why there were doing the little dance they were doing.

"He's not doing it Cream!" Tails gawked at his companion.

"You know what that means~!" She said in a mischievous tone. They both grinned at Shadow, and started coming towards him. He didn't say anything, but neither did he back away. He just rolled his eyes at the twosome. Until both of them jumped up and pinched his cheeks.

"OW! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Shadow yelled, rubbing his red cheeks. "Ugh.."

"It's a tradition. If you don't clap your hands and spin around twice at the name of 'Irela' from your mouth," Cream demonstrated for him, "Then your doomed to be pinched by the nearest leprechaun!"

"Wait, leprechaun? You're telling me you're leprechauns?"

"Well, she's only half leprechaun, one half healing wizard." Tails chuckled until he was softly slapped quiet.

"Hush, you." They both giggled and grabbed Shadow's hands; Cream got his left hand, Tails got his right.

"So you're new here, eh?" Tails asked him.

Shadow blushed the faintest of blushes as the two grabbed his hands. "Uhh.. Yeah. And I want to go back home.."

"Easy, my friend! Just tell us your name, and your right-hand man-"

"And left-hand lady," Cream interrupted him.

"Oh yeah, uh, your right-hand man, and left-hand lady will guide you back to your home!"

"Er.. My name is Shadow, Shadow the hedgehog." he replied. "Wait.. Is there a catch to this?"

"Of course not, my friend!" Tails gave him a toothy, almost suspicious, grin. "You just have to-"

"I knew it!" Shadow forced his hands out of their little ones.

"Do you want go home Mr. Shadow? Orrr.." Cream sneakily said.

"Why you little.. Fine. What is it that I have to do to go back home?" The black hedgehog crossed his arms.

"You just have to help us help our friends!" Cream's expression was comparable to that of an Internet-emoticon (+), but it worked for her.

"Ugh.." Shadow mumbled to himself, "this is gonna be a long day."

–

~To be continued.