Chapter 8

"Sally!" Amy squealed in joy. Sally, overjoyed runs over and hugs her ally and they look at one another. "W-wow! Xena."

"Call me Amy."
"Wow, Amy, you've changed so much!"
"You too! Are you married?"

She smiles in great joy and answers, "I am, and with Sonic!"

Amy was a bit afraid when she heard that Sonic was still alive. "Is he still, cold-hearted?" Amy asked. Sally shakes her head and says, "I met Sonic again in England when I was sent there for prison. He was in an asylum for the mentally unstable. He was in deep love with you, but he said that you loved another hedgehog, causing him to go mad. He told me what happened three years ago. Why didn't you say anything?"

"Sally, if I say anything back when he was sick, he would've done worse than he did."
"He was that unstable?"
"Yes, but enough of me. Anything happened these past years, we have to catch up."

"Besides marriage I-"

Sally was cut off by loud crying, coming from another room. Amy looked at her in surprise, "I conceived a baby."

"WITH SONIC?" The echidnas asked in surprise. Amy on the other hand wasn't. She knew he liked her, but was in a tailspin when Amy was there at the time. "Yes, Sonic finally changed for the better. I am so relieved, he scared me when we accepted him, but you know we needed all the information we could on the king and…well...I kind of had a…crush on him."

Amy smiles and says, "Well, you're married to him now. So you're now happy."
"Yes, well I have to see the baby, and speaking of babies, where's Riccio's son?"

Amy turns around and sees Matteo hiding behind Shadow and answers nervously in his little French accent, "r-right here, Madame."

Sally walks up to the child and holds out her hand. He takes it and she hugs him gently. "Oh! He's so cute, the spitting image of his father and he has your eyes, not to mention his accent. What's his name?"

"Matteo. And when was your child born?"
"About a year ago. You're probably wondering how your knight friend met us, I'll kindly tell you as soon as I have Lucas falling asleep."

"Nice name for him. Well go and check him."

"Thank you, Regina."
(Regina means queen in Italian)

Amy smiles and says, "Go on." She turns around and sees her son and Shadow playing knights and couldn't help but laugh seeing that Shadow was 'defeated' by her three year old.
(Sorry if Shadow is OOC)

"Now, I shall behead you."

"Show mercy, Sir Matteo."
"Hmm…let me think…No."
"Ugh, you got me, belch." Shadow replied as he pretends to die by falling on the ground, closing his eyes and his tongue on the side of his mouth.
"I have defeated the evil knight and now rescue my damsel in distress."
Shadow then wakes up from his sudden death and jokes, "As if that will ever happen." And falls back to being dead. Amy walks over and with her hands on her hips, she clears her voice and Shadow reawakens.

"Ahem…"

Shadow grins sheeply and Matteo looks up at the two. He obediently walks away and meets with Knuckles, who was bushed from the heat. "Hey Kid, want to take a nap?"

"Sure, "The two instantly fall asleep and Julie-Su tisks, "-sigh- boys."

Amy helps her knight friend up and she smirks. He sees that and asks, "What?"
"I never saw that side of you. Matteo really likes you."
"Sure you have, remember when we were kids, I was never harsh on you."
"On the others, you were."

"The others, on you never."

"You're always that kind to me. But I can't believe Sonic was locked up in an asylum. How did you find him and how did you meet Sally?"

"Well first off, I found Sonic by invading record books. I heard that he was to be killed under Scourge's orders. But I looked in the books and scrolls, I found out that Sonic was one of his rivals so he was to be taken out of his way, but he had another problem, me."

"Why you?" Amy asked, confused and angry at the tyrant.

"Well, I am your protector and he sees me as a political offense against his plans, since I oppose tyranny and believe in monarchy, the way it always was."

Amy sighs and then gets back to her cheery mood and says, "Well, come along, we have a lot of catching up to do, Sally's pretty busy with Lucas."

"OK." Shadow agreed. Amy picks up her tired son and they walk to another room. When they got there, Amy puts Matteo down and kisses him. Shadow looks at Amy and her child and thought…

Wow, I never realized how sweet and loving she was. She's a great mother, and the kid has her spirit. Hmm…I do care for both of them, and I would gladly accept Matteo as mine, I just hope Amy doesn't think the opposite. She's so beautiful.

Amy sits on the floor with her legs crossed and Shadow was the first to ask questions, "We have so much to catch up on. How has the seasons been treating you?"

"Better I guess, after having a baby and all. How's the palace."

"-sigh-Life at the palace is hell when you aren't present. Scourge makes our lives a bloody hell for us and all of Rome. Taxes have gone up like crazy, he forces women of 14 to 17 to have sex with him, and he also brainwashes the knights into killing people with no mercy! –sigh- The man is cruel. He also has camps for those who oppose him or his ideas. He also tells knights to ransack homes when he feels that someone is hiding you. Ever since he heard about your pregnancy with Matteo, he's been sending knights all full throughout Italy to kill that child. I'll never understand him, if Matteo is a great kid."

"Y-you think so?"
"I know so. I don't think when I know of something, Amy. You know me better." Shadow replied sternly and then grins to cheer the princess up.

"I guess you're right, Shadow. Well that's all with me, how's the seasons treating you?"
"It's been well, until the rumors of Scourge trying to kill you. That's all oh, I don't mean to sound nosey, but where is the father of Matteo, he shouldn't have abandoned you with such responsibility."

Amy begins to have tears in her eyes and Shadow couldn't bear it. "H-he died Shadow, 8 months before Matteo was born." Amy then begins to cry a river of tears. Shadow felt insensitive of asking and hugs her, saying, "Amy, I'm sorry for asking, please don't cry."

"I'm not crying just because of that Shadow. I-I-I am alone now. I have a child to raise and Scourge won't leave me alone. Why doesn't he leave me alone Shadow? People are also after me, my own people after me, Shadow. It hurts me, but nothing hurts me more than knowing that Scourge is trying to hurt my baby. That child I conceived through love, and sadness, and confusion, turned out to be a wonderful blessing our father has placed on me. He died protecting me and my baby, taking what was to be my downfall, Shadow. That stab was meant for me, Shadow, me! I should just die."

"Amy, don't dare say such things! You are not alone and not everyone is after you. People are secretly praying for your return, Amy, Roma needs you, no us. I am here to help you in anyway known to man. And know you are not alone, so please, stay strong. He died so his child will have a chance at life, any father with a heart would do that. He loved you, didn't he?"

"Yes…I guess he did. Oh Shadow, why did he had to leave me so soon?"

"I don't know Amy, but God does things that don't go to our plans."
"But Shadow, I loved him, yet I did not. But I wanted my baby to have a father figure in his life. Shadow, I am alone…nobody loves me…especially after this."

"Don't say those words, you understand me? Amy, he has myself, and Knuckles as great father figures and you are not alone…you never were. And someone does love you. Don't say that nobody loves you, Amy because someone does."

"Who…can possibly love me? I conceived a child with another and I ran away from home, avoiding my duties to my family, tell me, Shadow, who can possibly be in love with me?"

Shadow grabs Amy's arms and she looks directly at him, with tears still swelling up in her eyes.
"AMY, look through my eyes and tell me what you see."

Amy looks deep into his ruby eyes, and sees what Silver meant by a special someone. Her tears stopped and she gasps at what he was saying, in his eyes. She sees the princess she used to be when she was 14. "Shadow….you…love…me? But why? I left without saying goodbye, I had hurt you emotionally and I conceived a child that isn't yours."

Shadow pulls Amy for a passionate kiss and they lied on the ground with Shadow on Amy. They then parted with Shadow saying, "Amy, I love you, for you. Any other creature who says otherwise is highly mistaken. Amy, you need to know that I loved you for so long and when you were engaged, it shook my world. I wanted to court you, but it was too late. Your mother opposed it and got Scourge to engage with you. I didn't care, I loved you from then and I kept the promise I made to you back when you were engaged, knights' honour."

Amy began to make new tears, but tears of relief and joy. "Oh…Shadow…" She hugs him and he returns the embrace and nuzzles her neck. They then hear yawns and quickly parted when they see Matteo opening his eyes and looking groggily at his mother and new found friend.

"Maman, are you ok?"
"Yes, I am ok. Just sharing memories with an old friend."
Matteo was a bit suspicious of Shadow and asks, "How do you know my mother?"

Shadow looks over at Amy and says, "I'll tell you the story, but first, I need to ask your mother something of great importance, is that ok? You can play with Knuckles if it's ok?"

"Ok, sir."

"Call me Shadow, kid." Shadow replied with a fatherly like attitude.
"Ok, Shadow." Matteo replied and he leaves them, meeting with Knuckles and they play fight both shouting 'un garde'. Shadow gives her the 'I can't believe you didn't tell him' look. She notices and says, "What?"

"You mean you haven't told him, yet?"

"I was planning to, but-"
"Amy, Matteo is mature for his age, I think he can handle the news."
"What news, Shadow?"
"He's our future king! With Him and perfect planning, we can take Scourge down and Matteo is next in line for the crown."

"I know that, but I didn't realize this soon."
"Well, now is the time, Amy. We need to stop him at once, or else Italia will fall, just like our Roman Empire."
"We can't let that happen! But what are we going to do, I am all out of Ideas."

"I have a friend, remember when you met Mephiles when he came here from Russia?"
Amy remembers the dark creature and says, "Oh, Mephiles 'The Terrible',"

"That one, he has it all planned out. Let's just say he can read the future."
"Good enough for me. But what will we do if we are successful?"
Shadow sighs and says, "This is also part of my mission. I made a promise to your father before his peaceful death."
Amy gasps and asks, "My papa, my father? Shadow answer me."

"-sigh- Your father wanted me to do things I thought were not even possible without a good outcome. He told me…"

Flashback.. (Shadow's POV.)

I was called up by the former Re, due to important matters regarding his wishes. I entered the room, and I see an old, wise, white hedgehog, who was almost like a father to me, lying in his bed, dying of influenza. Cursed illness. I slowly open the door and see him, lying there, he then calls out to me.

"Shadow, is that you, son? Come in."
"Yes, sire."
"You know never to call me sire, child!"
"My apologies, Ivano. You called me?"
"Y-yes, I want you to know something, something very important. This can threaten our country and my nina. "
"I am listening, Si- Ivano."
"Good, now listen carefully, Scourge wants to not just make a tyranny as long as he's king, but wants to be a tyrant for life. He also wants to use my bambina for evil purposes."

Enraged that Scourge wants to hurt Amy like that, I said, "That fiend, Italia will always stay a morarchy!"
"This is why I called you here. I am handing my kingdom to you."
I was shocked at his decision, but I knew better and I was to accept the decision.
"That is not all. This mission could be life-long. I want you to find my daughter, and stay with her no matter what the outcome, and marry her."

"But why me, Ivano?" I asked, even though I was overjoyed with his idea.

"I believe in you, child. As much as my wife disliked my idea, I want you and my nina to be in happiness and unity. I believe you can make this country great with my daughter. Is that understood, man?"
I knew, not just as a high ranking knight, but as a friend. So I have no choice but to accept.

"Y-yes, Ivano."

"Thank you. Know I have faith in you. Now leave, I want no one to witness my death."

"Yes, Ivano."
"Have a nice life, with my daughter. Son-in-law."
I nod my head solemnly and leave him to his peaceful death. As I walk away, I knew it was time to leave the palace, and find Amy, to confess my undying love and fufill Ivano's wish of me marrying her. As I walk over to confront Scourge, I see him holding a portrait of her and masturbating. I thought to myself, 'this hedgehog needs to go to an asylum." I knock the door and Scourge says, 'Enter if you dare."
I come in, showing no fear. He then says, "What now, Shadow?"

"Oh, I am just here to say, I am no longer, hunting Amy Rose."
He was very enraged at me for saying her name and yelled at my face, "Don't you dare say that little slut's name around here, is that clear. Damn fucking traitor! You have brought shame on our knights and Italia, leave."

"With pleasure. But know this, I love Amy Rose and I will make sure to keep her far away from the likes of you. We will see you soon, when you are on your knees, defeated." I huffed.

"You fucking traitor, leave now!"

"You don't need to tell me, you royal jackass, I am."

I leave the room in a rush. I got my armor, my robes and my weapons and immediately left the palace. I swore from a distance, I heard Scourge scream in anger.

End of Flashback…

Amy was shocked an said, "My father actually said this to you?"
"I never lie, Amy."

"Wow, my father?"
"Yes, but we must tell Matteo of his future, or else we can't do this and life in Italia will be hell!"

Amy sighs and says…

Will she do it? and Sonic will be on his way but so is another person. R&R! and guess who it could be.