Sorry for the delay. Here's prom night!
June 29th, 8:00pm
Shadow had everything ready: his tux, her corsage, and the limo ride to get to there. He put on his tux and fixed his quills up to look his best. He puffed his white fur, knowing that Starr liked it, and went to pick up his date. The limo drove to Starr's townhouse and parked, the chauffeur got out to let Shadow out and Shadow went to Starr's front door. He didn't know what her dress looked like, only that it was red. She opened the door and Shadow was flabbergasted. Her dress was long, sleeveless and strapless, and straight, as red as his quills, she smelled of sweet perfume and her makeup was perfect. She had real diamond and silver earrings that belonged to her mother; her necklace was a red choker with a heart on the front of it.
"How do I look?" She asked.
"You look beautiful," he answered. He pulled out the corsage and put it on her. They locked hands and walked to the limo, the chauffeur opening the door for them. They got in and drove to their prom. They got there a couple of minutes after it officially started. They saw their friends hanging out at a table; all the guys were wearing tux tops and the girls were wearing dresses.
"Girls," Starr said. "You look amazing!" Amy had a short, light blue dress on with a flowery headband; it had two shoulder straps and a bow on the small of her back. Blaze had a ballgown dress that looked like her usual get-up but instead of her white leggings, the dress came down to the floor; it was sleeveless with her gold necklace and she wore white gloves that went up to her elbows. Rouge was wearing a long, sleeveless, black dress with a slit on one of the sides so a leg could show; she wore black gloves that went up to her elbows.
"Tails my man!" Sonic said as everyone turned to see the two-tailed fox coming with a female companion.
"Everyone, this is Cosmo. Cosmo wore a green dress that had long sleeves with yellow cuffs, from the waist down the dress was white with a green trim.
"Did you want to come to the after party?" Sonic asked her. "We're having it at my place."
"No thank you," Cosmo answered. "I have to be home before eleven. My mother has a very strict curfew."
"Attention! Attention everyone!" The DJ said in the microphone. "I think it's time to get this 'Night Under the Stars' prom started!" Everyone cheered as house music started playing and everyone was hopping to the beat. Heads were throbbing back and forth, feet were hopping off the ground; some girls had to take their shoes off because their feet were hurting but Starr wore comfy, fashionable, black sandals so her feet were fine for any occasion.
Eventually the music changed to a slow, waltz speed and everyone in the room was with their partner slow-dancing. Bodies of two were touching closely as the pairs swung back and forth. As for the ebony hedgehogs, Shadow could smell Starr's perfume: mature but soft. Starr could smell Shadow's natural scent: strong but loving. They moved to each other's rhythmic beat, she followed his lead as the music took them away to a different place. Starr laid her head on his chest, she could feel Shadow's white fur against her cheek, some of her blush rubbing off of her and onto him but he didn't mind, as long as she was with him.
Meanwhile across the room a pair of vengeful, blue eyes stared the black hedgehogs down. Those eyes looked back at his date: a fox wearing a tight, yellow mini dress.
"So everything happens tonight?" Fiona asked her date.
"It sure does babe," Scrouge replied to her. "After tonight, we're gonna be on top of the world! I just have to take care of those blasted Freedom Fighters and their prized possession. This Doom Mist told me everything for months now and he said to me last night that tonight was the night."
"Do what you have to babe."
Midnight
Prom ended as the Freedom Fighters decided to have the afterparty at Sonic's place, since the place was outside the city where they couldn't disturb anyone. The girls and guys had changed from their prom dresses and tuxes to their regular, everyday clothes. The friends sat around a campfire, the night was a bit cool but they didn't seem to mind. Laughing, drinking virgin drinks and chatting about official graduation that was coming in the fall.
"You know," Knuckles said. "I think this is the first year that nothing dramatic happened."
"Well that's all gonna change," a new voice said in the darkest shadows. The group turned to see a hedgehog emerging from the shadows. The gang didn't want any fights, especially after a night like tonight, and Scrouge the Hedgehog was the last person they wanted to see.
"What do you want Scrouge?" Sonic asked annoyed.
"I want Starr," he answered. "I think it's time for your true powers to come out dearie."
Everyone was confused as to why he wanted Starr and what her 'true powers' were. Starr, however, had a clue on what he was talking about so she bluffed.
"What do you mean?" She asked pretending to be confused. "And I am not your dearie!"
Scrouge snapped his fingers and a vortex of purple and black smoke and cloud were made up of it. It caused the area to be lightened up instantly.
"All you have to do is come with me," Scrouge said using his thumb to point at the vortex. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way."
"How about 'no way'?"
Scrouge just smiled as he rolled himself into a ball and performed a Homing Attack at the group. Everyone dodged the attack but Scrouge wasn't aiming at anyone in particular, more like he was attacking the ground in the middle of the group. He hit the ground so hard that earth came up and caused dust and dirt to block everyone's vision and breathing. Trying to cover their mouths with one hand and using the other to clear the dust, they heard a shout. The crowd looked to see where the noise came from: Scrouge had Shadow held by the throat in the air holding on very tightly. Shadows tried to fight back but his arms could hold onto Scrouge's arm and Shadow's legs were so weak that he couldn't use them to kick his attacker.
"Now listen," Scrouge said calmly. "I'm holding on so tight around his neck his limbs are numb. If I squeeze tighter, he'll die of lack of oxygen. I'll only let him go if you come with me Starr. Refuse and I squeeze the living daylights out of him."
Scrouge didn't leave Starr much of a choice. Shadow or her? She stood there heart-broken, scared for both their sake's. She started to walk forward but Amy grabbed on her arm.
"What are you doing?" Amy asked. "Are you really going to sacrifice yourself and give up to Scrouge?"
Starr calmly grabbed Amy's hand that was grabbing her arm and gently encouraged her to let go. "It's my duty as a princess to protect my people, even if it means self-sacrifice."
Amy started to get tears in her eyes as she stood there, along with the others, too scared to move. Starr turned to face Scrouge holding Shadow up by the neck, her dark hero gasping for air and slowly losing consciousness. She slowly walked over to the two hedgehogs, pacing every step to try and keep her cool.
"Good girl," Scrouge cackled. The words haunted her ears. "Closer... closer. That's it."
Starr was now inches from the green hedgehog. Scrouge took out his free hand and held it to Starr and said, "now take my hand."
"You let him go first," she demanded. "I'll grab your hand only if you let him go. You have my word."
"Oh I'll have more than that soon," he cruelly smiled as he threw Shadow across to the others. They gathered around him to help pick him up, with his inhibitor rings he would've been passed out for a while. Then they saw a bright light coming from the green and black and blue hedgehogs; Starr had grabbed Scrouge's hand. With the light clearing the group saw Scrouge holding a limp, unconscious Starr in his arms, having a satisfied smile on his face. Shadow growled angrily under his breath, seeing an enemy holding his girl so crudely.
"Sorry Shadow but she's mine now. See you tomorrow at noon," Scrouge said and he and Starr went through the vortex. Shadow plunged at the vortex, hoping to follow them, but it closed and he landed on the ground with a hard and loud thud. Shadow turned his head but the vortex was gone and only he and the others were there. Rouge went over to Shadow to help him off the ground. Tails went to the area where the vortex was, he picked up some dirt and rubbed it between his fingertips.
"Some of the vortex is still here," Tails said out loud. "It's going to reappear again, right here."
"So we have to wait?" Sonic asked his two-tailed friend.
"I'm afraid so."
"I can't wait till tomorrow!" Shadow yelled once he was on his feet. "She's alone. With him. What he's going to do to her..." He couldn't finish his sentence.
"Shadow," Amy said going over and comforting him. "We'll find them and she'll be okay. It's Starr, she can take care of herself."
"Look guys," Rouge said. "It's late and he said at noon we'd see them again. I think we all need to get some sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow's gonna be a big day."
"I can't sleep!" Shadow yelled. "Not when Starr's in danger!"
"Calm down Shadow," Rouge said trying restrain her friend. Shadow was fighting Rouge, trying break her grip on him. Pulling away but getting back in her arms he eventually dropped on his knees and sobbed.
"Not again," he whispered for that was all that could come out. "First Maria, now Starr. I can't keep losing people."
Amy picked up Shadow who was now a basket case and walked with him into Sonic's house; everyone decided to sleep over there until the morning. Everyone eventually fell asleep except for Shadow, who was tossing and turning all night.
"Shadow!" A voice cried out in the middle of the night. Shadow woke up and looked around to see that he was in Sonic's living room alone. He registered the voice and knew who it was. He jumped to his feet and ran to the sound of the crying that he was hearing. He slammed the kitchen door open to find nothing: no one was there, no crying, no Starr. He breathed heavily, ready to cry, afraid that he would never see his Starr again.
Shadow lifted himself so he was sitting upright on the floor. He looked around the room and saw his friends sleeping soundly, the moonlight from the window, the slight breeze that was blowing the curtains softly. It was a bad dream, he thought to himself. He laid back down on his pillow and did his best to sleep but the night was restless.
Again sorry that it took so long, I was busy...I'm splitting up this part of the story into several chapters. Enjoy!