Almost two years, give or take, since I've updated this fanfiction and said I was going to do a rewrite. And while I'm sure there are other fanfictions out there that had been on hiatus longer than me, while I would like to say that yes, I'm still continuing this and no, my real life had been such a gigantic mess that I haven't had the time to log on and upload a chapter I could have written in any free time I could get if I was really dedicated to this, I'm afraid that's not the case. So, I would like to come clean.

I've lost motivation for this fanfiction, for any fanfiction really. This was meant to be more of a hobby, but I have taken it so seriously that the burn out and crash is worse than it could have been. I have made promises I can't keep, did everything in such a sloppy way that my present self is wincing at the sheer stupidity of my past self.

So, I would like to apologize, to all those following and favorited the fanfiction, to those waiting for an update (I myself know how that feels, waiting for a fanfiction to update but only being disappointed when it didn't), for not coming clean soon enough, for dragging it out and making the conclusion worse. As a writer, I've failed, badly. I won't ask for your forgiveness or anything, and while most would probably see this as just some dramatic claim, as said above, I've taken this seriously.

When I accepted the adoption of A Change of Heart, I promised myself that I would complete it, that I would make it great, that I would not disappoint the original author by half-heartedly doing everything. But that was exactly what I did. For that, I could only offer apologies to the author.

All in all, I am sorry, for disappointing everyone with the discontinuation of this, and all of my other fanfictions.

Now that that's said, here's something as an apology (and to appease those out there that would have reported me (or whatever one does when someone breaks the rules) for only putting in an author's note in as an entry).

It is a fine day. The sky is blue, the weather clear, the birds singing and all that cliche happy day descriptions. I'm sure you don't need me to bother you guys with all that. Back to the point, yes, it is indeed a fine day...

A peaceful day that fits where I'm going right now.

I slowly fly down the hill, my twin tails spinning slower than they could. I never had the heart to rush down , and I never will. In my arms are several bouquets, and I know for sure that the others are bringing bouquets of their own.

But it is the thought that counts.

I soon arrive at my destination and take a moment to appreciate the place.

Near the bottom of the hill, carefully tucked against its side, is a small space. Tiles in soft colors of blue (tranquility), aqua (emotional healing and protection) and white (a blank canvas for the future) with small hints of yellow (a hint to joy, or at least, hope for joy) decorate the space in beautiful circular mosaic patterns. Planted in the very center is a Japanese Maple tree (I have no idea how she even found it, since such a tree doesn't exist in our world...), a symbol of balance and practicality, as she told me.

And around it...are five gravestones.

I walk on the circular path, placing a bouquet as I pass by one and taking the time to put a little prayer for each while re-reading the words inscribed on them.

'King Julius, Ruler of Mobotropolis. A wise and powerful king, a devoted husband and a caring father. May you rest in peace.'

'Queen Aleena, Ruler of Mobotropolis. A well-loved queen for, not her beauty and grace, but her kind heart. A wonderful wife and a caring mother. May you rest in peace.'

'Princess Sonia. A beautiful princess who may seems harsh but has a heart as warm as the sun. A kind daughter and the best sister. May you rest in peace.'

'Prince Manic. A prince that doesn't care for finery, but for the joy of his people. A caring son and the best brother. May you rest in peace.'

'Chuck the Hedgehog, brother to King Julius. An uncle that will forever be remembered. May you rest in peace, your sacrifice not in vain.'

I pause at that last grave and close my eyes. Uncle Chuck...he is the mobian I have heard of the most. He was the mobian that affected him the most, not that the rest of his family didn't either, but it was Uncle Chuck that started the change in his life, the reason behind everything that drives him.

"Hey there..."

I open my eyes to see Amy, Vanilla, Cream and Cheese. They each have a bouquet of their own, and I step aside to let them place the flowers down. For a moment, there is silence, as they all murmur a small prayer for the hedgehog they never saw, but knew of.

"Is he taking this well?"

I smile at that and nod in reply. "It hasn't been easy the first times around, but he's coming through, mostly thanks to Shadow."

Vanilla smiles as well and we all take a minute to bask in the aura of solemn peace and content. Everything about this place shows that peace and that hope, hope for a happier future. She really pulled out all the stops to make this for his family...but I know, that it is also for him. He had been haunted and driven by his family's death for so long that I hope this will also help him find his inner peace.

As Tails and the others left the graves, there were a few seconds before another mobian dropped down from the maple tree. He gazed at the bouquets and closed his eyes. There was no smile on his muzzle, but no one could deny that calm and content aura around him, so different from his usual chaos.

"Sonic."

Closed eyes opened again. "Shadow," Sonic replied, not needing to look around the tree to know that the other was also leaning against the trunk.

"Knuckles and Rouge sent their own condolences."

Sonic closed his eyes again. "There is no need for that. It happened a long time ago..."

"But that doesn't mean they don't care."

"...I know."

A sudden burst of warmth against his side had him looking at the black hedgehog coming to rest next to him. "It has been quite a lot... with all that had happened. For a while, after you told me, I had a hard time believing it... Coming from another dimension where you were a prince of all things, the Resistance, the fight against that dimension's Robotnik and your coming here...the events that passed by, when you take the time to just step back and look at it all..."

"This is a first," Sonic chuckled. "You're usually the less-spoken one among the two of us."

He didn't have to look to know that Shadow was slightly exasperated. "I'm serious here."

"And so am I," Sonic retorted.

"..."

"I'll be fine Shadow."

"You better be. I didn't save you from the Metarax just so that you can end your life again."

"..." That was a topic that had been brought up frequently between the two in the past when the action was still recent. It had caused some conflicts between them, but Sonic couldn't find it in himself to start again.

For once, he felt peace, breathing in the soft scents of the flowers, the grass, the tree and basking in the ambience.

They didn't know exactly how long they stood there, but the sun was starting to fall from its zenith by the time Sonic pushed himself off the trunk. Shadow followed suit and for the first time, ruby met emerald.

No words needed to be shared between the two as Shadow left while Sonic took one last look around the graves. Before, he would have stood vigil over them for nearly three whole days, but now, he found it easier to leave, easier to rest his grief and anger, and find acceptance. The next year, he would come again, and this time...maybe he could finally talk to them with a smile on his face.

(Basic explanation, read if you wish.

I planned on Sonic hopping dimensions, after defeating Robotnik from Sonic Underground with the Resistance from Sonic SatAM, to the world Sonic lived in in Sonic X, and the rest of the story pans out from there. Shadow, surviving the ARK disaster with both Maria and Gerald, arrived at Sonic X's world before meeting Sonic himself in Chris' world. You can imagine the differences that had happened then.

In this AU, Sonic and Shadow had that same antagonistic relation (maybe at a lighter level) before events with the Meterax changed it into friendship (not that rivalry respect thingy they have going on), and the reference to Shadow saying 'so that you can end your life again' is when instead of Shadow getting Sonic out of the way when the Meterax egg exploded, it was the other way around. But Shadow managed to save Sonic instead and found out that it had been both to save Shadow and an intentional suicide. Of course, things got ugly for a bit between the two after that admission, but as you can see, they have settled it...fairly well...)

Now, that's the END. I won't get your hopes up with more continuation.

But I won't be deleting this fanfiction, and it will be listed as 'incomplete' still (I don't deserve that completed status).