Vanilla walked forward into the room, looking at Chris and Shadow with excitement. "Come on, children. We're all getting ready for the shooting stars. It's our favorite time of the day." Chris smiled in excitement, "That sounds fun! Shadow, do you want to see it?"
Shadow raised an eyebrow, "That sounds okay…" He followed the cheerful boy out of the living room. Sonic just narrowed his eyes, following the pair silently. In his foul mood, he barely felt Amy gripping onto his arm as they walked out the door.
The group gathered around silently, watching the stars silently. Chris sat down next to Shadow, who was looking at the stars like he would be looking for answers. The boy placed a hand on the black hedgehog's shoulder, a silent question on his face. Shadow gave him a reassuring look. Cream held Cheese in her lap as she herself sat in her mother's lap. Amy looked at the stars with a look of bliss, not of the stars' beauty, but because she was holding onto her true love.
Sonic just had his arms crossed, glaring green daggers at the black hedgehog.
Who the heck does Shadow think he is? I was Chris's friend first! This is just some rotten conspiracy!
Sonic felt Amy pull him closer to her and he whimpered uneasily. He may be upset, but he still didn't want Amy to comfort him. "Sonic?"
The blue hedgehog turned to Chris, "Yeah, Chris?" The boy smiled, "Do the stars fall every night?" Sonic smiled back, giving the boy a wink and a thumbs-up, "Yep. It's really pretty." Chris smiled turning to Shadow again, much to Sonic's dismay.
What gives?
"Shadow…about the military…" Sonic's blue ears perked upward at this. Military? What military? His mouth turned to a scowl as he saw Chris lean closer toward the black hedgehog and both of them began talking in whispering tones. This is getting absolutely ridiculous.
Chris hugged the black hedgehog briefly, causing Sonic to drop his mouth in shock. Not because of Chris hugging Shadow, that kid would give a hug to anyone of his friends. No, it was because…
…Shadow hugged him back.
That was weird. Shadow didn't seem like the affectionate type. The blue hedgehog saw the boy stroking the black quills and he watched the hedgehog slowly shake his shoulders. Was Shadow crying? Sonic narrowed his eyes. I guess I can cut Shads a break. I've never seen him this emotional before.
After a few minutes, Shadow released Chris, a sliver of gratitude in the usual cold, unreadable ruby eyes.
"Shadow, Sonic, what are we going to do about Mephiles? He had the same powers as Shadow? What if…he shows up here? And what if he takes the Chaos Emeralds? I just have a horrible feeling something bad will happen…"
Cream gave Chris a reassuring look, "Don't worry, Mr. Chris. Mr. Shadow and Mr. Sonic can handle this Mephiles easy. And Mr. Knuckles is really good at guarding the emeralds. I know everything will be okay."
Chris sighed, looking back up at the sky. Easy for you to say…
Amy, in an attempt to change the mood, asked, "So, Chris…what have you been doing since we left?" Chris shared a glance with Shadow, raising an eyebrow as if asking if it was okay. Shadow gave him a curt nod. Sonic felt another stab of jealousy at the way Shadow and Chris seemed to know each other really well at such a short amount of time.
This is just not right…Shadow tried to kill everybody on his planet, and Chris accepts him just like that? Who am I, Luigi Plumber? (I had to do it! Luigi I love you!)
"Well, I found Shadow lying unconscious, so I took him home with me. I woke up and Shadow and I talked. That's when I discovered he had amnesia. I went to school, and GUN cornered me." Cream hugged Cheese close to her, looking at Chris with a frightened expression.
"They cornered you, Mr. Chris?" Chris nodded, "They were after Shadow. Shadow?" Shadow had his hands pressed against his head, eyes shut tight as he fought the overwhelming pain in his skull. Cream gasped and Vanilla held onto her daughter in comfort. Amy covered her mouth with her hand. Sonic and Tails looked at him with concern.
Chris held Shadow's shoulders as he tried to soothe the hedgehog. Shadow continued groaning in agony until the pain subsided slightly. Panting, he gripped onto the boy's arms, seeking something to keep his mind off the pain. Chris watched his suffering friend with saddened eyes, desperately wishing he could do more to ease his friend's pain.
"M-maybe I should stop talking. I'll tell you the rest tomorrow." Vanilla took Cream off her lap and walked over to the black hedgehog. She gently pulled him up and let him lean on her side. Shadow was too tired and in too much pain to protest. "Come along, dear." Vanilla and Shadow walked off, Chris walking after them.
Sonic looked at Amy, Cream, and Tails with confusion. They all shrugged and looked back to the house, obviously concerned for Shadow's health. Sonic wished he could feel the same amount of concern he was feeling, but how could he when it seems like all Shadow's doing is taking Chris' friendship away from him?
To be continued…