OK, questions. To answer T.A.R.N.S, I think the safest bet would be to say..after Sonic '06 . Seeing as Elise blew out Solaris in the last story and reset the times lines, in my eyes you can't really kill an immortal being and during the 1st volume- Shattered Memories- Sonic vaguely remembers Elise when he confuses her with Naminé after her make-over. So yeah, I think after.
I could've done this as one big story,( regarding Oracle's Song review.) but I wanted a go at doing a trilogy.
Well, that's enough from me. Enjoy people and big thanks for reading!
Mazz84 xx
Naught's Sunrise--Epilogue.
Station Square, a few months after...
Was I worth saving? The way I was born, the evil inside me screaming to get out. Should it have been me that was destroyed and not Phoenix--no, not Phoenix, Solaris.. I now have a group that cares.. and someone that reminds me that there is something called love in this harsh place...But when it comes down to it--Was I worth saving?
Shadow sat alone on a roof top, his body curled in a tight ball, knees to chest. He stared down at the city below and heard the faint harmonies of the music that came from a roof top not far from his place. He sighed deeply and buried his head against his knees.
"You know..." came a soft, but familiar voice, " If you want, we could go somewhere private."
He half--smiled, " Doesn't Glory have a big party planned? I mean.. this is a once in a lifetime thing isn't it? Don't you think we should both go?"
Sonic jumped up onto the roof beside him, and dangled one leg off the side. He cupped his chin in his hand as he studied the black hedgehog, he shrugged, " Yeah... we should show our faces, after all..we did save the world and Solaris..."
Shadow narrowed his ruby eyes, " Solaris? Why is that name so familiar to me? It feels like I should know it but I can't quite get it.. " He shuddered and rubbed the side of his head. He had been making progress over the last few months, Glory and Tails promised him that he would be back to normal but it would take time, Shadow had spent countless hours nearly every night, just staring at the huge mural that Naminé had drawn, trying to remember every detail of his life til now.
" So, how's everything? I mean... with Amy?"
The smiled returned, " She's been wonderful. I can safely call her a real friend, she's been helping me with my tests,showing me around the city and her..what she call them? Ah, friendship boxes have been a great help. I'd be lost with out her." He blinked as he noticed what Sonic was wearing. " Why the hell are you dressed in your night-things?"
Sonic looked down at himself ,he was dressed in his PJ's- a nice sky-blue set with mini chilli-dogs dotted here and there- he shrugged again and looked out to the river of roof-tops. " Well, since you weren't there when the invites arrived, Glory made her party an all-nighter. Every top dog of Station Square is out and partying in their jim-jams, waiting for the show to start. And before you ask..I'm wearing this--" He pointed to the flower crown on his head, "-- Because we were all given them as we arrived."
" You trampled over nearly all of Station Square in you PJ's and a flower ring, just to find me? " He smiled, and then chuckled loudly. " I'm sorry! But that's priceless!" His shoulders shook as he tried to contain his laughter.
The blue hedgehog smirked, " If you think what I'm wearing is funny, you see what the others are wearing." He put two fingers in his mouth and whistled, it was silent for a second or two before a reply noise was heard over the air.
Shadow raised his sooty brows, " What was that for?" He asked, slightly ticked off.
Yet another shrug, " Well, we thought..that since you won't come to the party, we'll bring the party to you," At Shadow's sudden change in expression from peeved to nervousness, he quickly added, " not everyone, just the gang. We've acquired some food and drinks, and a few other things. Come on," He jumped from the ledge and went to the fire-escape, Shadow followed wearing a bemused expression now. " Make yourself useful, and help me with this." Sonic grabbed one end of a long table, Shadow the other. Once the table was in place and the legs were sorted out, Shadow grabbed Sonic by the shoulders to make him look in his ruby eyes.
" You tell me right now, hedgehog..what are you up to?"
Sonic opened his mouth to reply, but another younger voice said, " Hey, Sonic ! Oh, good..you found him! Hey, Shadow !" Tails landed a few feet away, carrying a small box of pre-wrapped plates filled high with different foods, ranging from sandwiches to cream cakes. Pushing his flower crown from his eyes, he found Shadow staring at him, " Something wrong?"
" Something- What is wrong with you two!? The faker is dressed in his chilli-dog covered PJ's, you're wearing a matching T-shirt and shorts set with clowns on the legs. What is--AAHH!!" He quickly covered his eyes, " Oh, I'm sorry! So sorry!" He turned his back on the new arrival.
" Good evening, Mister Shadow. I hope you're well." Carla--newly repaired a week earlier-- had come into view, wearing nothing but a strappy nightgown, her hair loose and curled. She grinned at Sonic, who returned it. Just like Amy was helping Shadow re-adjust to living in the city, Sonic was doing the same with Carla, the two were really close friends now. " Where do you want these?" She gestured to the load of bean-bag chairs in her arms, her white and green flower ring falling over her eyes.
"Let me help you." Sonic took a few and set them down by the table, he then rooted in the bag she'd hung over her arm. " Do you get-- Oh, you darling!" He pulled out a couple of waste-paper bins with holes drilled in them. He gave her a friendly peck on the cheek, " Let's set these up, we won't get cold now."
"Don't forget blankets, Sonic." Shadow's stomach flip-flopped as Amy came onto the roof dressed in one of his nightshirts over a tank-top and a pair of black leggings, a flower crown in place. Dropping the woolly bundles ,she grinned at him and held out his own flower ring. " Here, I made it myself. I couldn't find any black flowers, so I used purple and red ones. Do you like it?"
He blinked, " I-- Th-Thank -you. " He leaned forward to let her slip it onto his head, " I don't look silly, do I?"
She giggled, " Shadow... Look at us, we're out in the night wearing our jim-jams. We all look silly, ( Sonic shouted, " Speak for yourself!" and continued to help Carla light the fires.) especially Sonic." She stuck her tongue out at the blue hedgie, only for him to do the same back with a grin. She kicked at the blankets at her feet, " I pinched the warmest ones there, can you give me a hand?"
He smirked, " Thief."
"Yeah, and you love it."
As they spread the blankets on the floor, Knuckles stumbled in, carrying a box of drinks--ranging from fruit juices, flavoured waters and sodas. He was wearing a vest that had seen better days and a pair of PJ bottoms that were at least three inches too short. His cheeks were pink and he was having trouble breathing, his crown was slipping from his sweaty brows.
Sonic and Tails took one look at him, Tails giggled and Sonic shook his head, trying to hold in his laughter, " Saw Rouge, then?"
"I'll kill that bat !" He straightened out his fallen crown. " Fancy wearing something,like--like that !? "
While the others fell about giggling, Shadow turned to Amy, "What was she wearing?"
She grinned, eyes a light with mischief, " She came to the party dressed in a silky, black nightie, that showed off everything.. and I mean everything!"
Shadow couldn't help but smile. A drink was pressed into his hands, he walked with Amy, who linked their arms together, to join the rest of the group. Sonic was standing on the roof ledge, drink raised.
" Dudes and dudettes, " He started.
" Get on with it!" Shouted Tails and Carla, with cheeky smiles.
" Alright! Keep your hair on! Geez.. We're here tonight to witness a magical event, one that won't be seen for at least another 500 years. With everything way past cool and Eggman rotting in jail, I say.. Let's party!!"
"Yeah!!"
They raised their glasses. The night-sky was suddenly lit up with hundreds, maybe thousands of white lights. The girls settled on the blankets, wrapped in their robes. Amy fished in her bag for her camera to take lots of photos, Carla took out her video recorder,pointed upwards and started filming the show. The air was soon filled with their Oohhs and Aahhs. Knuckles and Tails were already working on the food, they loaded up their plates and joined the girls on the blankets, wiggling their toes by the fires.
Shadow leaned on the roof edge, nursing his drink in his hand. He watched the numerous comets fly by, each one slightly different than the last.
"Hey, lonesome," Sonic rested his arms against the brick-work.
"Can I ask you something?"
The blue hedgehog tilted his head and nodded, " Sure. Shoot."
Prison gates won't open up for me
On these hands and knees I'm crawlin'
Oh, I reach for you
Well I'm terrified of these four walls
These iron bars can't hold my soul in
All I need is you
Come please I'm callin'
And oh I scream for you
Hurry I'm fallin'
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, " You risked nearly everything to save me. And I want an honest answer from you, Sonic," He opened his eyes and looked him directly into his green ones, " Was I worth it?"
Heaven's gates won't open up for me
With these broken wings I'm fallin'
And all I see is you
These city walls ain't got no love for me
I'm on the ledge of the eighteenth story
And oh I scream for you
Come please I'm callin'
And all I need from you
Hurry I'm fallin'
Sonic kindly placed a hand over his and squeezed. The reflections of the shooting stars made his eyes glimmer, his smile was soft as he said one little word, " Yes."
Show me what it's like
To be the last one standing
And teach me wrong from right
And I'll show you what I can be
Say it for me
Say it to me
And I'll leave this life behind me
Say it if it's worth saving me
Shadow smiled shyly and nodded. Staring up to the heavens, the two of them spotted a comet, much brighter than all the others, its glow forever changing to the colours of The Chaos Emeralds. As it raced over the city, a strange sound drifted down to those below. The people of Station Square and the rest of the world were treated to Solaris' song, the most beautiful sound in the universe. As it past the roof-top where Sonic and Shadow stood, it twinkled to the two sons of angels. A second later, a much larger comet came up alongside it. Mother and baby danced for the two hedgehogs, leaving a trail of rainbow sparkles in their wakes. They glowed brightly, one last time to say their good-byes, and disappeared in the mass of shooting stars.
Sonic and Shadow smiled and went to re-join the others, who were already talking about what kind of new adventures would be waiting for them around the corner. As they conversed with bubbling excitement, only Shadow couldn't shake off the feeling of apprehension, he just stared into the flames..lost in his own world.
Else where...
Shadow was right to be un-nerved. In the well guarded Prison for Crankpot Geniuses, Eggman was already plotting his next plan to take over the world. Dressed in a tacky navy jumpsuit, the mad Doctor sat waiting to make his move. The person he was playing chess with was taking bloody ages, but it wasn't all bad, according to the other nutty inmate there were even more powerful stars out there. Far powerful than Phoenix and if one could catch them... He tuned into the conversation that his opposition was waffling about,
"... All you need is some stardust from the last fallen star,see? I had me sums all worked out, designed a missile that could go into space and lock onto the nearest star, piercing its heart," He moved a Knight.
" Piercing..the..stars..You don't say?"
He gave a mad cackle, " Yeah... but I never got a chance to test it! That soddin' goodie-two shoes, Sonic--( Eggman frowned.)-- stopped me plans and ratted me out to G.U.N. " A gleam appeared in his old cracked eyes, " Stories go, that 'appened to you too, didn't it? Never mind, Robotty, no rodents in 'ere to get on your nerves, eh?"
Only you, my foolish friend. Eggman countered his move with a pawn, " What's so great about a star anyway?" He mumbled, " Just a lot of red tape."
"Are you kiddin' me?! Harness the power of a star,--a proper star, not one of these myth things,-- its true power and you get ever-lasting life! Countless chances to stop Sonic the--bleedin'--Hedgehog. Once he's a bag of bones you can rule the world! But too bad for you, G.U.N. seized all your robots and warehouses. Thanks for the game..Ta! "
The bloke got up, leaving Eggman to stare at the board, wondering where he'd gone wrong. On his way back to his cell, however, his blank look slowly changed to one of craftiness. He slumped onto his bunk and stared at the dank ceiling, a smile slowly forming on his face.
I maybe down, Sonic, He thought with a pleased shiver, But I'm certainly not out. Mark my words, rodent, I'll get out of here.You haven't seen the last of me.. He chuckled softly, then burst into a fit of mad giggles.
" I'll be back, hedgehog ! I'll--be--back !!"
Fin.
Takes a bow. Thank you for all your reviews. Big hugs to all!
I feel pretty pleased with how the trilogy turned out, the one thing I was really worried about was keeping everyone in character--main worry was Shadow. I didn't what him being all mad and raving like he is mostly portrayed in fics, but wanted him to be calmer, yet bloody powerful when he has to be. I hope that came across.
Big thanks to T.A.R.N.S for sticking with me since Volume One, I hope everyone enjoyed the Save Me Trilogy.
Song is Savin' Me by Nickelback taken from album All The Right Reasons, I think it suits, but that's just me.
Watch this space, I shall return.
Catch you on the flip side, guys! Whoo-hoo!!