April 27, 2023

Lunarian Shadow

Chapter 7

"Looks like I'll be able to keep you a secret, Luna. At least for a couple years," Shadow stated out loud to Luna who was sitting in her crib – a gift from Tikal. Suddenly, his phone began to ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Shadow! Long time no see. How've you been?"

"Fine, Rouge. Just fine." Shadow spoke with no emotion.

"Well, that's good. But anyway, I called to remind you not to forget about my End of the Year party."

Shadow went silent in shock.

"You did forget, didn't you?" In the background, someone spoke. Rouge responded to them. "I told you that calling was a good idea." She paused. "Oh, hush. You don't know what you're talking about. And can't you hear your daughter crying." Pause. "Mumble all you want, you're the one who's responsible for her birth." She turned her attention back to Shadow. "Sorry about that, love. Knuckles acts more like a baby than Ruby."

"It's fine. But yea, sorry. I did forget about your party. And unfortunately, I won't be able to make it this year. My apologies."

There was silence for a moment. "Shadow. Do you remember why I started having these parties in the first place?"

"No, not really. Am I supposed to?"

"Well, considering you're the reason for it, yea I think you should remember."

"Me?"

"Yes! I started these parties so that you would stop being such a loner and learn to get along with the others. Attendance is not an option, especially for you."

"But, Rouge-"

"No buts! I don't want to hear it. You better be at this party or else. If I have to come and drag you out of your house, I will. Don't make me get ugly."

Shadow released a heavy sigh.

"And that includes the pre-party."

"Pre-party?"

"Gosh, Shadow! You're forgetting everything. I mean I only have this particular party once a year. The pre-party is when we get together to decide the theme and to draw names to see who we're getting a present this year. Attendance is necessary."

"That's really not necessary. I mean you can always call and tell me the theme. And the person I have to give a present to will be whoever's left. It's not a big deal."

Rouge sighed. "Fine, Shadow. You win; don't come to the pre-party. But you still have to come to the Main Event, which is in three weeks."

"So soon? Fine, I'll be there."

"Great. Talk to you later, Shadikins."

Shadow growled. "Stop calling me that!"

There was a giggle before Rouge hung up the phone. Shadow sighed again as he put his phone down and sat in the chair. Luna was able to pull herself up to stand at the side of the crib. She was facing Shadow.

"We are in big trouble, Luna." Luna giggled and wiggled. "How am I going to hide you now?"

Shadow drummed his fingers impatiently as he waited for someone to pick up the phone. He grew tired of the incessant ringing. Finally, someone answered.

"Hello, thank you for calling Chao Academy. This is Cindy speaking. How can I help you today?"

"Hello, I'd like to speak with Tikal please."

"I'm sorry, sir. She's in a meeting. Would you like to leave a message?"

"Tell her to call Shadow. I have an important question about Dusk."

"No problem, sir."

"Thank you." He hung up the phone. It was easy for him to admit to having Dusk because it was made a spectacle against his will. He could still remember the vivid images of that day, in which his personal business was put out for everyone to see and hear, thanks to Rouge and Amy. They claimed to have done it for his sake but, even to this day, he's still unsure of what benefit came to him for what they did. Either way, the entire city was aware of his taking in a chao, thanks to those two. Therefore it was no problem that he would be calling the Chao Academy to ask questions about chao raising and whatnot. Of course, that was not the real reason for his call thanks to the events that have taken place as of late.

He couldn't stand waiting for Tikal to call back. So he made himself busy with daily affairs especially those pertaining to caring for Luna. But he was still listening out for the phone, not giving full attention to what he was doing otherwise. It took for him to almost blow up the house before he gave his full attention to other things away from the phone. And as you would have it, the phone rang as soon as he stopped paying attention to it. He almost forgot why it would be ringing in the first place.

He picked up the phone as he was rocking Luna. "Hello."

"Hello. This is Tikal from Chao Academy calling for Shadow. I am returning his earlier phone call."

"Who else do you think would be answering my phone?"

"No one, but I like to remain professional while I'm at work if you don't mind. Now how can I help you? You said you had an important question regarding Dusk."

"Well, for one, you know it has nothing to do with Dusk."

"Yes, I am aware of that."

"You don't have me on speaker, do you?"

"If I did, I would have told you. Besides, I am in my office alone at the moment."

"OK. Well see here's the problem: Rouge is having her annual End-of-the-Year party and I have to go or else face the wrath of Rouge, which I really don't want to do."

"Oh, yes. She did tell me about it. She invited Chaos and I to attend. It sounds like a lot of fun. We're looking forward to it."

"What? She invited you two?"

"Yes. Oh. I think I see your dilemma. You need someone to watch 'Dusk' for you while you're at the party. I'm so sorry. I already told her we would come."

"No, it's alright. I'll think of something. Don't worry about it. In case I don't see you, have fun at the party."

"I do hope you find a way to sort this out. Are you sure you don't just want to be upfront and honest about what's going on with you? I'm sure they can help. They are your friends after all."

"Are they? They sure do have a funny way of showing it."

"They are, Shadow. Just give them a chance. They are overall harmless."

"Hmph."

"Well I must be going. I do have a business to run. If you absolutely can't think of anything else to do about 'Dusk,' call me and let me know. I will find a way to help you."

"Sure. Bye." He hung up before waiting for an answer. He sat on the couch with Luna in his arms. She'd fallen asleep near the beginning of their conversation. Shadow released a heavy sigh as he laid his head back onto the couch.

"What am I going to do?" He asked himself as he closed his eyes and allowed his body to relax into a sleep state.

~*~*~Rouge's Party~*~*~

Everyone was gathered, having a few drinks, and conversing.

Presents were being handed out – everyone was there, except Shadow. This did not go unnoticed by the hostess.

"Shadow better show up soon or else," she said as she sipped her drink. Her husband put his arm around her waist.

"Don't worry, Shadow's a big boy. It's not like you can make him do something he doesn't want to do."

"Be quiet, Knuckles. I can do whatever I want. And if he knows what's good for him, he'll show his face here in the next few minutes."

Outside, said hedgehog was standing across the street behind a tree. He could clearly hear the party going on inside. And while he didn't particularly care for social gatherings, what he hated even more was the scorn of a woman's wrath, which he knew he was going to feel for sure if he didn't get his butt in the house soon.

"But I don't want them to know about Luna. Not now at least. I need more time to prepare myself to tell them," he reasoned to himself out loud. "Is that too much to ask?" He asked as he turned around. Luna sat in her chair, trying to get at the buttons on her coat. "Why am I even acting like this? I'm the Ultimate Lifeform. I can handle anything. But still…" He looked back at the house. "I can't remember my connection to them so I don't exactly know how much I can trust them." He turned over more plans in his mind.

"Maybe I can quickly go in, deliver my present, have a quick drink, and leave. Should only take me a couple minutes. Luna will be fine until then, right?" He looked at Luna as though he expected her to answer his question and make his uncertainty go away. But she was more fascinated with the design of her coat to hear whatever Shadow was talking about. "Maybe… I can do that."

"I wouldn't if I were you. A lot tends to happen in just a few minutes."

Shadow tensed and looked around for the source of the voice. He looked up when it started laughing. He was not happy about who it was.

"Wow, you must really be troubled about this if I was able to sneak up on you." Sonic lightly jumped down out of the tree, careful to not get any snow on Luna. He waved at her as he walked past her and up to Shadow.

"What are you doing here, Sonic?" Shadow asked as he looked away. His face was turning slightly red. He convinced himself it was because of the cold.

"Woah, back up! You actually used my name. Wow, this is a momentous occasion. Let me take in this moment."

"If you're here to mock me, then you can leave. You're the last person I need to see right now."

"Isn't Rouge the last person you need to see right now? She is looking pretty pissed to me." And sure enough, through the window, one could tell that the female bat was a millimeter away from completely blowing a gasket. The music was lower or maybe it was that her voice was getting louder to the point it was overpowering the music. Shadow cringed at the thought of what she'd do to him once he did show his face, if he could even find a way to do so that is.

"Just great. How am I even going to go in there to calm her down?" He looked to see Sonic pick Luna up and was bouncing her in the air. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Playing with Luna," Sonic simply said. "What's it look like I'm doing?"

"Put her down," Shadow commanded with a growl in his voice.

"Relax, Shadow. Look, you need to get in there before Rouge decides to start looking for you. I already knew about Luna from that day you caught me in your house. I've been sort of keeping an eye on you two since, so I know almost everything already. And I have to say, I'm pretty proud of you, Shadow. Looks like Tikal was right about you after all."

Shadow looked down to the ground, not wanting Sonic to mistake the redness that was coming up onto his cheeks again. He muttered thanks and then looked at Sonic again.

"Look, I'm not going to tell the others about Luna. I want to help. I realize you're in a tight spot. That's why I excused myself from the party. I came earlier and hung out with everyone. I even got my present. So I'm free to watch Luna while you go to the party. We'll tag team on this."

"Why are you doing this?"

Sonic put his arm around Shadow's shoulders. "Because, whether you like or remember it or not, we are friends, Shadow. We're a team, especially you and me. We got to work together and help each other out. That's how it works."

"Friends, huh? I can only recall wanting to kill you."

Sonic chuckled. "Yea, well that was the old you. The new you agrees that we're friends. Or at the very least, we are mutual fighting companions and close associates."

Shadow thought about it. "I suppose it makes sense."

"Great." Sonic pat Shadow's back, which he didn't like and made it known with a glare. Sonic ignored it. "Now get in there before Rouge goes berserk. I tell you, the way she's acting, you'd think she was pregnant again."

Shadow chuckled. "Well, you know Knuckles is a hot head." Sonic laughed out loud.

"That's a good one, Shadow." Shadow gave a small smile as he laughed on the inside. "Alright. Well, go ahead and enjoy the party. Don't worry, you're leaving Luna in good hands."

Shadow started to walk away. He looked back at Sonic and Luna as he got ready to cross the street. He turned back towards the house and was about to step into the street when Sonic stopped him. "Oh, Shadow, I almost forgot."

"What?" Sonic held out his hand, in it was a box.

"This is for you," Sonic explained. "I drew your name from the pre-party. Happy New Year!" Shadow looked at the box, which was wrapped in black foil and had a red ribbon. It was nothing fancy but it still looked nice. Shadow looked up at Sonic, who was smiling, before taking the box from him. As soon as Shadow put his hand on the box, he felt something like energy of some sort come into him.

What was that? Why do I feel this energy? Is this a new emotion? Is this due to Sonic's declaration of friendship? How strange. I don't think I can get used to these emotions. They make me uneasy. But at the same time, some do feel kind of nice.

Shadow took the box, nodded his thanks, and then proceeded across the street.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~TBC~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Authoress Note: I am back to reignite my passion for writing. Thank you for your patience. ~RoselleTDB