Disclaimer: At Your Best(You Are Love) by Aaliyah R.I.P Baby Girl

When the sun shone its rays upon the kingdom of Flora, an emotion of debonair enchanted the planet's slumbering inhabitants out of their dreamland. Everyone was oddly optimistic about what's to happen today, since they aren't the ones to take things for granted.

The sun's beams reached Amy's bedroom, striking through her stand still mauve and silky curtains at each side of the balcony. Shining on its final destination, her hair a bit sprawled all over her pillow, the pink sovereign silently slept in her bed.

After a few moments, the young lady's eyelids fluttered open, her welcome to the real world offered by the sunshine in her room. Moving around one more time in her plush bed, she sat up and stretched her once spellbound arms. Encasing her body with her robe, she walked over to the mezzanine and overlooked the country. Knowing her subjects' reaction to this splendid morning brightness, she beamed with relieved joy and vivaciousness.

After an hour of bathing herself, she grabbed out her lavender rose evening gown from her large closet, slipped it on her with ease of movement, put on her matching heels, and tended more to her face.

It was such a delightful day. The birds sang, the sun smiled down on them, all this was too much to contain! Brushing her hair, the impulse to whisper a tune to the outside world was the hobby she would partake upon herself when days like these happen oh so often.

Glad to take her subconscious' offer, Amy Rose began her melody with a Capella note of her favorite song she heard at the last festival.

Shadow decided to explore the surroundings outside castle grounds. He wasn't a big fan of sunshine, since none ever came in his country, but his usually cold face was warmly welcomed regardless. The prince realized he was in forbidden territory, the Flora Kingdom.

On guard, he had the usual alertness of a foreigner, making sure his identity was hidden, and he had a back up potion to fix that if he was backed at a corner. It's one thing for Amy to get caught at his home; but if he, Prince Shadow the Hedgehog, was even seen by her father, oh what chaos that would be rained on him.

Wandering on his enemy's ground, he flinched a bit at the sudden sound of birds playing with each other, and grimaced at his sight of bunnies, deer and does frolicking around the pastures. This place isn't so bad, he thought to himself, if you take away the bunnies.

Growing tired from the miles and miles he had traveled, he paused and sat down on a conveniently placed rock…until he heard these musical words:

Let me know, let me know…

Shadow's energy snapped back into his once tired mind. His heart listened to the most beautiful voice he has ever heard. Nobody, on earth, can ever top that angelic singing on the dark prince's terms. Even though having a heart like an icebox, it grasped into the center of all that resentment and melted it in seconds.

His muscles set him into walking motion, determined to find the source of the sound, this sound that bewitched him. At times, he got to ways where the voice got faint, but eventually it got warmer and warmer, and he arrived to the large château of the Flora Imperial Family.

"This is where Amy lives, so if the voice is coming from that balcony…"

Putting his climbing skills to use, he clung on a nearby branch of a tree, tested it to make sure it was capable to hold him, and climbed up until he got to the balcony's level. When he glanced inside, he was surprised to see who was the owner of the melody was.

Sitting in her chair, with her eyes closed and brushing her hair, was Amy Rose, her mouth rhythmically moving with every note she uttered out, her soft voice echoing out with such strength. No strains on her high notes, no breaks…the singing was pretty good to him.

"Of course…I should've known it was her. Where else would you find such a pretty voice like that?" Shadow thought.

He slid down the tree, slowly sat down, closed his eyes and listened to her song.

Tell me what it is, tell me what it is

Make believe, no need to make believe…

The dark knight slowly smiled…

Look beyond your own, look beyond your own

Try and find another place for me…

Amy finished her song later on, glad that her flying friends were singing along with her. What was unexpected for her to hear was a deep voice.

"That was beautiful, Amy. Never have I heard anything so perfect in my wretched life." It spoke smoothly.

She jumped out of her chair and tumbled over to the floor. It came from outside her balcony!

Amy rushed to the foot of the terrace, a bit distressed about her mystery audience. Her feelings about strangers who know her are too palpable; the hair on her neck just rose at that sound.

The girl looked down and her petrified feelings changed, causing her heart to leap like a jackrabbit. Now, she was positive this day was going to be wonderful after all just by the sight of her suitor. Thoughts zoomed through her mind, planning out her afternoon with Shadow as she looked into his eyes.

"Shadow! I didn't know…" She blushed, realizing that he heard her singing. It was out of shy embarrassment and flattered modesty, of course. "You – you should've told me that you were there! I don't like singing knowing that somebody can hear me," Amy said angrily.

"I was wandering around here, until I heard you. At least my inner voice told me how pure you sounded…and where you lived", Shadow continued. To top things off, he smiled. Amy blushed harder.

"If I could turn back Father Time, I would capture and cherish that moment for the rest of my life," he said.

Amy looked so red that her pink fur was barely recognizable. But, nevertheless, she appreciated his opinions on her singing. 'Oh Shadow…'

'Wait a minute; he's in my kingdom…'

"Shadow! What you are doing here, at my palace? You'll get yourself killed if anyone saw you on my castle grounds!" Amy whispered, looking around outside.

"I thought you were glad to see me, sweetheart", Shadow replied innocently.

Amy turned red again and giggled a bit at how he said 'sweetheart'; but she snapped out of herself immediately. Who knows who would be listening to them now?

"Of-of course I'm happy to see you; I'm elated be sure of that. I just…don't want to see you executed on the spot, especially when nobody doesn't know the real you."

"You know that I don't give a damn about who sees me, as long as I only see you," Shadow earnestly said. Now he was being serious.

Amy nodded.

"Then you should be glad to see me today, while I'm alive."

Amy smiled.

"Then there's nothing to worry about", Amy sighed. "But make sure you don't get caught!" she added, still vexed. Shadow laughed.

Without warning, she jumped out of the balcony, falling like a lone feather. Shadow caught her in his arms just in time. Unfortunately, he went down as well.

Amy got off of him quickly, and looked to see if he was injured. He was still. "Shadow? Are you okay?"

Amy leaned in closer to his motionless face, hoping his gorgeous eyes would greet her again. Nothing happened so far, so she pressed her head against his chest. She felt a thump! thump! so she knows he is alive-

"Gotcha!"

All of a sudden she was dragged into a mess of embracing, caressing and kisses by him, rolling around in the bright green grass. His muzzle tickling her neck, Amy couldn't help but giggle her heart out. Soon, they were both laughing out of pure fun, nothing Shadow ever felt, ever since…she passed…

They stopped, stared at each other for a while lying on the grass, exhausted from Shadow's surprise attack. Amy fell into his lap, looking up at him with stars in her eyes, playfully touching his white tuft. Shadow meanwhile looked into those harmless eyes and petted her hair in response.

"Amy, is that you laughing over there?" a female voice spoken, coming from inside the castle hall.

Heading for the doorway in a matter of minutes was Queen Lily, Amy's mother.