Hope that little preview got your curiousity! As usual all non-original characters and utensils property of their respective owners.

Part One: Invites and Discoveries

It was a beautiful spring's evening in Station Square. The full moon was a perfect accent to the already bustling nightlife passing its way through the twilight's cooling air, and the musical echoes from various nightclubs swirled together into an intriguing harmony. All around him, people walked past in pairs or in pairs of pairs chatting, laughing, cuddling, and just being together. And with every step through the crowds of twos or more, her name kept pinging around in his mind, an echo without a voice…

Maria… is this what we could have shared? Is this what was supposed to be?

Shadow the Hedgehog buried his fists deeper into his trench coat's pockets as he rounded the final corner to K.H.A.O.S, the greatest of all known clubs, which happened to be owned by Rouge the Bat. As usual, the line was already into the alleyway. The only thing standing in their way was a crimson echidna in a black muscle-shirt and jeans, and he had no real problem embedding his spiked fists into an uninvited guest to shoo them away.

"No, I keep tellin you people, the only admission is with private invite! If you ain't got one, SCRAM!" he was yelling at the front of the line, as it tried to push its way past the velvety-rope barricade. It was just the challenge of strength Knuckles looked forward to.

The midnight warrior ducked back into the dark and pulled out the little white paper. Inscribed on it were his name, tonight's date and exact time, the very building that was before him and encasing all of it was a familiar scent of lavender he could not quite place. He had awoken from a peaceful slumber earlier in the day to find this little note balanced on his muzzle. Damm, she wasn't kidding about this being private was she? Guess her lil toy is gonna go for a record body count tonight.

He was about to turn around and head back the way he had come when an all-too-familiar voice called down to him "Goin' somewhere, stranger?"

He smirked "Depends on who's asking? Did the faker miss me or something?"

Rouge laughed as she landed delicately beside her partner. Her blue floor-length dress was elegant enough to show she had taste, but open and reveling enough to say she wasn't that uptight "Nah, but you are the last one to get here. For the 'ultimate-life form' you sure do dawdle."

"Is there a reason you are out here with me instead of tending to your guests?" he asked. The jewel-thief was never one to be subtle about pointing out his lack of people skills, but she understood where it was rooted.

Still, she smiled sweetly and linked an arm around his "Just wanted to make sure you'd show up. Now come on!" She pulled him around the back, through the private entrance. Inside, the music was loud and the dancers were bouncing. His mind jumped right down his throat at the closeness of, well everyone! And the ebony hedgehog was not one for tight spaces. Scanning across the building, he quickly caught some attention. At a table on an upper level, Sonic the Hedgehog nodded his way and raised his drink to his darker counterpart and competition, who simply rolled his eyes in response.

"Welllll…loookey lookey whoo decided to sssshow up!" he called down. But Shadow suspected that from the way Sonic was bracing himself upright and the slight slurring of speech that the cobalt speedster had reached his limit.

Suddenly, a mass of golden-orange and white hovered right in front of him, twin tails buzzing at amazing speed "HeyaShadow!Didntthinkyoudmakeitbutyadid!Ohboyohboy!" Tails' eyes were as wide as streetlights, causing Shadow to chuckle slightly "Didn't they tell you to watch the Monster addiction, fox-boy?"

The kitsune laughed hysterically and buzzed back into the crowd. On stage, a cerulean triple-tailed fox and a pure midnight raven were preparing another tune for the mass. The sterling hedgehog at the front nodded to the pair and the music began anew as he balanced the microphone at his muzzle with merely a thought. The fans at their command radiated back equal energy, making him that much more uncomfortable.

How in the world did they convince Silver to do that? Shadow pondered as he caught a quick glance of violet fur and a feline tail just behind the curtain Nevermind.

Turning to Rogue, he asked "So, this is your definition of private? It looks like half the dammed city is here."

She winked "Oh, come on now. This is pretty quiet for this place, ya know. Come on, Shads, you can loosen up too, remember? Besides, everyone else is having a good time."

"Are they now? I'd think the echidna would be more comfortable tossing you around" he replied with his trademark smirk. The bat lit up a bright cherry and smacked him on the arm. Nevertheless, Shadow had to agree with her. It really did look like everyone was enjoying themselves. Wait a minute…there's one missing… but who? In his mind, the hedgehog took a head count.

Rouge was at his side.

Knuckles was holding the door.

Sonic was trashed.

Tails was berserk.

Silver was on stage.

Blaze was backstage.

Amy was… bingo!

"Aren't we missing the pink one?" Shadow asked, actually intrigued for once. Rose was always the social one, so peppy and full of those infernal smiles. Such an event like this would almost demand her presence.

The question seemed to spark a similar line of thinking in Rouge, her ears jumping up and eyes scanning the scene "Well that's odd. She and Cream were here a few minutes ago. Where did they go?"

"Yourelookingformthemtoo?" The young kitsune's voice appeared again.

Rouge nodded "Did you see where they wandered off to?"

"CreamsaidherandAmywerejustgoingtostepoutsideforsomefreshairandthey… haven't… been back … whew…" Tails sputtered as his natural propeller finally gave out. He sat on the floor at their feet, eyes low and exhausted until the bat scooped him up "Come on hun, lets get you something without sugar. Shadow, would you mind?"

"You're sending me after a couple of lost sheep?" he asked, eyebrow raised.

"Please Shads? I've got my hands full here." Her eyes were massive and sparkling with energy. It was a look that the thief used often when she needed his services.

Sadly, it usually worked too. "Fine, I'll find those two. Just keep your eye on the faker. I think he's outdone himself this time."

"Will do. Thanks Shads!"

"Don't call me 'Shads'" he called back over his shoulder as he exited the establishment.

The night's breeze cascaded over him as he made his way to the streets, taking most of his apprehension away with it. If there was one amenity the ARK had always lacked, it was open space. Always confined to the inner levels, always staying by Maria's side, Shadow had never appreciated what it felt like to run free in the wilds of the planet. To race through mountains, skating through canyons and freeways alike. He could definitely agree with Sonic's desire to be free to venture whenever and wherever, but Shadow would never let that faker know they had a common joy.

Then the wind began to pick up, howling through the alley. And even if he was not as vulnerable to the elements as all the other scurrying forms around him, Shadow could suddenly feel a chill in the air. Something wasn't right, and that hardened the scowl on his lips.

The scent, a quiet dose of lavender. It whisked past his nose as he scoped the surrounding buildings. It seemed to pull him on a set course through the nightlife until he came across a young rabbit, bucking through the winds parallel to him, tracing back to the club. It wasn't until Cream walked right into him that she too noticed him "Oh, Shadow! What are you doing out here?"

"Looking for you it would seem. Are you alone?"

"I guess so. I was walking back from Amy's when this wind picked up."

Guess their both safe then. My job's done he thought. "Go on home Cream"

"Wait, Shadow, I need your help!" she started, almost in a panic "I need you to come with me!"

Damm, too easy. "Where?"

"To Amy's house. Something's wrong with her. I think something happened at the party. Shadow, please!" Cream was now tugging at his arm, trying to lead him, her chocolate eyes near tears.

Shadow uttered a low growl, wishing vastly to dismiss her, if only for the peace and quiet. Yet even at her words, the unsettling cold grew inside him. Why this was bothering him so much, he didn't quite understand, but the hedgehog had a funny feeling it wasn't about to go away quietly.

"Fine" he sighed "Where's her place at?"

The young rabbit took off in a dead run, Shadow tucked in close behind. They ran for what seemed like hours until they came across a small brick house near the city's edge. There was light glowing from only one room, and even it seemed dull. The feeling of ice had spread through his veins now, a sickly sense that something was missing.

"Cream, go back to K.H.A.O.S. and tell Rouge you're both ok."

"Okay…" she hesitated for a moment before taking off back toward the club.

Once the young rabbit was a safe distance away, Shadow went to the door. And as he expected, it was locked. So, rather than wait for diplomacy, he unloaded a direct kick and blew the barrier straight in, the scent of flowers and a few candles rushing out to meet the outside. Soft noise greeted him, which his brain translated as music. He dashed to its source and the sight that he saw entering the young hedgehog's bedroom entailed only three words…

"What the hell?!"

There before him, in a ebbing pool of crimson, lay the motionless form of Amy Rose.

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