"Ok." Amy sighed, walking down the stairs, "Fangs is upstairs, playing with his toys. So we can all talk. Now have you guys found anything out about what's happening to Shadow?"

"No, not really." Tails said, as he sat on the couch, using the TV remote to flip through the channels.

"Just that I'm small, and have a high squeaky voice." Shadow sighed, sitting on the floor,moving his feet back and forth.

"Are you guys going to do anything?" The pink hedgehog asked.

"Wasn't planning on it." Tails sighed, leaving the TV on Hunter X Hunter. "Its Saturday, and more importantly; the first day of summer vacation."

"Tails!"

"Amy!" He said, throwing his hands in the air, "What do you want me to do?"

"I don't know, build something that will solve all our problems! That would be nice!"

"You're asking the wrong fox. " He sighed, "I don't care how great of a mechanic you guys think I am. There's no way to bend the process of age."

"Really?" Shadow asked.

"Well, there's nothing I can do!"

Then the front door opened.

"I'm back!" Sonic said, "And I got some good news!"

"You found a way to fix me?" Shadow asked, his eyes gleaming with hope.

"No,um-. Maybe I should rephrase that. I got good news for me! I passed my police test and I'm going on a ride along tomorrow."

"What? When were you training to be a cop?"

"For a couple years now." The blue hedgehog explained, " The police officers didn't seem too keen on sharing the spotlight with an outside source. They actually started charging me every time I 'interfered with an arrest'. So instead of just staying at home, or getting charged with 'interfering', I decided to try for the police force. Anyways have we figured anything out about Shady?"

"Nope." Everyone said, Amy had an annoyed tone in her voice.

"So what are we going to do?" Sonic asked, "This could cause problems if word about Shadow's 'problem gets out."

"Don't worry about it." Someone said, walking down the steps. It was Silver, who had gotten dressed into a pair of blue jeans, and had a grey T-shirt in his hands. "Cuz I have come up with a plan to solve the problem!"

"I'm afraid to ask." Shadow sighed, "But what is it?"

"Don't be Shadow." Silver stated.

"What does that-." Shadow started, but Tails cut him off.

"Lets just hear what he has to say." Tails notice the sparkle in Silver's eyes. It was the kinda sparkle Tails got when he had a breakthrough. So this idea of Silver's wasn't some joke.

"Thank you Tails. Okay, so while you're stuck like this, go by a different name and have an alibi."

"I have a feeling you know what his alibi should be."

"Yep!" The silver hedgehog assured, "With Amy adopting Fangs a couple of months ago, would it be weird for Sonic to adopt a kid?"

"Are you saying, I tell everyone that I adopted a kid?" Sonic asked.

"So you do understand! This way Shadow can hide in plain sight, not having to worry about anyone finding out what's happened to him; and the government won't be able to find him."

"Huh." Amy said, "What do you think?"

"It's not a terrible idea." Shadow admitted, "But if I'm going to be staying here, I wouldn't feel right just mooching off you guys."

"Don't worry. I'm sure Amy can find something for you to do. Right Amy?" Sonic winked at Amy.

"Huh? Oh, thats right I could use some help with something at work!"

"What 'work' do you need help with?" Shadow asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Don't worry about it." Amy said, "It'll be easy work."

"Mm'kay. Well now we got all that settled, what shall I be called?"

"How about Merric?" Tails suggested, "Though its spelled M-E-R-R-I-C-K, M-E-R-R-I-C looks better."

"How did you happen to come upon this name?"

"Searching for cool words. It's means maurice, a very famous name."

"I guess its good as any." Shadow sighed, "So I guess I'm Merric the Hedgehog now."