Chapter 4: Meeting Roses
Day three,still moving forward...and feeling sick. It wasn't fun,all that dew covered grass I ate began to take a toll on me. Each gagging step was the longest,I knew I couldn't throw up,I just knew it. That was the only nutrients I had been able to get hands on,I couldn't just let it go to waste. Throwing my head back,while taking deep breaths through my nose,I walk on. It wasn't too bad though,I was now farther ahead thanks to a head start I figured out. Last night while looking for a place to sleep,I was practicing with my powers,trying to see if I could fly higher,maybe read someone's mind,never tried that before. Although I found that I could not read minds,I found that I could merge my particles with an object while splitted,much like as if I were in the air. I merged with moving cars. Car after car,I'd switch to the ones that went the way I was going,no one saw me though,to them I'm just grey smoke coming out the back of a vehicle. It was actually still dark,I didn't feel the need to sleep anymore,not as long as I'm moving and don't let go. However this trick didn't last long,I may have thought I wasn't sleepy but I ended up dozing off anyway. It was nice,I was in a field.
A field of tall white flowers,I found it funny,last I checked,it was me who was taller. Kicking off my shoes,I run down the breezy field and spread my arms out,hands being tickled by each passing flower. I find myself on a small hill underneath a tall fat tree,it rained light pink peddles. Catching a few scented flower peddles,I hear a snicker behind me. I turn around and faintly see two brown points disappear into the field of flowers. "Hey!" I yell. "Wait up!" Sliding down the hill,I dash through the tall white flowers,grabbing at plants,trying to find the figure. "Where are you?" I get no reply,just the snap of a twig..wait. Turning into a smokey cloud,I quickly shift backwards and send my particles through and out a body mass and come to face the back of a brown cat. Gasping and coughing a bit,she turns around and sees me. She looks a little confused,but happy,it was Star. "I found you Shade." She giggled.
"I am not Shade." I say. "I am Darkness. Cause that's what I bring."
"That's a little gloomy." She says while twitching her ear. "But ok! That's a nice name too." I found it kind of strange that she would just go along with what I was saying,she was actually ok with me changing my name,and being called something else. "Wait till your parents hear about your new name,I'm sure they'd be glad to hear it!"
That last comment suddenly struck me with realization. "Star,they're not here. Surely you heard the gunshots!"
"We can play in your backyard and eat breakfast at your house." She says with a smile as the wind starts to wildly blow away at her long black hair.
"Your house is right by ours! You heard the gunshots!" I protest. "I know you di-"
"That's a new shirt you're wearing isn't it? Your mom will love it,where'd you get it?"
The wind was getting faster. "No she wont! Cause I sto-"
"I want to go to your house." Star says.
"We can't!"
"Did your dad finish his project? Can he take us to that nice park again?"
"No! I don't have parents!" The hasty wind is colder. "No!"
"Maybe they can help us pack a picnic too."
"You heard the gunshots!" I yell,tears streaming down my face. "They're all gone! You hear me? Gone!"
She reaches her hands to my shoulders. "Shade-"
"No! Stop it!"
"Lets go to your treehouse."
"Listen to me! Your wrong!" I yell,while running tears fall to the grass,leaving burns. "There is nothing! We can never do any of those things ever again! My parents are gone,and so am I!"
"Shade,your right here." Star says while tugging at my black bangs.
"No! No I'm not! I left! You hear me? I left!" I say while turning away. "I don't know how you can see me,how you can even suggest such lies!" I look down as my bare feet touch something hot and burning.
My tears that were falling on the field were leaving bright molten sprinkles in the grass. The tall white flowers were now wildly blowing into my face,the wind ice-cold and chilling,the sky turning grey.
"...Shade?" Star sounds uneasy.
I turn back to her,the molten spots on the grass were catching into slowly rising flames. The small flames were rising up her feet,then her legs and tail. Despite this though,she slowly looks up to me,as if not noticing the events that were taking place. "I hope you make it." She was smiling. I try to help her but she only backs away,turning away from me. While she was slowly catching into flames,she also appeared to be fading. She was fading away from me.
"Star stop!" I yell. "I'm sorry,let me help you!"
But she just turns her head to me with a small smile and says in almost a whisper "Look at the white flowers Shade..I like them."
I put my hand to her arm,only for it to disappear into smoke. Her form was now harder to see as it got more transparent. I wanted to cry,but the rising flames remind me not to. At least if she faded away from me,she'd be away from my burning flames. "..y-yeah...I like them too."
Losing my grip,I suddenly come to when I fall through the street and roll out the side. Hitting a long wooden pole as I come to a tumbling stop,I remember that it was a street I was on. It's too bad I was tangible by the time I met that pole,maybe it wouldn't have hurt so bad. "D-damn it." It hurt so bad,a few splinters were on my back,but I couldn't reach them. Failing to hold back a few tears,I lean up on my elbows.
That dream seemed too real,just like real life,it wasn't nice in the end. I got to see my friend though,but I was yelling at her,why was I yelling at her? I never yell at her,she's too nice to be yelled at. Now I'm glad that was a dream,yet I wonder what she meant by hoping that I would make it. Make it where? Dusting myself off,I walk back up to the street,split my particles,and reach out to another car. Maybe some food will help me stay awake,if I find any.
Normal Pov
"Well you did a great job Shadow,your dismissed." Said a G.U.N soldier.
It had been a rather long night,Shadow was assigned a mission that took longer than what it was planned to be,causing him to pull an all-nighter. Now barely heading home,it was early in the morning and all he wanted was some sleep. That was all that he asked for and looked forward to. However,on his way home,a certain pink being just happened to come across him.
"Hey Shads! What's up?" Amy asks.
"Ugh,not you too." Shadow growls. "That's not my name."
"Well duh!" She says. "Of course it's not your real name silly! Its your nickname." Ignoring her comment,he simply walks past her and heads for home. "Well?" He hears her question as she follows.
"Well what?"
"Well aren't you wondering why I'm out here so early?"
"What you do on your spare time is your business." He says. "Not mine."
"Aw no need to be shy!" Amy teases. "Ok! So I sleeping in bed when-" Mumbles was all that Shadow was currently hearing,he was too tired to even look forward,but it was ok. He was on a straight sidewalk,and he knew how far he could walk before it was time to turn. "-and I was like,bye Cream! Enjoy school!" Amy's words came rushing back to him. "So what are you doing here Shadow?"
Suddenly remembering about his chaos emerald,he pulls it out and yells "Chaos control!"
"...ugh! Men!" Amy grumbles right before storming off,seeing his body has disappeared.
"U-um,excuse me,ma'am." Says a small and tired voice.
"Hm?" Amy turns around and sees a small light grey ferret kid. He looked a bit dirty and sloppy,his black hair was fraying in whichever direction,the rough clothing he wore weren't too presentable either. Had he not been so young,she would have thought differently of his red bloodshot eyes,and shaking body.
"Do you have a dollar maybe?" He asks. "I can't pay you back though,sorry,I really am. I just really need a dollar,that's all. Just one dollar and I wont bug you ever again,I promise."
Trying to hide her confusion,she asks "And what would you do with this dollar?" The kid looks down. "Just tell me,and I'll gladly give you a dollar."
"F-food." He mumbles while playing with his tail.
"Food?" Amy asks.
"uh-huh." The small ferret nods. "I just want some money,for some food. That's all. If there's any,I'll give you back the change...if there's any."
"If you really think that you can buy proper food for the cost of only one dollar,then your out of luck." She says. "Don't forget about taxes."
"Oh no,but that's ok." The grey kid says. "Really,I'll be happy with just a snack from a convenient store. It wont take much to satisfy me."
Taking one more good long look of the small dirty kid,Amy says "..You know what,how's about I take you out for some breakfast,rather than just leaving you a dollar."
"Wha? N-no really. I'm fine,just leave me with a dollar." The kid says. "I don't even know you,so why should I go anywhere with you?"
"You don't know me,and yet here you are talking to me." Amy says. "So what's the harm,I don't bite."
"I wasn't trying to talk with you." The kid argues. "I was simply asking a yes or no question. You're the one who turned it into a conversation by answering a question with a question."
"..."
"Sorry miss." The kid blushes. "I just..just don't want to be a burden. So.."
"Lets go." Amy says while dragging the small kid by the arm.
"H-hey! Slow down,where we going?"
"And that's when it indicated chaos energy."
Walking down the city streets was a young yellow kitsune,and speedy blue hedgehog.
"..But I guess it was wrong."
It was rather a rough morning for the two. Tails' handheld chaos emerald tracker had sensed chaos energy out in the forest,but when they got there,there was nothing to be found. Then when they continued the search around the area,the device started acting up then just shuts down on its own.
"Well hey,don't feel bad bro." Sonic says. "I mean that device is kinda old,maybe you just need to upgrade."
"Yeah,but I got us up and early for nothing." Tails mumbles while yawning. "Now I feel bad."
"Ah don't sweat,I needed the morning run anyway. Besides,now we don't have the chance to say that the morning was boring."
"Heh heh,guess not." Tails laughs.
"Tails,do we have to keep walking?" Sonic complains. "I mean by now we could already be home."
"Sonic,the last time we flew and ran at high speeds,we caused a mess through the streets we went past."
"..Oh yeah.." Sonic thought aloud. "Hey do we still have cereal?"
"Uhh,I think so." Tails answers. "At least I hope so,we don't really have any money to go out for breakfast."
"To bad." Says Sonic. "Maybe next time."
"Here you go,kid." Says Amy as she passes the tray across the table to the small ferret. "Now don't worry about the cost,it was nothing major,so just enjoy your meal." It was a simple burger,they were at a restaurant.
At first the grey ferret hesitates,only poking at the wrapping containing the meal,but when the scent hit him,he couldn't help but to rudely stuff his face. Amy was shocked to see this,where could this small boy have come from and not eaten yet? What was he doing here on his own?
"Here,have some juice." She offers right before the drink is hastily snatched from her hand. When the boy was finished choking down his food with the drink,he stops what he was doing and looks away. Amy couldn't help but notice he was blushing. "I'm Amy by the way."
"I'm sorry." He mumbles while smearing some food off his mouth with the back of his hand. "I didn't mean to be messy...thank you for the food. You can leave me now."
"And where are you going to?" Asks Amy.
No answer.
"Are you meeting someone? Is someone you know waiting for you?"
The small ferret doesn't bother looking towards her,he says nothing.
"Did you leave school? Are you suppose to be in school right now?" Questions Amy.
"...I don't go to school." Replies the ferret. "I was taught at home."
"Well isn't your private teacher looking for you? Do your parents even know your here?"
"..."
"Aren't they worried?"
"..."
"You shouldn't just leave people like that. They must be worried sick about you,I can take you home if you show me the way." Amy says.
"No." The ferret answers.
"No you can't show me the way?"
"No,they're not worried. How could they?"
"Little kid this is serious." Amy says. "You need to-"
"Darkness."
"What?"
"My name's not 'Little kid'." The small ferret says. "And no one's meeting me. I don't go to school. My private teacher being my parent doesn't know I'm here. No one is worried. And no one can go to my home as it is currently being investigated."
"What are y-"
"I'm here to look for someone."
"Well who are you looking for?" Amy asks. "I might be able to find the person."
"I'm sure you know the person,I mean everyone does,but as to finding him,I don't think you can."
"Try me."
"Is it possible to find a blur that only leaves a trace of blue?"
"Sonic!" Amy exclaims. "If that's who you're looking for,I'll be more than happy to personally take you to him!"
"You could do that?" He asks.
"Well yeah,don't you recognise me?" Asks Amy.
"Nope."
"Aw! Silly kid,I'm his girlfriend!" Amy giggles in delight.
"I don't recall him ever being with anyone." Says the small ferret. "Well other than that one-"
"He likes to keep it on the down low." Amy explains. "So I wont get hurt. He's just protecting me. Come on! I'll take you to him!" She firmly grabs his arm.
"H-hey!" He yelps. "Hold up! L-let go! ...Please,I mean."
6-20-13
Well originally this was going to be a lot longer,but after seeing how long it was becoming,I decided to cut it short and just save the other half for the next chapter. =)