Author's note: The vote is in! We have reached the end of our journey. After this chapter will come an epilogue.

*Shadow's POV*

Kneeling there, trying to block out the sounds of Rachel's tears, he tried to think of a way to get back to her cabin. He knew for a fact that one key to not only their freedom, but his victory, had probably been waiting patiently by her bedside.

Chaos Blast… while it would surely blow this chamber to shreds, it would do the same to Rachel.

He'd much rather be trapped in a chamber with her than to murder her just to be free of it. Still, he wanted neither. He wanted both himself and Rachel to be free… and together…

He took a deep breath, ready to try it once more. It had proved futile… but at this point, there was no value in waiting for Silver to return from the battle. By that time, whatever Rachel's heartbreak was fueling would be ready to go.

At the same time, he couldn't take hiding his feelings any longer. There was no reason for them to be hiding in the shadows of his soul anymore. She had to know. No matter what it took, the time had finally grown ripe. There was no other way.

Just no other way.

"…CHAOS CONTROL!" he tried again, focusing his mind completely on Rachel's cabin. Focusing so hard that he almost forgot where he came from.

Where he came from… was the chamber. To Shadow's immense shock… there he was, standing on a wooden floor. Surrounded by wooden walls and hidden misery. He couldn't believe he had actually made it! Why hadn't he been able to before? Maybe it was because his hand was in contact with another living being, and the chamber…

Agh, there was no time to lose pondering something that was definitely obsolete at the moment. Lives were on the line.

He looked to Rachel's bedside table and found his poem waiting there, almost seeming to shout "Hey! Over here! Hurry up!"

He grabbed it and used Chaos Control again, and found himself back in the chamber, beside his grieving angel. She clearly hadn't noticed his return yet, so he had a few seconds to think. To prepare his heart to totally let loose as his words as the medium.

"…Rachel," he finally said, putting his hand back onto her shoulder. "There's something you must know."

*Rachel's POV*

Almost like a clearing to a mid-ocean storm, she saw Shadow staring at her with a new set of eyes.

The night she had snapped her ankle flashed for a mere second in her mind's eye. She was in a severe physical pain, crying purely out of pain. He had seemed so… well, reluctant wasn't the word… laid back! Was that it? Whatever it was… that night, he hadn't seemed as eager to help. Well, he did want to help, but he wasn't as... dare I say, passionate about her happiness.

At this moment, she caught sight of a new, undiscovered star in her night of misery. For that, the tears began to dry. The possibility of Silver liking Blaze had left her feeling so alone, for she thought nobody cared. No one dared to speak up. She hadn't dared to divulge. That had left her defenseless.

Shadow was staring into her crippled soul like nobody had, ever before. She couldn't help but stare into his worried eyes. What was going on? Shadow looked so much like a prince now. The way he was kneeling by her side, resting his hand so delicately on her shoulder…

She could feel herself growing happier and getting strength back… developing a blush…

Feeling almost exactly like she did when Silver spoke to her… but more meaningful…

Was this where that truly began? Or were there roots that reached farther back than her mind's eye had the power to see?

Shadow handed her a piece of paper. It looked vaguely familiar, but when Rachel wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at it closely, she knew she was setting eyes on a metaphorical jewel.

That sunset composed completely of pen strokes… and those words from Shadow's heart. The poem he had written her…

"…I remember this," she smiled at last.

"Good," Shadow nodded. "When I wrote those words, Rachel… Although alerting you to the fact that you hold value to me was a prominent result of writing it for you… that is not the entirety of the reason behind it."

He took Rachel's hand, the one that was free, and held it tightly in both of his, staring even deeper into her eyes. She could almost see a kind of fear glare in them for a split second. For that, she knew she had to brace herself for whatever he was going to say.

"…Since I met you on that dismal, rainy night," he confessed with an abnormal trace of passion. "I saw something in you. Normally, others can very easily be the bane of my existence. But you… I saw something in you that was also in Maria. We developed a friendship… but eventually… Maria wasn't even on my mind anymore. Your quality of unwavering compassion matched with your free spirit soon became only one thing I admired about you. You're a beautiful young soul, Rachel. You captivate me in more ways than I ever thought possible with anyone. Your eyes glimmer with the beauty of a late summer sunset. Your smile brings a world of happiness into my life whenever you have the courage to present it. Your voice sends me into an unmatchable trance, especially when it makes music. In every way, you're the most beautiful girl I'll ever meet."

"What do you mean by all this?" Rachel interrupted, only getting more caught up in Shadow. His voice was so deep, so reassuring… so handsome…

After a final breath of preparation, Shadow came right out and told her "I love you. I've been in love with you since our special connection was newly established. You're the one for me… my soulmate. I know that for a fact now."

Rachel had no idea what to say for a few seconds, but soon, her heart completely shifted gears as the final, truthful realization hit it.

Shadow was very possibly the one for her, too. Words… words of utter criticism and shame came to her mind. In all reality… who was Silver to her? Who was this hedgehog that had merely happened to be walking by in her first time of need? Who was this master of telekinesis that she had fallen not in love with… but a noxious infatuation?

Who was this savior whose connection with her felt so much like a flimsy piece of string… while Shadow's was a thick rope?

This silver hedgehog was an imposter of a crush. Rather deceiving, she could say.

She could also safely say that in truth, love was not known to her until this moment. She had to let Shadow know of that.

"…You know what?" she replied in complete confidence, sitting up and wiping any tears that were left away and into oblivion. "I love you, too."

At that moment, she found herself being wrapped tightly in Shadow's arms. She hugged back, not regretting in the least what she had locked herself into. This was true love right here. She couldn't wait to begin a life with Shadow.

At that moment, she and Shadow noticed the glass around them rise into the air. They looked and saw Silver, with his hand out, using his famous telekinesis to free them.

Shadow reluctantly let go of Rachel. He knew that Silver had just won a long battle. For that, he seemed relieved.

However, Rachel saw him and knew for a fact that things had changed. The sight that would usually send her into a frenzy of nervousness… was a sight that did nothing but make her see the truth. All that futile romantic attraction was gone.

It all, and her heart, was with Shadow now.

Did she have any harsh feelings toward Silver for unknowingly sending her into a stage of crippling, possibly deadly weakness? Only for a second. For quite a while after this, he was merely a great friend in her mind's eye. Finally, what she had said to Shadow a while back was true.

The three of them ended up running out of the building as fast as they could. As soon as they reached the outdoors, they stopped to catch their breaths.

"I'm not sure Eggman Nega will ever come out of this one," Silver chuckled.

"I'd still keep an eye out," Rachel warned him. "And… thanks. Thank you both for rescuing me. I wasn't sure what I was going to do!"

"Anytime!" Silver smiled, taking off into the air. "I'll see you two around sometime!"

Not even his voice would budge Rachel from the position she was in now.

Author's note: …Don't get me wrong, my heart's still with Silver. However… I find an odd, significant comfort in the way this turned out. The author in me's finally awake again. Just an epilogue after this, and it'll be wrapping up! If you've made it this far, please review on either this chapter or the epilogue (when it's up, of course) on what you thought! And… thank you. You guys are the best. As far as passion and excitement on the writer's end goes… this has to be one of, if not the, most successful fanfics of mine. I loved writing it… and I hope you enjoyed reading it. Remember, the epilogue will be going up on Sunday, October 12! Don't miss it!