Chapter 22: Meeting Amy Rose

Three hundred years later, Shadow still hadn't found who he was looking for. The last century, he had been making more effort than before. Jet and Shade were following him around the city. Shadow sighed and looked at his sons.

"These past three hundred years have been hell," he said. "Tails has passed away and all of our other friends have as well."

Shade nodded. "And we haven't found anyone to replace any of them."

"Maybe being immortal isn't the best thing after all," Jet said.

Shadow nodded and walked back to his house. On the way there, he bumped into someone. "Oh, I'm sorry." Shadow grabbed their arm to prevent them from falling over.

"It's fine," the person said. She looked at him. "My name is Amy Rose. What's yours?"

Shadow stared at her, lovestruck. "Shadow...it's nice to meet you, Amy Rose." He just hoped his voice hadn't come out as nervous as he suddenly felt.

Amy smiled and nodded, then noticed Jet and Shade. "Who are these people?"

"These are my sons." Shadow motioned to each as he said their names. "This is Jet and Shade."

"It's nice to meet you," Amy said, smiling.

They nodded. Shadow smiled back. Amy gave a small wave and started walking off in the direction she had been going before running into Shadow.

Shadow hesitated and looked at his sons. "I've found the one," he said with a smile.

"Well, go after her." Shade urged him. "We can get back home on our own."

Shadow hesitated and smiled, then ran after Amy. Once he caught up to her, she looked at him.

"What is it?" She asked.

"I was wondering if you'd like to hang out sometime," Shadow asked.

Amy smiled. "Sure, I'd love to. How about later tonight?"

Shadow returned her smile. "Sounds great. Where do you want to meet?"

The pink hedgehog thought about it. "How about near Twinkle Park?"

"I'll be there."

Amy smiled and walked off. Shadow watched her leave, a deep blush on his face. He walked back to his sons.

"Looks like someone's in love," Jet said with a smirk on his face.

"Shut it, Jet." Shadow walked passed his sons and in the direction of home. "Let's just get home."

They nodded, and turned into birds before flying home. When they landed, Shadow looked at them.

I have to go to Twinkle Park later.

That's fine, Jet said. he flapped his wings. the three birds landed on the tree in their backyard.

Shadow sighed and looked around. If I do fall in love with her, you won't get upset at all, will you?

Of course not. Why do you ask?

I just wanted to make sure you wouldn't... Shadow shook his head. Never mind. Nobody in their right minds would hold on to one person for so long.

Wouldn't...what? Jet asked.

"Refuse to forget about someone and hold onto their love for someone long enough for it to hurt them."

"You're talking about Mom."

Shadow nodded and turned back into a hedgehog, as did his sons. Tears ran down his face and he began to cry. Jet and Shade looked at each other and put their arms around their father.

"She'd want you to be happy, father," Shade said. "It's about time you try."

The hedgehog nodded. "I wish I had been able to make her immortal," Shadow said. "Maybe I can do that with Amy." Jet and Shade nodded as well. Shadow gave his sons a smile. "What should I tell Amy about us? I don't think it's a good idea to bring up the fact that we've been alive three centuries."

"Maybe say that your wife passed away and you've been living in the city for a while with your kids working at GUN."

"That'll work. What do you want to do until I have to leave?"

Jet and Shade looked around. "Can you tell us about your deal with Mephiles? You never told us about it or the time when you met Sonic as a merhog."

Shadow laughed. "Which one first?"

"Start from when you met Sonic," Shade said.

Shadow thought back with a smile coming onto his face.

"I met Sonic when I was being attacked by sharks. He saved me, and we quickly became friend." Shadow explained the things they did with each other for a while. "When we were out in the ocean, both of us came under attack by some sharks. I accidentally killed him, and that was when Mephiles made his appearance. He told me he could save Sonic, for a price. At the time, I didn't care about much else other than getting Sonic back. I accepted his offer, and he brought Sonic back. The price was that I had to find someone else to love while on land. Until then, I couldn't see Sonic. It's also the reason I'm immortal."

His son's eyes widened. "Interesting," Shade said. "Do you like being on land as an immortal?"

"I do like it here. The immortal bit is a little depressing when I think about it though."

"What is Sonic doing?"

"Living with Mephiles..."

Jet and Shade looked at each other and then at their father. "You sound depressed. What's wrong?"

"When Mephiles added to our agreement and forced us into hedgehog forms, he told me..." Shadow looked down "He told me that Sonic was in love with him." Their eyes widened in shock. Did Shadow love Sonic? "I don't know why I'm even doing this...all this for someone who never even loved me..." Shadow's frown deepened when he remembered the last encounter with Mephiles all those years ago.

"Do you love him?" Jet asked.

Shadow nodded. Tears came to his eyes and he sobbed, then ran into his room, closing and locking the door behind him.