A young girl skipped along a grey hard floor with a huge smile on her face. Blue eyes darting from wall to wall, they finally paused on a black hedgehog. Hands behind her back, she laughed and pulled out a ball, calling out, "Catch!"

The red toy sprung out of her hands and neatly plopped into his coordinated paws. They held onto it as he rotated it in his hands. Never had he seen such an object and yet tossing it around was supposed to be fun. Looking at the blue eyed child, there was no turning down that sweet face.

Her blond hair blew in the wind and wrapped around her face. Holding out her hands, she called out, "Throw it." His eyes stayed focused on the little girl's face as she repeated the words, "Throw it...throw it...throw it..."

The words began to change to his name, "Shadow...Shadow...Shadow..." and the voice changed into another's. As all darkened, the little golden-haired child vanished into the darkness.

Shadow's eyelids opened and Amy stood in front of him, holding a silver tray. On it were a cup of hot chocolate and a plate of cheese sandwiches. A worried expression was on her face until he spoke, "Ma—Maria..."

A sad smile replaced her expression and she shook her head saying, "Hey, Shadow, here's your lunch. Ella made it. I hope you like it. If you find something wrong with it, feel free to tell me." Nothing was known about Shadow or his eating habits, so she had to keep her fingers crossed. Besides Ella was an excellent cook. That was a guarantee that it should be delicious.

He looked at her through sleepy eyelids and he muttered, "What are you up to?"

She blankly looked, "What do you mean? I just thought that you might be hungry. You never ate anything all day."

As she placed it on the coffee table, he closely watched her movements with his red eyes. When she stood up again, she noticed how uninterested he was in the food. He turned his head away and disappointed that he was grateful for the lunch, she turned to leave.

Before she moved an inch, she heard him say, "Who did the cooking?"

Stopped in her movements, she stayed where she was, "Ella did. She's the cook here," she turned to look at him, "Her cooking is really good when you give it a chance."

The hedgehog did not answer but instead looked at her. It made her feel like a fly under a microscope, and she shifted her feet uncomfortably. Those red eyes were bold and hard to defy when they make direct contact. Without emotion, they were frightening and could bring a person down to his knees. It brought shivers up and down her spine.

Why was he giving her such a hard time? All that she did was help him. She did not even threaten to hit him on the head with her mallet.

Now when she thought of it that was the treatment he gave to everyone else. All her life, she had never stumbled upon someone so cold. Was he truly wicked and black-hearted that nothing mattered to him?

She could ask herself millions of questions but she would never reach the answer. The only one who could tell was none other than Shadow. It was only a shame that he had no plans to open up. Her eyebrows knitted together and she looked up realizing that he was still watching her.

His eyes were filled with slight curiosity and his head moved above the pillow. Never had she made so much eye contact with someone.

Unsure what to do, she looked at the kitchen and said, "I'll grab some napkins," she awkwardly closed her eyes as she smiled with one hand in the air, "Whoever heard of eating without something to wipe your hands on?"

The patient on the couch raised an eyebrow, and as she entered the kitchen, his eyes moved down and saw a stack of paper napkins on the tray. He sighed with closed eyes and stood up. The wounds on his body were mostly healed, and he was more than able to walk.

As he came into the kitchen where she was, he saw her standing on a stool, having troubles reaching for a covered where the napkins were kept. Even though hedgehogs were shorter than humans, she was pretty short for a hedgehog.

It actually made him smile a little bit before entering. While she was stretching with all her might, something grabbed her sides and had lifted her high enough to reach. Looking down, her pink hair dangled by her shoulders as she stared at Shadow. He actually helped her. And here she was thinking that he despised her. Perhaps, deep down, he did not mind her so much after all.

He asked, "Is this high enough?"

Her hand took the box of napkins, and a grateful look possessed her when she answered, "Yes, it is perfect."

When he had set her down, they decided to return to the living for the rest of lunch. As he ate, he pointed at the food and asked, "You must be famished. Why not take a bite of this food?"

"Not hungry," she muttered, leaning against her hands.

A moment ago she felt as though she was at the top of the world, but at the moment, it seemed that Sonic had abandoned her once more. Several times whenever that happened she wished that he would at least ask her to come along instead of running away.

She has waited for that very special moment, when her Sonic would come and say, "You're the one who I have been waiting for, let's not waste another moment and be married."

But that moment never came. Shadow noticed the look on her face and realised that there was something tormenting her. Whatever it was she had never let anyone know about it. Perhaps someone had to ask her to talk about it, but how could such a feat be done?

She tried to smile, but that failed. It seemed that Shadow was going to see her depressed. He stood up and sat next to her, brushing her hair back, saying, "If there is anything upsetting you, it is probably best to not let it be so bottled up."

She stiffened and glanced at him, thinking Shadow is trying to help me? I don't understand it. It is such a switch from earlier.

Straightening her dress, she told him, "It's nothing to be worried about. I was just being silly."

"I should think not. Instead of giving me sad excuses," his hand slid under her chin, "why not tell me what is wrong?"

Unable to say no, she gave in to his smooth words, which seemed somewhat kind, "It...it…it's just that Sonic does seem to notice how much I care about him. Every time we meet, I try to talk to him, but all that he has done was push me away."

She came close to crying, but Shadow said, "Then stop pinning away for him."

"Hmm?"

"What makes you so sure that he cares about you the same way? Have some dignity and ask him about it." Realising that he was giving advice about something touchy feely, he turned around and said, "And that's all I have to say about it."

She began to smile a little bit and even giggled. Even though Shadow did not join in her stifled laughter, a light shade of red tinted his cheeks.

The trio was staring at Sonic's find. Unfortunately, it was not a friendly looking one. Not to mention it looked like it was ready to make them his next meal.

It reached out an arm and had swung it at them. All three had jumped over it at once, and Sonic did a single handstand on it. Flipping onto his rear to sit on it, he said, "Yahoo, yippee kaya!"

Knuckles decided that if faced with a dangerous looking beast, it is best to hit it and ask questions later. He rolled out of the way and punched the paw that had almost squashed him like a pancake.

Tails yelled out, "Look out, Sonic." Taking out a device, he said, "Alright, let's see what this baby could do." The tiny device he had pulled out fired a laser at the icicle over the monster's head. It made the monster distracted so then Sonic and Knuckles could attack it.

A boomerang was thrown through the cold air and had struck it in the shoulder. The three heroes turned their heads where they saw the hooded figure that Knuckles had seen earlier.

Knuckles narrowed his purple eyes with uncertainty, saying, "Her again?"

The mysterious girl looked at him and said, "Knuckles, you have to destroy it. I have the technology, but only you could use it by using your guardian powers."

Already suspicious, he jumped in front of her, "Okay, who exactly are you? First, you show up with identifying yourself, and then you help us get in here."

"I didn't think it was a good time to tell you who I was," she pulled her hood down, "my name is Julie-Su. Remember me?"

"Julie...?" he squinted his eyes at her until they widened, "Julie!?" He reached to grab her, "You were not dead like all the other echidnas?" He pulled her into a hug, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Her face softened, "Because I was told that you were dead. I didn't realise who you were until after I saw the first time. But when I saw where you were in the cave, I didn't want to get too close, because I thought the falling rocks would squish me."

He annoyingly glanced at Hedgehog, who was still fighting the enemy, "Yeah, you could thank Hedgehog for that one."

Realising that they were delaying everything, Julie stood up and said, "I guess I shouldn't make you wait too much longer."

"Ah, right. So, what is this thing that you were talking about?"

"Well, you see, this monster is really a robot that was created by the dark legion to destroy its enemies with brute strength and the cold, but Robotnik's machine runs on the same frequency. That must be what had woken it after all those years it has been shut down." She handed him a metal looking gauntlet, "When you use your guardian powers while wearing this, it will tell the robot to shut down and short out its main circuits."

Taking the device from her, he smirked, "Heh, thanks, Julie."

The echidna turned to where the fighting was, and tightening his grip, he glanced at Julie who nodded at him. Nodding back, he looked for the best place to attack. That arm was coming back again. Taking that perfect opportunity, he jumped up and gave a warlike cry as he landed a well-aimed punch at it.

Green electricity sparked and began to mess up the machine. Knuckles eyes went wide when he realised that it was not going to just short out. It was reading to explode. Taking Julie's hand, he yelled to his friends, "Let's go, this place is about to blow!"

Sonic zipped past, grabbing Tails and the couple and right when they stepped out of the cave, a large explosion roared from there. Sliding on the ice to a stop into the snow, Sonic looked back at the destruction. Fortunately, it only took some scenery and nothing too important like other people. The warmth was sure to thaw out everything.

Knuckles had caught sight of the setting sun, and he whispered to Julie, "I know there might not be much of our kind left, but would you like to see the island again? It's still a great place to live in, and the view is great."

She turned to him and hugged him in her joy, "Of course I would. It's all that I have thought of since we were separated."

Seeing that Knuckles probably wanted some time alone, Sonic waved and said, "Guess we will catch you later, Knux."

The echidna smiled and waved as he and Julie walked away, saying, "Yeah, I guess we will."

Tails and Sonic left the two and returned home. The two-tailed fox noticed the suddenly serious look on his best buddy but did not quite know what to ask. For some unknown reason, Amy was coming to the fox's mind.

Much thick fog would have made the trip hard to navigate through, but the aviator had an excellent trick up his sleeve. Taking a firm hold of the steering controls, he pulled on the throttle and lifted the plane over the heavy clouds. Nothing but clear skies stood in their way.

Clear patches in the clouds once in a while showed, and in one Sonic had thought for sure he recognised the location. Those green eyes of his grew into a happy surprise and satisfaction upon realising what he saw. It was their temporary home, the Thorndike residence in Station Square. There was only one thing on his mind that made his smile fall into a frown again.

Down below in the garage, Chuck, Chris's grandpa was playing with one of his gizmos. He had a faint idea of what it was going to be, but it was more so something that he and Tails decided to whip up on a dull day.

Much dirt could be clearly seen on a ragged piece of cloth that sat beneath his left elbow, which was busy avoiding the greasy machine next to him. So many projects were started by him and his fox partner that very little elbow room was left.

As his dark eyes steadily stared at the device, he thought first chance I get I'm getting a bigger table.

Loud buzzing outside, interrupted him and enkindled an interest in the old man's naturally curious mind. Peeking outside, he shielded his eyes from the glaring hot sun, and his jaw instantly dropped at the sight. It was X-Tornado, and it looked pretty close.

Static from a nearby work bench began to fill the room with its choppy sound, but the old timer knew who it was as it said, "Chuck, this X-Tornado, over."

Picking up the radio, the grandpa said, looking outside with serious face, "This Chuck, go ahead, X-Tornado."

"We are ready to land. Have the garage door ready."

"No problem," the human's hand clutched onto a black handle and pulled it back. The garage door lifted above the ground and the palm trees moved out of the plane's way, "Garage is ready and clear for landing."

"Thanks, Chuck. Sonic and I are on our way. Talk to you in a little bit."

Both friends had put down their communication devices, and Tails had skillfully steered his aircraft onto the driveway. Once it slowed to a halt and after the engine had been cut, Sonic hopped out of his seat and walked away, something which came to Tails as odd.

He worriedly watched his hero, while Chuck asked him questions about the flight. Sonic's hand slide along the rusting brown railing before reaching the door. His heartbeat fluttered so badly that he was sure the entire household could read what his mind had to say. It had to now or never.

Marching into the living room, he stopped and stepped behind the corner before he was seen. There on the couch, sat Amy as she conversed with Shadow. That was right. Sometime along the way home, Tails had mentioned that the ultimate life form had survived the fall from the fight on Ark.

While the two hedgehogs conversed, it seemed that Shadow was inclined to wrap his arm around Amy, but it also looked like he was hesitating.

Sonic's pointy blue ears perked up upon noticing and without a moment to lose, he zipped behind the two of them, saying, "Well, isn't this a nice setup, the setting sun," he raced around them, "the lit fireplace," the fireplace, which was out a moment ago because it was no longer winter, was suddenly roaring with a large flame, "and a dark room full of candles. Nice touch isn't it?"

Amy blinked in disbelief. If she didn't know any better, she would be saying that Sonic was trying to push her into liking Shadow. She and Sonic were lovers, weren't they?

Sonic brushed his hands, saying, "Well, now that you two were getting along so well with each other, I will just go this way and leave you alone."

Amy had immediately stood up and ran after Sonic, who had allowed her to catch up with him in the kitchen.

"Sonic," she had managed to call as she ran with her puppy dog face, "I—I don't...understand...don't you...love...I thought you..."

"Amy," he looked at her in such a way that she had felt compelled to listen no matter what she feared he had to tell her after all that time, "we need to talk. You're a great friend. I wouldn't ask anyone to replace you, but I don't think about you like that."

Her heart thumped, but oddly it did not shatter into a million pieces. Disappoint, however, could be easily seen. Sonic reached for her shoulders as he always did whenever he had saved her and wanted to tell her something important, saying, "But I don't want to see you hurt. You're like a sister, and I'm more than positive that a certain someone doesn't mind seeing you," he looked at Shadow, which made her blush and turned her head that way, "If you need to tell me anything, don't hesitate, and I'm really sorry that I can't give you what you really want."

Her eyes closed as she folded her hands, saying, "That's alright, Sonic. You are right, Shadow may not like many people, but he has been slowly warming up to me, and in an odd way that makes me glad."

She went to return to Shadow, somehow feeling happier than ever before, perhaps it was fate that a certain black hedgehog wandered to her doorstep.

Meanwhile, a couple just as happy resided on Angel Island. Knuckles and Julie sat next to each other, against the Master Emerald. Both had their hands touching as they eyed the passing clouds that the setting sun decided to paint, but that did not halt the cheerful last notes from a group of flying songbirds.

Julie admired it all in awe as a short gust swept her purplish pink hair and pink dreadlocks over her strong shoulders. They too were pink, but against the dying sunlight, Knuckles could have sworn that she glowed. It was only natural. Only happy people give off such radiance.

She smiled at him and said, "You know, years ago being the last of my species hardly entered my mind. We were so plentiful that the idea that echidnas would become extinct was weird, but right now, it seems like another life."

Knuckles nodded, saying, "It was another life. But these things happen, and there isn't very much that we could do about them aside from learning from our mistakes."

"That's true. The funny thing is, whenever I see someone suffering, I keep seeing myself in them, and it makes me want to help them. Like this black, red, and white hedgehog I had seen. He was in such rough shape that I didn't think he was going to make it, but he started to move. When he had collapsed, I tried to move him to a safer place where he would be taken care of, since I was only able to do so much from him. That was when I noticed what looked like a mansion from the ledge where I had found him. I had taken him there, but after I knocked on the door, my machine alerted me that the snow monster machine that you had to fight was starting up and had to be stopped. I saw the door open while I was running away, so I'm positive that he is alright."

Black, red, and white hedgehog...that sounds like...Nah, couldn't be. Could it? Man, you are full of surprises, Shadow. It seems that Sonic is going to have the shock of his life when he gets home.

Julie stopped talking when she noticed the face Knuckles had and tilted her head at him. A warm smirk came from him when he decided to wrap an arm around her and give her a light nuggie.

"Hey…hey…hey...Knuckles cut it...out..." squirming until she escaped, Julie decided to take her revenge on the evil looking guardian and quickly moved her fingers to his side.

It only worked for a bit as he had a funny face, biting back the loud approaching laugh, but Knuckles was able to tighten his muscles, which made it hard for her to do that. Julie, however, was hard to deter when she was determined to do something, and she glanced down at his shoes.

She muttered, "So you want to play hardball? Okay, then fine," her hands reached forward and snagged the snickers, "I won't go easy on you either."

"Huh? Hey, wait what are you…?" Knuckles words trailed into a very clear laugh as her quick and gentle fingers teased the nerves on his toes.

To be honest, he was unable to laugh like that in a long time and, needless to say, he and Julie became a great team as they guarded the emerald, cherishing each other's presence. Their adventures, however, were far from over. Eggman still enjoyed planning, Sonic and his team of fighters had more than enough members to foil his pathetic schemes and still come home in time for supper and TV, and the echidna was never again alone as the last of his species.