Rose de L'Immortel

Reminder: I do NOT own SEGA's works, just the idea of this fan fiction.

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Chapter Three: Shattered Memories

As months went by, Amy began to see a change in the everyday routine. Instead of being locked up in the dungeon, she had her own room and set of clothes to wear around the palace. Her food was made with a special touch and didn't make her sick, she actually enjoyed every bite and the flavor that it hold. To her eyes, it seemed almost perfect, but one thing just seemed off; she hardly got to see Shadow doing his duties as a dark prince. For hours she tried to look for him but having no luck finding him as she looked in every room in the palace. Eventually, she stopped, giving up before falling onto her knees and looking down at the ground.

'Where is he?' she thought to herself, feeling rather alone as she looked at the palms of her hands.

"He's in a place where no one knows the location," spoke a tiny voice which was close to her right ear.

Amy turned her head, only to find herself staring in the face of a bee dressed up in a tuxedo. She raised an eyebrow, feeling slightly confused as she asked, "I'm guessing that he's had a trouble past? Or a criminal record of his own?"

The bee buzzed around her head, chuckling a bit, "Just a trouble past… more or less, shattered memories."

"That cold hearted fool? I didn't think that he once had a precious memory." She spoke, shaking her head.

"Trust me…these memories were most precious to him that you think." Spoke the bee before clearing his voice, "By the way, my name is Charmy."

"Charmy the Bee, hmm?" she said as she looked at him, "Care to tell me what happened, to… Shadow I mean."

"With pleasure, let's go to the library and I'll tell you everything I know." He responded as he buzzed around her once again.

In a pitch dark room, only the sounds of feet shuffling upon the floor and things being set up. Slowly a small light of flame illuminated a small part of the room as it floated upon each candle, lighting them up before it extinguished by Shadow lightly blowing upon the match. He threw the used match away as he began setting up picture frames around the candles; pictures of him with a blonde haired female human. He took a deep breath as he tried to so a soft smile, having tears starting to form in his tear ducts.

'Maria… I wish you were still here with me… how cruel fate was to take you away from me… I was so happy until….until that very day…' he thought to himself as he started to have a flash back of the past; the time where he last was with the female called 'Maria'.

A sudden flash brightened the room just as quickly as it disappeared in a well done room, hearing commotion in the background as Shadow looked up to the blonde female who was dressed in a royal attire; Maria. Her delicate blue hues looked down into his crimsons as she took his left hand and placed upon her slightly swelled midsection. A soft giggle surpassed her lips as she spoke in a soft tone, "We're going to be one happy family, Shadow."

He lightly rubbed her midsection as he smiled brightly, "The day that our child is born to the world would be one of the happiest days of my life."

"Oh? And what was your first?" she questioned, giggling.

"The first happiest day was when I first laid my eyes on you." He responded as he told hold of her right hand and kissed upon the back of it, "I love you so much…I don't ever want to lose you."

Soon, a flash of lightning filled the room as the flashback changed the scene. Standing on the balcony that over looked the river and the rest of the scenery, Shadow had his eyes focused on Maria, who appeared to be at least six months pregnant, being choked and held over the balcony by a dark hedgehog that was a splitting image of him.

"Mephiles… it doesn't have to be this way! You too can have a good life! Please, put her down and leave us alone!" Shadow yelled, trying to get Mephiles to put back on the balcony.

"If I can't have happiness… no one can" spoke Mephiles as he slowly started to loosen his grip around Maria's neck.

"N-No…" Shadow said to himself before watching Maria fall to her death, "MARIA!"

The sound of things shattering filled the room as Shadow knocked thing off the stand, breaking the frames of every photo he had kept. He balled his hands into fists and began to punch the walls with full strength. He started to choke in his own tears as his punching slowed down, his frustration disappearing as he fell to his knees. He broke down, placing his face into his hands and let the tears flow.

"I'm so sorry Maria…. I'M SO SORRY! I wish I can get you back… I wish you were still here. MARIA!" Shadow shouted as it rang through the walls, only to be interrupted by the sound of someone rushing into the room to comfort him.

"Shadow… are you okay?" Amy spoke as she stayed a few feet away from him, unsure on what he'll possibly do.

He lightly sniffled, feeling a little at ease knowing that Amy had come to see him as he tried to get himself back on his feet, "I-I'm fine… just reliving the past… memories that have been tainted and it's all in the works of Mephiles the Dark."

She nodded slowly as she spoke in a soft caring tone, "So I've heard… but Shadow, please listen to me." She paused as she took a step closer, "I know you love Maria… and I know Maria loves you. But… I believe that Maria doesn't want you to grieve forever about this….tragedy. I think… she would rather have you live on, to have you back on your feet but to also keep the good memories that you had with one another."

Shadow slowly raised himself from the ground before turning to walk over to her. He raised his left hand, causing Amy to flinch a bit as she thought was going to get hit. Instead, she felt his hand upon her head, feeling him petting her quills before speaking in a depressed yet relieved tone, "You're right… I need to stop letting the past control me and move forward. One thing is certain, I can never love a woman as much as I loved her."

Amy nodded once as she slowly wrapped her arms around his frame, giving him a comforting hug as she stated, "I understand completely."

Shadow slowly closed his eyes as he returned the hug slowly, having a single tear stream down his face. He took a deep breath as he caught a scent of her fur; the scent of cherry blossoms and a touch of vanilla. With such a delightful scent, it calmed him down as it but a slight smile on his face. Gradually he began to hold her a little closer to him, causing Amy to not only be shocked about his actions, but it made her feel wanted and trusted.

'Someday… Someday I'll see a whole new side of him.' thought Amy as she let out a soft sigh.

'I've never seen her be this caring before… Is she showing me that she cares about me?' Shadow thought as he continued to hold her close, 'I kind of like this… I hope this feeling doesn't go away.'