Shadow the Hedgehog was many things. Strong. Determined. Reliable. An ace marksman and a special agent of G.U.N. And, of course, the Ultimate Life Form. What he was not was a babysitter. So, someone, explain why in Chaos he was standing in someone else's kitchen, packing a grade schooler's lunch.
Shadow had received a message the previous night from Vanilla the Rabbit asking him to come over early the next morning. Not having any prior engagements, he agreed. The two hadn't interacted much, so he was curious as to why she'd call him out so early in the morning. He could only assume it to be some sort of emergency, but then why wouldn't she have explained the situation beforehand?
He awoke at dawn and, after checking to make sure he didn't have any assignments from G.U.N., left for Vanilla's on his motorcycle. Rouge had warned him that riding so early in the morning bothered their neighbors, but unless they approached him about it, he wasn't planning on stopping. The enjoyment he got from cruising through the empty streets was well worth any noise complaints. They may have had a point, though, seeing as the rabbit opened the door just as he arrived, looking frazzled. "Thank you for coming, Shadow." The woman ushered him towards the kitchen. "Please, have a seat."
Shadow observed his surroundings as he made his way inside. Framed photos lined the walls, as well as various knick-knacks and plants. Drawings were pinned on the fridge with magnets, and, aside from the occasional toy or colored pencil, the house itself was very clean and tidy. Which only made the suitcase next to the door stand out even more.
"Are you going somewhere?" Shadow asked, getting a clearer idea of why she contacted him.
"Yes, I am," Vanilla said nervously. She grabbed cups and began to pour tea for them. "It was a last-minute decision, so I've been up all night packing."
Shadow sniffed the contents of the cup before bringing it to his lips. "Well, I don't mind watching over the house while you're away. I hope you and your daughter have a lovely time."
"Um, Cream isn't going…"
Shadow nearly choked on his drink. "Pardon!?"
Vanilla's ears drooped. "I know that this is a lot to ask of you, and believe me, if there was someone else, I would have asked them. Amy usually watches her when I'm away, but she followed Sonic on some adventure, as well as Tails and Knuckles. I couldn't get a hold of Silver or Blaze, and I don't know Rouge very well. Please, you're the only one left I can trust."
Shadow couldn't deny that he would rather be doing anything else than babysit, but the fact that he was so far down on her list of candidates did take a blow to his ego. "I can't believe she'd ask muscle-brained echidna before me," he thought. Still, though, something she said caught his interest.
"What do you mean you trust me?" Shadow asked. "We've hardly spoken before this."
"You saved my Cream during the Black Arms Invasion," she smiled. "I know that if anything were to happen, you'd protect her."
The hedgehog felt a pang of guilt. "She probably wouldn't have been in that situation if it wasn't for me," he thought. Though he's helped save the world many times, there are still those who have not forgiven him for his past mistakes. Many of them lost friends and family and had every right to hold a grudge, no matter how much good he did to make up for it.
He sighed, "How long will you be gone?"
"I'll be back tomorrow evening," she said, no longer nervous. "You will be paid for your time, and if, for whatever reason, you can't watch her anymore, just give me a call, and I'll figure something out from there."
Shadow wanted to outright decline her request. Why must the Ultimate Lifeform lower himself to a mere babysitter? But there was still the voice in the back of his head telling him to do the right thing. "I'll do it…"
Not wanting to give the hedgehog a chance to back out, Vanilla quickly went over his responsibilities. He would take Cream to and from school, help her with her homework, and ensure she was in bed by nine o'clock. Aside from that, he was free to do whatever he pleased as long as he kept an eye on the young rabbit. The fridge was stopped with food, but Vanilla had given him extra rings if he preferred to order pizza for the two of them.
She was in the process of showing him how to prepare Cream's lunch when she stiffened. "Good morning, sweetie," she called out. Shadow was confused by her sudden change but then heard footsteps approaching.
"Good morning!" Cream replied as she entered the kitchen. She quickly noticed the dark figure looming next to her mother and smiled. "Good morning, Mr. Shadow!" The hedgehog simply nodded before returning to chopping vegetables.
"I have to leave for a while. I'll be back tomorrow night," Vanilla said. "Shadow will be watching you while I'm gone."
Shadow watched the two through their reflections in the window. Cream's face scrunched up ever so subtly before beaming once more. "Have a safe trip," the little rabbit said. Shadow wondered if Vanilla's sudden trips were a common occurrence. He couldn't begin to understand how that must feel for a child.
After talking a little more, Cream ran off to get ready for school. Vanilla let out a sigh before continuing to pack the lunchbox. "Thank you again for doing this, Shadow. I know my daughter is capable of taking care of herself, but as a mother, I can't help but worry about her."
Shadow was fully aware of the young rabbit's abilities, having seen her battle Badniks on numerous occasions. But, given how naive she can be, it made sense that Vanilla would want someone to watch her daughter when she could not. "You're quite welcome, ma'am."
"You don't have to be so formal with me, Shadow. You're old enough to be my father," she laughed. "Please, just call me Vanilla."
The hedgehog had often been told that he was "old fashioned," but being put in stasis for fifty years will do that to you. Still, he was now curious about how old the woman before him was and how young she must have been when she became a mother. He decided it was best to keep his curiosities to himself, however. Rouge had drilled into his head that you should never speak about a woman's age after he claimed she was too old to be watching teen dramas.
The rabbit noticed the time and began to panic. "Shoot, the cab's here!" She collected her bags before giving her daughter a hug and kiss on the forehead. "Listen to Shadow, and if anything happens, you have my number."
Having finished packing the lunch, Shadow joined them at the front door. He still had his reservations, but he was not one to go back on his word. Standing tall, he nodded to the woman. "Safe travels, Vanilla."
Vanilla smiles at the hedgehog. She hated every time she had to leave her daughter. No matter how old she may be, it never gets easier, but it did ease the mother's jittery nerves knowing that she was in safe hands.
The sound of the cab's horn cut their time short. The rabbits flinched at the sudden noise, and Shadow had to admit that he was slightly irritated by it as well. Not wanting to upset her driver any longer, Vanilla gave her daughter one final hug before rushing out the door.
Cream stood at the doorway until the cab was no longer in view. She let out a pained sigh before returning inside. Cheese, who had just woken up, rested on Cream's shoulder, giving her a small hug.
Shadow overlooked the notes Vanilla had left for him. They would need to leave soon if they wish to get her to school on time. "Are you ready to leave?" he asked.
Cream nodded, handing her Chao some food. "Be good for Mr. Shadow," she told it. Vanilla hadn't informed Shadow on whether he would be needing to take care of the Chao's needs or not. But, given Cream's current demeanor, he figured the pet was her responsibility and left it at that.
Shadow made sure to triple-check that everything was turned off and all doors were locked. He wouldn't normally be this precautious, but given that he did not live here, he had to be extra careful that nothing would go wrong under his watch. Once satisfied, Shadow sat on his motorcycle, offering Cream his helmet.
"Is it safe?" she asked timidly.
"My driving is second to none," he said confidently.
Cream still looked nervous, but after some hesitation, she took the helmet. She had to pull her ears back to fit it over her head. There was some mild discomfort but not enough to cause her any harm. He climbed onto the back of the bike, awkwardly holding onto the hedgehog's shoulders.
"You'll need to hold on tighter, or you'll fall off," he warned. Momentary panic overtook her as she moved to wrap her arms around his chest instead. Turning the ignition, he began to rev the engine before speeding down the road.
Cream clung to his chest hair. "Please stop!" She pleaded.
The bike skidded as he hit the brakes. "Are you okay!?" He asked, panicked.
"I'm sorry," her muffled voice barely came through the helmet.
Shadow lifted the visor to get a better look at her and could see tears forming. "No, I'm sorry," he said. "I hadn't considered that this might be too much for you." Shadow checked the time, noting that it would take too long for the two to walk, and he didn't want to force her to run in her current state. With little other options, he pulled out a Chaos Emerald and offered the rabbit his hand. "We'll use Chaos Control for now."
Cream put the helmet on the seat. "I've never done that before," she said softly. "Is it safe?"
Shadow almost instinctively told her yes, but he had to remind himself that she was still just a child. "You may feel a little nauseous, but it will pass quickly."
She was hesitant after the motorcycle experience. She knew things would be different when her mom told her that Shadow would be watching her, but she had no time to prepare herself for all this. Still, she didn't want to make her mother worry by being late to school.
She placed her hand in his and felt the world be pulled out from under her. It was only for an instant, but it had given her a sense of vertigo. They then appeared outside of her school, startling those around them. Cream knelt over, feeling sick. Shadow began to rub her back, "Take a second to breathe. It will pass soon."
True to his word, the nausea didn't last long. After catching her breath, she stood up straight and noticed some of the parents giving Shadow dirty looks. It didn't seem to bother him, or at least if it did, he wasn't letting it show. Instead, he continued to rub her back, patiently waiting for her to recover.
"Thank you, Mr. Shadow. I feel much better." She smiled, which seemed to be enough to reassure him. Cream led him to her classroom, where her teacher, a green mouse, greeted students outside. "Good morning, Ms. Ali!"
"Good morning, Cream!" The woman squeaked out. However, her chipper tone was cut short when she spotted the hedgehog behind her student. Her once bright demeanor was replaced with a practiced faux smile. "Hello. I haven't seen you here before."
"Good morning, ma'am," Shadow greeted with a bow of his head. "I'm watching over things while Vanilla takes care of some business." The vagueness in his wording added to the woman's tenseness. Feeling that he's overstayed his welcome, Shadow turned to Cream, "I'll be back later to pick you up."
Cream smiled, "Have a good day, Mr. Shadow!" The hedgehog hesitated momentarily before replying with a small nod and teleporting away.
Shadow was happy to see that no one had touched his bike while he was gone. He put on his helmet and began to drive back to his residence, thinking about the events that had transpired over the last few hours. He could not wrap his head around what compelled him to take up the rabbit's request. There was no logic or reason behind his choice. For all intents and purposes, he was the last person anyone should trust to watch over a child. After all, everyone knew what happened to the last one he was responsible for.
The motorcycle skidded to a halt in the middle of the busy road. Cars swerved around him, honking as they went by. The scent of burnt rubber filled his nostrils as he squeezed the handlebars, waiting for the traumatic memory to pass. He knew he shouldn't blame himself for what happened. He had learned the truth of his past and how to live with what had happened. Twice, in fact. And though he had those around him like Rouge to reassure him that he was doing the right thing, it didn't completely stop the guilt.
He felt someone touch his hand, causing him to snap in their direction. His sudden movements started the young crow. "Are you okay? Do you need me to call someone?" she asked warily. Shadow looked at her, confused. Turning around, he could see her car parked behind him with its emergency lights flashing. Unsure of what to do, the crow continued to speak. "Let's get you out of the road."
"I'm fine," Shadow said, regaining the ability to speak. He revved the engine, preparing to drive off, but stopped to turn to the teen. "Thank you for checking on me," he said shyly before making a U-turn with a new destination in mind.
Cream stood up from her seat as the final bell rang. She packed her bag and began to leave the classroom when her teacher stopped her. "Can you stay for a moment, Cream?"
The young rabbit nodded, taking the closest seat to the teacher's desk. She could hear the other students gossiping in the hallway, wondering what kind of trouble she was in. She knew she hadn't done anything wrong, but she was beginning to feel anxious as they waited for the last of the students to step out.
"How is everything at home?" the woman asked.
"It's okay," Cream said softly. "My mom had to leave for a business trip. Mr. Shadow is taking care of me until she gets back."
The mouse's nose scrunched up. "I see. And does Shadow take care of you often?
"No, this is the first time." Cream couldn't help but notice the nasty look on her teacher's face. "Is something wrong, Ms. Ali?"
"No, of course not." The chipper tone in her voice returned. It was almost scary how quickly the atmosphere in the room changed. "I shouldn't keep you any longer. Just know that I'm here if you ever need to talk."
Cream gave a small nod before leaving the classroom, feeling quite bewildered. Ms. Ali had been acting strange since that morning. The young rabbit had always admired her teacher's joyous and infectiously positive outlook on life. She wondered what could have happened to cause the mouse so much distress.
The warm afternoon breeze hit her face as she exited the school building. She smiled as she thought about the Summer season approaching just around the corner. Her mother had agreed to take time off work so they could do some much-needed traveling. The first thing Cream wanted to do once on break was visit the beach. Maybe she'd invite Amy and their friends.
Cream was so engulfed in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed the foot stretched out in front of her, causing her to trip. "Hey!" Grif, an armadillo boy from her class, called out. "Watch where you're going, Clutz."
"I'm sorry," Cream said with tears in her eyes. She lifted herself up and felt a pain shoot through her leg. "OW!" Grif saw the blood seeping out from the girl's scraped knee and quickly ran away. The blood had already begun to soak into her now dirt-covered dress. How was she going to explain this to her mother?
Cream could make out through the tears a gloved hand reaching out to her. "Can you stand?"
"I think so…." She took the black hedgehog's hand as she tried to stop crying. "Thank you, Mr. Shadow." He simply nodded and let go of her before leading her out of the school. The pain in her leg made it difficult to walk, but Shadow stayed close, ready to carry her in case it became too much for her to bear.
"Why didn't anyone help you?" he asked.
"I just tripped and fell," Cream said with a pained smile. "I should have been watching where I was going."
Shadow knew that wasn't what happened. He saw the panic on the armadillo's face as the boy ran. He was tempted to teach him a well-deserved lesson, but he was above harming children. Though, if things continue as they are, he'd consider making an exception.
"Mr. Shadow?" Her words drew the hedgehog from his thoughts. "Are we not going to teleport home?"
"No, we'll be taking my bike." Shadow could see the dread on your face and gently patted her shoulder. "It's okay. I came prepared this time." They turned the corner, and the motorcycle came into view now with a mounted sidecar. Shadow handed her a new helmet. "The cashier said this is specially designed for rabbits to protect their ears." Next, he gave her a bag of earplugs. "I'm sorry I hadn't realized how sensitive your ears were. They give me a bag every time I go to the firing range, so if you need more, just let me know."
Cream was awestruck. She had no idea how much all this must have cost, but it was certainly more than what her mother had paid him. "Th-this is all too much! This had to have cost you a fortune."
"Your safety is worth much more," he said matter of factly.
Monetarily, it was as much as a month's pay, but given how his residence was fully paid for by G.U.N. and his body's lack of basic needs like food allowed him much more financial freedom than the average person. Still, he was frugal with his rings, only spending them when necessary or on a small luxury on a very rare occasion.
Once Cream was safely buckled in, and Shadow was in the middle of putting on his helmet when he realized something. He looked around with a scowl. "Where is he?"
Cream was about to ask who he was looking for when a certain Choa flew down from a nearby tree. "Cheese!" Cream called out, wrapping her friend in a hug. After the hug, she noticed he wore a tiny leather jacket and sunglasses. "Where did you get that?"
"He insisted on the outfit when I brought him along," Shadow said, unimpressed. Cheese squeezed under the seat belt and put on a tiny helmet, making Cream giggle. "Let me know if I need to slow down."
The motorcycle was fast but far from the speed they were at that morning. The earplugs worked perfectly, and the helmet had extra padding to help reduce the noise even further. After the initial nerves had subsided, Cream was beginning to enjoy the ride and was almost disappointed when they pulled into her driveway.
Shadow helped her down from the sidecar, being mindful of her injured leg. Once inside, he cleaned the wound before carefully bandaging it. "It looked a lot worse than it was," he said, packing away the medkit. "It'll still be a little sore, but the bandage will keep the wound clean."
Cream thanked the hedgehog before returning to her room. She removed the dirty dress, frowning at the blood-soaked fabric. After putting on fresh clothes, she brought the dress to the laundry room in hopes of cleaning it before it stained.
"May I see it?" Shadow asked, peering around the corner. Cream handed the hedgehog the dress, feeling slightly ashamed as he inspected it. "Do you have a spare toothbrush by chance?"
Confused, the rabbit retrieved a new toothbrush from under the bathroom sink. Shadow thanked her before searching the house for various bottles of chemicals. After finding what he was looking for, he rinsed the blood spot underwater and then proceeded to gently scrub it. Cream watched attentively until the blood was no more and then placed it in the washing machine.
"That was so cool, Mr. Shadow!" Creamed smiled brightly. "Where did you learn to do that?"
"I tend to get blood on my gloves," he said casually. "Rouge says I should just buy new ones, but there's no reason to if they're still salvageable." Cream felt a little sick at the thought of why he'd have blood on them. "How about you start your homework while I prepare dinner?"
After dinner, the two sat together watching cartoons. Initially, the show's overly bright colors and childish nature were a turn-off for the moody hedgehog. He had done his best to ignore the idiotic protagonists and their jokes until a certain scene where the main character's friend was being harassed at school. He immediately noticed Cream's discomfort as it played out before her. In the end, the bully had a troubled home life, and though they didn't become friends, the bully stopped the friend.
"I think they're sending the wrong message," Shadow said. "Regardless of their past, they should still face the consequences of their actions."
"I don't think that's what they were trying to say," Cream said softly. "I think the point was that you shouldn't ignore those in trouble. If more people were willing to help, then maybe the bully would never have ended up like that, to begin with."
"You don't know that. Some people are just born bad."
"I don't, but if I treated them as if that was all they were, then that's all they will ever be."
"Is that why you let that armadillo trip you?" Cream stayed quiet. Shadow knew he shouldn't involve himself with her problems, but he couldn't stop himself. "You're a hero, Cream. You're strong enough to fight Badniks; why are you allowing yourself to be treated that way?"
"Because fighting is wrong," she almost shouted. "Just because I can fight them doesn't mean I should. That's not what good people do."
"It's not a matter of being good or not, Cream. It's about sticking up for yourself. If you let them walk all over you, then it will just get worse."
"What, like how you let all the adults talk bad about you!?" Cream covered her mouth, instantly regretting what she had said. "I'm sorry, Mr. Shadow."
"It's okay," he said, unfazed by her words. "I don't have the right to fight back." A whirlwind of emotions flooded the small rabbit. She wanted to scream so badly but couldn't even speak. Before she could come up with a response, the hedgehog's phone rang. "It's your mother."
A sense of joy quickly washed over her as she took the phone. "Hi, mom!"
"Hi, sweaty," Vanilla said, sounding exhausted. "How are things?"
Cream thought about the roller coaster of events that made up her day. "Good. I like spending time with Mr. Shadow." The hedgehog's ears perked up at her announcement.
"Well, that makes me feel much better," Vanilla laughed. "Maybe I should pay him a little extra when I get back." Cream laughed, thinking about how much he had spent on her earlier that day. "Alright, I have to get back to work. I just wanted to tell you I loved you and to have a good night."
Cream could feel the tears begin to form. "I love you too. Hurry home."
"I'll be there as soon as I can." Cream could hear the pain in her mother's voice. A muffled voice could be heard on the line. "I got to go. I'll see you tomorrow night." Before Cream could say another word, the call ended. She couldn't stop the tears from falling as she stared at the phone.
Shadow placed a hand on the girl's back. "There's still some time before your bedtime. How about we go out for some ice cream?"
Cream knew that her mother would scold her for eating sweets before bed, but right now, she didn't care. She nodded, and the two made their way outside, with Cheese quickly following behind, jacket and helmet in hand. The cool wind sent a chill down her spine as they road down the road, but she didn't mind. Seeing the streetlights speed by as they drove down the empty streets was something she had never experienced before. Her mother rarely took her out once the sun had set, so she marveled at all the sites.
It didn't take long for them to arrive at the ice cream shop. The door chimed as they entered the building, where a lone crow stood at the register. "Oh, it's you," she said to the hedgehog. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better," Shadow admitted sheepishly. "Thank you again for earlier."
The crow smiled. "What can I get you?"
Cream stared at the two, confused. She wondered what had happened between the two but figured that she wouldn't get an answer, so she looked over the flavors of ice cream instead. "Can I have a scoop of carrot cake?"
"Of course!" The crow said with a smile, handing her the cone. "And for you?"
"None for me, thank you," Shadow said as he reached for his wallet.
The crow looked at him for a moment before walking into the back room. Cream and Cheese shared a look of confusion. She soon returned with a cup that she put a scoop of vanilla ice cream in and topped with coffee. "Try this."
Shadow looked at her with suspicion but did as he was told. To his surprise, he enjoyed it. "What is this?"
"It's called affogato, something on our secret menu." The crow smiled. "Don't worry about paying. I had just closed the till when you walked in." Shadow's face turned serious as he took another bite of his dessert. He dropped some rings in the tip jar before saying a soft "thank you" and heading for the door. "Have a good night!"
Cream waved goodbye as she left. "That was nice of her," she said, buckling herself in the sidecar. The trio drove home in silence. The small rabbit offered bites of her ice cream to Cheese and marveled at the night sky. As they approached her house, she tapped the hedgehog's side. "Can we drive around some more?"
Shadow looked at the time on his phone, noting that it was already past the nine o'clock bedtime. "Just a little longer," he said sternly. Creamed returned his sharp gaze with a bright smile. It wasn't long until she finished her dessert and slumped down, watching the scenery pass by. They stopped at a red light, and Shadow looked down to find his passengers fast asleep. He drove them back to the house and gently carried the two inside. He debated placing her in her bed and allowing her to continue to sleep, but he had pushed the boundaries by allowing her to stay up late and eat sweets. He poked the rabbit's cheek. "It's time to brush your teeth."
The rabbit's eyes fluttered open for a moment as she yawned. With Shadow's help, Cream fumbled to the bathroom to get ready for bed. After almost falling back asleep as she brushed her teeth, she changed into her pajamas and laid in bed with Cheese at her side. "Thank you for today, Mr. Shadow. I had a lot of fun."
"I did, too." Shadow allowed himself a small smile. "Goodnight, Cream."
The motorcycle came to a stop in front of the school. Cream stepped out of the sidecar, removing her earplugs and wrapping them up before placing them in her backpack. She looked around and noticed some of the adults staring at them disapprovingly. She was beginning to feel self-conscious, having all those eyes on her.
The sound of Shadow's phone ringing caught her attention. The hedgehog scowled at the screen before silencing it. "Who was that?" Cream asked.
"Nothing you need to worry about," Shadow said with a small smile. It helped reassure her, but she could hear the phone vibrating as they approached the school. By the time they reached her classroom, Cream's anxiety heightened from the phone's incessant buzzing. Shadow, noticing her discomfort, placed a hand on her shoulder and asked, "Are you okay?"
"Well… I-"
"Good morning, Cream!" Ms. Ali called out. "Hello again, Shadow. I can take Cream inside for you. I'm sure a busy hedgehog such as yourself must be very busy." The phone began to vibrate, emphasizing her point. Though the mouse wore a kind smile, Cream could still hear the venom in her words.
Shadow remained stoic in his demeanor. He removed his hand from the rabbit's shoulder and told her, "Have a good day at school."
Cream wasn't sure why everyone was acting so mean to her friend, but she was tired of it. She wrapped herself around the hedgehog, causing him to flinch and freeze up. With the brightest smile she could muster, she practically shouted, "Thank you for taking care of me. You're the best babysitter I've ever had!"
Shadow didn't know what to say. He'd never had anyone say that to him before. How was he supposed to respond? So instead, he stood there while everyone stared at him, some snickering and others with malice, but none more than the teacher, who continued to smile as if the facade would fall apart the moment she stopped.
Finally, Cream let go of him and ran to her classroom, ready to start her day. Shadow sighed in relief and looked at the mouse one last time before returning to his motorcycle. He felt the phone once again vibrate and answered. "Yes?"
"Where the hell are you!?" Rouge yelled. "You never came home yesterday, and now you're ignoring my calls. You've got some nerve, Shadow."
"Unless you have something important to say, I'm hanging up."
Rouge took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "We have a job. I'm sending you the coordinates now, so get your grouchy butt over here NOW!"
"I'm busy," he said bluntly.
"Well, maybe if you answered your damn phone, you'd have the choice to back out, but it's too late now."
Shadow debated on hanging up on her then and there. Still, even though he was temporarily babysitting, he was still an agent of G.U.N., and that gave precedence over everything else. He'd have to let Vanilla know, but would she be able to find someone to watch Cream until she returned later that evening? The mother had struggled before, which was why Shadow ended up being a sort of last resort.
Rouge, sensing his unease, spoke up. "Look, it's just a snatch and grab. I'd do it myself, but I need someone who can do the heavy lifting, and Omega isn't one for subtlety."
"I RESENT THAT," the robotic voice came through with a screech. "I AM EQUIPPED WITH THE LATEST IN G.U.N. STEALTH TECHNOLOGY. YOUR INFERIOR HEARING WILL NEVER DETECT ME."
Rouge ignored the walking tank's protests and continued. "It won't take more than a couple of hours. We'll be in and out, and you can get back to whatever it was you were doing."
Shadow still had his concerns, but there were more than six hours until Cream would get out. As long as he had a Chaos Emerald, he could return instantly. He mulled over her words. "In and out?"
"In and out and back by lunch."
"So much for making it back by lunch!" Shadow growled as he shot into a horde of Badniks.
"I said I was sorry!" Rouge screamed as she was chased through the air by a robotic swarm. "The Intel they gave me said this place was abandoned. How was I supposed to know Eggman would show up!?"
"I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DETECTED," Omega said as he fired a barrage of rockets. "WITH MY SILENT JOINTS AND SUPPRESSORS, NO ONE WOULD KNOW I WAS EVER HERE."
Shadow released the empty magazine from his gun as he checked the time on his phone. Cream would be getting out soon, and even after hours of fighting, there was no sign of it ending soon. "We can't keep going on like this, Rouge. We need to leave and return with reinforcements."
Rouge led the swarm into Omega's gunfire, allowing her to land next to the hedgehog and rest her wings. "We can't leave without the package." She pointed to the large machine in the center of the room. "Whatever that hunk of junk is has to be important if he has an army protecting it."
Shadow gritted his teeth. "Omega, I need ammo!"
"NEGATIVE!" Omega protested as he began to punch the incoming enemies. "YOU'VE ALREADY DEPLENISHED MY RESERVE AMMUNITION."
Shadow tossed the gun aside and began to throw Chaos Spears into the crowd. He had been reserving his energy for when they needed to make a hasty escape, but now it was the only thing keeping him standing. He thought about the last time he had to fight this hard. Even with all his enhanced abilities, he was still bound to get tired. "Was this the doctor's plan?" he thought to himself.
The sound of a door being busted from its hinges caught his attention. A blue blur sped through the crowd, smashing everything in its path until he stopped before him. "Hey, Shadow! What are you guys doing here?"
"Sonic?" Shadow asked, confused. "If you're here, then that means…" As he thought, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy stormed through the passage Sonic opened and began taking down Badniks. "There's no time to explain; we need to clear out the area."
"Good luck with that," Tails said as he flew towards them. "You're going to be fighting all day until you destroy that transmitter." He pointed towards the machine they had come to retrieve.
"No can do," Rouge said. "As far as we're concerned, that's now G.U.N. property, and we have to get it out of here in one piece."
The two argued back and forth while the two hedgehogs protected them. Shadow grew irritated and pulled the fox towards him. "Can you shut it off?"
"Of course!" Tails said, pulling out of his grasp. "But it's going to take time."
"Of course, it would," Shadow muttered. "We'll cover you, so get it done."
Shadow threw a Chaos Spear to clear a path while Sonic pinballed back and forth to keep the bots away from his friends. Tails reached the console and began to type away while Rouge continued to argue. On the other end of the room, Knuckles and Amy met with Omega and helped thin the herd.
Everything seemed to go smoothly until Shadow felt a shift in the room. The surrounding Chaos energy became distorted and began to pull into a single point. Time seemed to slow down as Shadow searched for the source of the disturbance. But by the time he had found it, he was too late to stop it.
A beam of energy shot out from the ceiling towards the fox. Sonic was the only one fast enough to move him to safety, but warning him would take too long. With no time to spare, he grabbed the emerald and teleported behind the fox.
"Shadow!" He could hear the screams before he felt the pain emanating from the hole in his chest. It wasn't as if it had been his first time being shot, but it had never left him immobilized like this before. His Chaos energy had become erratic as it tried desperately to heal the wound. His eyes grew heavy; he needed to rest. He could feel the cold, hard floor vibrate beneath him. The sound of shouting and metal pounding echoed in his head. He tried to focus on it, but a fog clouded his thoughts. Where was he? What was he doing? Why does he hurt? He had no answers, and soon, his consciousness faded away as he fell deeper and deeper into the darkness.
"It's time to go, Shadow." He opened his eyes and was on the ARK, looking out into the void of space. He turned his head to look at the girl standing next to him. "We have to get to the escape pod."
The two walked through the halls as soldiers raided the space colony, killing everyone without hesitation. Shadow wanted to help them. He was the Ultimate Lifeform; it was his duty to protect these people. But Maria held him tight as she led him to the escape pod. She opened the door, ushering him inside.
Shadow grabbed her hand, "Maria, please, get inside. I can't leave you here!"
"You know I can't go with you," she said. She kept a smile on her face even as the blood seeped through her clothes. "It's too late for me, but there's still time for you."
"I don't want to lose you again."
"You won't," she said, removing his hand. The pod door closed as she leaned her head against the glass. "I'll always be with you."
Soldiers entered the room, aimed towards them. Shadow pounded on the door, desperate to break free. He watched helplessly as the soldiers fired their guns. "MARIA!"
His eyes burst open as a vibrant red aura surrounded him. He was being held in the claws of Eggman's mech. Fear quickly spread over the doctor's face as Shadow freed himself from his grasp. In a bloodthirsty growl, Shadow screamed, "Chaos Blast!" The dark energy pooling within him exploded, destroying the mech and the surrounding Badniks. Shadow landed on his feet but soon fell to his knees.
"Shadow!" Rouge cried out as everyone ran over to check on the hedgehog. Shadow wasn't sure how long he had been out, but the others looked much worse for wear than before.
"I-is it over?" he asked between pained breaths.
"It is now," Tails said. "With the machine down and Eggman captured, the world is safe." Shadow let out a sigh of relief. However, it was short-lived as he pulled out a Chaos Emerald.
"Where you off to in such a hurry?" Sonic asked. "We gotta celebrate, and besides, you're in no shape to go anywhere."
"I have to pick up Cream from school," Shadow said.
Everyone's jaws dropped, "WHAT!?"
"Wait!" Amy called out as she grabbed hold of Shadow's arm. But it was too late, as the two were soon engulfed in a flash of light, leaving the others in confusion—all except for Omega, who had snuck away with the machine without anyone noticing.
Cream waited anxiously next to Shadow's motorcycle. It hadn't been long since school had ended, but the fact that the hedgehog was nowhere to be seen despite his bike being right where he had left made her panic. "Did something happen to Mr. Shadow?" she wondered. Could he have gone looking for her? Should she try and find him, or would it be better to stay and wait by the bike? She could walk home and call someone for help, but then her mother would worry.
The sound of approaching footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. Cream's blood turned cold as she spotted Grif walking towards her. The last thing she needed was for him to tease her while she was waiting for Shadow, so she began to walk down the road with no clear destination in mind. The footsteps continued to follow her, and no matter how fast she ran or how many erratic turns she took, they were always within her earshot. Eventually, she ducked into an alleyway, hoping her pursuer would lose track of her and give up.
Just then, a semi-truck drove past and honked its horn, causing her to scream and cover her ears. Cream's ears had grown more sensitive as she aged. Her mother had told her that she'd learn to adjust, but her everyday life had become a struggle, for even flying had become too painful. How was she supposed to be a hero when any loud noise caused her to break down? With a ringing in her ears, she slung off her backpack in search of her earplugs. Just as she pulled out the paper towel they were wrapped in, another loud horn blared in her ears, making her drop them onto the dirty floor.
"Found, yeah!" Grif called out triumphantly with an air horn in hand. Cream tried to grab an earplug, desperate to protect her hearing, but the armadillo blew his horn again. "What? First, you run away, and now you're gonna put trash in your ears instead of talking to me?" Another horn.
Cream curled in on herself, begging for someone to come and save her. She was beginning to feel sick from the constant noise. She had to make it stop. Soon, the pain turned to anger and curled tighter and began to spin. Grif looked in confusion, leaving him unprepared for when the rabbit dashed towards him. Cream collided with his chest, knocking the air horn out of his hand and sending him across the alleyway.
This was her chance to escape. She could grab her bag and run home or to the motorcycle, and hope Shadow was there to protect her. But then nothing would change. Grif would continue to bully her, and she would continue being the scared little girl in need of protection. This was her chance to end all that once and for all.
Grif's body ached; he'd never been hit that hard before. He shook his head and saw the girl he had been tormenting towering over him. "You think you're tough now? Don't make me laugh," he taunted. Her newfound rage grew as she raised her fist to strike him down. Grif flinched in anticipation, but the impact had never come. After a moment, he opened his eyes to see a black hedgehog covered in blood holding her back.
"Cream, are you okay!?" a second pink hedgehog ran up to them.
The armadillo was now under the scrutiny of not one but three powerful and angry individuals. However, the rabbit's was short-lived once she took notice of her babysitter's wounds. Where there was once a bushy patch of white fur was now a large bloody hole the size of her fist.
"What happened to you?" she cried.
Shadow patted her shoulder, pulling out a small bag of earplugs. "Go back to the bike with Amy. I won't be long." Cream wanted to protest, but Amy quickly took her hand, leading her back to the school. Once he was sure they were far enough, Shadow picked up the air horn and turned on the boy. "Don't bother pleading for your safety or how you've seen the error of your ways because I don't care. There is no redemption for trash like you, and if it were up to me, you'd learn firsthand the consequences of your actions." He crushed the can, creating a small explosion in his hand. "Let it be known that the only reason you can walk away from here on your own two feet is by the mercy of that girl. She still believes in the good in others, and I won't let you be the one to take that from her." Not caring to see how the boy would react, Shadow made his leave. Exhaustion had settled in as he walked back. He had to conserve as much energy as possible to drive them back to the house.
Cream's ears perked up when she saw Shadow. Amy, noticing the girl's stare, turned and smiled. "Hope you gave the brat a good one for messing with our girl."
Shadow ignored the hedgehog and approached Cream. "I'm sorry I'm late. This wouldn't have happened had I been here like I should have."
Cream shook her head. "No, I'm sorry that I'm so weak. I get why you guys don't bring me along on adventures anymore."
"It's not like that!" Amy said defensively. "Things have just been too dangerous lately, and I don't know how I could face Vanilla if something were to happen to you." Her words only caused the rabbit to sink further into her seat.
"You're not weak," Shadow said sternly. "You're completely capable of handling your own out there, but it doesn't mean you should. You're still young and in no need to rush to grow up so long as we're around to keep the world safe. Besides, you still have a family waiting for you to come home. That's not a luxury many of us have." Shadow's gaze was far away as he spoke. After a moment, he turned to her. "Cherish these moments while you can, Cream."
Silence settled in, but it wasn't unpleasant. Cream was lost in thought as she mulled over her words. Shadow thanked Amy for her help, telling her she could leave, which upset the girl. "No way am I leaving you like this!" Not having the energy to argue, Shadow handed her the helmet, and she quickly put it on before sitting behind him.
The drive back was smooth; the after-school traffic had long since cleared out. Shadow dragged himself to the shower, taking extra care to wash out the blood hiding in his crimson quills. Once out, he collapsed onto the couch, finally succumbing to exhaustion.
Hours had passed as Cream and Amy talked. Cream learned that because Shadow was the "Ultimate Lifeform," he often sacrificed himself to protect others. Though it would never kill him, it took a great deal of energy, leaving him exhausted. Still, Cream continued listening to ensure he was still breathing while Amy recalled her adventure.
The faint sound of a car door opening and closing pulled her attention. She rushed to the front door and jumped into the older rabbit's arms. "Welcome home!"
"Oh, I missed you so much, my little Bun," Vanilla said softly. Looking inside, she could see Amy peeking around the corner. "Oh, if I knew we'd have more guests, I would have brought something to eat."
"That's okay, Ms. Vanilla," Amy said. "I just stopped by to tell Cream about my adventure. I'm sorry I couldn't watch her like usual."
"That's alright. I was able to find someone," Vanilla said. "Speaking of which, where is-"
Just then, Shadow walked around the corner wearing a suspicious leather jacket. "Good evening, ma'am." Shadow took notice of the shift in the woman's face. "I mean Vanilla."
Satisfied, the woman allowed him to take her bag inside. "I'm still tired from my trip, so how about I order pizza for everyone? You will be staying for dinner, won't you?"
The two hedgehogs exchange a look. "Uh, I really should get home," Amy said nervously. "I came straight here after I got into town."
"I should leave as well," Shadow said. "Rouge is probably wondering where I've been these last few days."
"Well, if you insist," Vanilla said, disappointed. "I'm going to rest then. Cream, can you lock up once they leave?" Cream nodded her head, and the woman left for her room.
Once out of earshot, Cream wrapped herself around the black hedgehog. "I thought you were never going to wake up!"
"How could I get any sleep over Amy's rambling about how great Sonic is?" Shadow quipped.
Amy punched his arm, "Hey, be grateful that I covered for you! Where'd you get that jacket anyways?"
"Cheese forced me to get it," Shadow said, slightly annoyed. "My fur hasn't grown back yet, and I'd rather not have to explain to Vanilla what had happened."
Cream giggled at the thought of the two riding down the road wearing matching jackets. "It looks good on you."
The smallest hint of a smile appeared on Shadow's otherwise stoic face. "Would you like a ride home?" he asked Amy.
"Wow! Look who's being a gentleman. All it took was playing babysitter for a couple of days." Amy and Cream giggled while Shadow looked on unamused. "Yes, I'd love a ride, thank you." The two said goodnight to the rabbit and rode to Amy's house. It wasn't very far, but she still appreciated the gesture. "Thanks for the lift," she said, returning the helmet.
"Consider it repayment for watching Cream while I rested," Shadow said. He still felt weak, but he was recovering. "I know you came by accident, but I'm grateful for your help."
Amy smiled, "anytime!" Just as Shadow put on his helmet to leave, Amy stopped him. "Hey, about what you said earlier. Just because we don't share blood doesn't make us any less family." She couldn't see his expression from behind the visor, but he nodded slightly before riding away.
After all the excitement of the last two days, the ride back felt lonely. Shadow was used to being alone, but he couldn't remember the last time he felt this way. He stopped at a red light and couldn't help but look at the empty sidecar as Amy's words echoed in his thoughts.
The rest of the drive went by in a flash, and before he knew it, he was walking through his front door. "Welcome home," Rouge said from the couch. She was already wearing her pajamas, which was strange given that she would usually be out until after midnight. What was even stranger was the sad smile on her face when she saw him. "The mission was a success by the way. Just thought I'd let you know." She got up to leave but stopped when Shadow spoke.
"I'm home," he said awkwardly. Rouge looked at him confused but then broke out into laughter. Before she could say anything, he spoke up again. "Would you like to go out for ice cream?"
"Ice cream?" she questioned. "Shadow, you hate sweets."
"I found a place not far," he said softly. "It's good and pretty quiet around this time."
Rouge looked at him, confused, but after some thought, she smiled. "Let me grab my coat."
Shadow felt a smile form as well, but it was short-lived. "I WISH TO JOIN IN THE ACTIVITIES," Omega said from the corner.
"But you can't eat," Shadow said, confused.
"I STILL WISH TO BE INCLUDED."
Shadow was beginning to understand that feeling. "Yeah, let's all go together."