Disclaimer: I do not own any of the material appearing in this story. The OC's belong to their respective owners
While Pacifica is Training With Alchemy
BGM: Apotos - Day (Sonic Unleashed)
"Hmph." Shadow said, his back turned against a Beringel Grimm that faded away behind him.
"Thank you so much, sir!" A woman smiled as they were in Vale. "Now the children can play safely in the park."
Shadow simply nodded at him and walked off as he was accompanied by Rouge and Omega. "Is it me or are the Grimm getting bolder?" Rouge wondered.
"IT DOES NOT MATTER. THEY WILL ALL FALL." Omega said.
"Omega is right. I could care less that the Grimm are getting bolder these days. What matters is that the people are safe from the creatures." Shadow said.
"Right." Rouge nodded. "Still, glad we were here at the right time."
At that moment, a scroll went off as Shadow pulled it out and saw it was. Kije? He wondered as he answered it. "Hello?"
"Ah, Shadow! Are you busy?"
"That depends."
"Well, I was wondering if you could look after Logue and the Foxtrot twins for a while. I'm about to go out to lunch with Enid and her new Gensokyoan friends. I'd ask my husband, but he's still out of town with the Winter Ops."
"I'll be right over."
"Thank you!"
Shadow nodded and hung up.
"You sure seem to be attached to that Logue girl." Rouge said. "Any reason why?"
"I have my reasons." Shadow said as he took off running.
"Mysterious as always."
"WE SHOULD INVESTIGATE."
"Keep an eye on him? Sure, I got nothing better to do." Rouge shrugged. "We will need disguises."
"I KNOW THE PERFECT DISGUISE."
Back with Shadow, he "strolled" on up to the Lang residence as he knocked on the door, where Logue was the one who answered it.
"Shadow~!" Logue smiled and hugged him tightly. He let out a faint chuckle and patted her on the back as Logue pulled away. "Come on in!" She said, taking his hand and pulling him in.
Usually, he doesn't like being pulled away, but with Logue… he didn't seem to mind.
"Hey, Shadow." Kije greeted. "Help yourself to anything in the fridge, I'll be gone for a while with Enid."
"Okay."
"Have fun, you three!" Kije walked out with Enid, closing the door behind them.
"So… what do you three do for fun?" Shadow asked.
"Maggie's idea of fun is nagging at folks." Nick said.
"Do not!" Magnolia folded her arms in defense. "I like to draw, thank you very much."
"So do I!" Logue smiled.
"I just play on the Switch." Nick responded.
"Hmm…" Shadow folded his arms, thinking of something to do with them and then an idea popped into his head. "How about we all go around Toad Town?"
"Sounds good to me!" Magnolia nodded.
"I'm down for that~!" Logue giggled.
"Yeah, sure!" Nick smiled.
"Then let's go."
End BGM
Once at Toad Town…
The four of them hopped out of the Warp Pipe. "Alright, so what do you want to do first?" Shadow asked.
"Well, let's see…" Magnolia rubbed her chin in thought, while off in the distance at the park, Oran walked by with Anya, Becky (With her Yorkshire Terrier, Wiesel) and Lobster Siren where Anya spotted the group.
"Huh? Who's the hedgehog guy with Maggie and the others?"
"Hmm?" Oran turned his head. "Oh hey, I know that guy. He's Shadow! He's really cool."
"That's Shadow? Oh, he looks really cool." Anya's eyes sparkled.
The quad walked over to Shadow and co.
"Hmm?" Shadow shifted his eyes to see the quad coming. "Hello Oran… and you three are…?"
"Anya Forger~! Nice to meet ya!" Anya smiled.
"Becky Blackbell. Nice to meet you!"
"H-hi… I'm Lobster Siren… though my sisters and friend call me Lobster. Oran invited me over."
"Lobster Siren?" Shadow raised an eyebrow. "Hmm… I've heard Shantae mention them in passing. Apparently you're working with the nature goddess."
Lobster nodded. "Yeah. My sisters and I love her." She smiled. "But anyway, you… mind if we hang out with you?"
"I don't mind." Shadow said.
"Alright! Now let's go have some fun in Toad Town! Who's with me!" Magnolia raised her fist in the air.
"Yeah!" The other kids raised their fists with smiles.
BGM: Super Mario Land Music Remix - Level 1 (Gaming Reinvented) (Start at 0:09)
"You guys have these in foam?" Shadow asked as Magnolia spotted an axe throwing activity.
"Relax, axe throwing is perfectly safe." The clerk reassured as Magnolia threw an axe into a target, embedding itself deep into it.
"Ha! Beat that." Magnolia said as Nick picked one up and threw it, only it bounced off the wall and headed straight for the group. However, due to Shadow's quick thinking, he grabbed it and simply glared at the clerk.
"...I'll go look in the back."
"Oran…? Why are you banned from the bowling alley?" Lobster wondered.
"Turns out they don't like improv." Oran responded.
Shadow raised an eyebrow. "You tried to do some acting here?"
"Well…"
Earlier…
"Hup!" Oran went into his shell and started to rev up into a ball and spin dashed into the bowling pins, getting a perfect strike as he then came out of the ball return unharmed.
"Way to go, sport!" Qrow cheered as he and Raven high fived him as onlookers looked on in complete disbelief.
Back in the present…
"Aaaaand that is why I'm not allowed to go anywhere alone with Uncle Qrow and Aunt Raven. Mom thinks they're a horrible influence when I'm alone with them." Oran said. "The bowling alley thinks "Using yourself as a ball" is frowned upon…" He rolled his eyes.
"Wow! I want to be a bowling ball!" Anya's eyes sparkled.
"I wonder if I can use my Crab Tank as a bowling ball…" Becky wondered, all the while Shadow and Magnolia facepalmed at the revelation.
At Coconut Mall, the kids hopped on go karts and started racing around the mall with everyone clearing the area and upon Shadow's request, no dangerous items were to be used when they were on the track such as Bob-ombs, POW Blocks, Blue Shells, Lightning Bolts, or Piranha Plants.
"Waaaah!" Logue yelped as she slipped on a banana peel and crashed into a wall. "Darn you, Nick!"
"You're gonna take that lying down?" Shadow asked.
"No way!" Logue backed up and drove off, running over an item box and throwing a Red Shell, striking Nick from behind.
"Ack!" Nick yelped as Logue drove past him.
"Sucker~!"
Shadow chuckled, folding his arms proudly with a smirk. "Atta girl."
Nearby, Rouge, who had donned on casual clothing and a hoodie to cover her head, watched on with a chuckle.
…As for Omega, his idea of a disguise was fake glasses and a mustache.
"Uhhhh…" A man looked at Omega weirdly.
"HELLO FELLOW HUMAN. ENJOYING THIS LOVELY DAY?"
The man sweatdropped. "Suuuure…"
Lobster Siren nocked an arrow into a bow as she pulled it back and fired, hitting a bullseye.
"Way to go, Lobster!" Oran cheered, causing Lobster to blush.
"Ahehehe~ Thank you…"
"Oh, you're a cutie!" Logue smiled, kneeling down as a curious female Fennekin approached her alongside a male Sizzilipede at Toad Park. "And you're awesome looking too!"
"Fenne!"
"Sizz!"
"You're pretty cool too!" Nick said from a distance as he was admiring a Drilbur.
"Bur Bur!" The Drilbur smiled.
"Um…" Magnolia backed away slowly as a more than friendly male Ariados approached her. "H-hi… can you, uh… go that way?"
"Ari Ari!"
"Eeek!" Magnolia whimpered as she hid behind Shadow.
"What's with you?"
"I'm terrified of poisonous and venomous animals, especially Poison type Pokemon!" Magnolia whimpered.
"I see." Shadow looked at the Ariados. "I think he likes you. I think you oughta befriend it." He said as he stepped out of the way.
"Mmmph!" Magnolia whimpered as she nervously reached out to him. "N-N-Nice… spider…" She said, gently petting him on the head, being wary around the spike.
"Ari~!" Ariados smiled before jumping up and landing on her head in a playful manner.
"KYAAAAAAH!" Magnolia screamed as she ran around in circles while flailing her arms. "GET IT OFF GET IT OFF GET IT OFF GET IT OFF GET IT OFF GET IT OFF GET IT OFF!"
"Hmm? What's going on over there?" Oran wondered as he spotted a concert in the distance as they all walked over to see what was going on, with the Ariados hopping off of Magnolia to go after them.
"Phew… wait up, guys!" Magnolia said, while also keeping a short distance away from the Ariados that likes her.
End BGM
BGM: Miku (Anamanaguchi ft. Hatsune Miku)
Turns out, it was Miku who decided to do a concert at the fountain area in Toad Park, with GLaDOS as her bassist and "manager", alongside a Koopa, a Toad and Luka playing the keyboard, drums and electric guitar respectively.
It attracted a sizable audience as it even had the Mario Bros, Peach, Toadsworth and Captain Toad in attendance as well.
"Wow, she's pretty good!" Lobster said.
"Yeah, she's pretty too!" Nick smiled as Miku kept singing to her heart's content.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF ALL THIS!" A voice yelled, interrupting the song.
End BGM
Cordovin approached in absolute annoyance. "I was enjoying my daily peaceful stroll around town and your loud music absolutely ruined it! Princess Peach, as the princess, you should know that there ought to be some noise ordinance in town!"
"I'm well aware of it. As far as I'm concerned, it only comes into play during Eleven PM to eight in the morning."
"Well, you should have put more thought into it! In fact, change it to twenty four seven so I don't have to deal with rabblerousers during my peaceful stroll around town."
"Madam, you have some nerve ordering around the princess!" Toadsworth said.
"Hmph! She calls herself a ruler, yet she allows herself to be kidnapped by that neanderthal. If I were in charge, I would have turned him into turtle soup and had a nice dinner roll to go with it."
"...Dude." The Koopa on the keyboard frowned as Mario immediately put his arm out in front of Peach with a small glare, as Luigi did the same thing.
"I think it's time for you to leave." Peach said calmly, hiding her annoyance with this woman.
"And I say it's time we have more classical music instead of this new age junk that people don't care about!"
"I got this." GLaDOS said. "Len, Rin. Cave. Sic 'er."
"Huh?!" Cordovin said in surprise as Cave grabbed her and hauled her away with Len and Rin grabbing her by the ears. "Ow! OW! HOW DARE YOU! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?! I AM ONE OF IRONWOOD'S TOP MILITARY! RELEASE ME THIS INSTANT!"
Peach sighed. "That woman…"
"There's one in every community, I'm afraid." Toadsworth said.
"Ugh, the lady ruined the mood… I'm just gonna go to Paldea to get some air and get my mind off things." Captain Toad mumbled.
"Okay. Oh! Ruby's over in Paldea, tell her I said "hi"!" Peach requested.
"You got it!"
Shadow glanced over at the kids. "Want to head to the beach to clear the air?"
"Sure." Magnolia nodded. "I've always wanted to go to Peach Beach. It sounds nice!"
"I've been to Peach Beach and Cheep Cheep Lagoon… I'd say we go to the latter." Oran said. "That place is infested with territorial Cataquacks."
"Cata what now?" Magnolia wondered as Anya showed her a picture. "...Oh. Ugly."
"Eh, they look kinda cool…" Nick mused. "But sure, we can go to Cheep Cheep Lagoon."
"Sweet~!" Logue smiled.
"Now hang on a moment." Becky said. "I've heard Peach Beach has an activity that's quite popular in Alola. I believe it's called Mantine Surfing."
"Mantine Surfing…?" Lobster wondered.
"Plus, Cataquacks hate water, so they'll more than likely leave us alone." Becky added.
"Surfing, hmm?" Shadow thought about it. "Okay. We'll go to Peach Beach."
They all cheered and headed off, while Logue and the twins snagged some Poke Balls and caught their Pokemon, much to Magnolia's dismay that she successfully caught a poisonous Bug type.
"At least I can use Spinner's silk from his String Shot to make some new clothes…" Magnolia muttered to herself.
Once there…
BGM: Peach Beach (Mario Kart: Double Dash)
"There it is!" Becky pointed toward the beach where they saw a Koopa sitting on a lawn chair with a Mantine casually sunbathing on the beach.
"Hmm?" The Koopa turned his head to see the group approaching. "Oh hey. You want to Mantine surf? Sorry, kids… this is more of an advanced sport. I don't want anyone to get hurt."
"I'll do it." Shadow said.
"You sure? You seem like you're way too edgy to-"
"I said I'll do it."
"...Okaaaay. I'll get him ready."
"Well, this is a surprise!" A voice said as they turned to see Cirno, Daiyousei and Rumia approaching wearing different outfits.
Cirno was wearing a white cropped t-shirt with a graphic print, featuring an image of an Elderfrost Gammoth, a pair of dark blue denim shorts with rolled up cuffs, a pair of bluish-white ankle socks, and a pair of sporty white sneakers with blue accents. Additionally, she was wearing a lapis lazuli bangle bracelet on each wrist and also carrying a Frostblade, which is sheathed and strapped on her left hip.
Daiyousei was wearing a pastel green sweater vest layered over a white long-sleeved polo shirt, a pleated grey tennis skirt, and a pair of white sneakers accented with green stripes and accents.
Rumia was wearing a white off-the-shoulder top with black straps, a high-low black skirt featuring a red hem and a white drawstring detail at the waist, and a pair of red strappy sandals. She was also wearing an elegantly-designed bracelet on her left wrist featuring a striking combination of deep black onyx beads and faceted rhodonite stones, accented with silver ornamental beads and secured with a silver clasp.
"Wow, you're looking spiffy." Nick said.
"Yeah, we thought we could use a change of scenery so we came to the Mushroom Kingdom and thought "why not change our outfits"?" Cirno giggled. "Got these scrolls too… trying to figure it out though."
"It's not that complicated…" Daiyousei shyly said.
Cirno then noticed Shadow. "Who's this?"
"He's Shadow, the Ultimate Lifeform!" Logue said.
Cirno raised an eyebrow. "Really… so he's the Ultimate Lifeform?"
"...And who are you supposed to be?"
"Who am I, do you ask?" Cirno smirked. "I am Cirno, the strongest fairy that has ever lived~!"
"...By Gensokyoan fairy standards." Magnolia deadpanned.
"You're the "strongest" fairy in Gensokyo?"
"Yes!"
Shadow did an uninterested once over. "Hmph. You look like you wouldn't even harm a flower garden." He turned his back to her as the Koopa finished setting up the Mantine.
"Hey!" Cirno pouted. "...Jerk."
End BGM
"Alright, you're set."
With a nod, Shadow stepped onto the Mantine.
BGM: Mantine Surfing (Pokemon Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon)
Shadow launched off of the sand and into the water with everyone watching as off in the distance, Rouge and Omega watched on as well while Shadow launched off of a wave and did a few flips before landing on the water, continuing to weave through the waves while dodging rocks and a Wailord effortlessly.
Shadow then launched high up into the air right as Kyogre breached out of the water as Shadow and Kyogre met eye to eye, but Shadow's focus remained intact, but he did give a nod of respect to Kyogre as he nodded back at Shadow as they both landed in the water and went their separate ways.
Shadow landed on the water as he proceeded to make a U-turn and went the other way, launching in the air and doing an impressive amount of flips that nearly made the Mantine dizzy as they both landed gracefully as Shadow went for another launch and launched over a few Tentacruel and a Wailmer before landing as he returned to shore.
End BGM
"That… was the coolest!" The Koopa exclaimed as most of the spectators also agreed.
"Hmph. Naturally." Shadow responded as he shifted his eyes to see Cirno on her back and Magnolia having her foot on her stomach with her sai pointed at her. "What's with them?"
"Cirno wanted a rematch with Maggs and… it went as well as you'd expect." Oran said.
"Sounds about right."
"No offense, but your swordplay needs work." Magnolia said.
"Hmph." Cirno grumbled as she got up. "That was just a lucky shot." She grumbled, only to get her ear pulled by Magnolia. "Ow! Ow ow ow ow! Not the ear!" She complained, causing everyone but Magnolia to sweatdrop.
"Lucky shot? Is that all you have to say with your sloppy combat style? It's no wonder Reimu and Marisa don't give you the time of day when they fly around Gensokyo… heck, it's no wonder anyone pays attention to you aside from us! Honestly, I'd recommend you train with me and Nick so you can be taken more seriously, because chances are, there might be another fairy that might surpass your so-called "strongest of them all" title. And FYI, I think that Sonia-sensei would be the one to also help me set you on the straight and narrow."
"Okay okay okay! I get it! Just release my ear already!" Cirno whimpered.
"Release your ear already what?"
"Please!"
Magnolia let go. "There."
"Goodness, girl… you've got a grip on you…" Cirno mumbled.
"Hey, at least we get to hang out more." Nick said.
Cirno giggled. "Yeah!" She nodded as she gave Nick a hug, which was enough to make Logue visibly upset, something that Shadow noticed.
"Hmmm…" Shadow thought about it. "Hey, you guys hungry?"
"Actually, yeah… I could eat." Anya said.
"Sure. I saw a Hylian Fried Cucco on the way here… and I think there's another one in Toad Town." Becky said.
They finally found a way to kill those things? Shadow thought. "Alright. We'll head there."
Once at HFC…
BGM: Lon Lon Ranch (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
As everyone was eating their chicken and sides at different tables, Shadow subtly shifted his eyes toward Logue. "So, you have eyes on anyone right now?"
"Nick." She responded absent-mindedly while eating a Cucco Shot. Her eyes widened in realization what she just said as her words hung in the air. She dropped the Cucco Shot onto her tray and quickly slapped her hand onto her mouth with horror, her eyes widening in horror and embarrassment as her face turned beet red as she let a small, panicked noise escape her.
Luckily, no one else had heard as they were busy chatting and eating to not have heard Logue.
"W-wait… I… I… I m-mean, I d-didn't…!"
Shadow was stunned for about a second, but he let out a smirk, amused by her confession.
"I knew it. Looks like I was right when I saw you getting jealous earlier when that ice fairy hugged that Foxtrot boy." He chuckled. "Just be honest with me, Logue. Do you really have a crush on him?"
Logue sighed, seeing there was no escape. "Uh… yuh-yeah… muh-maybe…" She shyly poked her index fingers together, glancing to the side. "I'm not blind to his faults and antics… even I know he can be a bit… stupid… but I can't help but admire how he's not afraid to be himself. No matter what people say about him, he never loses confidence in himself as he's proved himself countless times to be a fun and kind hearted boy to hang around with."
Shadow gave a small smile.
"I guess that you can say that's also an inspiration to me."
"Heh… well, let's not get too carried away."
"Right…"
Several tables down, Rouge was eating her own meal as an adult looked at Omega in bewilderment.
"HELLO FELLOW HUMAN. I AM ENJOYING THIS MEAL YOU FELLOW HUMANS ENJOY. PLEASE IGNORE MY KNIFE HANDS AND JUST ENJOY YOUR MEAL."
"Riiight… uh…" The adult sweatdropped and went back to eating. Why does this restaurant always bring the weirdos…?
I really should have painted you into a garbage can… Rouge thought.
"Hey… Shadow?" Logue spoke up.
"Hmm?"
"Can we… speak to each other in private? There's… something else on my mind."
"Okay." Shadow nodded as they got up from their table and walked outside, as Shadow knew they were in good hands to leave them alone for a bit. "So… what is it?"
"Do I… remind you of anyone? I've noticed you tend to look at me nostalgically at times whenever we hang out. I've been meaning to bring it up, but I never got around to it."
End BGM
Shadow frowned. "Well… you…" He looked away from her a bit. "You remind me of a friend I once held dear to."
"Oh? What was their name?"
"Maria."
"Oh! That's such a pretty name!" Logue smiled. "What was she like?"
Shadow looked up at the sky, smiling fondly. "Where do I even begin?"
He began to tell all about Maria's life story… but then paused abruptly as a wave of sadness hit him.
"...Shadow?"
"Logue… how old are you again?"
"I…" She hesitated, uncertain about where Shadow was going with the question. "I'm seven."
Shadow frowned after a moment of silence. "...She was twelve when she passed away."
Logue gasped, shocked to hear that a girl five years older than her died that young, not even getting to reach thirteen years of age.
"If it weren't for that d-" He paused, not wanting to swear in front of a child. "...stupid condition of hers... she could have had a life free from all the unwanted pain and misery, even with the never-ending violence that happens around us."
He gritted his teeth as he remembered that fateful moment. "I was there when it all happened... Both of us were all trying to escape when G.U.N. was attacking the Space Colony ARK just to terminate me along with other people involved in Project Shadow. When we reached the escape pods, we were about to leave… until Maria pushed me into one to save my life. A small group of G.U.N. soldiers caught up to us just as we were getting away."
He felt his heart ache at what he was about to say next.
"Before anything could happen, one of those heartless men pulled the trigger to stop me just as Maria finished initiating my escape pod's launch, and then… all of a sudden… Maria, she…" He clenched his teeth and fists tightly as he remembered her last words to him. "... She...!"
"Bring hope to humanity."
"Shadow, I beg of you! Give them a chance to be happy!"
Logue teared up, putting her hands over her mouth in horror and sadness.
Shadow recollected himself. "Even if I managed to move on... I sometimes look back and forth from where I came from and what those people have done to create me." He hung his head low, gritting his teeth in anguish. "I may look like a hedgehog... but I still remember how I also told myself... and Maria... that I'm no different than that... thing Professor Gerald used in order to craft the Ultimate Lifeform that stands right before you."
He closed his eyes, flashing back to when Black Doom used some of his own DNA to be placed into Shadow and then use him as a perfect soldier. Luckily, he defied him twice, but the thought still lingered on what he could have been…
"So when you saved me from Fecto back in our adventure in the New World..."
"I wanted to take that second chance to make up for my greatest mistake." He looked down. "When I saw Fecto hold you hostage, it forced me to remember that time Maria lost her life while I helplessly watched." He frowned as he clenched his fists. "It honestly terrified me to my core to see how history nearly repeated itself... if it wasn't for my timely intervention." His expression softened. "I just couldn't bear the thought of letting another innocent little girl die at the hands of evil... while I lay there powerless and helpless..."
Logue looked at Shadow silently with a sad and empathetic expression for a few moments before she hugged him tightly, which snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Huh…?" He wondered in surprise.
"I thank you for saving me back in the New World… it means a lot to me… and, regarding how this Black Doom thing helped make you… it's not true."
She separated herself from Shadow, tearfully looking into his eyes. "Personally, I may not care that much about where you came from or how you were made." She smiled. "But underneath all that, you have a big heart! I know how difficult it may be for you to express it, but I do know that you really care about Maria. About me. About your friends."
She gently cupped his cheeks with both her hands.
"The past may hurt sometimes, but don't let it define you. What really matters right now is that you're willing to learn from it and take it as a lesson to be better than who you were yesterday. Not only for Maria's sake... or mine... but yours."
Shadow's eyes widened as she briefly sees a visage of Maria in front of him as Logue's words were almost exactly the same as what Maria told him all those years ago in the Space Colony ARK.
"That's not true. You have a big heart! It may be difficult for you to express it, but I know that deep down, you really do care! About me. About everyone. What you do is what defines you. I know you're having a hard time finding answers, but I'm certain you will one day. Then, you'll find even more people you can trust."
And of course, what Maria said to him in White Space when he came close to regressing into his vengeful self after Doom nearly made him snap.
"It breaks my heart to see you so full of anger. This isn't who you are. Do you know why I named you "Shadow?" Because without light there's only darkness, but a shadow will show you where to find the light. Do you understand? I don't want you to be driven by darkness. I want you to be happy. Stand in the light with peace in your heart."
"Logue..." Shadow whispered as the visage faded back to Logue, where he didn't even notice a tear falling down his cheek. He closed his eyes for a moment. Maria… you always have a knack to guide me when I'm feeling hopeless…
Logue smiled softly, gently wiping the tear from Shadow's cheek and gave him a hug. "I may not be Maria, but I know she's proud of you of how far you've come… as am I…"
Shadow gave a soft smile. "You're right, you may not be Maria… but you sure do share a lot of similarities with her."
"Chao…?"
The two of them looked down curiously to see a Hero Chao curiously fluttering about, having seen them while wandering around and flew over to them.
"Oh, it's cute! What is it?"
"A Chao. I didn't think there were any of them in the Mushroom Kingdom…"
Logue smiled as she gently opened up her arms as the Hero Chao flew into her arms, snuggling up in her chest. "You're cute~! I think I'll name you Spinel."
"Chao Chao!"
Shadow let out a warm chuckle. "He suits you."
Logue giggled, taking his hand. "Come on, let's head back inside. Everyone's probably wondering where we are."
With a nod, Shadow walked in with her, all the while not noticing the window was open just a tad for Rouge and Omega to hear.
"Heh… good for him." Rouge chuckled while also keeping an eye on the kids.
Later, as it was getting late…
Shadow walked the twins and Logue home, making sure everyone else went back home safely… and having Loid pick up Oran and Anya just so Raven and Qrow wouldn't do it.
"We're back~!" Logue said as they walked in. "And I have a Chao with me!"
"Shadow showed us around Toad Town. We had a fun time!" Magnolia said.
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Enid smiled.
"Indeed." Kije smiled as well. "Oh, that creature is so adorable~!"
"Take care." Shadow turned around.
"Oh, Shadow!" Kije got his attention. "Do you want to stay for dinner?"
Shadow thought about it for a moment and then nodded. "Sure."
"Come sit with me, Shadow~! I have a seat for you!" Logue giggled as Shadow let out an amused chuckle.
After dinner…
"Thank you for the meal." Shadow said as he got up. "See you later."
"See ya!" The ladies/kids waved him goodbye as Shadow walked off, but then turned his head one last time to see Logue. He gave her a smile before walking out, closing the door behind him as he walked off.
…But then he stopped a few feet away from the home.
"You going to continue your spying?" He said as Rouge and Omega peeked up from behind a bush.
"I had a feeling you knew we were getting nosy." Rouge said.
"That and Omega doesn't have an indoor voice."
"I CAN BE AS QUIET AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS MY INSIDE VOICE."
"Right…" Shadow chuckled.
"So, Logue's got a lot in common with Maria, eh? You've definitely come a long way from being Sir. Grumps-a-lot."
"I've no idea what you're talking about." Shadow said as he continued to walk off.
"Riiiight." Rouge rolled her eyes.
"Help! Team Dark!" A few teenagers came running up to them. "Can you help us? We're low on huntsmen right now!"
"What's up?" Rouge asked as the teenagers pointed toward a few Deathstalkers walking ahead with some Beringels and King Taijitus.
"That's what's up!"
"Hmph. They have some nerve showing up."
"I CALL DIBS."
"Shall we?" Rouge smirked.
With a nod, Team Dark launched themselves straight for the Grimm.
Goodness, Shadow Generations was just an emotional rollercoaster...
Ibuki: It was...
Deadpool: *sniffs* Way to tug the ol' heartstrings, Sega!
Anyway, shout out to Jacob for this Gaiden idea and to DarkRebellion for putting a lot of thought into it!
