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“I love you.”
Those three little words echoed in time for Shadow. The whimsical sound of her voice nearly brought tears to his eyes. The way her eyes shined with her own tears made his knees quake. Her soft and small hands reaching up to his face grounded him when he had felt like he had been floating away. He wished he could have stayed in that spot with her for eternity.
All he did was drop her off at home. Something he did on a regular basis, because even though she had a magical hammer that only she was truly able to wield, he still worried about her safety. Throughout their years together, she had become so important to him. So much so that he found himself frequently wondering if she was alright especially when he was sent out on missions. Was she happy? Did she get sick? Was she taking care of herself? Was she still taking the time to go to her favorite spot by the lake side to decompress from a stressful day?
She had offered him dinner. Shadow was many things, but a fool was not on the list. So of course, he accepted. He had never had anything like Amy’s cooking. He never felt anything as content as just sitting with her and chatting away about absolutely nothing in particular. He never feared she would judge him on his views or his way of phrasing things. She had every reason to keep him at arm’s length for the things he did in the past. But that wasn’t Amy Rose. No, Amy Rose smiled kindly and worked her ass of in the kitchen to make him a meal for his chivalry.
Their conversation lulled into the rare topic of partnerships. Shadow was used to hearing her speak of those who held her interest. Shadow was used to pretending like it didn’t affect him. However, this time, the spot light was on him. She wanted to know who held his lingering gaze. Shadow wasn’t much of a liar. He didn’t see the point… Until that moment when he felt the truth was going to bury him. But being out of practice, she saw right through him when he had stated he wasn’t interested in anyone. She playfully kept poking at him verbally. Then he broke. In a rush of words that didn’t even sound coherent to him, he confessed that she was the one he purposely sought out.
There was a silence. A thick silence that he feared was finally going to do him in. The Ultimate Lifeform blessed with eternal life and the ability to heal most wounds was going to be killed by rejection from a very pretty pink hedgehog. He guessed there were worse ways to go out.
However, his nerves got the better of him. So, he began to ramble. Again, he wasn’t sure if any of it made sense. And somehow, he had stood from the table and began to pace. He felt so out of character. But that’s what Amy Rose did to him. She caused him to break apart. She made him feel things he was never aware he could feel. He vaguely remembered Maria speaking about Romance and the effects it could have on people… He also remembered how sure he was that it would never be him.
‘Oh Maria.’ He had thought. ‘I bet you are loving this.’
That’s when she had grabbed his face and made her declaration. He had felt his whole body go limp at her touch. His nerves were now humming in delight. His body tremored from euphoria. His tail wagged stupidly. His eyes were stuck on how brilliant green hers were in the moment.
“What?” He asked so numbly, afraid that he didn’t hear her right. Afraid that this was all something created in his mind to combat his loneliness that he was too stubborn to admit he was feeling.
He had these types of fantasies before about her. Sweet and innocent moments where she was cuddled up against him while they laid on a bed watching something on the television. Or where he had built up the courage to ask her out on a date. Dinner, then sitting outside in Central Park looking out by the lakeside. She loved sitting there at night under stars and watching the boats drift. Then sometimes his fantasies were heated. Open mouth kisses filled with his own desperation and passion that he held in his heart for her. His devotion for her having him on his knees while he worshipped every ounce of her. Mind, Body and Soul.
He shut his eyes tight hoping that when he opened them, she would still be there… And she was. Tears now falling from her eyes. He brought his hand up to wipe their offensive nature off of her beautiful face. That’s when her hands moved. Her arms wrapped around his neck. He froze when she leaned in and kissed him directly on the mouth. He hadn’t been prepared, but damn it… If this was his chance, he wasn’t going to waste it. His hands gripped her hips. Every soft noise she released caused him to squeeze her, the only outlet he allowed himself so that he could stay respectful to her chastity.
They shared more kisses that night, but nothing beyond. He stayed on the couch not able to bring himself to be too far away. It had been the best damned sleep he had in a while…. Until she was comfortable enough to allow him to start sleeping next to her.
Shadow never believed himself to be the romantic type. In fact, the thought of himself being in a relationship used to make him scoff. He felt that having a partner tied to him romantically would only cause problems and be something akin to a weakness for enemies to exploit. He did his best to never get that attached to anyone. Especially since his immortality always seemed to be beating against his consciousness. But all it took for Shadow to be completely thrown from these ideals was the warm compassion and the sweet nature of Amy Rose.
It wasn’t love at first sight. At least not for him and with her being outwardly in love with Sonic at the time he was pretty sure it wasn’t for her either. However, she had been the reason he risked everything to save the world from destruction. She had reminded him of the promise he made to Maria once upon a time. He admired her strength… not just her physical strength which she proved to have on every mission swinging that gigantic hammer around or by smashing anyone in her sights with her bare fists. But her emotional and mental strength. She had the innate ability to be able to forgive anyone. No matter what they had done in the past. Her love shined like lighthouse within her heart and hummed like a lullaby to everyone around her. They were just drawn to her for those reasons.
No, it wasn’t love at first sight… but he couldn’t imagine he stood much of a chance when getting to know her. She had traits about her that reminded him of Maria. He was more than sure if his friend was still alive that she would adore the pink girl just as much as he did.
He tried his best to keep it platonic, still not forgetting that he would watch her grow old. But damn it, her adult years had been kind. She had always had a beautiful soul, but the universe decided to pay that kindness tenfold to her. There wasn’t a male that he knew that didn’t at least admit that Amy Rose was eye catching. She bloomed like her namesake; a flourished pink rose that everyone wanted in their garden.
After a heated argument with Sonic, Amy had left. She traveled the world with Knuckles for the Resistance and Restoration. She became a household name in her right. Going toe to toe with enemies not only in battle but also in civil duties. Everyone loved her because she became their voice, no matter what language she had to speak to be it. It was safe to say that Sonic really fucked up. He regrets his past actions so much that Shadow has seen him become visibly sick at her now loving but platonic smile towards him. Shadow felt it was rightfully deserved.
And there he was… in the position that many coveted. He had become her mate. A title that gave him more pride than being the Ultimate Lifeform. It held more weight. More meaning to him. When she was hanging from his arm for the world to see… He never felt more satisfied.
Being by her side was enough for him. However, Amy never stopped surprising him with how much she gave. Her heart was her first precious gift. It was his treasure that he guarded like feral beast. He was never afraid of her giving it away, nor was he afraid that someone would steal it. They would have to match up or be better than Shadow, which he knew was pretty impossible. But her heart was delicate with how tender her feelings were. Chaos help the soul that hurt Amy Rose’s feelings. The only other that he accepted to have a guardian role was Knuckles and that was only because the damned Echidna wouldn’t let him be.
Then she gave him a piece of her mind. Their first argument was a disaster. He was mean spirited by nature no matter how much he loved her. His words came out vicious and he regrated them immediately. But after she cried and after he apologized, she let him have it. He sat like scorned child, knowing he deserved every word. Then afterwards they hugged and whispered things… little things… that they adored about each other.
Of course, with her body came her soul. Amy had always been deeply spiritual. It was something she inherited from her mother. She believed when they connected physically that their souls also became intwined. Shadow liked that idea. To be connected in so many ways with someone like her was miraculous to say the least.
When she had given him her virginity, she had planned it months in advance. She wanted everything to be perfect for their first time. She sought out all the women in her life to give her the best ideas. Rouge had gifted her a pheromone perfume. Something to help release the natural scent of desire… Shadow believed he was going insane when he inhaled. He had been left in the dark of this plan. In his head, he believed his dirty fantasies were consuming him. Looking back, he found the situation to be painfully funny. Him running away from her at all costs while she desperately tried chasing him in attempts to seduce him.
He became addicted to her.
She did her best to keep up with his stamina. To give her credit, it wasn’t all her fault that Shadow such a high libido… something neither of them knew until then. The more practice they got… the more rounds she could withstand. And it was always her bringing new ideas in the bedroom. Shadow was just content with him, her and the bed… but the scarves and whip cream sure did make it more fun.
Shadow had nightmares about the day he would have to look down upon her in a casket… With how deeply she was ingrained into his heart… he wasn’t sure how he’d survive. But he calmed himself by saying he had more time. She was still young and spunky… Nothing could break her down.
It felt like time stopped.
Shadow’s vision blurred and became unfocused. He was breathing shallow; each breath harsh and forced from his lungs by anxiety. His heart felt like it had dropped into the pit of his stomach, making him feel sick. His chest ached like it was about to cave in. His blood felt like ice in his veins.
Everyone was doing their best fighting off duplicates that had been conjured by the phantom ruby. Each opponent proving to be tough and reckless with each attack. Their defenses were spread thin… most of them fighting two at a time. Shadow himself fighting against three. He had been holding his own pretty well, but he wasn’t foolish enough to underestimate this power. They attacked fluidly to which he was doing a good job at defending, but he wasn’t able to get many of his own attacks out. The ripple in Chaos energy due to the interference of the phantom ruby was a real hinderance to his performance in battle.
All he could do was just focus on each of their attacks, hoping to pinpoint weaknesses.
“AMY!”
The sound of her name was enough to catch his attention. But it had been the tone that caused him to completely disregard his battle at hand. It had been a scream of desperation and panic that caused his heart to stop. Shadow’s eyes were wide as he frantically searched for the source. That’s when he saw Knuckles stretch out his hand to grab onto something before he had been knocked down by one of his opponents.
That something he had tried to grab onto was a duplicate of Big. Except this version traded out the kindness and love the real one had for rage and hatred. What had caused Knuckles to reach out was the fact that the Big Duplicate Had Amy by the throat and was thrashing her into the ground.
Shadow merely recognized the attack that was being thrown at him. A sense of his natural Chaos Energy conjured from his fear that the woman he loved could be in fatal dangerous. The power flickered in his fingers igniting a spark. With one hand he had released his move Chaos Spear, effectively putting a stop to all three. But his natural energy fizzled out instantly afterwards.
He was running in her direction. He begged to anything that would listen to him to give him just enough power to teleport to her… but it didn’t happen.
“Rose!” He roared. He pushed himself to go faster. The Big duplicate had smashed her again against into the ground. The earth below her crumbling from the impact. Shadow watched as she tried to fight back. But it seemed the more she struggled, the tighter Big held her. Then he jumped into the air, using both hands, he flung her through the air. Shadow slid in the dirt, watching helplessly as she soared in the opposite direction. “Rose!” He screamed again. His eyes looked in the other direction catching the blur of Sonic’s spindash. “Sonic! Catch her!” He begged.
He watched as Sonic looked at him, and then he noticed Amy in the air, his green eyes filled with horror. He ran, catching up to her with ease. Shadow held his breath when he saw that she was falling back down. Sonic held his arms wide to catch her. But then something blipped between them. Amy was no longer in the sky. Sonic looked around before meeting Shadow’s gaze. Both were confused and scared.
“Well that isn’t a proper way to handle a lady.” Shadow heard Infinite speak right behind him. He was able to see the damage Amy had taken in her beating from being so close. Her face was puffy and bruised. Her lips were cut up. A slash went across her eye. Her nose looked broken. Open gashes were a plenty on her arms and legs. She looked mangled. Shadow snarled at Infinites smug grin.
“Hand her over!” He demanded.
“I heard from the doctor that you grew soft on this one. I didn’t believe it. To be honest I still have a hard time believing it. You’ve always been such a cold and recluse being. So detached from the world. And yet something as simple as a pathetic girl seems to have changed that? No. That’s not the Shadow I know.”
“Infinite…” Shadow growled. His eyes darted between Amy who was unconscious and laying limp in the jackal’s arms and Infinite who seemed to want something from him. “Leave her out of this. If it’s me you want then so be it… But let her go.”
“I’d almost think that you were begging me right now…” Infinite said in awe. Then he started to laugh. A cackle really. “To think it was so easy all this time. All I had to do … was deal with her?” He spared a look down to her brutalized body. Her breathing was shallow. “What is it, Shadow? What do you see in such a weak creature? You are the ultimate lifeform. A creation made with perfection in mind. She’s nothing more than table scraps that the blue one left behind.”
“Watch your mouth!” Shadow growled, his teeth baring. His quills shook from his anger.
“Oh! Look at you! You really do care for her? Is it her looks? I’ll admit without all this… ugliness inflicted on her, she is quite an attractive young thing. Bright green eyes. Bubble gum pink pelt. A soft smile. She must get very far with her looks. But that doesn’t fit you… You wouldn’t be so swayed by a pretty face…” Infinite smiled making Shadow’s stomach churn. His hands itched to just grab her from him, but he didn’t want to risk Infinite hurting her any further. “Was it her heart? If I remember correctly, she’s the one who had the nice compassionate speech that caused you to rethink the whole ARK situation. Is that what you’re into? The sweet good girls that see your ‘True Potential’” Infinite said the last two words mockingly.
Shadow took a cautious step forward, hoping to close the distance between them while Infinite seemed distracted. All he needed was a bit more power. Yes, Infinite was a master with the ruby… but if he could just get Amy somewhere safe… Shadow would deal with the aftermath.
“Or is it because she performs well in the bedroom? You fell in love with the first thing that allowed you to mount? How sad and pitiful! You could do so much better than this!”
“Shut up! I won’t allow you to speak about her like this!” Shadow screamed. “Quit your games! Let’s handle this between us.”
“Beg.” Infinite ordered.
By this time, the duplicates had stopped their attacks. Their eyes on their leader. Sonic watched helplessly. Typically, he would have no issue running in and grabbing her, but he was heavily injured already. The risk of him messing up was too high. Amy’s life was hanging in the balance. Knuckles was on the ground, he had a large wound on his back that brought him to his knees. His eyes solely focused on the limp girl in Infinite’s arms. He chomped on his lip furiously, trying to contain his own anger. He believed Shadow could save her. He didn’t want to compromise anything between them. Rouge was near Knuckles. She panted wildly. Her eyes looking between her friends in terror. Omega was in pretty bad shape but was still functional. Tails tried his best to do emergency maintenance on Omega but was frozen with anxiety at the scene before him.
Shadow could feel all their eyes like burning lasers… but he could care less about them right now. Infinite had him by the throat and he knew it. So, without a second thought, Shadow fell to his knees. He looked up to Infinite with pleading eyes. His heart raced, thundering in his ears.
“Please.” Shadow begged. “Please let her go. I’ll do whatever you want just spare her.”
Infinite’s laugh was one that came straight from his gut. His whole body tremored with joy.
“This is just too delicious! Bow your head to me. I want to feed on your shame! After all these years! I finally have you in the palm of my hands!”
Shadow put his nose to the ground, he did his best to contain his snarls.
“You- “ A raspy voice spoke out. Shadow’s eyes widened, his head snapping straight up to see Amy looking directly at Infinite. Her green eyes shined brightly beneath the blood and grime on her face. “You Ba-Bastard. You- You’re a C-Coward.”
“Rose. Stop!” Shadow yelled seeing the shift in Infinite as she spoke.
“You… You’ll never be as g-good as Sh-Shadow. Or S-Sonic. Or anyone. You… You’re the pitiful one.”
“You don’t seem to know what position you’re in do you, Girl?” Infinite asked in a low rumble. “Your beloved Shadow is on his knees pleading with me to spare your life and yet here you are mouthing off like you I don’t hold you on the balance.”
“You… Can… Kiss.. My… Ass.” She breathed out heavily. “My Shadow will always win. You know that too, Don’t you? That’s why you’re… using me as a shield.”
“You bitch!” Infinite snarled.
“No!” Shadow got up from his knees, ready to throw himself at the jackal. But Amy, using what was left of her natural chaotic energy, conjured her hammer into the sky. With its weight, it began falling at top speed. Infinite, in his rage, lifted his claws and brought them down savagely into her chest. “Rose!” Noticing her hammer, Infinite dropped her and teleported out of the way. Shadow slid in the earth as he dove to catch her. Her hammer falling only inches away from them.
“I’m S-sorry.” She whispered to him.
“Shh. Stop talking. I’m going to get you out of here. I’m going to get you help.”
“I love you.” She started to cry. “I l-love you… so much.”
“Stop. I’m going to… Damn it!” Her hand came up to his face, barely brushing against the fur on his cheek. Shadow grasped it and pressed it firmly to his face with his own hand.
“I love you.” She repeated gently. “I wanna hear you say it back.”
“Rose… You already …” He could barely speak with the large lump in his throat. One look in her eyes though… It sealed their fate. “I love you.” He whispered back, pressing their foreheads together. He held back a sob that was ripping away at his chest and throat. “I love you. I love you. I love you.” He just kept repeating it. He couldn’t bring himself to stop.
“When I grow old? Will you still love me?” She asked. They both laid in the damp grass one night and stared up at the stars. They did this frequently together. It had been something that Amy had loved since childhood and so Shadow wanted to share these moments with her. Creating new memories.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Just curious. Humor me, will you?” She smiled cheekily at him.
“Of course, I will. Your appearance is not what made me fall in love with you.” He admitted bashfully. “It was your heart.”
There was a silence between them then. He figured it was because she was satisfied with his answer. He felt himself smile with pride. His ability to use words of affirmation as a long language was becoming better and better as their days together went on. Speaking such mushy words before would have caused him to feel awkward in the beginning, but now it came out more fluidly.
“So…” She began. “When my heart stops beating? Will you still love me then?”
The question caused him to sit up. She had still just been staring up at the sky.
“One day… when I die. My heart will stop beating… If you fell in love with me for my heart… does that mean you’ll stop loving me afterwards? Or will you look for me again?” She asked softly.
Shadow was reminded about their more spiritual talks. Amy’s mother was a firm believer that souls migrated from bodies. Ultimately, she believed in the theory of reincarnation. Her belief was passed down to Amy… but for Amy it had intwined with her own belief that everyone deserved another chance.
“I’ll…” He didn’t like thinking about her mortality. “If I had to swim through the sea of the afterlife itself and drag your soul back. I would.” He promised her. She smiled at him, grabbing him and dragging him to her. He smiled smugly at her actions.
“Are you going to kiss me or just keep staring?”
He pressed his lips against hers. He ignored the metallic like taste from her blood. He felt her trying her best to press back, but her breathing was shaky and her strength was no more. Small whimpers escaped her throat sounding distant and fading. But he continued to pour every ounce of his love into their kiss… hoping she could feel the promise he had made.
Then she stopped. Her body slacked in his arms. He finally allowed himself to sob at the feeling. He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering there as he cried.
“I love you.” He said one last time. “Forever.”
“How sweet.” Infinite said from his place higher up. He saw the shaking bodies of everyone below. He watched as they cried, their heads hanging low as they bowed their respects. Those who had not been grounded by their injuries had fallen to their knees in grief.
His duplicates all just stood there waiting for further instruction. Tired of the little show, he gestured for them to continue. The closest one to Shadow had been one made with metal in mind. It charged at him with rapid speed, his arm shifting into a launcher for hyper cannon. Shadow didn’t move from his spot, too wrapped up into his grief to even take notice.
“Shadow!” Sonic called out. He spin dashed into Metal, effectively knocking him off course but also knocking Sonic back as well. He slid in the dirt, stopping short next to Amy’s hammer. “Shadow. You have to get up. You’re in the best shape out of all of us. We can’t do this without you.” Sonic pleaded. “We love her too. We are mourning her too! But she wouldn’t want us to give up.”
“You should listen to Blue.” Infinite hollered. “It would just be disgraceful for you to go down so easily. Especially when it’s over a silly little tramp.”
Shadow tensed. His grasp on Amy tightened as her meshed her closer to his body.
“Infinite! We will take you down!” Sonic yelled at him.
“Just like she tried to. If you all want to join her in the grave then fine by me. Or maybe be smarter! Keep your mouths shut and just give in to my power. I’ll let you all live as a reward.”
Something in the air started to glitch. It sounded like static and radio interreference. Whatever was the cause… It had an effect on Amy’s hammer. It started spark like it had just been amped with electricity. Then it began to glow.
The duplicate of Metal and the one of Scourge ran forward with attacks. Metal even blasting them from a distance. Sonic dodged the blasts but then went to cover his eyes as the light from the hammer became blinding. It engulfed Shadow, Sonic and the two duplicates.
“No!” Tails screamed.
“What the hell was that?” Infinite asked no one in particular.
Nobody dared to move. They will all still too stunned by the sudden flash. Their main concern was for Shadow and Sonic’s safety. When it finally died down, they gasped at what it left behind. The duplicates were gone. No trace left behind for them. Sonic was still on the ground. In his arms was Amy who still laid unmoving.
Shadow however, was hovering. In his hand was Amy’s hammer that seemed to be pulsing with light. His eyes were clouded. His teeth chattered as his face was twisted in a snarl. Amy’s blood smeared down his face and torso. His quills rose and sharpened.
His eyes focused on the jackal, who in response to the heavy and murderous aura Shadow was palpitating, backed away slightly. He ordered via ruby for the rest of the duplicates to attack Shadow. The hedgehog merely opened his hand and let go of his lover’s hammer. Another light engulfed Sonic, teleporting him and Amy’s body to where Tails and Omega stood. Then the hammer impacted the ground, creating a crater big enough to swallow each of the fakes.
While he unleashed the hammer. Shadow dashed through the air at Infinite. The jackal defended himself by letting lose energy from the ruby at him. But Shadow deflected each move. They clashed with each each attack and defense… but there was a major difference that made a gap in their potential in this fight. Infinite had everything to lose, and Shadow had nothing left.
“Shadow! Let bygones be bygones! How about ending this match n a draw?” Infinite tried to bargain. He could feel his stamina from the fight draining from his body. Shadow merely growled in a response.
“Can you bring her back?” Shadow asked hollowly. The jackal swallowed hard.
“That is beyond the ruby and the emeralds power. You know that.”
“Yeah. I do. But that is my condition. I will let you go unharmed if you can bring her back.”
“She was just a girl of this time.” Infinite told him nervously. He was trying to reason with Shadow, but the hedgehog left his rational in the arms of the blue speedster below. “I’ll find you a better partner. One that can match up with you. One that can bring you just as much satisfaction. That girl was…”
“Rose was my partner. She was my mate. She saw the light in everyone. She believed in all lives and their potential. She is the only reason that I haven’t torn your throat out. When we meet again some day… I don’t want your blood staining the good man she’s seen in me. You can thank her for me sparing your life. But I will hurt you… I will hurt you so bad you’ll be begging me to end your misery. The only way to prevent that would be to give me my Rose back to end mine.” Shadow spoke lowly. The lack of yelling only scared Infinite more.
“What if I Make you a duplicate? I can do that. She could be anything you like.”
Shadow released a shock from his quills, hitting Infinite down. Then he grabbed the jackal and shook him violently. The Ruby falling from his grasp.
“The ultimate mercenary… Is that what you used to call yourself. So proud of yourself that you could kill those weaker than you so easily. Rose was right when she called you a coward.” Shadow spoke before tossing him roughly down to the earth. Infinite crashed down. Shadow landed just beside him and grabbed him by his hair, lifting his head up to look at where Sonic was still cradling Amy’s body. “That woman was the best of us. She was shining star in a dark night, She was…” Shadow breathed in sharply. “She is the love of my life. Her heart reached many. Her smile became a beacon to the masses. Her soul was made from the purest light. You snuffed that out today. All for what? Your ego? You offered me a silly illusion from your fucking ruby… Nothing could compare to the real thing.”
He slammed Infinite’s head back into the Earth multiple times. Amy’s hammer vibrated with energy before reacting to Shadow’s outstretched hand. Then Shadow slammed the hammer into Infinite’s legs. The jackal howled in pain.
“Even beyond life, my Rose is still looking out for me. For us. This power I have is hers. I feel sorry for you… you never had the pleasure of being someone she cared for. What a sad and lonely life.” Shadow continued to slam the hammer down. “You’re worthless. Pathetic! You didn’t even deserve to breathing the same air as her!”
Infinite helmet had shattered. His body mangled by the hammer.
“Shadow. Stop.” Sonic called out to him. “Let’s get her home.”
Shadow stopped his barrage of attacks almost instantly. His eyes becoming clear once again. Her hammer disappearing in smoke. The others limped and walked slowly to them. Knuckles came up to Shadow as Sonic placed Amy back in arms. He began to cry, brushing back her quills with a large hand. Her face had been wiped off. Still swollen and cut up, but free from the blood and sweat. She looked as if she was just sleeping.
Rouge collapsed where she was only inches away. Grief shook her entire body. Omega laid in the dirt. He made no other movement. His parts too damaged to really move anyway. Tails cried onto Sonic, who still slung to her limp hand.
Team Chaotix hung their heads. Tears falling from their eyes, but wanting to give them main team their space for their fallen loved one.
Amy’s death had caused headlines. The news also bringing a week’s worth of rain. Many would say that even the sky missed the pink hedgehog. Using it a beautiful metaphor of the heavens crying for her… But Shadow thought different. His Rose loved the rain. He believed it was her telling him she was okay now.
They had locked Infinite away and threw away the key. Without the ruby, and with all the damage Shadow did to his body… He wasn’t going away anytime soon. Shadow visited him every year just to rejuvenate that sense of fear in him. Infinite couldn’t even look at Shadow without shaking. He died in that prison. Shadow celebrated the day like a holiday each year.
Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails presented speeches at a memorial dedicated not her death but to her life. Shadow was supposed to speak, but couldn’t find the heart to even present himself as there. He simply hid on top of Vanilla’s café, watching the ceremony.
Knuckles created a shrine on Angel Island. That was where the team paid their respects. Shadow planted flowers in the fertile land in front of it. It started out small at first but grew each year. Knuckles provided him sanctuary when he stayed to take care of the garden. The echidna would sometimes watch Shadow work knowing that Amy would be over the moon at this display of affection.
Years passed in a blur for Shadow.
Rouge and Knuckles had three kids together. Sonic ended up with four from two different women. Tails settled down having two of his own. Vanilla and Vector even had a child together, making Cream a big sister. Espio never had kids, but he did have a partner. Charmy had one child but sadly the mother passed away from an illness. Cream found someone who could handle the scariness that was her stepdad Vector and had a cute family of five.
All in all… Shadow believed they had happy lives. Shit still went down, but they managed. Shadow watched their kids grow up and find their own families. Then their kids had more kids and so on. Shadow tried find a cure for his immortality. He wanted to end his suffering. Tails’ line of descendants carried his genius traits. They worked hard trying to help Shadow find peace.
Shadow just continued to take care of the garden and shrine on Angel Island. Rouge and Knuckles had since passed. Their kids being old with grandchildren now. The only one who stood the testament of time with Shadow was Omega… But even he had changed over the years. Tail’s descendants giving him upgrades with new generation. But he was still Omega in the core. Omega even had play backs of Amy that would help Shadow get sleep at night. Her voice just going on about nothing in particular was enough to tame his nerves and settle him. Even after all these years…
He still love her with all his being.
(An Epilogue of Sorts)
“You’re Shadow, Right?” A voice asked. It was high and feminine. It even sounded familiar, but Shadow was done chasing empty dreams.
“Who wants to know?” He asked not even looking up from his task. Shadow was the leader of what the Restoration had evolved into over the years. They were now an organization that helped provide relief for many areas in need. There was still a defense program that was akin to something like their very own military task force.
“I was told to meet up with you to find my rightful position.”
“What are you good at?”
“Many things. I can cook and make clothes. I can provide tips about a good harvest to help people grow crops. I know hand to hand fighting, but I would much prefer to stay with a support role. I don’t care for fighting much. Ooh and I also can navigate the stars pretty well. It’s kind of a passion of mine…”
“Okay, fine you can start off with Eastern region. They need more cooks to provide nutritional meals for the children who have been orphaned from the latest bot attacks.” He spoke absently, his gaze still elsewhere.
“Hey Rose! You made it!”
Shadow snapped up, his eyes looking directly at the female who had just been speaking to him. His eyes widen when he was ambushed with the brightest shade of jade that hadn’t seen in decades. The female was a hedgehog… a very pretty pink one at that. She seemed just as surprised to see him when their eyes met, but her face scrunched up not knowing why she was so shocked.
The one calling out to her was Lucky. He was the direct descendant of Knuckles and Rouge. He was bat just like Shadow’s old partner. His fur matching that of the late echidna. His eyes were a bright blue. Something he inherited outside of their line. He earned the name Lucky from surviving as a Preemie. His mother dying during childbirth. Shadow helped raise him, knowing he owed that to his old friends.
“I’m glad to see you accepted my proposal! Uncle Shadow, this is the recruit I mentioned. She’s a mean cook and can track down anybody with the smallest of notations. It’s incredible!”
Shadow was silent. His eyes still locked onto hers. Lucky looked between them two finally noticing the tension in the air.
“He called you Rose?” Shadow asked.
“Yes. That’s my name.”
“Your full name?”
“That’s what made us talk in the first place.” Lucky barged into the questioning. It had clicked why Shadow was reacting the way he was. She was the spitting image of the female hedgehogs in the photo albums his grandparents left behind… the photo that was still on Shadow’s night stand. “Her name is Amy Rose. Isn’t that something?”
There was silence that settled between them. Lucky simply watched with awe… Feeling like he was watching something that only fate could concoct.
“Looks like you found me instead.” Shadow whispered. Understanding gleamed in her eyes. He could see something snap inside her. Her pupils dilating just slightly. He watched as everything clicked together for her. Old memories she didn’t even realize having from a life long ago came rushing back.
She smiled. Eyes brimming with tears.
“I was always the more proactive one.”