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Shadow lived in isolation. He lived far above the busy little town that was settled close to the shoreline. His home was a small cave hidden in the mountain. Dark and lonely but he didn’t mind… In fact, he enjoyed it. Others made him uncomfortable. He didn’t know how to react to them or how to relate them. It also didn’t help that Sonic and his group of imbeciles lived below and seemed to be revered by the town’s people. So, on the mountain he stayed.
He stopped humoring the doctor a while ago. The foolishness and his wishy-washy loyalty irked Shadow to his very core. He tired of feeling like an idiot because his antics… and to be honest, he had no true reason to be fighting on his behalf. Yes, he didn’t like Sonic but only because his obnoxious carefree attitude rubbed Shadow the wrong way. For being someone with so much responsibility, he loved throwing it onto others just to take credit for the deeds anyways. The fox was a loyal subject to him, so to Shadow he was just a pawn. The echidna was stupid. The badger was insane… and the female hedgehog...
She was overwhelming.
Shadow groaned to himself, jumping from small ledge. He was close to the base of the mountain. Close enough to see individuals walking around below. Still high enough to stay out of sight. His eyes scanned the faces that were located in the central plaza. None of them who he found interesting. Just a bunch of nobodies. He scoffed at their mediocracies. Then he continued on his path. It wasn’t far from the little town square, but much closer to the shore. A few houses built high to avoid flood, but built openly so that breeze could enter at will. He had to admit… he did imagine sometimes living in one.
“Amy! Amy!” He heard the scratchy voice of the badger. He quickened his pace over some of the boulders and around a bend. He peered over subtly. Indeed, it was the badger… Sticks he believed she was called. He had only heard her name in passing. “The boys are gone! Gone I say! Somethin’ happened! I just knows it! We hafta take cover. Fend for ourselves. But dontcha worry, Amy. I’m prepared. They can’t catch us off guard.”
Shadow rolled his eyes. Crazy… just crazy. Any time he’d ever observe the group, she was always rambling about something bizarre. And yet none of them seemed to bat an eye. They either went along with what she said, or just simply moved on to something else. He did find it ironic, though. With all of her paranoia she seemed to have bottled up… she never noticed him spying.
Not that he spied a lot. That would be just weird….
“Calm down, Sticks.” Amy patted her heard, ceasing her friend’s feral growls. “They just went to enjoy themselves. It’s been calm lately with Eggman on a break. Tails has been obsessing over stuff in his shop. Knuckles has been tiring himself with strength training. And Sonic has been so annoying lately with how bored he’s been. So, I told them to take a boy’s trip somewhere… away from here.” Amy stated. Sticks blinked at her. Her expression was blank.
“So, they weren’t kidnapped?”
“They weren’t kidnapped.”
“Well, damn! That’s no fun.” Sticks pouted. Amy laughed.
Shadow’s eyes focused on the sound. It bounced off the rocks around him. It was giddy and slightly breathy, His ears twitched, his hands gripping the stone. Amy was a happy female who laughed often, but for some reason each time she did… Shadow felt like he never heard anything so melodic. He shook himself from his thoughts. Trying to bring himself back to reality. He frowned seeing that the two girls had decided to distract themselves with other things. Sticks was now laid in the dirt, feet sprawled in front of her. Her hands held up her weight slightly behind her back. She stared openly at the sky. Amy turned back to a canvas she had been painting on before Sticks approached her. From his spot. Shadow was unable to see it.
“So, how’d the date go?” Sticks asked suddenly. Shadow’s ears perked; his eyes twitched. Amy spun around on her heels. Her eyes glanced around. Shadow hid behind a rock, scared she would see him.
“Sticks!” she whined. “It’s supposed to be a secret.”
“But, we’re the only ones here.” Sticks argued. But then her body grew tense. Her eyes squinted. “Or are we?”
“Still, what If the boys suddenly popped up.” Amy said with a sigh. “I’m sorry you’re right… and to be honest its not really a secret. I just feel sort of embarrassed about it.”
“Why?” Sticks asked honestly curious. “You’re a pretty girl with a lot goin’ for ya.”
“Thanks but… I don’t know. It just feels weird. I always assumed that I’d be with…” Her voiced died out. Sticks regarded her knowing exactly whose name she was about to say. “You know… but I’m tired of waiting. He obviously has no problem flirting around and enjoying the dating scene.”
Shadow knew who she was talking about. Only someone blind or dumb didn’t know of her feelings for the speedster. Shadow just didn’t see it. She was way out of that pest’s league and yet he still had the audacity to go around her to the lesser females. It irritated him knowing that she tried so hard for someone who didn’t appreciate it. If it were him…
Again, Shadow shook his head.
“The guy from last night was okay. He was sweet and all. But nothing special. He wants to go on another date. I think I’ll go for it, just because why not… No one else wants me.” Amy sulked. Sticks stood up, and rubbed her back.
“That’s not true. Amy. Alotta guys like you. They just think you’re off the market cuz of him”
“I do make it pretty obvious, huh.” She sighed. “Thank you, Sticks. I thought painting would clear my head, but I think I’ll just for a walk. “
“You want me to come?”
“No… Not that I don’t love your company. But I’ve just been overstimulated by everyone recently. I just need this time to myself.” Amy reassured her. Sticks nodded and headed to her own hut. Amy picked up her things and moved them into the safety of her home.
Shadow’s eyes trailed after her. He watched as she walked down the path. He followed her from the cliff side. She walked through town, smiling and waving at everyone who greeted her. His eyes squinted when he witnessed a few males’ eyes lingering on her figure. The fact that she believed she was unwanted by the opposite sex was just incredible. She was so wrapped up in focusing on who Sonic was staring at that she never paid attention to who was staring at her. The badger was right. She was very pretty.
He didn’t mean to follow her all the way to edge of the small forest that grew at the base of the mountain. But something about her drew Shadow’s attention. She was loud and bossy. He had heard her many times scold her group of friends about little things. She was emotional. She went through extreme mood swings. Being overly happy to excessively angry and to downright sad and in tears. But… Shadow liked that about her. He didn’t know how to express himself in the ways that she did. He never had to guess when watching her. She was also very compassionate and kind. She had every reason in the world to hate him. To hate the doctor. But she didn’t. It was almost like she was incapable of that emotion. Ironically, it was the only emotion he knew how to express accurately.
Shadow didn’t always have these thoughts about her, of course. In the beginning, she was just another face. Just another individual that annoyed him. She was just a simpleton who hung on every word Sonic spewed from his insufferable speeches. But then…
“Ugh, Amy!” He heard her yell. “Why are you like this? Getting so emotional over a stupid boy. That stupid stupid stupid boy!” She stamped her foot with each syllable. “He’ll never change, but do I even want him to?”
Shadow simply watched silently as she made her way to the edge. She sat on the side of a large rock hanging from the mountain. Her feet dangled down.
“No…” She answered herself. “I don’t want him to change. But me… I want to change. I want to be better. And to do that… I need to let him go.” She sighed deeply, allowing the oxygen she inhaled to spread even through her body before exhaling. “I love him!” She called out over the cliff. Shadow frowned… he wasn’t sure where she was going with this pep talk. “I love him!” she yelled again. He noticed tears started to well into her eyes. “I love him so much!” Tears were now falling. “But I want to love me more!”
Shadow felt his heart thunder in his chest. His eyes were glued onto her trembling form. She wrapped her arms around herself, and leaned forward as she sobbed. He had never seen her quite like this. He had seen her sad before… even heartbroken over that idiot… but never like this. It made his stomach churn. It made him frown… not like his usual frown that stayed upon his face due to him dealing with constant irritations, but saddened frown. For the first time in years, he wanted to help someone. To help them feel better… but how. He didn’t know how to deal with crying girls. Especially when said girl so happened to be Amy Rose…
He listened to her sniffle, her cries dying down. His fists shaking at his sides, clenched. Then an idea formed in his head. He groaned at how stupid and simple it was, but at this point he was tired of just watching her look so … sad. He breathed in deep and started to walk towards a valley he knew was located nearby.
He wondered to himself as he journeyed to his destination how he even got into this position. Why did he feel so compelled to make her happy? And why did he wonder how she was feeling? And why did he care when she was with other males? What was it about her that kept him so interested? Enough so, that he left the solitude of his home on a regular basis just to see how and what she was doing… She was just a girl. A strong girl… A smart girl…. A pretty girl… She was just a strong, smart and pretty girl damn it!
A girl that he just wanted to smile at him.
“Shadow!” Amy shouted. “What are you doing here?”
“Minding my damn business. Leave me alone, Pinky.”
There was a small pond area that was hidden in the forest. So hidden that not many of the locals even knew about it. Why would they, when they had all the water they needed from the shore? It was overgrown with bushes and grass. During the day it looked messy and unkept. But at night, a special kind of flower bloomed and released a beautiful pollen that twinkled in the air like small stars. Amy loved it there for this reason. Shadow liked that it was secluded from town.
Amy watched as he went back into a laying position. His body sprawled out in the grass. His hands behind his head propping it up from the grass. His eyes stared up at the circular clearing that allowed him to view the stars. She huffed seeing that he wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.
Shadow listened to her footsteps. Not really on high alert since he didn’t perceive her as a threat. He listened as she got closer and closer, before she plopped down right next to him.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Minding my damn business.” She repeated. Shadow quirked up an eyebrow, looking at her inquisitively. It sounded to him she was trying to be cheeky. She smiled at him, causing him to look away quickly. He felt himself grow hot and uncomfortable… especially since she was so close. “It’s pretty here, huh. I come here all the time to clear my head and relax.”
“I didn’t ask and I don’t care.”
“You are so infuriating!” She huffed.
“And you’re annoying.”
He almost smiled at the sound of her irritated growl. He expected her to get up and leave… but she didn’t. Instead, she laid down too. He did his best to ignore her. To pretend she wasn’t there. But her presence was somehow demanding his attention. He hadn’t laid this close to someone like this before. Especially not a girl.
He glanced at her secretly, hoping she didn’t notice. Her eyes looked up at the stars. They reflected in her eyes. The twinkling pollen bounced in the hair, falling anywhere it pleased. Including on her face, dusting the fur on her cheeks. She looked relaxed and happy.
In that moment, she couldn’t have been any prettier to him.
“You’re staring at me.” She suddenly said. His eyes widened, realizing in his thoughts that his head had turned in her directing. He had been staring openly at her. He scoffed, looking away. “What? Am I that terrible?” She asked him, looking at him now. He didn’t answer, not trusting his voice. “I know I can be a little much, but sheesh I didn’t realize I was that bad.” He didn’t like how small she sounded.
“Why do you care what I think of you?” He asked honestly. “We aren’t friends.”
“Yeah, well that’s your fault. I still think you’re pretty neat. An ass who could learn some social skills, but still pretty cool.”
This caught his attention quickly.
“What?” It fell out his mouth without thinking. She giggled at him. The tips of his ears felt warm. But this time, he couldn’t look away. He liked the way her nose scrunched when she laughed. It was cute. “But… I… We… We don’t get along.”
“You can, not get along with someone and still think nice things about them.” She said matter of factly. “What is up with all of you males who just can’t seem to understand that? Is it the testosterone?” She snorted. “Besides, we’ve had our tiffs but you don’t pick fights with us anymore. In fact, it seems like you avoid us at all costs.”
“Good. I’m glad it was obvious.” He grumbled. “I just figured you didn’t like me for those times.”
“Do you dislike me? Like honestly? Push all the Eggman agenda out of the way.”
He couldn’t answer. He thought he should answer yes, but he couldn’t… because it wasn’t true. He didn’t dislike her. He just didn’t know her enough to like her. Amy seemed to read his mind and smiled to herself.
They sat in silence for a while. Shadow found that it wasn’t that bad. It could have definitely been worse if she were anyone else. He was tempted to look at her again, but too scared to be caught. He wanted to see what expression was on her face right now. Was she still content like earlier, or did her face shift to a more solemn tone in his presence? He didn’t know how much time passed as they laid there and frankly he didn’t care.
Her watch then started to vibrate, causing him jump from his thoughts. She smiled at him gently seeing his expression.
“I’m sorry. It’s my alarm to go back.” She told him. He just grunted in response. “This was nice, Shadow. Maybe we can do this again… with some more talking.”
“More… talking?” He asked like she spoke a foreign language to him. She laughed.
“Yes. You know, get to know each other… become friends.”
“Why would you want that from me. You have plenty of friends where you live. Ones that haven’t tried to destroy you in the past.”
“Yeah… yeah I do. But like I said, I think you’re cool. You’re strong and resilient. Those are good traits to have. I think you and I could be good friends.” Her watch vibrated again. “Oops! Okay, well. Bye!’
“Wait!” he called to her. He cursed himself under his breath. He didn’t know what to say… he just wanted to say something. Something nice. She had been nothing but nice to him this entire interaction. She looked over at him, her entire body twisted in his direction showing he had full attention. He gulped suddenly feeling nervous, but his under a stoic disguise. “I.. I… I like your hammer… it’s impressive how you’re able to swing it…” he felt like an idiot.
But then he saw her smile… A million volts of electricity sparked from it and hit him right in the heart. He felt his body tremor. He was having a hard time catching his breath. His heart beat felt like it had stopped for a second but was now hammering away at his chest painfully… and he could do was stare her small left dimple and pearly teeth.
“Awe, Shadow. You’re the Ultimate Sweetheart!” She giggled, running off back home.
Leaving him there, completely stunned.
“Shadow… Wha- What are you doing here?” She sniffled and stuttered. Her words being the same as that night. He felt his nerves starting to spark internally. He didn’t answer her. He couldn’t. He had no words to say… Like… I don’t like it when you cry. Or that idiot isn’t worth your time… or I’ve been thinking about you nonstop since we met by the pond and have been silently observing you since that day and now all I want to do is comfort you and show you how you really deserve to be treated… he couldn’t say any of those.
So, he thrusted out the makeshift bouquet of wild flowers into her face instead. He looked away, not having the nerves to see her reaction. He didn’t want see the look of rejection on her face. Not yet… he just wanted a few more seconds left of his fantasy.
If he had been looking…. He would have seen Amy’s eyes widen in surprise. Her tears running slowly down her face as she blinked, looking between him and the flowers. He would have noticed the slow smile that started to form on her lips… or the way her eyes sparkled realizing that these flowers were from a meadow she frequently visited. He would have seen the small flush of her cheeks when she focused back on him… and then sudden action of her teeth biting her bottom lip to stop herself from squealing at how absolutely adorable he was being.
But instead. He felt the soft graze of her fingers as she took the flowers from his hands. And he heard the gentle tone in her voice that was warm and silky as she whispered,
“Thank you, Shadow.”