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Amy Rose was a romantic. That went without saying. She used to dream of sunny days with a spiny blue lover at her side, the picnic basket overflowing with goodies. Dappled sunlight peeking through the trees, the sky blue and true, punctuated with bird song and the rustling of a gentle breeze. Her hand in his, sitting close and closer, topped off with his award winning smile, and a kiss...
In a way, her soft-hearted dreams had come true. But, the devil was in the details, and they took on a different hue.
The chill of the night air prickled at her back, but was easily combated by a borrowed black jacket. Above her, the dark sky was freckled with stars upon stars, even streaks of light from the galaxy surrounding them. It was enough light for the picnic, packed with light fare--cheeses, breads, and a bottle of wine split between two. Bird song was replaced with crickets and peeper frogs from the pond nearby.
And her companion, her lover, had a more subdued nature.
"I hope this is to your liking," Shadow said beside her. "I apologize that my schedule did not allow for a daytime outing."
"Oh, don't worry!" Amy replied, scooting closer to his side. "It's a beautiful night...the stars feel so close, I could almost touch them...!"
Shadow smiled gently, and took another sip of his wine. "It is beautiful."
Amy turned to him to find Shadow looking right at her, and her face began to burn. "Ah--!"
Shadow titled his head, his smile growing further, a strange sight to see. "What is it?" he asked. "I thought you might enjoy the attention."
"W-well, of course!" she fumbled in reply. The wine Shadow had brought was a deep burgundy, contrary to her taste for whites and pinks, but it was surprisingly sweet, and offered her comfort as she gathered her thoughts. With another sip, she felt warmer still. "I'm just not quite used to it...!"
"I see." Shadow nodded, pensive. "I will have to work harder so that it becomes routine."
Amy giggled and waved her hand that was free from her wine glass. "No, no, then it won't feel special!" she insisted. "It's just...it's funny to me, to be on the receiving end after...so long."
Shadow hummed in acknowledgement, while Amy felt compelled to take another sip of wine. Privately, she contemplated how the other startling thing about her new lover, was how much of a romantic he was. Shadow? Romantic? Please, is something she would have thought. But, while the years had not softened his resolve--he was still the dark warrior, protector of this world from the shadows--it had softened his heart. Occasional encounters turned into regular ones, which turned into dates, turned into trysts...her dreams of blue had become a gradient of red and black.
Albeit...not entirely.
She spun the glass's stem between her fingers, the base glittering in the starlight. "I spent so much of my life chasing him," she murmured. "For him to smile at me, for him to call my name with that spark in his eyes...ooh!"
She kicked her feet and jumped up, arms spread wide. "Every time I see him do something grand, like when he goes Super, I can't help it!" she exclaimed. "I fall in love with him all over again."
(like a shooting star across the sky...)
Amy stared wide eyed up at the stars, then snapped back to Earth, spinning around to Shadow. "I'm sorry, this is our night," she apologized, twisting her hands together around her wine glass. "I shouldn't be babbling on about Sonic..."
Shadow simply shook his head. "Your enthusiasm is endearing," he replied. "Besides, I can understand."
She sighed in relief, her shoulders bobbing up and down as she plopped back down on the picnic blanket beside him. "Thank goodness," she said, resting his head on his shoulder. The fuzziness from the alcohol was beginning to truly wrap around her, and she gingerly set her empty glass back in the basket. Of course he would understand. Shadow's so serious, strong, and focused, of course he would understand why everyone would be in love with Sonic...
Her eyes snapped open. Wait a minute. "You understand?" she repeated. She lifted her head off his shoulder and stared up at him with her green eyes shimmering with curiosity. "You do?"
Shadow opened his mouth, then closed it again, turning away. "Ah..."
It was his time to turn to the wine for comfort, and he nearly drained his glass. "Shadow," Amy coaxed, leaning so much as to perch against his shoulder. "What--"
"I understand your admiration for Sonic," Shadow reiterated, his voice firm, but then he sighed, and spoke softer. "I admire him too."
The trace of longing in his voice was not missed by Amy, full aware of the tone and the tug in her own voice on some occasions. It seems like whenever I see those two together, it seems like they're bickering, Amy mused. And not in the fun sort of way, like Sonic and Knuckles do. But, maybe I was missing something.
She wrapped her arm around Shadow's, her hand searching for his fingertips, and eventually found them, and their fingers filled the gaps between. As much as she wanted to prod and pry, her intuition kept her lips sealed. The quiet settled around him, and she was soothed by the rhythm of his even breathing.
Her quiet reassurance, along with the trills of the crickets and frogs around them, was enough to spur him to speak. "He can be quite irritating," he admitted. "But, there is no one else like him. He is honest, brave, and free. Nothing can stop him. Nothing will stop him."
Amy nodded. "He's like a force of nature."
"He is." Shadow stared up at the sky. "But, like such a force, he cannot be captured. He is the wind, and he will not stand still for anyone." His eyelids lowered. "Neither you, nor me."
Neither you, nor me. The words resonated in Amy's mind. So, you love him too?
Shadow squeezed her hand, and used his other to gently cup her muzzle, turning her face towards his. "I do not wish to waste my time chasing a dream that may never come true," he said. "I am no stranger to letting go of such things. Sometimes, it is necessary, in order to keep moving forward."
Amy nodded. Yeah. You can't stay stuck in the past, and you can't worry about the future. All that matters is here and now. That sound like something he would say, doesn't it?
"Exactly," she said, almost a whisper. "We can keep a little spot for him in our heart." Then, she tapped the side of her nose and winked. "It'll be our little secret."
Shadow blinked, wide-eyed with curiosity, then chuckled to himself. "You continue to surprise me," he said, the low rumble of his voice barely rising above the symphony of crickets around them.
Amy bumped her forehead against his. "Is that a good thing?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied, simply.
He hummed under his breath, then closed the gap between them in a deep, soft kiss.
Amy couldn't help but smile into it, wrapping her arms around him in glee. There was a warm, soothing scent about him that made the back of her spine tingle, especially so during a kiss. Her excitement persisted through her momentum, and accidentally pushed Shadow onto his back, breaking them apart as they toppled onto the picnic blanket.
"Oops!" she exclaimed. "Sorry!"
Shadow smiled--amused and gentle, and guided him beside her, into his arms. With less hesitation, he kissed her again beneath the stars, and Amy melted into him. Shadow the romantic...who also fell for Sonic...we're more alike than I thought.
I'm not the only one full of surprises...!
Amy's heart was warm and full, and kissed Shadow with dedicated purpose, his arms wrapped around her.
Thunder rumbled through the sky, echoing across the buildings in the vicinity of Station Square. It was pouring rain, and Sonic was just passing through.
Amy clutched her umbrella, splashing through puddles in her rubber red rainboots, panting as she kept her eyes on Sonic's blue spines in front of her. "Sonic!" she cried. "Sonic, wait!"
He sighed at the crossroads and turned to her. "What is it?" he asked. "I'm kinda on the move here, Ames--"
"I know you are!" she spat. "You're always on the move!"
She panted, bent over, and barely able to keep the umbrella over her head. Gingerly, Sonic reached out and held it for her as she buckled over to catch her breath. "You...you..."
Sonic stared up at the sky, foot tapping, then back down to Amy, who had finally stood up. "You always fly through here, and you never stop to say hello!" she exclaimed.
She glistened in the rain, bright eyes earnest, a flush in her cheeks. Above them, while the rain still poured, the sun broke through on the western side. "Sorry," was all Sonic could say. "You know how it is."
"I know, I know, places to go, people to see, but--!" Amy huffed, "Couldn't you stop and see your friends every once in a while?"
"I guess," he said. "But you've gotta keep up!"
Amy grit her teeth, then grabbed his hand with her umbrella with both palms. "Promise me!" she said.
"Oh, here we go," Sonic replied with a shake of his head. "I'm not gonna marry you!"
"I know that! Just listen to me!"
Just when he thought he knew her eternal refrain, she flipped the script. His ears flicked and he leaned closer. "Okay, I'm listening."
"Promise me that you'll come around, for real this time, and we can go do something together," she proposed, standing up straight and tall. "And don't you dare back down, or else I'm just gonna come chase you again!"
Sonic grinned, and then he began to laugh. "Okay, promise!" He let go of her umbrella into her hands, and offered her his pinky. "I'll come around, just not right now."
Her entire face lit up, emphasized by the sun setting behind her, and she gleefully linked it with his. "Oh, Sonic!"
Sonic spun around her, tracing his fingertips along her back, then saluted her. "Catch ya later!"
"Bye!" Amy shouted after him. "But, don't forget!"
Sonic sprinted off, a spray of rainwater creating a rainbow in his wake.
It was another tie. Sonic and Shadow were simply too evenly matched.
"I think I beat you this time," Sonic said, only a touch out of breath, and pinched his fingers together. "By like, that much."
"Hmph, if you say so," Shadow replied, crossing his arms. "I am not the one who is out of breath."
"Well, if you hadn't grabbed me, then maybe it wouldn't have been as close!"
Waves crashed against the coastal rocks, giving away to the dark sea below them. Their skid marks in the dirt beneath them stopped just at the edge of the cliff. Shadow peered over the cliff. "If I had not grabbed you, then you would have been drowning in the ocean," he remarked. "I know you are not a strong swimmer."
Sonic's ears flattened. "Well, are you?"
Shadow flashed a fang. "Stronger than you are."
Sonic punched his shoulder and paced around him. "Yeah, yeah," he huffed. He stopped at his back and leaned against him, their spines nestled between each other. "Thanks."
Shadow inhaled deeply, and supported him, leaning back as well. "So, where are you off to next?"
"Wherever the wind takes me," Sonic replied, and spun around to face him. "I'm thinking...northeast?"
Shadow chuckled and shook his head. "How quaint."
"It's about the thrill of the adventure, man!" Sonic exclaimed. "You gotta admit, it's fun not knowing what's gonna happen next, right?"
He began to pace again, bouncing on his toes. While it was erratic, there was still grace to each movement, like an unrehearsed dance. In contrast, Shadow stayed perfectly still, only watching him with his eyes, studying his every step. "I am not sure that I agree," he said.
"You're such a sourpuss. You're worse than Knuckles! You gotta get out and see the world!"
"I do that plenty."
"Yeah, but you're on a schedule, Mister Darkness." Sonic bounced up to him. "Don't forget to fly like the wind sometimes, will you?"
"I get the opportunity," Shadow replied, making sure to meet his eyes, "when I am with you."
The intensity of his stare startled Sonic--but he swallowed it in favor of a flashed grin to Shadow's favor. He waved, and in an instant, he was gone, the grass kicked up in his wake.
Shadow found himself reaching toward the wind he left behind.
The memories washed over Sonic as he lay in a field, holding his hand up to the sun to only let streaks of light through. Huh, he thought, with a small frown.
Several days later, Amy woke up in her apartment to a text message in the early hours of the morning. She blindly grappled for it and swiped to unlock it.
"Shadow 💖:
>> Good morning, dear. I am working until 5 PM. Do you want to get dinner afterwards?"
Amy beamed at the pet name, setting her heart a flutter, and rolled over as she texted him back. ">>good morning! 💟💟 yes id love to! let's go to that new place in central city. it's spagonian! i'll meet you there."
She hummed to herself as she popped out of bed with a stretch. This has really been a dream come true, she thought, picking out a sundress and laying it on the bed as she changed out of her pajamas. I'm so used to doing all the planning, and the get-togethers, and all the chasing people around. It's so nice to have someone who says, "hey Amy, let's do something together", and reaches out first.
It really makes me feel wanted...
She clipped the snap at the back of her neck to secure her dress, and did a twirl in the mirror. On her vanity sat a flower clip in the shape of a red rose.
("I am surprised you do not wear flowers more often," Shadow commented as they left the boutique. "I think it would suit you."
"You think so?" Amy said, beaming. "I guess when I was a kid, I picked a lot of flowers, but they always fell out of my quills running around. Plus, flowers like that wilt in about an hour..."
"Something like that accessory will fasten securely, and it will not wilt," he said. "And it will have the same beauty, that will last.")
She smiled. Later, when we go out, I'll wear it. Instead, she secured her usual headband and grabbed a shopping bag. I should run some errands ahead of time...
Amy bounced to the door and flung it open to the central hallway. As she did, a piece of paper fluttered to the ground. "Oh?" she chirped out loud. "What's this..."
She picked it up carefully and turned it over. It was a note that had been taped to her door, with two flowers pinned to it--one pink, and one yellow. Scrawled in hasty script was the following note:
"Ames! Meet me here today by sunset: 40.2213, 39.2923.
It's a surprise! Ask Shad if you need help with the coordinates.
-Sonic"
Amy's heart skipped several beats. "Ohh!" she gasped. An invitation? From Sonic?! "Ohh, oh my goodness...!"
A more practical voice cut through the girlish excitement echoing in her head. Out of the blue like this? Hopefully it's not a clever Dr. Eggman trap. Then again, it did say "Ask Shad if you need help". For something like this, wouldn't Tails be his go-to technical guy? Hmm...
Her phone buzzed, and it startled her, causing her to nearly drop it on the ground. She fumbled it back into her hand:
"Shadow 💖:
>> That sounds good to me. I am looking forward to it."
Her head spun. ">>cool! hey guess what: i got a note from sonic?!!?! look at this!!" She snapped a picture and sent it along, then carefully detached the flowers taped to it. They're still fresh...they haven't wilted. Her phone buzzed, this time for a call. The screen read: "INCOMING CALL: Shadow 💖". She scooped it up and held it against her face. "Hi!"
"Hello. That is an interesting note you received."
"Isn't it? I can't believe it!" she exclaimed. Her voice echoed in the hallway, and she ducked her head. "What do you think?"
"What makes it more curious is that I received nearly the same one. Same coordinates."
"What?! That's crazy...!"
"Indeed. I would like to investigate this myself. It is a little ways out from Central City, judging by the coordinates. I assume you would like to accompany me."
"Duh! Of course I do!"
"Good. I cannot leave right away, but I can leave early. Meet me at GUN HQ at noon. We shall see what our blue mystery is up to."
Our blue mystery. Amy chuckled. "Okay, that's time for me to get my errands done. I'll see you then!"
"See you."
The call ended. Buzzing with excitement, Amy tucked the flowers behind her ear and headband, and carefully folded the note up into her bag.
The wind roared around her as Amy clutched Shadow's waist while they rode on his motorcycle through the countryside. I do not believe it is a trap, Shadow had said before they left, offering her the note he received. Despite these notes being nearly the same. I'm sure Tails gave him a way to pinpoint geolocation like this. You are certain this is his handwriting? Amy confirmed it--Sonic's writing was hasty and rushed, and often a miracle that it could be read at all.
I will be prepared in case anything happens, Shadow had said with confidence. To protect you, or to preform a rescue, I will make sure everyone is safe.
In the present, Amy smiled to herself and tucked herself closer behind him. Shadow's motorcycle was a smooth ride, comfortable even on the passenger seat, where she had a spot to rest her feet and lean back against a modest backrest.
The scenery rushed past them, consisting of vast sloping hills as far as the eye could see, and the sky was crystal clear and blue above them. The air is so crisp here, Amy thought, what a beautiful, open space...
...it's no wonder that Sonic would choose a place like this for a rendezvous.
Shadow was musing over the same thing as the engine hummed beneath him, Amy close and warm at his back. Perhaps I am rubbing off on her more than expected, given her apprehension, he thought. "What if it's a trap?" is something I would say. But, it is also so in character for him to knock at your door, unexpected and unannounced, just to say "hey, check this out!"
Besides, he would be proud to just see us throw caution to the wind, and follow him to his discovery.
The GPS on his motorcycle began to beep--the road bent one way, but the signal went the other. He shifted down and slowed to a crawl. "This is as far as we go," he said, cutting the engine. "We will have to travel on foot from here."
He let Amy dismount first, then followed suit, carefully leaning the motorcycle to its side on the kickstand. He frowned at the dust it had accumulated. I will need to give her a wash and wax when we return...
His thoughts were soon interrupted by an eager Amy Rose grabbing his hand. "Come on, then, let's go!"
Shadow stumbled to keep pace with her as she dashed through the field, a smile on her face as bright as the sun in the sky. How does one not fall in love with an energy like hers? So sunny, so honest. There is never a dull moment, even in the quiet ones. She is beautiful, and I am happy.
Surprising still is that Sonic was never charmed. But, nothing could charm him enough to stop him from running, could it? Nothing stands in his way. I understand fully, as I operate the same. But where I would stand vigilant, an obelisk in the shadows, he would scatter, everywhere and nowhere all at once. If someone needs his help, he will be there.
Both of them remind me of the reasons why I protect this world, and the promise I made.
The valley dipped, and soon flowers began to dot the lush greenery. "I think we're getting close," Amy said. "I can feel it!"
She quickened her pace, and Shadow was forced to activate his air shoes to keep up. "Be careful," he chided, with only a small frown, "I fear you may pull my arm off..."
Amy beamed at him, her excitement infectious. Indeed, why would Sonic bring us to this place?
I promised myself that I would stop longing for what I could never have...
And so has she...so...
...why...?
Amy's footsteps ground to a halt. "Oh, Shadow!" she gasped. "Look!"
The fields before them had fully burst into bloom--a huge swathe of yellow, red, and pink flowers as far as the eye could see. The scent was sweet and delightfully crisp, although Amy sneezed at the overwhelming pollen. Shadow walked forward slowly, grazing his fingertips on the petals, as the stalks were nearly up to his knees. There was a footpath of gently stomped flowers, which his eyes followed to the top of the hill...
...where Sonic sat, waving.
Shadow tapped Amy's shoulder and pointed. Her eyes glittered and she waved back. "Hey!" she exclaimed, and sprinted up the hill.
He followed her up to the top, witnessing Sonic get up to greet her, only for him to be tackled again by the force of Amy's hug. "You're so cheeky, leaving a note like that!" she exclaimed, breathless. "This is so pretty!"
"Isn't it?" Sonic replied. He caught Shadow's eye and nodded with a smirk. "Hey, glad you made it, too."
"It is difficult to assume I would not accompany her, given your written advice," Shadow remarked.
Sonic shook himself off after Amy let him go, all the way down to his shoes. "Hey, well, you guys hang out together all the time, you've got the tech--figured it'd be a safe bet," he said.
Sonic laced his hands behind his quills and gazed up at the sky, away from them. Shadow and Amy exchanged a glance. "Hang out together all the time", he says, Shadow thought. Amy bit her lip, confirming she was thinking something similar. He knows more than he lets on.
"Sooo," Amy started, lacing her hands behind her back. "Why did you have us both come out here? A surprise?"
Sonic did not answer right away. The pause was something in and of itself--Shadow, for one, was so used to Sonic blurting out whatever was on his mind, that this moment of contemplation felt like an eternity. "Well," Sonic said finally, slowly. "I was just...thinking about both of you. Thought you could use a little adventure."
He stretched, but still faced away from them. "This is one of my favorite spots," he continued. "Every year, different wildflowers bloom here, but they spread for miles. It's incredible. I love it.
"I've never shown anyone this place until today."
Amy's jaw dropped, and Shadow's eyes widened. Sonic...
Sonic finally turned toward them, a flush in his muzzle and eyes darting. "So, ah, take that for what you will."
Shadow glanced down at Amy, who's eyes were brimming with gleeful tears. "Sonic...!"
It was strange to see Sonic bashful, but with both sets of eyes on him, that was the only way Shadow could describe it. "You..." he began. You brought us here...
...you know we were chasing a dream, and yet...
here you are.
"Hey, I know what you're doing," Sonic said suddenly, wagging his finger in Shadow's face. There was strain in his grin, but he still pushed forward. "Don't think too hard about it, okay?
"Don't--" Sonic grabbed Shadow's hand,
"--think--" Then, he grabbed Amy's with his other,
"--about it!"
And with a strong tug, he pulled them both to the ground, petals flying up around them as the flowerbed cushioned their fall. Petals of yellow, pink, and red, dotting against the sunny sky, fluttering in the wind. He felt Sonic's fingers lace with his. At his other hand, Amy scooted and reached for Shadow's hand, and they clumsily linked fingers as far as they could reach.
What does this mean? Shadow thought. "Don't think too hard about it," he said.
Don't overthink it.
("You worry too much, Shadow!" Maria said, hugging him from the side. "Everything will work out fine. Grandfather is taking care of everything, and you'll be here to protect me!")
"Thank you," Amy whispered, her voice watery and squeezed both Sonic and Shadow's hand. "Thank you both--!"
"Aw, jeez, don't start the waterworks...!" Sonic chided gently.
"Hey! I'm not!"
They laughed together, and Shadow closed his eyes with a serene smile.
Thank you, Sonic. Thank you, Amy.
I will hold onto this moment deep in my heart,
as fleeting as these flower petals.