Archive of Our Own

Under Partial Shade

“There’s another way I can fulfil my promise to Maria…” Shadow explained as he showed up at Amy’s doorstep unannounced one spring morning. “… To inspire people to follow their dreams… Through the medium of floral arrangement…”

Amy had to double-take for a moment. It was surprising enough that the Ultimate Lifeform was visiting. She half-expected him to request if she had any extra coffee beans or something similar. Of course, he wasn’t unwelcome to visit. Despite his intense and serious nature, he was still her friend.

“Oh!” Amy exclaimed when his request finally clicked. “You want me to teach you how?”

“I thought I made myself clear…” Shadow grumbled. “But yes.”

The pink hedgehog struggled to hold back a little squee inside, but managed to keep her composure. Shadow came to her for help, and she was going to make sure he had everything he would need.

“Well, you came to the right place! I have plenty of books on flowers, from how they grow, to the symbolism of floriography, and of course, floristry!”

Gently grabbing his hand, she dragged him inside and guided him to a little reading nook she had next to her personal bookshelf. Shadow was reluctant to sit down, so she let him be, and grabbed her books on the topic. She came back with a decent pile and set them gently on the table.

“There’s many different ways you can use flowers to inspire people.” she explained. “Different flowers can evoke different emotions, not unlike art. It can truly move someone deep inside their soul!”

The black hedgehog nodded slowly, looking at the pile, though his eyes widened a little at the sight. There were at least seven in total. Thick hardcovers.

“Anyways, you can have a quick skim through to get some ideas.” she told him, trying to be a good host for a surprise guest. “While you get yourself comfortable, would you like some tea or coffee? Oh! I also recently made some cookies yesterday afternoon and I have a few leftover, if you want one as well?”

Shadow blinked, taking the first book at the top of the pile, Home Floristry Projects, and getting himself seated. He opened the first page, not answering her question.

Instead of asking again, she decided to take his lack of a no for a yes, and left him to his own devices. She prepared him a strong mocha in the kitchen (more coffee than chocolate), and grabbed him one of the larger cookies she had leftover in the fridge (white-chocolate macadamia), and placed it on a little pink hydrangea serving tray.

By the time she got back, Shadow was at the fifth book, the others opened and neatly scattered around him, with a look that could only be described as silently confused and overwhelmed.

“Ok. Let’s see what the problem is.” she intervened, quickly slipping the current book out of his hand and moving the serving tray in its place. “Have a drink, and breathe.”

Shadow kept his reserved composure and didn’t answer, neither confirming nor denying the allegations that the study of flowers proved too much to handle.

Nonetheless, he took the drink without complaints, and thanked her for the sweet cookie, even if white chocolate wasn’t his usual preference.

“… I don’t understand…” he mumbled to himself after finishing the cookie and being half-way through his drink. “Different flowers can mean different things? Even different colours of the same ones? And different ways to cut and prepare and wrap…?”

“How about we start from something simple?” Amy suggested. “What sort of flowers do you personally like?”

Shadow contemplated his answer, taking another sip of the coffee. “… Lavender.” he replied.

“Unfortunately, lavender means… distrust…” She answered. “Usually paired with flowers like the poisonous datura or the foxglove as a warning, or to send the message to someone that you see through their façade… Otherwise it’s more popular for its fragrance.”

“I see…” Shadow replied, his eyes looking down.

There was an awkward silence as the Ultimate Lifeform finished his beverage.

With such a dead end, Amy had to ask the burning question.

“Why do you want to learn about flowers?” She asked.

Shadow took in a deep breath, and paused for a moment before eventually answering.

“… Maria didn’t just wish for me to protect the world. She also wanted me to give humanity a chance to be happy. For all the work I do at G.U.N, I don’t feel like I am making the world happier. It’s just preventative measures from making it worse. I want to find a way to make a world that she would have wanted. I wanted to find another avenue, and I decided on a whim something that was out of my comfort zone… Something simple… that could inspire others.”

Amy had an idea how to help him, but it would take more questioning.

“Do you find flowers inspiring, Shadow?” She asked.  

Shadow placed the empty cup on the serving tray.

“… I know nothing about flowers.” Shadow confessed. “Not why they grow, how they bloom, nor their preferred habitat.”

The pink hedgehog wasn’t surprised in the slightest. She never picked Shadow as being someone interested in that kind of thing. She was surprised by the extent of his ignorance though.

“They didn’t have flowers aboard the ARK.” he elaborated. “And I never really saw the appeal, besides the fact some of them smell nice… But… I know people give them to others to bring joy or inspiration, and I wanted to learn why.”

The pink hedgehog took in a deep breath. It was clear Shadow came to her for help and he trusted her with such help.

She thought carefully.

‘How do you help inspire someone to inspire others?’ she asked herself. ‘He clearly wants to try… So, what should be the first step…?’

She had an idea.

“With any new hobby, it's always best to start off small, to not only see if it's right for you, but also to build a foundation of basic knowledge and skills before doing anything intermediate or advanced. So… instead of a cram session… instead of arranging flowers… you care for a single flower?”

Shadow blinked, carefully considering his answer.

“I am not sure...” he replied, honestly.

“Then let's try something easy.” Amy offered. “How about… a Peace Lily? I was planning on getting one this year anyways, so I am happy to lend you one. I will keep it safe here so you don't need to worry about finding it a home. But it will be your responsibility to water it, monitor it, and make sure it stays healthy. Think the Ultimate Lifeform can keep a single flower alive?”

Shadow looked away from her for a moment to think about it.

"What do you think of that arrangement?" The pink hedgehog offered, hoping such a more simplified set-up wouldn't deter the Ultimate Lifeform from getting out of his comfort zone.

"It all seems... almost too easy..." Shadow replied, after some thought. "If there isn't any challenge, what's the point?"

"Almost nobody learns to swim by diving into rapids." Amy replied quickly. "If you truly want to learn more about flowers, this might be a good place to start. If this is for another means to inspire others and be more than just a GUN Elite, it's good to first check if this is something you would enjoy first. Even if you took to floristry like a fish to water, if your heart isn't in it, you won't be able to inspire anyone. Of course, if you want to try a different plant, we can look through one of my seasonal guides for a bigger selection but-!"

Amy took Shadow to a local nursery.

She looked at the selection available, and kept an eye out for any little pots that looked strong and healthy sitting on the table in the indoor plant section. Something Shadow shouldn't be able to accidentally kill easily.

"And these are all lilies?" Shadow asked softly to her, trying not to be overheard.

"Yeah. They're all Peace Lilies. Do any of them catch your eye?"

Shadow shook his head.

"They all look the same to me. Does it matter?"

Before Amy could answer, one of the staff looked over the table, quickly taking a smaller specimen and carrying it off.

"Excuse me?" Amy asked, trying to get the attention of the purple rabbit. "What's going to happen to that one?"

"It’s not thriving." He replied. "So, it's going into the discount pile."

"Not thriving?" Shadow asked Amy.

The rabbit nodded, despite not being the person asked. "I can't sell it at full price like this. It's too small and already wilting." he explained. "So, I have to mark it down."

Amy looked towards Shadow as he looked towards the weak little plant. She saw something shift in Shadow's eyes. Something he didn't want to put into words, but she could read plainly on his face.

"If it was given some TLC, would it pull through?" Amy asked on his behalf.

"With some love and a bit of luck, it might make it, but I wouldn’t count on it." the clerk answered.

"A Peace Lily is an indoor plant." she explained once they got back to her house. "They don't need as much sunlight compared to something like a sunflower. They get enough light from being near windows, but never direct sunlight."

Shadow nodded attentively.

"First, after we find a good place for it, it needs water. Much like how we need to drink water, plants need it too. But while we drink with our mouths, plants drink water through their roots... I guess it's harder to see how plants live since everything they do is so much slower than us."

To illustrate her point, she pulled out a laptop to show him a time lapse video from the internet of a plant growing from seed to blossom, with timestamps in the corner of how long it took to get there.

"It looks almost like it's reaching for the sun..." Shadow commented. "Like it’s fighting its own limits and... trying to create something beautiful..."

"That's one way to look at it." Amy replied, happily nodding.

She spent the afternoon, broken only with some cake and coffee, educating Shadow on the basics of plants.

She explained how plants take in carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight, and convert it to oxygen in the process of photosynthesis. How different plants need different levels of water and sunlight depending on the species, and how they draw nutrients from the soil to help them.

She walked him through the process of watering, fertilising, and even pruning any leaves that look brown or wilted (though Shadow needed more context as to why ‘damaging’ a plant further would be beneficial).

Shadow listened to every instruction and recommendation like orders from the Commander himself.

They found an ideal place for the little plant on the table, next to the pile of flower books yet to be put away.

"So, this is its preferred habitat?" Shadow checked.

"Well... Most people wouldn't use the word 'habitat' for a plant.” Amy corrected. "This is the ideal environment. Still... For a first step into anything to do with botany, you really started off harder than expected, Shadow. Why did you want to start with this one in particular?"

"... I was made by Professor Gerald for research to find a cure for Maria." Shadow confessed. "Though I suppose that's common knowledge by now. Nonetheless... I wasn't originally a weapon. I was made, to try and preserve life. When I heard that it wasn't likely to survive, it… reminded me of my original purpose. If I couldn't save her, maybe I can save others like her."

Amy nodded, tears starting to well up in her eyes after hearing such sentiment, but she held them back to stay strong for him.

"Then that's what we will do!” Amy proclaimed. “Just remember, the most important thing plants need, is time and patience. We have given this little guy water, giving it proper light, and we are going to monitor it. It won't improve today. At best, you will see an improvement the next morning or the day after. But... You know it’s made it when the first flower blooms..."

Shadow visited each day, bringing a camera with him to photograph progress.

Despite subsequent visits being brief, Amy noticed that as the little potted plant started to grow and look healthier, Shadow's face seemed to shift.

Whether he came back from a dangerous mission, or after banter with Sonic, or even an unwilling outing with Rouge, whenever he came to her house to monitor his plant, his expression changed. He looked calmer, more relaxed.

The big day came when the first bud started to form, opening to a lovely pure white blossom a few days later.

But that wasn't all.

Amy also noted some new growth. Many new buds had developed, and would bloom in the next few days.

He’d done it.

"How do you feel?" Amy asked.

"This was... an interesting experience." Shadow remarked. "I feel like... I can be more than just a weapon. Yet… How can I use this to inspire others?"

"Well... This little plant is giving you flowers as a gift for saving it. Peace Lilies are sometimes given to comfort people going through a hard time. Maybe if you find someone having a bad day, you can now offer one to them?"

Shadow shook his head.

"Peace Lilies are indoor plants... are there offices at GUN that could use a splash of colour?" She offered. "Whether they are plant lovers or not, everyone feels better when these guys are around. Even if you can't inspire people directly now, how about making other people feel a little better indirectly?"

Shadow thought carefully about it.

"... Could work." he nodded.

Without much further persuasion, Shadow grabbed the thriving plant and was about to leave.

"Thank you, Amy." he said his farewells. "For your time, your knowledge, and for helping me on this mission. I am grateful that there's someone like you on this planet, someone else who can bring out the best in me."

He didn't say much more before he used Chaos Control, the pot gently cradled in his other arm.

Despite the bittersweet closing of the chapter, Amy was beaming.

‘... I don't bring out the best in you, Shadow.’ She thought to herself. ‘I just see the light already there.’