Archive of Our Own

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Shadow wasn't healing.He's not aure why he isn't healing, its been weeks since he woke up in that field with these injuries. If anything, they've gotten worse. His abilities should be healing him but they don't seem to be working very well at the moment. His healing is off, it takes way too much of his energy just to teleport, and he can't run as fast as usual, just like the speed of a slightly faster than usual leopard.
He's been wandering the small town he landed near and the people in it are kind of boring. There is a crazy drunken man, an idiot police officer, and a woman who seems familiar but he's not sure where from. He usually watches her while she's at her job which is to be like the scientists on the Ark but she's a lot nicer to the animals than the scientists were to him. They dont have to go through test unless absolutely necessary and she wants to help the animals rather than use them for power. She's also not scare of the animals and she doesn't give them dirty looks, even if one is mean to her.He never follows these people home because that just feels wrong, but he does recognize the other officer that talks to the dumb one. He's the blue hedgehog's human, Tom. The one he punched when he thought he was commander walters. That means he lives nearby which could be bad, what if he wants revenge for hurting him? What if he gets mad at him for losing blue hedgehog while holding off the eclipse cannon? Shadow does everything to make sure this Tom guy doesn't see him or know of his continued life. Yet somehow he ends up in this situation.Like previously stated, Shadow wasn't healing like normal. So after the nice doctor lady left, he snuck into the place of her work, hoping to find something to get his healing back on track. Turns out, the building had a silent alarm, so when he (exhaustingly) teleported into the building, he landed right in front of a small red laser that sent a message to the police station saying something was up. He hadn't known about this silent signal and moved toward the room he sees the lady and her partner help the animals. The room is empty other than a medium metal table and overly sterile countertops.
He opens one of the drawers and finds a bunch or organized and unused syringes with caps over the needles. Not this one. He opens another drawer and finds multiple sharp tools, probably for emergencies and surgery. Nope. The third drawer he opens has different bottles with names on the sides, he finds one that looks like what the professor would use on maria when she fell or tripped and got injured. In the cabinet next to that he finds bandages and 'antiseptic'. He figures that will be useful so he grabs that too and closes all the drawers he opened, only to freeze when footsteps catch his attention in the other room.He doesn't have enough energy to teleport back out of here and his leg is injured so he can't run, in a desperate attempt at not getting caught, he opens a cabinet that's miraculously empty and climbs inside, shutting it behind him. The footsteps enter the room and a light shines around the room, after a second the footsteps leave the room and enter another one. Now is his chance.
He slowly opens the cabinet and quietly crawls back out with everything in his hands. His heart races as he peers out, ensuring the coast is clear. The sterile environment of the clinic feels suffocating, and he can’t shake the feeling of being a hunted animal. Every sound seems amplified in the silence of the clinic, and he cautiously glances around, half-expecting someone to catch him.With his supplies in hand, Shadow considers his next move. He could teleport out, but the energy it would take is too risky given his current state. Instead, he decides to navigate through the less visible parts of the building, hoping to avoid any more encounters. He slips out of the room, moving silently down the dimly lit hallway, trying to remember the layout of the building from what he observed when he watched the doctor.As he moves, he can't help but think about the woman he had been observing. Her kindness toward the animals starkly contrasts with the cold treatment he had experienced. Maybe if he could just explain his situation to her, she might help him. But the thought of revealing himself and showing his vulnerabilities, fills him with dread.
He reaches a window at the end of the hallway, and peeks through the partially drawn blinds. The street outside is quiet, but he knows that within moments, he could be spotted if he isn’t careful. He takes a deep breath, feeling the weight of his injuries and the uncertainty of his situation pulling at him.
For a moment, he hesitates, torn between escaping and seeking help. The thought of being alone and vulnerable again is daunting, but the idea of facing the police officer Tom, or worse, the woman who could see through his defenses, feels equally terrifying. Just as he prepares to make a decision, he hears the door creak open behind him.
Panic surges through him as he realizes he has only a split second to act. Shadow darts towards the window, pushing it open with a quick shove, and leaps out into the cool night air. He lands awkwardly, the jolt sending a sharp pain through his leg. Gritting his teeth against the discomfort, he glances back at the clinic, half-expecting to see someone following him.But the street remains empty, the only sound the distant hum of the town settling down for the night. He takes a moment to steady himself, clutching the supplies tightly. His options are limited, but he knows he can't stay in the open. With a determined glint in his eye, he heads toward the darkness of a nearby alley, seeking refuge and a chance to regroup.As he moves, the familiar sensation of being watched creeps over him. He stops, peering into the darkness behind him. Was it his imagination, or was there someone there? Shadow's instincts kick in; he can't allow himself to be caught again. He presses on, his resolve hardening. Whatever the reason for his inability to heal, he will figure it out, and he will not be a victim.When Tom took the call to check out the disturbance at the vets he had been expecting one if the animals to have gottan out of their cage or the small chance of someone breaking in to steal drugs. What he didn't expect was to walk in to the main waiting area and see a dark silhouette jumping/falling out the window. After his initial shock wore off he went up to the window and saw none other than Shadow the hedgehog, limping off into an alleyway. This new information is both bad and good because sonic had been mopey and sad about him dying before getting a chance to see the good of the world, this is also bad information however because he was in the vet's so he's probably injured and on his own. He should probably tell Maddie and see what she thinks they should do about this whole thing. So getting back in his car he dialed his wife's number and hill call, it rang a few times, probably the late hour and her just getting off, before she answered in a tired voice."Is something wrong babe?""I was actually hoping for you opinion on that, Shadow's alive and I thought I should tell you he just stole some stuff from your clinic."
He was gifted with silence in return. "I wasn't sure if we should tell the kids or not 'cause he's hurt and not trying to harm anyone but he's also alive so sonic would probably be a little upset if he finds out later we've been letting him grieve a living being.""...um, I guess I'll keep an eye out, but we probably shouldn't tell the kids because knowing them, they're all gonna try and find him, either way though, you said he was hurt?""Yeah he took a bunch of bandages and medicine, and while he was getting out he was limping."" I'll try and find a way to help him without him knowing that I know about him. If that helps at all."
"Yeah its pretty helpful.""Alright," she yawned in the other line "have a nice night hunny.""You too, I should be off soon."
As he hung up he was pulling back into the sheriff's station and getting out.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The next day at work Maddie took inventory on the supplies missing and ordered replacements for them. It was a pretty calm day, only a few animals with minor problems. Her partner, Selene, had the day off so it was just her and the receptionist Terry. She planned on keeping an eye out for Shadow both at work and after work, he might still be around the clinic or on her way home.
She finished her morning rounds and checked in on the animals currently under her care, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Shadow. The idea that he was out there, injured and alone, gnawed at her. She didn’t know him well, but from what she had gathered, he had been through a lot.

As the day progressed, she found herself glancing out the window frequently, half-expecting to see that familiar dark figure lurking in the shadows. The thought of him hiding outside, suffering, made her heart ache. She resolved that if she spotted him, she would do everything in her power to help him, no matter how reluctant he might be to accept it.
Around midday, she received a call from Tom. “Hey, Maddie, any news on Shadow?”

“Nothing yet. I’m keeping my eyes open, but I haven’t seen him,” she replied, trying to sound casual despite the worry creeping into her voice.
“Alright, well, I’m going to look out while doing my town laps.”

“Alright, Just… be careful, okay? He’s obviously not in a good place, and we don’t want to scare him off.”

“Yeah, I got it. I’ll keep you posted.”

After hanging up, Maddie returned to her work, but her mind was elsewhere. She finished her shift and decided to take a different route home, hoping to spot Shadow. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the town. She's glad she got off when she did, considering she walked to work today, while Tails worked on her car.
As she walked, she kept her senses tuned to the environment. She passed by the park, where children were playing and families were out enjoying the evening. The normalcy of it all felt odd against her worry for Shadow.

Suddenly, she heard a rustle in the bushes nearby. Her heart raced as she turned, hoping it was him. Instead, it was just a stray cat, darting away at the sight of her. Disappointed she continued her search.
Just as she was about to give up and head home, she noticed a shadowy figure peeking from behind a dumpster in an alleyway. Maddie’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be him?

“Shadow?” she called softly, taking a cautious step toward the alley.

The figure stiffened, and for a moment, she thought he might bolt. But instead, he hesitated, and she could see the familiar spiky silhouette take shape.

“Stay back!” he snapped, his voice laced with pain and defensiveness.
“I’m not here to hurt you. I just want to help,” she assured him, holding her hands up in a placating gesture. “I saw you at the clinic yesterday. I know you’re hurt.”
He glared at her, but she could see the weariness in his eyes. “I don’t need help,” he replied, though the tremor in his voice betrayed him.
“Please, just let me see your injuries. I can help you.” she pleaded, taking another step closer.

Shadow looked torn, his expression flickering between defiance and vulnerability. After a long moment, he sighed, the fight leaving him like air from a punctured balloon. “Fine,” he muttered, his tone begrudging. “But only a quick look.”
Maddie felt a rush of relief as she approached him slowly. “That’s all I ask.”

As she knelt down to inspect his leg, she noticed the swelling and bruising. “This looks painful. You should have come to me sooner,” she said softly, her heart aching for him.
“I didn’t want to be a burden,” he replied, avoiding her gaze. He looked ashamed in himself, for what? She wasn't sure.
“You’re not a burden, Shadow. You’re someone who needs help, and that’s okay,” she said gently. “Let’s get you patched up.”
With her medical supplies in hand, she worked carefully, explaining each step as she tended to his injuries, replacing his unprofessional bandage job. Shadow winced at first but gradually relaxed as she treated him with the care he hadn’t expected.

As she finished bandaging his leg, she looked up at him. “You know, it’s okay to lean on others sometimes. You don’t have to carry everything alone.”

He looked at her, the tension in his body easing slightly. He opened his mouth to say something before a ball rolled over to them and Maddie turned to see what it was from. Across the street a couple kids stood looking at her, one if them waving a mit in the air. She picked up their ball and tossed it back to them with a smile and a wave. When she turned back around Shadow was gone, and she was alone in the alleyway.
Maddie's heart sank as she realized Shadow had vanished again. The fleeting connection they'd shared felt like a fragile thread, now severed. She glanced down at the bandage she'd just applied, a symbol of the trust he had momentarily offered.

“What happened to you?” she murmured, frustration mingling with concern. The alley was quiet now, save for the distant sounds of the children playing and the gentle rustle of leaves in the evening breeze.

Determined not to give up, she took a deep breath and decided to linger a little longer in the alley, hoping he might return. Maybe he needed more time to process what had just happened. As she leaned against the cool brick wall, she thought about what she could do next.

A plan began to form in her mind. If Shadow was unwilling to come back to the clinic, she could bring the clinic to him. After all, he was still out there, somewhere in the shadows of the town.

She pulled out her phone and texted Tom: "Saw Shadow but he ran off. I’m going to set up a spot near the clinic with food and supplies. Maybe he’ll come back."

Tom replied almost instantly, “Good idea! I’ll help set it up. Let’s make sure he feels safe.”

With renewed determination, Maddie headed back toward the clinic. She gathered some food, blankets, and more medical supplies, then set up a small area in the back just out of sight but still accessible. She placed a bowl of water down and arranged the supplies neatly, hoping to create a welcoming space.

As she worked, her mind wandered back to Shadow. What had he been through to make him so wary? She could only imagine the struggles he faced, living on the streets and dealing with his injuries alone. It made her heart ache even more.

Once everything was in place, she took a moment to sit down, feeling the weight of the day settle on her shoulders. She hoped he would find his way back, but she also knew that trust was a slow process, especially for someone like him.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over the clinic, Maddie felt a shiver go down her spine, she should probably get home.
Just then, she heard tires roll up behind her and turned to see Tom's truck. "I thought I said I would help make it!" He called out the window.
"I know but I just wanted to get it done sooner." She gave him a small kiss as she climbed into the passenger seat, before he drove off in the direction of their home. Unaware of Shadow climbing into the bed of the truck.
_
Tails watched quietly as sonic and knuckles had a contest to see who could eat the most hotdogs in under 30 minutes, knowing that Tom and Maddie would be home soon and probably won't be happy to see this. He perked up as he heard the truck doors shut and then the keyin the door jingle.
"Welcome home!" He yelled to them and smiled as sonic and knuckles froze in place.
"Thanks sweetie, how was-" Maddie's sentence was cut off as she entered the kitchen and saw what was happening.
"Um, welcome home?" Sonic smiled uncertainly.
"Boys. The one time we trust you to be left alone you pull this." Tom's tone was sturn but not too harsh, and Maddie's face made both knuckles and sonic lower their heads in shame.
"Sorry" they said simultaneously.
"Well I guess you two already ate, what sound good for dinner?" Tom looked between Tails and Maddie.
"Pizza!" Tails smiled wide
"Sounds good to me." Maddie shrugged as Tom went to grab his phone from his pocket. No doubt going to order pizza.
"You two clean up your mess." Maddie gave the two boys one final look before going to her room to change.
When Maddie got in her room the first thing she noticed was the window was open, which was strange since she made sure it was closed this morning. The second thing she noticed was the small rock with a note next to it. After closing the window she picked up the rock and read the note.
Thak you f0r the help.
'shadow' she thought to herself and smiled as she put the rock on her nightstand and went to her closet to change for the night.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

As he slipped into the woods behind the doctor lady's house he hoped she would be able to read his note, he's worried he may have misspelled something. He was never the best speller or reader but that was fine, Maria usually did both of those things for him. Now she was gone, and he had to do it himself. Thinking if her still hurt but he'll learn to get over it. Not her death but the pain of losing her.Arriving back at the vet clinic where he saw the lady set up a fort and supplies out, he climbed inside and curled himself in a ball after making sure it wasn't a trap.
His stomach growled, bringing him out if his thoughts, and he looked around as he sat back up. There was a small bowl of fresh water and a bag, upon opening the bag he found a pack of miniature cookies, a granola bar, a clear baggie of small brown bean looking things, and a container of strawberries. He knew he liked strawberries because Maria always gave him hers when she was given them with her meals.He opened the contaier and ate one of the strawberries whole. He missed this, being able to eat real food even if he technically didn't need it, it felt good to act normal. The berries were good, they weren't mushy or too sour, the perfect mixture between sweet but not super sweet and a subtle sour. Befor he knew it the strawberries were gone and he realized if he wanted to keep this food he needed to ration it, not eat it all right now.
After putting all the food back in the bag, he put the bag away and picked up the bowl, lifting up to his mouth and taking a few small drinks. After putting the bowl back down gently he curled back into his previous ball and attempted falling asleep. It took a while but eventually he fell asleep, dreaming of Maria and the nice lady._"Goodnight guys" sonic yawned as he climbed into bed."Goodnight" Tails and knuckles responded, even though neither were gonna go to bed. Tails planned in finishing working on Maddie's car tonight and knuckles was gonna 'keep watch'.Sonic's eyes fluttered shut, the gentle hum of the night wrapping around him like a warm blanket. In his dreams, he wandered through a lush, vibrant landscape, filled with colors that felt both familiar and foreign. He raced through the fields, feeling the wind rush past him. Suddenly he saw Shadow but when he reached for the other hedgehog, his image slipped away like sand through his fingers—he didn’t know why, but it felt like he was searching for something he had lost. But he did lose Shadow didn't he?Meanwhile, Tails was hunched over the hood of Maddie’s car, his brow furrowed in concentration. The soft whir of his tools filled the garage as he worked diligently, determined to get the vehicle running smoothly. He glanced at Knuckles, who was pacing near the entrance, keeping an eye on the shadows that flickered in the corners of the dimly lit space."Hey, Knux, you sure you want to stand guard all night? I can handle things here," Tails offered, not wanting his friend to tire himself out.Knuckles shook his head, his eyes narrowed. "Nah, I’ve got this. You focus on the car. Besides, you never know when trouble might come knocking."Tails smiled, appreciating Knuckles' protective nature. "Alright, just don’t fall asleep on me, okay?"As the hours ticked by, Tails made steady progress, the engine responding well to his careful adjustments. Outside, the moon shone brightly, casting an eerie glow over the landscape. Suddenly, a rustle in the bushes caught Knuckles' attention. He straightened up, fists clenched, ready to spring into action."Did you hear that?" Knuckles whispered, his instincts kicking in.Tails paused, looking up from his work. "Yeah, I did. It’s probably just a raccoon or something."But Knuckles wasn’t convinced. "Let’s check it out. It could be something more."Reluctantly, Tails nodded, setting his tools down. Together, they stepped outside, scanning the darkness for any signs of movement. As they ventured closer to the noise, a shadow darted across their path, sending a jolt of adrenaline through Knuckles."Stay close," he instructed, his voice low and steady.Tails nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and fear. Whatever it was, they were ready to face it together. As they approached the bushes, the rustling intensified, and then, with a sudden burst, a small creature leaped into view—a scruffy little dog, wagging its tail furiously."Aw, look at this little guy!" Tails exclaimed, kneeling down to pet the dog. "He must’ve gotten lost."Knuckles relaxed, a smile breaking through his earlier tension. "Seems like he could use a friend.""What should we do with the little guy?" Tails asked knuckles, looking up at him.Before knuckles could answer a lady neither of them had ever met caame from the same direction as the dog, looking dishevled and out of breath.
"Poe! Quit runnin' by!"The woman froze as she looked p and saw her dog wagging it's tail by the two kids. " Oh, uh. I'm sorry, Poe just likes to run off sometimes." She smiled nervously at them."What's your name? I don't think i've seen you around." Tails eyed her sceptically, but his words seemed to make her light up." Oh well I just moved her and i thought i would tak Poe for a walk on our first night here, he can get a bit excited in new places. I'm Joline, it's nice to meet you two!" She smiled and held her hand out to shake."Oh well it's nice to meet you Joline! I'm Tails and this is my brother Knuckles.' tails shook her hand before Knuckles."Do you mind me asking why you have moved to the place of Green Hills?" Tails may trust this lady but Knuckles was still sceptical about her." I moved her with my sister after my wife passed away," she started sadly " She always said she wanted me to follow my dream to be a baker so I moved her cause it looked nice and im gonna start opening my own bakery. My brother in law in gonna come down too, so he can be with my sister. Such a sweet pair I tell ya." joline had a sad smile on her face as she explained the reason she moved and her sister's relationship" I'm so sorry for your loss, I hope your bakery is successful. I'm sure everyone in town will love and welcome you" Tails gave her a sad smile in return as she picked up her dog and waved them goodbye."A bakery sounds nice.""Does a bakery have grapes?""Um, i'm not sure, a bakery is kinda like the cafe but more food and less drinks im pretty sure."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Joline finally got home at around one in the morning, exhausted, after chasing her dog into someone else's front lawn. After setting out Poe's bed she let herself fall into her own bed. The memory foam mattress that usually brought her warmth and comfort niw only filled her with sorrow over her late lover. She fell asleep with tears in her eyes and Oliva on her mind._
Shadow awoke before the sun was up and spent the next few hours walking around the town, knowing no one would see him at this late hour. There was one house in particular that caught his attention though, it was a two story house with a patio and big backyard. The top floor was a faded navy blue color while the bottom floor was an off white cream color. The steps leading to the door were cement with black railings, and all the windows were bare, no curtains no blinds. He lifted himself up to see into one of the windows and saw an empty living room, nothing but dust and boxes inside. Maybe he could stay here, it was a bit cold out and that fort wouldn't hold for very long, the nice lady surely wouldn't return after one nice gesture, it would be a waste. Opening the window quietly he climbed inside the house and looked around the room, no pictures on the walls, no television, and no furniture. Upon venturing further into the house he entered the kitchen, there was a single empty 'cup ramen' on the counter and a fork in the sink but was otherwise empty, less dusty than the living room though. There was a hallway off to the side of the kitchen that had three doors, one open and leading to the bathroom and the other two closed. He opened one of the doors and was greeted by dust to his face, he coughed a bit before catching his breath and looking around the room. There was nothing in the room but two windows equally as bare as the ones in the living room. The carpet had a single water stain on it but was otherwise clean and mostly unused. As he shut the door to the room his attention was dragged to a whiny sound coming from the other side of the last closed door. He crouched by the door and listened as some kind of animal scratched and whined against the door.
'maybe they're trapped' he thought as he reached up to the door handle. When he opened the door slightly a fuzzy face peeked it way through the crap in the door and looked at him before letting out a more high pitched whine. He opened the door a little more and the thing, which he was now finding out was a dog, jumped at him, licking his face and wagging it's tail.
"Gross" he grumbled as he grabbed the dog and stood up, setting it down by his feet. "Go, I helped you out now shoo." In response the dog just sat at his feet and tilted it's head at him. Shadow sighed and picked the dog up, walking towards the front door before a voice made him freeze in place.
"Poe." The voice sounded sleepy and it was coming from the room he just got the dog out of. "How on earth fid you get out buddy?" The tired voice stumbled out of the room and froze when it made eye contact with shadow. He's sure he looks creepy in the dark, his fur blending in, making it look like two floating eyes were just staring.
"Hello?" The voice called, rudding it's eyes with it's fists.

With his eyes already adjusted, Shadow could see that the voice belonged to a woman probably in her thirties, with a stained T-shirt, and sweat pants on. Her black hair was folded into a messy bun on top of her head and bright pink slippers covered her feet. Her green eyes blinked at him a few times before seemingly adjusting yo the dark as well.
"Oh. Hello" her voice didn't sound scared but her eyes betrayed this.
"Hello," he replied, his voice seemingly confusing her for a second. Before she could speak again he continued, " I apologize, I was under the impression that this house was empty and uninhabited. I will leave now." He set the dog, Poe his brain supplied, down and was about to walk away when she started talking again.
"You could stay."
That was all she said, calm and quiet but still spoken, the words shocked Shadow.
"But you have no idea who I am." He turned to her, confusion clear in his expression. "Why would you trust me to stay in you home?"
"I do know you. I saw a video about a couple days ago, you're that hedgehog that tried to destroy the world right?" Her words hurt him for some reason.
"I don't mean that in a bad way, I know you changed your mind. You sacrificed yourself to save the world, thank you."

"How do you know all this about me." He kept his head down and his eyes on the floor.
"My wife, Olivia s- she loved to keep up on all the news and tell me about it, she read about what happened before the government could delete any evidence. She kept telling me about these 'adorable animal human hybrids'." Shadow was unsure why anyone would call him adorable.
"She loved talking about you guys and then when I went on a walk earlier, Poe led me right to two of em'. A little fox guy and a bigger red guy, they looked so cute, and now you're here. She would have loved to meet you three." Her words were sad and Shadow didn't miss that she was using past tense for this 'Olivia' person she was talking about.
"I'm sorry for your loss." He muttered
"Thank you." She sniffled before wiping her eyes. "You can stay though, if not for your own safety then for her. Unless you have someplace to stay," Shadow didn't miss the 'which I doubt' she whispered to the dog, whom she had picked up while talking.
After a minute of silence he finally spoke "Thank you for the offer though I do not wish to burden you with my presence or the reminder of your late wife." With that he climbed back out the window before she could stop him and used the last of his energy to teleport to the small fort behind the clinic. He lost consciousness just as the sun was rising over the trees.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It had been a few days since Shadow left Maddie the rock and the note, and she's been thinking about how he's been ever since. She hasn't seen him anytime she goes to the clinic and she hasn't seen him lurking in any shady alleyways, and if she's being honest, she's a bit worried about him. Sue hasn't been able to check on or rebandage his leg, if it gets infected he could be in serious trouble, maybe even lose his leg. Just as she was starting to panic in her mind she was brought out of her head by a knocking on the window. When she turned her head to look out it she was met with the sight of a dirty black and red streaked hedgehog. She stood up instantly and opened the window for him to climb inside.

"May I have more of these smooth brown things?" Was the first thing out of his mouth once he was inside, holding up an empty ziploc baggie.
"Wha- what the heck happened to you!" She didn't raise her voice but he still seemed to tense up.
" If you're referring to my appearance, a small fluffy beast attempted to steal my cookie and I fought it." He spoke carefully, trying not to make her anymore upset.
She however, responded by laughing.
"Are you alright?" She chuckled

"Yes. I won" he stuck out his hand with the ziploc in it as if to silently remind her what he was here for.
"Alright, I'll give you more chocolate covered coffee beans. If, you take a bath and ket me chack your injuries." She had a hand in her hip and sla smile ilon her lips like she won.
Shadow considered these option before finally sighing, "I'll allow you to check over me." He crossed his arms after she grabbed the bag
"And a shower." She added but only got a head shake in response. "Shadow, you're filthy, you need to bathe. No one else is home so you'll be fine."
"No."

"No?" The look she gave him made his confident expression falter for a split second.
"I refuse to let my guard down around even you. Your kindness is just a ploy to capture me and take revenge. I know you aren't planning on doing much to help me, it would be a waste of energy, and I refuse to make my capture easy for you."
This silenced her.
"Shadow, you really think I would do that?"
"Of course."

"You know, some people actually want to help others. Even without anything in return. In this case, you get clean and I get to know you're not filthy and infected." She gestured to his leg and scratched, probably from the animal he fought.
He paused for a moment, thinking of Maria before sighing, "A quick shower and bandage, then I get my chocolate things amd leave." He looked up at her expectantly.
"Sounds fair." She smiled and they shook on it, Shadow only hesitating for a second.
_
When Shadow got out of the shower he put his gloves and shoes on before slowly going down the stairs, favoring his hurt leg.

"That was quicker than I thought it would be." The lady smiled at him before handing him a bigger bag of more small brown things.
"...thank you" he mumbled as he sat on a chair she pulled out, by her medical supplies.
"So Shadow, correct my if I'm wrong, but you don't know my name do you?" He shook his head in response

"I've been calling you doctor lady in my head, it would be.. nice to have a name to put to the face."

She chuckled, the nickname reminded her of when sonic called her pretzel lady.
"Well, I'm Maddie."

Shadow met her eyes for a second before looking away, "Thank you, Maddie."
"It's not a problem, I love helping. It is my job after all."
She finished rebandaging his leg and patted his head before getting up to get him a glass of water. He accepted it with a thanks and sipped it slowly. Maddie's phone vibrated and she pulled it out before frowning.

"Looks like the boys are headed back home." Her words made Shadow set the cup down and look at her.
"Thank you for the assistance, but I should get going." He slid off the chair and headed towards the front door.
"Alright... Just, come to me if you need any help. You can trust me." She opened the door for him and waved as he left into the woods off to the side.
_
When shadow got back to his small fort he laid out the beans and separated them into piles of five. He was allowed to have one pile everyday, if he does it like that they should last him a few weeks, maybe a month. They had a smooth and sweet layer covering them but underneath was an even smoother, bittersweet crunch. That was his favorite part, he wished the flavor would last forever, but like everything else eventually, it was gone and replaced by nothingness. What a sad thought, the fact that life was ultimately meaningless since everything comes to an end eventually, some ending sooner than others.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Joline was thinking about the little hedgehog she met the other day, since then she met another one, the sheriff's son, sonic. He was a fast blur if blue and had a vibrant personality, a lot like Olivia, with her blonde hair and blue highlights, always active and energetic. Oh how she missed her Olivia. It was so unfair, the way her sickness stole her life from her, at least she got to be happy while she was around.
Shaking away the sad thoughts, Joline finished setting up her room, the moving company had gotten all her bigger furniture over yesterday so she finally had a couch and a bedframe rather than just a mattress. Her dressers were set up where she wanted them and her clothes were all put away. Now all she needed was some food for her kitchen. Poe ran up to her as she grabbed her keys and she patted him on the head,crouching down to put his leash on.
"C'mon boy, let's get some food." He followed her happily as she walked to her car.
_
"He came here?" Tom's voice was low so the kids wouldn't hear him.
"Yes Tom, he knocked on the window while you guys were out and I let him in. He took a shower, let me redo his leg, I gave him some more chocolate coffee beans and then he left. I'm worried about him Tom, it's gonna be winter soon and he's out there in a flimsy fort we made last minute."
"Then we'll see what we can do about his living situation, but right now I feel like we should be worrying about if he's good or bad." This just made Maddie roll her eyes at her husband.
"C'mon Tom, He was obviously just confused bad then, sonic told us about their talk on the moon, and you told us about how you were disguised as walters when he hit you." The pleading look on her face made him falter for a second.
"Alright so he might be good, what are we supposed to do to help him? The kids still have no idea about him, we can't just bring him inside and tell the kids he's staying. Im pretty sure they'll lose their minda and I'm not even sure he'll agree to stay with us."
"He is pretty stubborn. And the kids would lose it." She paused to think for a moment."Maybe we tell the kids now and we can all ease him into being comfortable around us?" She suggested
"The chances of that working are low but I guess it's worth a try."

_
Sonic and Tails were watching the wicked movie while Knuckles was getting angrier and angrier at a puzzle he couldn't complete when their parents walked in the living room, looking nervous. Tails paused the TV and asked them what was wrong.
"We have something we think you kids should know," Tom started, making the three of them sit up straighter. "We don't want you guys to overreact or freakout, but Shadow is alive." As Maddie finished all three mobians froze in place.
"Shadow's... alive." Sonic whispered to himself before breaking into laughter.
The other looked at him worriedly.
"Funny one guys but I know you're just messing with me!" Despite the laughs he had tears streaming down his face.
"Sonic, we're serious. Tom saw him the other day and ever since we've been making sure he heals alright and gets fed."

This made Sonic's laughter come to a stop. "What do you mean 'the other day'. He's been alive this whole time and you just let me be upset about it!" He wasn't quite yelling but his voice definitely went up in volume.
"We didn't tell you right away because we didn't want you three to overreact or go looking for him. We need to give him time, and we're telling you now cause it's almost winter and he doesn't have a place to stay. Maddie is gonna try and convince him to stay her if that's alright with you three?" Tom looked around at them.
"Of course!" Sonic yelled before Tails and Knuckles could answer.
"I..I wouldn't mind if he were to stay here. He did sacrifice himself to save the world, he can't be that bad right?"

"Yes, a true warrior. He has my respect. He may stay"
Both adults let out a breath of relief at their responses. "I'm glad you guys understand." Maddie smiled at them before getting her phone out, "Now how about dinner?"
_
Shadow was walking around the forest, bored, when he saw a medium leather ring with a gold circle connected to, when he turned it over there was the name 'POE' in big bold letters. He's pretty sure that's what the lady from before called the dog, so putting it in his collar he made his way in the direction he remembered her house being.
Upon arriving he knocked on her door, put the thing he found in front if it, and hid in a nearby bush to watch. After a couple minutes no one answered he he rang the doorbell and hid again. Again no answer, so he picked the thing up and looked through one of the windows, there was actually furniture in it this time but still no blinds for the windows.
He opened the window (she really needed to start locking those) and climbed inside. He set the thing on the kitchen counter and grabbed a rock he found and thought looked cool so he put it in his quills by it. He also left a note saying he thought it was her's. After escaping back out the window he shut it and started walking back to his fort.

It got a bit lonely but it was nothing he wasn't used to at this point. Something new though was the note left by his water.
Hey!😁
Who could have left this, they had to have the ability to write do it wasn't an animal but with was messy writing so there was no way it was Maddie. He poked his head out of the fort and looked around but saw nothing. Weird.
He decided to ignore it and sleep for the time being, it seemed to help his healing.For some reason he dreamt of the blue hedgehog.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

When Shadow awoke he opened his eyes to green staring back at him, he sat up with a yelp and looked at the blue hedgehog sitting up in front of him.
"Hey Shadow!" The other hedgehog gave him a dopey smile and small wave of his hand.
"What are you doing here!" He all but yelled at the other.
"Well I came to visit you, obviously. I heard you were hurt and I wanted to check on you."

"... I'm fine." He snarled after a moment.
"Great! Is there anything you need? I can bring you it!" The blue one seemed far too excited for the situation.
"I need you to get out of my temporary living quarters."
Surprisingly he actually listened to this with a cheerful "Okay!" Scooting back until he was outside of the fort. Sitting crisscross on the pavement he smiled at Shadow.
Shadow felt a mixture of annoyance and bewilderment as he watched the other settle comfortably outside the makeshift fort. The bright sunlight illuminated the blue hedgehog's quills, making him look way too cheerful for Shadow's current mood.
"Why are you so happy?" Shadow grumbled, crossing his arms.

Sonic tilted his head, still grinning. "Because you're awake! That's a win in my book! Plus, I brought snacks!" He reached into his backpack and pulled out a bag of cheese puffs, holding them up like a trophy.
Shadow rolled his eyes. "You think food will make me feel better? It's just puffs."
"Sure, but they're the best puffs! Trust me, you’ll love them!" Sonic tossed a puff into the air and caught it effortlessly, his enthusiasm infectious despite Shadow’s best efforts to remain stoic.
"Why do you always have to be so… so annoying?" Shadow muttered, trying to keep his irritation in check.

Sonic shrugged, still unfazed. "It’s my superpower! Plus, I can’t help it if I just want to see you smile. You could use a little fun, Shadow."
Shadow felt a flicker of something, was it warmth? Frustration? He wasn’t sure. "Fun?" he scoffed. "I am not interested in your childish games."
"Come on! Just give it a chance! How about a race?" Sonic suggested, bouncing on his toes. "I promise it’ll get your mood up a bunch!"
Shadow narrowed his eyes, contemplating. The thought of racing was tempting, but he didn’t want to give this hedgehog the satisfaction. Still, the atmosphere was lighter than it had been, and maybe a little competition wouldn’t hurt.
"Fine," Shadow finally said, standing up. "But if I win, you leave me alone."
Sonic's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Deal! And if I win… well, you have to join me for a movie night!"
Shadow thought it over for a minute "You’re on, blue hedgehog."

"Sonic."
"What?"
"My name's Sonic, I wasn't sure I ever properly introduced myself before "
Shadow just hummed as he got out of the fort.
As the two lined up at the edge of the forest, the blue one, Sonic, started talking."So to the edge of town and back?"

"Sounds fine to me."
As they both took off Shadow ignored the pain in his leg while he ran. If he had any sense he wouldn't be running on an injured leg but he wanted to win this race and wasn't gonna chicken out. Even if Maddie would get mad if she found out, who cares right?
Well since he had decided to run on an injured lag, about halfway through the race a pain sharper than the rest shot up his leg, making him fall over, taking Sonic down in the process. The two tumble for a second before Sonic sits up and rubs his head, "Aw c'mon man-" he paused as he looked over to see Shadow curled up on the ground, holding his ankle.
"Um, are you... Okay?" He was just met with heavy breathing.
"Maybe I can get my mom, she's a really good veterinarian. She can help you." Shadow just ignores Sonic, blocking his voice out.

His ankle was killing him, this is the worst the pain had ever been. Why couldn't he just be healing right? His ears were ringing and the pain was spreading throughout his entire body. Why was this happening? Why him? Maybe he deserves it.
When his ears stop ringing there is a familiar female voice speaking to him, he can't tell what she saying though. He feels a tear slip down the side of his face, strange. He hadn't cried since Maria's death, what was wrong with him, his body was not behaving like it normally would.
"-adow, what's wrong sweetheart?"
This time he could hear most of what she said, her voice more clear now. Why was Maddie here?
"hurts" he managed to push the word out.
Only seconds later did he feel hands go under him and scoop him up under his armpits. He curled up to the best if his ability but couldn't much with how she was holding him.
"Hang on, let's get you in the car and I'll take you to the clinic, I'm not sure how you managed it but you broke your foot running. I'll have to scold you later for running on an injured leg."
He was placed in what seemed like the backseat of a vehicle and something or rather someone slid in next to him. As the car started up and Maddie took him back to the clinic, a gloved hand started running itself through his quills. When he opened his eyes he saw sonic above him, looking at him worriedly.
"It'll be okay." Sonic mumbled, giving him a weak smile.
For some reason he believed him, and suddenly felt tired, it was really starting to annoy him how much his body has been craving sleep recently. He's never needed it before, why must he be so tired now?
As he drifted off Maddie started talking again but he was unable to catch what she was saying through the fogginess if his head.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"What were you thinking Sonic, I'm pretty sure we told you guys not to track him down and bombard him" she sounded more worried than angry but Sonic knew to feel ashamed for what he did.
"I just wanted to see him again, and I thought a race would cheer him up, I didn't kniw he messed up his leg." Sonic muttered in response as he absentmindedly ran his hand through Shadow's quills. He just fell asleep nut his expression was still pained, makes sense, his ankle is broken. If you look closely you can see the bone pushing against his skin, not enough pressure to come out but it is visible, and it looks super painful.
"I know you didn't mean for him to get hurt but you should have given him time, not just showed up and challenged him to a race." She panicked when Sonic burst through the reont door saying something about Shadow needing help, and then proceeded to lead her halfway across town. He spooked the rest of the family too but Tom had kept the other two home, saying she would update them.
"I'm sorry"

"It's not your fault sweetheart, just try and give him some time. Time to get comfortable and tine to heal, he's been through a lot, physically, mentally, emotionally. Im sure you're aware of that just as much as I am."
"Yeah... He's pretty meessed up huh?"
"Kinda yeah."
"I'll be more careful with him." He promised as they pulled up to the clinic.
While Sonic grabbed Maddie's phone and texted Tom, Maddie picked Shadow up bridal style, carrying him into the thankfully empty clinic. They ignored the looks the ither employees gave them as they went into ine of the surgery rooms and set Shadow on the table.
How are shadow and sonic?
We're okayHe broke his ankle
Were are.you right now?
At theclinic
Madeie is helping himAmd hes asleep
I guess thats good.Are you okay?
Yeah just a bit upset he dint tell me he was hurt and he still raced me
You two raced!
Yesh i wanted to raise his sour miod and he didnt tell me he was hurt
Or i wouldnt have reaced himIts unfair
Alright alrightJust update us regularly
Please....Sonic
Yep ok
Sonic sat on a chair in the waiting room, swinging his feet as he waited for maddie to finish up with Shadow. It had been about an hour when she finally came out with her partner, Selene, both smiling.
"He's gonna be fine, we just gotta keep him off his bad leg for a bit. Wanna help with that?"
"Of course! You can count on me to keep him off his feet. Is he gonna stay with us?
"He'll have to yeah, unless someone else is gonna take him. He'll have to sleep on the couch though, there's no more room for another one of you three running around."
"If he wants he can have my bed, we can share but if he doesn't want to I can sleep on the couch."
"It's alright sonic," maddie crouched down to Sonic's height while Selene went to get shadow from the other room. "Im sure he'll be perfectly fine sleeping on the couch for a bit bud."
"Alright"
"And here he is, the man of the hour!" Selene smiled as she helped Shadow stumble along with his crutches.

Sonic could see the riding fury on Shadow's face, probably from the crutches and needing them to walk. He walked over and put one of Shadow's arms over his shoulder and his own arm around the ebony hedgehog's waist. maddie grabbed the cruthes and led them out the door as Sonic helped a grumpy Shadow follow hwr to the car.
"This is ridiculous, im the ultimate life form, I should not need this help."
Sonic chuckled lightly, trying to ease the tension. "Well, even the ultimate life form needs a little assistance sometimes. I promise it’s just temporary, Shadow. Think of it as a new training method, crutch agility!"
Shadow shot him a glare. "You think this is funny?"
"Not funny, just... practical. Besides, look on the bright side—now you have an excuse to take it easy for a while."

As they reached the car, Maddie opened the back door, allowing Shadow to carefully settle in. She handed him a small pillow to support his leg. "There you go. Comfort first, right?"
"Yeah, right," Shadow grumbled, crossing his arms defiantly. But Sonic could see the fatigue in his eyes; the pain was clearly taking a toll on him.
Maddie climbed into the front seat, and Sonic hopped in beside Shadow, ensuring he was comfortable. "So, what do you want to do once we get home? We could watch some movies or play a game?"
Shadow sighed, leaning back against the seat. "I think I’d rather just rest if the fort but since we're drivinf away from that I'm assuming it's not an option. "
"Nope!"
"Then I suppose games don't seem too bad."
"Awesome! We can take turns, and I promise not to go easy on you just because you’re injured." Sonic winked, earning a half-hearted glare from Shadow.
As Maddie drove them to her home, Sonic kept glancing over at Shadow, who was trying to maintain his stoic demeanor but was clearly struggling. The silence in the car was thick, filled with unspoken thoughts and emotions. Sonic felt a pang of guilt again; he didn’t want Shadow to feel like a burden, but he also knew that he had to be there for him.
When they arrived, Maddie helped Shadow out of the car, and Sonic was right beside him, ready to support him again.as they made their way into the house.

"When are you leaving?" Shadow asked.
"What do you mean?" Sonic looked at him confused as Maddie settled a spot on the couch for Shadow to sit.
"I mean you don't live here do you?" Shadow tilted his head as he asked.
"Where did you get that idea from" Sonic laughed, nudging Shadow playfully. "This is my home."
"I thought this was Maddie's house?"
"... It is," Sonic paused while Maddie watched from the sidelines. "Maddie's my mom." This made Shadow's eyes widen.
"Oh, so... Why would she help me?"
"What do you mean?" Sonic looked between the two of them.
" Well I hurt your Tom and If she is your mother than she would know him as well, why would you help he if you knew I hurt him?" He turned the last half towards Maddie herself.
"Well, he healed up perfectly fine. And he explained that he didn't look like himself when you attacked him. You hadn't meant to harm him and im sure you wouldn't have if imhe looked like himself in that moment." She put a hand in his shoulder as she explained this.
"But why?"
"Cause you're not really a bad guy, you're just misunderstood." Sonic smiled at Shadow while maddie pulled a blanket over him.
"Why don't you get some sleep? You e had a long day." Maddie gently pushed his shoulders till he was laying down.
"I'm not tired," he yawned. "I've basically slept all day." His eyelids suddenly felt heavy and he was asleep before he knew who was walking in the room.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

When Joline returned from her shopping trip with Poe there was a collar on the table with a note and rock next to it, it wasn't a collar she had seen before but it had Poe's name on it so she assumed whoever put it there thought it was hers. The note next to it was in neat writing but some words were spelt wrong, it stated that they thought this belonged to her and the rock next to it had a beautiful pattern engraved into it.
She smiled as she took the rock to her room and set it in her window, she then put the note in her nightstand drawer and went to put her groceries away, Poe jumped onto the couch and laid down by the arm.

As Joline sorted through her bags, she glanced over at Poe, his fluffy tail wagging slightly as he settled in for a nap. She chuckled at his contentment. After putting away the last of the groceries, she paused, her mind wandering back to the note.

Who would leave a collar and a rock for her? Was it a prank? Or perhaps a kind gesture from someone? How did they get in her house? The questions swirled in her mind, but she ultimately decided on asking about the collar.
Joline grabbed her phone and took a picture of the collar. She then opened her social media app and posted it, hoping someone would recognize it or know who it might belong to. 'Does anyone recognize this collar? #LostAndFound #Curious,' she typed, her fingers flying over the screen.
Once she posted it, she moved back to the window, admiring the rock. The patterns danced in the sunlight, and she felt a strange connection to it. She wondered if it was just a simple stone or if it had significance.
After a few minutes, she heard the soft whine from Poe, he wanted cuddles. So she ventured out into the living room and layed with him on the couch. Her sister would be here tomorrow, she should finish setting up the guest room. She's so tired though, she can do it later._
"No."
"Ugh, c'mon Shadow. It'll be super fun!" Sonic had been trying to convince Shadow to join them for family movie night but no matter what, he refused.
"I'm not a part of your family, it would be awkward." He shoved a couple more coffe beans in his mouth as Sonic groaned.
"Shadow! Just join movie night, you're always welcome." Shadow just rolled his eyes which only served to ticked Sonic off more.
"Boy's enough arguing, if he wants Shadow can join to watch the movies any time he wants. If he doesn't want to then he can rest up or do his own thing, we don't want to force him to do anything." She raised an eyebrow at Sonic who just huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "I guess."
"Good, Shadow would you like to join us on the couch to watch any movies?"
"No thank you, I'll probably just stay here with these." He grabbed a couple more coffe beans and ate them.
"Alright," she smiled at him before turning to Sonic, "why don't we go pick our our movie choices?"
"Alright!" This seemed to raise his mood as they walked away.
_
It was weird having Shadow stay with them. Maddie and Tom suddenly admitting to knowing Shadow was alive, Sonic tracking him down, and then Sonic and Maddie walk in with Sonic supporting Shadow as he hobbled through the door.
It's not like Tails doesn't like him, it's just strange to have him staying with them till his ankle gets better. He didn't seem bad, just a bit standoff-ish. As Tails was watching Shadow from the living room couch he noticed something as he put more coffee beans in his mouth.
"Shadow, are you missing teeth?" The rest of the family, which was deciding on one out of three movies, looked over at Shadow as he looked back at them.
He finished what was in his mouth before answering, "Yes. The professor removed two them."
"Why would he take your teeth though? If your anything like sonic those should be where your fangs are."
"Yes that is where they used to be but they counted as a weapon in his eyes, as well as my claws, the only reason I was able to keep those was cause I have these shoes and gloves."
"So he took your fangs cause they counted as weapons?" This didn't make much sense to Sonic.
"Yes. That and they didn't fit in my mouth right, just slightly too long, so they gave me a slight lisp, the professor said that a lisp doesn't suit me and he ripped them out."
"That sounds painful, I'm sorry he did that to you." Tails offered an apology.
"I don't need your pity, I've been through worse before. Getting a couple teeth pulled is nothing." He waved it off, taking another handful of beans.
"And they never grew back? Were they your grown teeth?" Knuckles questioned him.
"They grew back a few times but after being ripped out for the... I think twenty third time they started growing back slower and I only got them pulled very like, year. They should be back to normal in a little bit, then I can keep em'."
"Twenty three times!" Shadow turned his head towards Maddie, "yes." He responded with a flat voice.
"Shadow that's not normal or healthy. You could cause serious problems to your mouth doing that." She tried to keep a calm voice as to not spook him, but this professor person is really getting on her nerves. First he tries to blow up the earth and now she's leaning he basically tortured this poor boy, he was only a kid he didn't deserve all this.
Maddie's heart ached for Shadow. It felt surreal to think of a child being subjected to such cruelty. She glanced at Sonic, his usual carefree demeanor replaced with concern.
"Maybe we should talk to him about it," Sonic suggested quietly, "He could use a little support."
But Shadow merely shrugged, somehow he heard them, seemingly unbothered. "I don’t need anyone’s support. I can handle myself. Besides, it’s in the past." He popped another coffee bean into his mouth, chewing deliberately as if to emphasize his indifference.
"Yeah, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay," Tails chimed in, his voice filled with empathy. "You shouldn't have to deal with all of that alone."
Shadow shot Tails a piercing look. "Being alone is preferable to weakness. I don’t need anyone to coddle me."
Maddie felt frustration bubble within her. "Coddling? Shadow, caring for someone isn't coddling! It’s about being there for each other. You don’t have to fight your battles alone."
Shadow turned his gaze away, staring out the window. The sunlight illuminated his fur, there were spots that weren't as fluffy as other and she's sure that if she moved the fur out of the way it would reveal the scars spread across his body, remnants of struggles he had endured. It was a reminder that he was more than just a stoic figure; he was a survivor.
"Maybe we could watch something about friendship?" Tom suggested and Shadow eyed him suspiciously.
"Great idea!" Sonic jumped up and ran over to the stack of movies, looking for the perfect one.

He ended up chosing Charlotte's Web and if he caught Shadow watching from the kitchen then that was a secret he would take to his grave.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Shadow couldn't sleep.
He's not sure why, he's been so tired lately yet now that it's night he can't sleep? That seems unfair, but that's how life is sometimes.
He laid there, occasionally turning over on the couch or sniffling. Why was it so hot in here? He was the ultimate lifeform, he shouldn't be feeling like this.
_
He didn't sleep last night so he's sure he looks like crap, but the look Sonic gave him the next morning was unnecessary.
"Whoa!" Sonic basically shouted as he came down the stairs and saw Shadow sitting at the kitchen table, eating more coffee beans while Maddie cooked pancakes for everyone.

"That's an exaggeration." Even his voice sounded tired, how odd, he can usually go weeks without sleeping and be fine.
"Did you even sleep?!" Sonic sped to him and cupped his chin in his hands, examining Shadow's face.
"I do not need sleep." He grunted while pushing Sonic's hands away from his face.
"That doesn't mean you shouldn't try and sleep, it could help you heal faster." Maddie pointed out.
Now that she mentioned it his leg was getting a bit better before he broke it.

"Perhaps." And that was it, he stopped talking and after Sonic realized he was done talking he crossed his arms and huffed before sitting in the chair next to Shadow and swinging his legs, waiting for breakfast.
"Where's Knuckles?" Sonic asked after a few minutes of silence.
"He said he was going to train Wade today."
"Really? I can't believe he still trusts him to guard, he wasn't very good at protecting the gem."
"The gem?" Shadow tilted his head at Sonic.
"Yeah, the ones we went super with, they combine into one big one and Knuckles put Wade in charge of guarding it. Now it's gone though, we couldn't find it after me and you stopped the eclipse cannon." He explained to the ebony hedgehog.
"These things?" Shadow pulled a old and damaged brown sack from his quills but when he dumped the contents out, right there in the table were the chaos emeralds.
"Oh my god! You've had them the whole time!" Sonic shouted, scooping the gems up and holding them out for Maddie to look at.
"I wasn't sure what to do with them." He explained as he stuffed the sack back in his quills.
Maddie hummed in acknowledgement as she set a couple plates of pancakes in the center of the table by extra plates. Sonic eagerly grabbed one of the plates and three pancakes, Maddie stopped him before he could grab anymore, "Finish those first."

Shadow didn't grab any thought and kept to his coffee beans.
"Shadow, are you hungry hunny?" Maddie's voice seemed overly affectionate, like he was some kind of frightened animal, he hated it but loved it at the same time.

He didn't want to be babied but he loved the thought of her caring about him enough to make sure he ate.
"I'm fine." He mumbled
She gave him a sad look but went back to eating her own pancakes. It was only a couple minutes later when Tails came down the stairs, looking like he had only gotten about two hours of sleep.

"How late did you stay up this time?" Sonic gave him a grin as Tails yawned and sat next to Maddie.
"Not too late, just working on my tracker, it keeps saying the gems are here." Tails rubbed his eyes before grabbing a plate and two pancakes.
"Well boy oh boy, do I have a surprise for you!" Sonic smiled as he handed the emeralds to Tails who started at them for a second, just blinking before he seemed to actually register what he was holding.
"What! Where were they!" He stood in his chair and put his hands on the table. The gems laying infront of him.
"First of all manners." Maddie started, "Second if all, shadow was holding them since the fight."
Suddenly Tails was in Shadow's face, smiling wide. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"It's not that big a deal." He grunted.
"Oh but it is!" Tails sat back down, eating a bite happily before talking again. "Those emeralds are seriously powerful and if they got lose or landed in the wrong hands, we could be seriously screwed. It means a lot that you had them!"

Shadow shifted uncomfortably in his seat, feeling the weight of Tails' gratitude pressing down on him like a heavy blanket. He wasn't used to being thanked; in his world, people often expected him to act out of duty, not kindness. "I just did what anyone would do," he muttered, turning his gaze to the table.
Sonic chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Yeah, but Shadow's not just anyone! He's the ultimate lifeform, remember? The one who saves the day while brooding."
Maddie shot Sonic a playful glare, but Shadow couldn't help the faintest hint of a smirk that tugged at the corners of his lips. "I don't brood," he protested, though the statement lacked its usual bite.
"Sure you don't," Sonic teased, "but it’s okay. We all have our quirks." He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a satisfied grin. "And yours just happens to be being a total mystery wrapped in a dark cloud."
Before Shadow could respond he felt an itch in the back of his nose, making it twitch. Sonic paused and looked at him, pretty confused until Shadow sneezed, five times in a row.
"Jeez. That was a lot." Maddie chuckled as Shadow felt his face heat up from embarrassment. "That was not supposed to happen, I don't usually do that." He hung his head as Sonic started snickering to himself.
"Ooh, does Mr. Ultimate lifeform have allergies? Maybe he's sick." This made Shadow glare at him, "I do not get sick." He spat the word sick as if it was poison.
"Sure, sure. Whatever you say." Sonic went back to eating his pancakes but he gad a smirk in his face that really made Shadow's blood boil.
He calmed himself, not wanting to explode in front of Maddie, she had been nothing but nice to him, he's not low enough to return the favor by fighting her kid in the kitchen. Oh how he wished he could though.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Maddie wasn't sure when she fell asleep but when she woke up it was three in the morning and she was super thirsty, she carefully removed herself from the pile of sleeping kids plus Tom and entered the kitchen for some water. After getting a glass and filling it with ice water she turned around and was met with the sight of Shadow asleep at the table, his head face first in the table while one hand hung by his side, the other halfway in the bag of coffee beans. She finished her cup of water after taking a mental picture and carefully removed his hand from the bag, and gently lifting him up out of his seat. Other than turning his face closer to her he didn't move much, he must really be tired.

"Wass goin on?" Sonic grumbled as he rubbed his eyes, standing in the kitchen doorway.
"I was just gonna bring him to the couch, wanna wake up your brothers? You three should go get in your actually beds, I'm sure you would regret it in the morning if you slept on the couch." She yawned as she entered the living room.

Sonic gently shook his brothers awake and told them they should go in their real beds before waking Tom as well. Tom got up and groggily set a pillow down for Shadow's head before leaning over and giving his wife a kiss and going back to their room. Sonic peeked over the couch, watching as Maddie lays Shadow on the couch and pulls a blanket over him as he instantly curled up into a ball on his side. She gave the ebony hedgehog a kiss on the forehead and did the same for Sonic before heading off to her room.
Sonic watched Shadow for a few more minutes before going to his room, grabbing his blanket and pillow, and curling up on the other side of the couch.
As the soft glow of the moonlight filtered through the window, Sonic settled into the familiar comfort of the couch. The rhythmic sound of Shadow's breathing created a soothing backdrop, lulling him into a state of tranquility. He pulled the blanket tighter around him, feeling the warmth envelop him like a protective cocoon. He felt his eyelids grow heavy as he drifted back into slumber.
The night continued to unfold quietly, the peaceful ambiance broken only by the occasional rustle of shifting bodies or the soft hum of the house settling. Sonic's dreams began to blend with the comforting sounds of the night, and memories of his family.
Meanwhile, Shadow dreams of figures that looked sorta like Maria and Sonic but something was wrong, their faces weren't right. Sonic's eyes weren't the right shade of green, and his quills looked like a totally different texture. Maria's dress wasn't right, her shoes looked dirtier than she would ever keep them, he hair was tangled and not smooth like he always saw her wear it. Why were they different? Where was he? Why can't he leave.
Hours passed, and the first hints of dawn crept in through the curtains, casting a gentle light across the living room. The soft glow slowly roused Sonic from his slumber. He blinked against the brightness, stretching out like a cat before turning his gaze towards Shadow. The ebony hedgehog was still curled up tightly, a pinched expression on his face.

Sonic chuckled softly to himself, thinking about how tough Shadow tried to appear during the day but how vulnerable he looked in his sleep. With a yawn, he sat up, feeling the crick in his neck from sleeping on the couch. Just then, the sound of shoes pattering down the hallway interrupted the morning stillness.
Tails and knuckles both appeared, their faces still drowsy, usually sonic and Tails both slept in more. "Morning Sonic!" Tails smiled sleepily.
Sonic smiled back "Good morning guys!"
Maddie emerged from the hallway, her hair tousled and a warm smile on her face. She knelt down to embrace the two. "Good morning, everyone! How about we start some breakfast?"

Tails cheered, producing a contagious energy that cut through the remnants of sleep. Sonic stood up, stretching once more before moving to join them. Just as he reached the kitchen doorway, he paused and glanced back at Shadow, still asleep on the couch.
For a moment, Sonic considered waking him up to join in on breakfast, but he decided against it. Shadow deserved this moment of peace. With a final glance, he turned and joined the chaos in the kitchen, the delightful sounds of family life surrounding him, making him feel grateful for the bonds they shared.

Tom had walked into the kitchen just as Knuckles was setting the table with Tails' help. Sonic sat in his chair watching as Madie, Knuckles, and Tails did the pre meal setup. Today he was assigned to dishes duty, ew. So he had to wait till after breakfast to do anything.
As Sonic resigned himself to the fate of dish duty, he glanced out the kitchen window, taking in the soft hues of dawn that painted the sky. Maddie was bustling about, flipping omelettes while Tom brewed coffee, the rich aroma adding to the comforting atmosphere. Knuckles and Tails chatted animatedly over the table, discussing their plans for the day, their excitement palpable.

"Hey, Sonic!" Tails called, breaking him from his reverie. "What do you think we should do today? I was thinking we could try out that new track that we just found! Maybe even get some time to break our records later."
Sonic perked up at the mention of racing, a grin spreading across his face. "That sounds awesome! I'm in!"
Knuckles smirked, "Just make sure you don’t get too cocky, Sonic. I’m not going to let you win that easily this time!"
“Yeah, sure,” Sonic shot back playfully.

Maddie placed a stack of fluffy omelettes on the table, alongside crispy bacon and freshly squeezed orange juice. Everyone eagerly gathered around, their eyes lighting up at the sight of the spread.

“Alright, dig in!” Maddie announced with a warm smile, as they each grabbed plates and loaded them up with food. The morning chatter filled the room, stories and jokes flowing freely, creating a cozy atmosphere that felt like home.
As they ate, Sonic couldn't help but glance over at the couch where Shadow still lay peacefully asleep. Ex felt a twinge of guilt for not waking him up, but he also appreciated the rare sight of the other at peace.

“Do you think Shadow will join us?” Tails asked, noticing Sonic’s gaze.
“Probably not,” Sonic replied with a shrug. “He looked like he needed the sleep. We’ll just save him a plate.”
The group continued their breakfast, enjoying the moment together. However, amidst the laughter and chatter, an unsettling feeling crept into Sonic’s mind. Something about the day ahead felt off, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

As they finished eating, Tails and Knuckles began clearing the table, while Maddie updated the calendar that was still on last month. Sonic stood up, getting ready to do the dishes. Gross._
Maddie found it strange that Shadow hadn't woken up yet, sure he may be tired and low on fuel but sleeping till three didn't seem like something he would do. She walked over to the couch, the boys trying out that new track they talked about at breakfast and Tom taking a short shift today, so it was just her and Shadow for a bit. She looked down at his sleeping form and instantly knew something was wrong, he was flushed in the face and sweaty, he seemed uncomfortable. She gently put the back if her hand to his forehead and pulled it back quickly, he was definitely too hot, that couldn't have been normal, even for an alien hedgehog.Something was wrong.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Why was it so hot? Shadow wondered to himself as he felt sweat drip down his face. When he tried to reach out to Maria and Sonic their bodies seemed to melt into a liquid that covered his hands, he looked down, hands covered in crimson.

The thick liquid smeared over his fur as he tried to wipe it off, it just seemed to multiply, growing darker and thicker until it felt like he was drowning in tar. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't move, everything felt wrong.
Panic surged through Shadow as the oppressive weight of the substance constricted around him. He struggled, but each movement only sank him deeper into the viscous nightmare. Shadows of distorted memories flashed through his mind—fragments of laughter, the warmth of friendship, moments shared with Maria. But now, they were drowned in this haunting dark liquid that echoed his despair.
He tried to shout, but the sound was swallowed by the thick air, rendering his voice useless. The world around him warped, colors swirling into an abyss of darkness, and the familiar landscape turned into a nightmarish realm. The once vibrant skies were now choked with a heavy fog, and the ground beneath him felt alive and writhing.
As he sank further, glimmers of light flickered in the distance, pulling at the edges of his consciousness. With a surge of determination, Shadow focused on that light, willing his body to move despite the suffocating grasp of the crimson tar. He could feel it receding slightly, as if responding to his will.
With every ounce of strength, he pushed against the darkness, clawing his way toward the light. Memories of Maria’s laughter and Sonic’s stupid smile. He wouldn’t let this nightmare consume him. As he drew closer to the shimmer, the liquid began to dissipate, revealing the figures of Maria and Sonic, standing amidst the gloom, their expressions a mixture of concern and encouragement.
“Shadow!” Maria called, her voice like a lifeline. “You can do this! We’re with you!”
In that moment, Shadow felt a surge of energy, a connection that bridged the gap between despair and hope. With one final push, he broke free from the suffocating grasp, bursting into the light, gasping for breath. The world around him transformed, shadows receding, revealing a familiar landscape bathed in sunlight.
But as he regained his footing, he realized something was off. The vibrant world felt muted, the colors less vivid. He looked around, and the figures of Maria and Sonic were still there, but they seemed distant, their forms flickering like a faulty projection.
“Shadow, are you okay?” Sonic asked, concern etched on his face. But Shadow could sense something deeper, an underlying darkness that was still lurking, waiting for the perfect moment to strike again. He had escaped the tar, but the battle was far from over.
"Maybe he's just scared." Maria's voice sounded distorted as she snickered when he hadn't moved any closer to the two if them. "When isn't he?" Sonic gave a sharp grin.
"Shut up! You're not real!" He shouted at them, this only seemed to make them smile wider.
"Oh? Were the ones that aren't real?" Sonic chuckled darkly.
"Last time I checked, you were the one created and not born, if anything, you're the one that's not real. You should even be here. You wouldn't be here if I hadn't gotten sick, you were supposed to help me yet you did nothing." Maria sneered.
"You can't even do what you were made to do, faker." The other hedgehog smirked.
The pairs words cut deeper than Shadow would like to admit. He was the ultimate lifeform, these petty remarks shouldn't bother him, yet... It was true wasn't it, he was made to help Maria and he couldn't do that. He didn't deserve a second chance but the professor gave him one, to destroy the world as revenge for her death, but he couldn't do that either. What was the point of existence if he could do nothing he was supposed to, was his life worthless?_
Maddie rung the cold water from the rag into the bucket and gently set it on Shadow's forehead, the boys had returned home early due to rain and were currently watching her do her work.

"Is he alright?" Sonic asked for the third time in twenty minutes.
"She already said he was fine." Knuckles grumbled in response.
"It's a valid question, Shadow doesn't seem like the type to get fevers." Tails backed Sonic up as he carefully watched the striped hedgehog's facial features.
He looked uncomfortable which was understandable, seeing as he had a fever. Tails felt bad for him, he's probably never experienced a fever before, this one was probably cause by the weather and his lack of chaos energy. He seems to have lost a lot of it after the eclipse cannon, Tails is sure he'll produce more of it and heal eventually but right now, by the looks of it, he hasn't been sleeping or eating much, which won't help him progress at all.His healing would probably have stopped the fever before it even happened if he would just take care of himself.
It saddened Tails to see the hedgehog taking such poor care if himself. He didn't care what he had to say, the second Shadow wakes up Tails is going to force him to eat and then rest, a shower or bath could come after he's better unless he doesn't improve. That's what Maddie does with them when they don't feel well, is let them take a nice long shower and then her and Tom pamper them. He's grateful to have found such a loving family, he just wishes Shadow would let them help him. They just want to help him.
Tails catches Sonic tapping his fingers on his other arm as he watches with an unreadable expression. It's weird for Sonic to be so quiet, unnatural.
"Sonic, why don't me, you, and , Knuckles go down to the store and see if we can find anything for when he wakes up, I'll look for medicine and you can look for stuff you think he would like." He started before turning to Knuckles, "and you could pick out snacks for all of us, were running low and we should probably get dome food in him once he wakes up." Maddie shoots Tails an impresses and grateful look as he finishes talking.
"Ok! Good idea!" Sonic was already at the front door before Tails could even stand from his seat.
"This should be enough." Maddie smiles as she hands Tails some money cause she trusts him with it more than Sonic and Knuckles.
Tails thanks her before using his tails to fly out the door after Sonic, Knuckles not far behind.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It took a few hours and an anxious blue hedgehog later for Shadow to finally wake up, physically and mentally. He sat up slowly, pulling the soggy rag off of his head. About a second later he was tackled by the blue hedgehog, rambling about him being okay and worrying all day. Knuckles pulled Sonic off of Shadow as Tails offered a hand to help Shadow up, he thought about refusing the help but he could barely feel his legs so he took the offered hand and allowed the fox the help him back onto the couch.
Tails mumbled something about being back before walking away, to his left Knuckles was scolding Sonic for jumping on a Shadow while he didn't feel well. This was real, he was sure if it. He was so tired after the crazy nightmare like world he seemed to be trapped in earlier that he hadn't even noticed when the small fox had reappeared beside him, holding out a pack of crackers and a cup of what looked like orange juice.
When he quietly declined the offer the fox shook their head and pushed the items back at Shadow. "You have to eat something, if you eat and rest your chaos energy will regenerate faster and start healing you."

Shadow considered the words for a second before sighing and taking the offered items from his hands.
"Mom had to go drop dinner off for dad cause he had to work later than he thought, she should be back soon though. We're nit sure when hell get off." Shadow wasn't sure if he was trying to get rid of the awkward silence or it he was just informing Shadow of these facts, either way Shadow nodded in response and offered a quiet thanks
_
Joline sighed with her hands on her hips as she set down the last box her sister had brought with her. Charlotte was the best sister she could ever ask for, Joline couldn't help but be grateful for her as she watched her sister play with Poe. She really didn't deserve her.
"Welp, that's about all the heavy lifting I can so for now. Anything you need help setting up?" She asked as she approached her sister and the dog.
"I mean if you want we can set up the bedframe so that when Daniel gets here he isn't complaining about being sore and tired." Joline chuckled as she thought about her brother in law. He was always so grumpy when he was tired but when he had a nice sleep and eat he was so sweet.
The two worked together to set up the bedframe and getting the mattress on the frame so Daniel and Charlotte could sleep on it. It wasn't too hard but it definitely wouldn't have been as fast and easy as it was if they didn't have two people. They usually worked better together.
"Hey, do you think we should add some decorations? Maybe some throw pillows or a picture?" Charlotte suggested, her creativity kicking in.
"That's a great idea! Let's make it cozy in here," Joline agreed. They rummaged through the boxes Charlotte had brought, pulling out colorful pillows and a soft, knitted throw blanket that had been a gift from their grandmother.
As they arranged the items on the bed, Joline couldn't help but feel a warmth in her heart. She loved these moments spent with her sister, and the laughter they shared made even the most mundane tasks enjoyable.

"Aw! Poe thinks it's for him!" Charlotte giggled, as the dog tested the comfort of the new bedding by jumping onto the mattress and rolling around playfully.
"Well, we can’t blame him; it does look inviting," Joline laughed, shaking her head. "But let's save it for the humans, shall we?"
Once they finished decorating, Joline stepped back to admire their work. "Perfect! Now, let’s make sure we have snacks ready for when Daniel gets here. I don’t want him to be too hungry after the drive if he's anything like you."
Charlotte lightly pushed her sister for teasing her. "I’ll grab some chips and dip! And maybe cookies too?"
"Sounds like a plan," Joline replied simply.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The first thing Maddie did when she got home was greet the confused looking hedgehog on the couch, she was glad he was up but he looked like crap. Tails and Knuckles played a game of card surprisingly quiet at the coffee table while Sonic sat so close to Shadow he was practically on top of his lap. He was also uncharacteristically quiet as he looked between Shadow and the card game.

"Sonic sweetheart, can you give Shadow some space? I don't want you getting sick too." She set down the food she bought and went to her room bathroom to get her medical kit.

When she entered the living room again Sonic had begrudgingly moved to the other side if the couch and she thanked him with a smile before crouching in front of Shadow and opening her kit, pulling out a thermometer.
"Can you open your mouth for a second honey?" She spoke gently and Shadow took a second to process her words before opening his mouth wide, showing off his partially grown back canines.
She put the thermometer under his tongue before allowing him to close his mouth again. While waiting for the beep of the thermometer she pulled out a cold pack and placed it on Shadow's forehead, secured in place by an elastic strap on the back.
When the beep went iff and she pulled the thermometer back it read 107.94. yikes that was bad, but not as bad as it would be for a human, if Shadow was anything like Sonic than his natural temperature was just a little higher than a humans. Still it shouldn't be that high.
"Can I get a glass of cool water?" She asked to anyone who was listening, setting the thermometer to the side to wash and out back when she was done.
She heard feet patter towards the kitchen as she closed the medkit and stood back up. Tails handed her a glass of water and she help it up to Shadow's muzzle. "Do you think you can try and drink a bit of water?" She asked as she guided one of his hands to hold the glass himself.

He took the glass with shakey hands and took as sip. She smiled and left to start a bath for him leaving him with the water and the boys.
"Are you feeling alright?" Sonic asked as he scooted closer to the ebony hedgehog. The only reply he got though was a slow blink one eye closing before the other. 'Almost like a frog' he thought to himself as he watched.
By time Maddie came back the glass was about a third of the way gone. It wasn't much but it would work for now.
"Sonic, can you get him in the tub, it should be lukewarm." Maddie asked as she went to grab her keys.
"Where are you going?" Tails asked as Sonic basically carried Shadow to the guest bathroom.
"I thought we had more fever medicine but I guess we're out, I shouldn't be long." She promised as she closed the front door behind her._
Sonic heard the front door shut as he set Shadow to sit on the closed toilet.
"I'm gonna go outside the bathroom and let you get in yourself, do you think you can do that?" It took a second for an answer but he got a nod eventually.
As be stepped outside of the bathroom he hoped Shadow would start feeling better soon, he was too cool for this. Don't tell Shadow he thinks that though.
A few moments later there was the guiet sound of water moving on the other side of the door and Sonic waited a few more seconds before knocking on the door in warning and opening it to walk inside.
"Do you feel any better? Does the water help maybe."

A pause then a shake of the head.
His shoulders dropped with his face as he sighed and sat down on the floor by the tub, leaning back on the wall. Shadow kinda just watched him with a blank expression on his face. "You okay there?" Shadow tilted his head in response, making Sonic smile slightly and copy the movement.
Sonic froze in place as a small smile placed itself on the other hedgehog's face. Holy shit, did Shadow just smile? At him! Sonic's answering smile almost hurt with how wide it was, but that didn't matter. He actually got Shadow to smile!
The smile however didn't last long as he seemed to notice the blue hedgehog's excitement over it and it faded away, replaced with a small frown. Before Sonic could ask what was wrong the other lifted a hand and pointed towards the sink, water dripping from his hand. Sonic looked over at the sink and back at Shadow, confused.
"Thirsty." It was only one word but Sonic could tell it hurt to speak, Shadow's voice was rough and Sonic could tell his throat was killing him so he stood up and left the room, quickly reappearing with the glass if water he had earlier.
He carefully handed it to Shadow and sat back down as he drann a little more before setting it ontop of a shelf by the tub. Shadow nodded in thanks and Sonic just smiled.
There was a knock at the door before Maddie stepped in holding one of those small cups that usually come with liquid medicine. Sonic hated that stuff that came in those bottles and lucky for him he only had to drink the gross stuff a couple times. Unlucky for Shadow though she started pouring that same gross stuff unto the cup while it sat on the bathroom counter.

"After you get out take this and then drink some more water." She explained to Shadow as she put the lid back in the bottle of medicine.
Shadow just stared at the small cup before nodding at Maddie and looking back towards Sonic. Maddie also turned her attention to Sonic, he was sitting Crisscross in front if the tub, tapping his fingers on the edge. She's a bit surprised Shadow is allowing him to be this close in his vulnerable state but at the same time she's not surprised at all, Sonic had a way of sneaking into people's hearts. She kissed Sonic on the forehead and pat Shadow's head before exiting the room, leaving the two alone again for now.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Shadow washed the liquid down with his glass of water and watched as Sonic winced in sympathy for him having to drink it. He wasn't fond of the flavor but it was not the worst that he had eaten, Maria would often scold him for eating things around the Ark that apparently were 'inedible'. He didn't think the stuff he ate around the Ark tasted too bad, it was usually bland, but he also had a strange taste preference according to most.
Sonic took the small plastic cup and rinsed it out in the sink before setting it in the counter and sitting back down by the edge of the tub. He watched as Shadow slowly lowered himself into the water and leaned against the side of the tub closest to Sonic, his ears dripping a little water onto the blue hedgehog's lap. Sonic mindlessly started running his hands through Shadow's top quills and hardly noticed as the other tensed for a second before relaxing into the touch.
Sonic had no idea how long the two of them sat there in silence but it was interrupted by a soft, almost unnoticeable snore. He looked down to find Shadow asleep against the lip of the tub, both arms lazily laying in the water below him, he smiled to himself before gently shaking Shadow awake.
"Wanna go lay on the couch?" He asked and Shadow nodded softly.
Sonic left the bathroom to get a towel and new socks while he heard Shadow start to drain the water. When he got back in the bathroom Shadow was kinda just sitting there with a blank expression. Sonic set the stuff on the counter and told Shadow he would be outside.
After the bathroom door closed, Shadow slowly stood up and stepped out of the tub. While pulling on his socks and shoes he mentally reprimanded himself for being so vulnerable around the blue idiot, how could he. He huffed as he pulled on his gloves and stepped out of the bathroom holding his glass of water. Sonic was sitting on the couch while Tails and Knuckles were still playing cards, the curtains were closed but he could tell it was dark out. How long had he been out for? As he was walking to the couch the front door opened and Tom came in holding his keys. He looked tired too.
"How was work?" Maddie called from the kitchen, she was probably preparing the items she bought for dinner.
Tom gave him a smile before going to greet his wife in the kitchen, this confused Shadow to no end. Why wouldn't he be mad at him? Shadow almost killed him.

Before he could get too sucked up into his thoughts, Sonic turned around and looked over the couch, waving him over. After pausing for a moment he decided to indulge the blue hedgehog and sit on the couch. As he sank into the sofa Sonic scooted closer to him and started talking about whatever game the other two were playing. Shadow isn't sure what the sudden change was but after that bath he wasn't feeling so bad anymore, not as tired, not as hot, and not super uncomfortable.
Maddie called them all into the kitchen after a few minutes and Sonic grabbed Shadow's hand before going to the kitchen. He sat in the same spot he had breakfast and pulled Shadow into the seat next to him. Maddie Tom sat across from Sonic, Tails sat on the end closest to sonic, Knuckles sat on the end closest to Shadow, and the seat across from Shadow was empty. Maddie handed everyone their own bowl of her homemade chicken noodle soup before sitting across from Shadow.
Everyone thanked her and then started eating, Shadow picked up the spoon and looked around the table, his eyes landed on Sonic, who looked back and smiled, soup spilling from his mouth. Shadow rolled his eyes before putting a spoonful in his mouth, the taste was unbelievable, the chicken was juicy and not dry, the noodles weren't too mushy or too crunchy, and the broth felt amazing on his sore throat.
Sonic smiled as Shadow ate a couple more spoons of soup.
As the conversation flowed, Shadow began to relax further. The soup filled his stomach, warmth radiating from within, and he felt a strange sense of belonging. His ear twitched as it picked up the sound why Sonic started swinging his feet in the chair. When he looked up from his bowl he saw Maddie smiling at Tom as he told her about the people that just moved into town to open a bakery. Shadow didn't know what a barkery was but judging based off how Maddie's face lit up he was assuming that it was a good thing.
To his side, Tails happily explained one of his invention ideas to Sonic who was also smiling as he listened. On his other side Knuckles wasn't talking to anyone but he seemed content watching the ones around him enjoy themselves as he ate his dinner. He didn't belong here, he didn't fit in with this family but he felt something in his chest telling him to stay with them. But he can't stay with them, they don't even have enough rooms, he's been sleeping in their couch, using their bathroom, and eating their food but he's done nothing in return. Determined to show at least a little gratitude towards this family, Shadow quickly finished his soup and got up to clean his dish. Sonic was the next to finish and before the blue hedgehog could get up, Shadow grabbed his bowl and spoon, washing them, and putting them away. He stood by the sink waiting for each person to finish eating and cleaning their dishes as they did so.
Sonic thought it was a bit strange that Shadow starting eating faster out of nowhere but now it made sense, he was trying to make up for him being here with basic chores. It kinda made Sonic sad to think about how Shadow thought he had to make up just for his existence, it was just plain unfair. Who made him think that way?

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

After dinner was finished Tom said goodnight to everyone and promised to have tomorrow off so they could do something, Tails said goodnight as he headed to his workshop for the night, Knuckles said goodnight as he went off to patrol the property, and Maddie stopped Sonic as he tried to drag Shadow off to the living room. She had to put on his splint, since he took it off to bathe. She tightened it a bit and patted his head before going to her room, saying goodnight as she went. Sonic turned on the television as they say on the couch, Shadow leaning against the arm and Sonic next to him. After a bit of channel hopping, Sonic decided on a show about multiple people in some kind of baking competition, it was chaotic and the contestants sucked at baking but every mistake that ending up in a mess, all made Sonic laugh which in turn made Shadow feel a strange warmth in his chest.
Shadow felt his eyelids grow heavy eventually and was lulled to sleep by the background sound of the show and Sonic's laughter every now and then. As he fell asleep he was completely oblivious to the way his head fell and rested in Sonic's shoulder, the hedgehog freezing for a moment before looking at Shadow's sleeping face and smiling, leaning his head into of Shadow's. Sonic fell asleep soon after, a soft smile on his face._
Maddie woke up in the middle of the night, thirsty out of her mind. She got out if bed, careful not to wake her husband and went to get a glass from the kitchen, she drank her water as she looked into the living room, the TV was still in but both the hedgehogs were sleeping peacefully, she didn't want to disturb them but she had to turn the TV off, she didn't want it's clicking to wake them up, hopefully the light change wouldn't wake them. She set her glass in the counter and moved to grab the remote from beside Sonic. Clicking the power button the television shut iff with a soft click but there was still a strange rumbling sound, she set the remote back on the couch and froze as she realized just what the sound was, it was purring. She looked over the blue hedgehog as he snored softly, moving her eyes to Shadow, his head rested between Sonic's shoulder and his head. His chest rose and fell gently, but as she listened closer the rumbling qas one hundred percent coming from him. She smiled as she realized he felt comfortable, even if his cold expression usually hid his emotions it made her happy to here the sound coming from him.
She wouldn't call herself a hedgehog expert but she knew a lot about them, seeing as she wasn't just a vet but she lived with one, now two she guesses. She does know that hedgehogs make a clicking sound when feeling a lot of one emotion, fear, happiness, anger. She also knew they purred, it didn't happen often at the clinic but it happened occasionally, Everytime making her smile knowing they felt safe enough to to something like that. She kissed both boys foreheads and went back to her bed, wrapped her arms around her husband, and him hugging her back._
Tails shuffled into the house, deciding if he wanted to sleep in his bed then he should go inside now or he'll get carried away with his inventions and end up sleeping at his desk. He paused as he passed the living room, the TV was off but he could see Sonic's head silhouette over the couch and he padded over to wake his brother so he can also sleep in his bed. But he stopped when he saw the two asleep together, Shadow's head between Sonic head and his shoulder. They looked comfortable enough so he decided to just snap a picture for later blackmail and went to his room to sleep in a proper bed._
Knuckles yawned as he entered the house through the back door, he did his hours if patrolling now it was time for him to get sleep so he could protect everyone during the day as well. When he walked into the living room he was met with the sight of Shadow and Sonic asleep on the couch, the former hedgehog had his head lodged between the latter's head and shoulder. If you asked Knuckles, he would say it looked super uncomfortable, sitting with your head at that angle for hours on end had to have a painful end result. He pulled an extra blanket from the closet and set it over the two in a way where they were both covered and hopefully warm, before going off to his bed, falling asleep almost as soon as his head met his pillow._
Sonic woke up really needing to pee, and as much as he didn't want to move Shadow and risk waking him, he couldn't hold it much longer. He quickly and equally as gentle, guided Shadow so his head was leaning against the back of the couch, and zoomed off to the bathroom, making it just in time. When he got back Shadow was in the exact same position he left the other in, good. Sonic lowered himself onto the couch and slowly pulled Shadow back towards him, leaning his head back on his shoulder and Sonic set his head back on top, smiling contentedly. He froze as Shadow grumbled something in his sleep but relaxed as he realized he was still asleep.
"Goodnight Shadow." Sonic whispered to the sleeping hedgehog.
The crickets outside chirped on as the streetlights flickered on and off, the bulbs almost out of power. The owls outside hooted and called as they flew through the sky, away from the disturbance in the trees. The squirrels scurried up the trees as the figure walked by, ignoring their presence completely. The emeralds sang from inside the house, calling to her.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Shadow hated to admit it but he has been healing better since he's been staying with Sonic's family. This morning he woke up alone on the couch with a krink in his neck but he didn't care about that, it wasn't a big deal. What he did care about though was the small yellow fox standing in front of him, just staring.
Slowly the fox smiled at him, okay creepy, before holding up what looked like an x-ray, oh, it was his ankle. The bone didn't look out of place anymore and now that he thought about it, it didn't hurt bad. He thinks it started after the bath, he was able to walk with barely a limp after and now it was completely healed. Nice.
"How are you feeling?" The fox asked, finally speaking up.
He thought for a moment before answering, "Fine." It was a simple answer but it seems to make the twin tailed being happy.
"That's great! I was thinking of showing you and Sonic the project I'm working on right now! Knuckles already knows." Shadow didn't know why this kid wanted to be around him but he wasn't in the mood to dampen the little guy's spirits today so he just nodded and looked around.
The house both looked and sounded empty, and Tails must have noticed Shadow looking around cause he spoke up suddenly. "Maddie and Tom took Sonic and Knuckles to go clothes shopping cause she forgot it the other day and I thought it would help us fit in a bit if we started wearing clothes other than shoes and gloves. They wanted you to get some sleep and I offered to watch over."
He hummed in response, still kinda tired."What exactly are you working on right now?" He asked
"Well me and Knuckles talked about where to keep the emeralds so that no one bad got a hold of them and we decided it would be best to hide them in plain sight! So I've been working on making a tool that will shrink the size of the emeralds but still hold all it's same power, Maddie is also buying jewelry, so we can put the emeralds in the jewelry and always be with them. And to combine them all we just have to put our jewelry together!" The kit seemed happy to tell Shadow about the designs of the other's jewelry until they got home.
Sonic bust through the door, wearing a plain white T-shirt and a pair of jean shorts and a silver chain with an empty slot around his neck. Knuckles also seemed excited about his own clothes, a dull grey long sleeve under a sleeveless black turtle neck with navy blue pants and bracelets, also with empty slots. Sonic ran at Shadow, shoving a plain paper bag at him, upon opening the bag Shadow found clothes and two hoop piercings with slots for gems, it looked like they could go in his ear, his nose, and his lip. There was also a piercing that he assumed went in his tongue. He only has his tongue and ears pierced. The tongue was more of getting stabbed in the perfect spot for a piercing and only healing around a small spot, and the ears were cause Maria didn't want to get hers alone when professor finally allowed her to. He's surprise, neither closed, since his healing but he didn't really mind. He looked back at Sonic who had moved behind him and gave Tails a paper bag of his own.

"Now you two go try those on, I'm hoping we got the right sizes for you Shadow, we went based on your size compared to sonic." Maddie smiled at them before leaving the room. Tails went off to his room to change and Shadow figured he could just use the bathroom to change, and that he did. He pulled the dark grey T-shirt over his head and found that there was actually an open back so his quills could stick out, he's not sure how he didn't notice before but oh well. He pulled out the black shorts and pulled them over his shoes, they were just a little too big so he had to tie the string into a messy bow Maria taught him. He looked in the mirror and struggled for a second to get the hoops in his helix, but he got them in and grabbed the other piercing. He stuck out his tongue and was able to get that one in much easier than the ear hoops. The tongue piercing already had a gem inside it so he guessed it probably wouldn't hold an emerald, also he doesn't think the tongue would be the best place for it since to combine the emeralds they needed to touch their jewelry.
As he stepped out of the bathroom Sonic greeted him with a jacket in red and blue colors just a bit darker than his stripes and Sonic's own quills. When Sonic smiled and walked away Shadow noticed that his shirt didn't have an open back, it looks like, judging by the smooth cut, Tails or Maddie cut holes out to fit his quills snugly, Knuckles also didn't have an open back, obviously since he didn't have quills. When he entered the kitchen Tails had a pale yellow shirt on and his own pair of shorts, which have a hole cut for his twin tails to be free.
"Ah, there you are, when I was taking your temperature yesterday I noticed you had the perfect spot for a piercing on you tongue, so I got you something to put in it, is that alright?" She asked Shadow with a smile on her face.
"Yes, I appreciate the offer. I won't waste the money spent." He nodded stiffly, before sticking out his tongue enough to show her the piercing.
"Oh perfect, it looks like the clothes fit too!" Shadow didn't understand how her and Sonic smiled so much, it had to hurt their faces right?
"Now can we go out!" Sonic was practically jumping up and down with his uncontaminated excitement.
"You're always allowed out, just be careful!" She called as Sonic zoomed out of the house, dragging Shadow with him, Tails and Knuckles following.

They stopped in the shed, read Tails' workshop, and Tail opened the door, revealing the place. There were tiny gems next to a tool that looked like a flashlight but was probably something completely different. He was proven right when Tails explained he used it to shrink the emeralds so they could put them in the jewelry. Tails asked Shadow to sit in a chair so he could demonstrate and when Shadow did so, Tails gently placed the blue and green gems into his ear piercings. Sonic begged to be next so he basically shoved Shadow out of the chair when Tails agreed. Shadow gave him the nastiest glare he could in return but only got a raspberry for a response. Knuckles offered his hand and though Shadow could get up on his own he felt a little bad leaving the guy hanging so he grabbed the hand offered and was pulled up onto his feet quickly, he thanked Knuckles as he dusted himself off.
Shadow watched as Sonic swung his feet while Tails put the red emerald into his necklace, securing it tightly. Now it was Knuckles' turn, he sat in the chair and remained still as tails put the purple and silver emeralds in his bracelets. The fox put the teal and yellow emeralds into his own bracelet. After Tails put the flashlight thing away they exited the shed and Sonic walked ahead, leading them to who knows where. Shadow didn't get as many stares as he thought he would since the people of green hills knew the sheriff had these fuzzy kids, but he still got some from people that obviously had never seen him before, the stares didn't last long though so it was whatever. Sonic talked animatedly as he walked along side Shadow, Tails and Knuckles lagging behind a bit. Suddenly Sonic stopped and grabbed Shadow's hand pointing at the empty building on the corner, there were two ladies inside, one wiping the windows down and the other sweeping the floor.

"Let's go see them! Maybe if we get friendly with the owner they'll give us free snacks." Before Tails could point out that that wouldn't work at all Sonic was already walking across the street, Shadow not far behind him not wanting to disconnect their hands. He's not sure why but it grounds him, makes it feel like he doesn't have anything to worry about.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Joline and Charlotte were cleaning up the property that Joline bought for her barkery, Charlotte was gonna help her start it and get it up and running, making sure she was okay in her own and then her and Daniel were going back to California. She wasn't looking forward to being alone again but she decided to enjoy her time with her sister while she can.
She looked up from sweeping when her sister called out saying there were people coming in. When the door opened she smiled politely and apologized, "sorry but were actually not open right n- " she paused when she turned around and saw that same hedgehog that she found in her house, but this time he was wearing clothes and with another, bluer hedgehog. He seemed yo recognize her instantly but before either of them could say anything two more kids walked in, the ones she ran into when Poe ran away that first night. They seemed to recognize her too.
"Oh it's you!" Tails smiled at the familiar lady, she had her hair tied up in a ponytail and she was wearing a plain grey hoodie with bright pink shorts.
"Oh um, hi. It was Tails, wasn't it?" She smiled as her sister kinda just looked between then group of kids and her.

"Yeah! And you've met Knuckles," he started, pointing to Knuckles.

"And I'm Sonic, I know, it's crazy seeing a hedgehog as amazing as me. I do give autographs!" He grinned as Shadow rolled his eyes at the introduction.
"Joline." She introduced herself with a smile, shaking his gloves hand. "This is my sister, Charlotte. Her and her husband are gonna help me start this bakery."
"That's awesome, it's about time we get a bakery around here!" Sonic smiled before turning to shadow and pulling him forward, their hands still connected from earlier. "This is shadow, he's a bit of a grump but he's super fun to tease!" Sonic snickered as Shadow growled lowly at him.
"C'mon Shads, be nice to Joline" Shadow pushed Sonic's face away from his own and held his hand out to Joline, "It's a pleasure to meet you miss." He spoke quickly.

She noticed the slight shake to his hands and wondered if he was scared of her, instead of mentioning it though she smile and shook his hand. "No need to be so formal kid."

"Yeah Shads, loosen up and have fun." Sonic stuck his tongue out at shadow who in turn, shoved him away again.

Charlotte watched from her spot at the window and suddenly a memory came to mind.
~
"C'mon J, loosen up, you seem so tense. Have fun!" The girl, Olivia, laughed as Joline blushed and pushed her face away from hers.

"Cut it out livvy, I gotta make a good impression on these folks." Joline stood straighter and crossed her arms over her chest when Charlotte walked over. Here comes the teasing.
"Aw look at you two love birds." Charlie cooed and Joline blushed at her sister's words while her girlfriend (since that morning) laughed.
~
"You kinda remind me if someone." Charlotte spoke up as she help her hand out for Sonic to shake.
"I doubt they're as cool as me!" It was only one sentence but paired with the look Charlotte gave her, Joline could only think about the similarities between Sonic and Olivia.

They both had bright and cheerful personalities, seemingly attracting the quiet ones. She thought about herself and Olivia as she looked between Sonic and Shadow. "She was amazing." Was all Joline said with a sad smile.
The use of the word was instead of is definitely dampened the mood, for a few second before Tails cleared his throat.

"Well, I'm sorry for you loss and I hope you get this place up and running with no problems, everyone will love it." He smiled gently and waved goodbye as he and the others left.
"Aw man, I really didn't mean to sour the mood." Sonic pouted, squeezing Shadow's hand in his. Without thinking Shadow squeezed back and Sonic smiled softly.
"It's not your fault, some people just get reminded of the ones they lost when they see someone similar." Tails pat Sonic's back.
Suddenly a soft sound behind them made Shadow's ears prick up, despite keeping an ear out he kept walking like nothing happened. A few second later, when Sonic and Knuckles were arguing over what the best movie is he heard it again. It was quiet and well masked but he could tell the sound was footsteps, someone or something was following them. He tapped Sonic's hand in his with one of his fingers and the other stopped his argument with Knuckles to look at him. Keeping his head forward Shadow traced out letters F-O-L-O-W-D till he was sure Sonic got the idea, act normal but be wary. Sonic apparently had a pen and paper in his quills so he used his free hand to grab them and write a quick and messy note before discreetly slipping it in Tails' hand.
The fox quietly opened the small paper and Knuckles read over his shoulder.

' were being followed '

It was simple and not new but it still shot fear through the two, Tails let out a nervous laugh as he tried to continue their previous talk, acting normal.
"I don't know, I think wicked is my favorite movie."

"Wicked is good but definitely not the best, it's has to be something with Keanu in it, like speed or John Wick. He's such a good actor and his voice is breathtaking." Sonic grinned at his little brother.
"Wall-E is the superior movie." Was all Knuckles responded with, he seemed confident in his answer.
"What about you Shadow?" Sonic asked, looking at the other hedgehog who's ears perked up at the sound of his name.
"Bambi." He paused for a second, " or Lilo and Stitch." Both of these answers seemed to surprise the others. "What?" He glared at the other three.
"Nothing, just didn't think you would watch those movies." Tails waved his hands.
Shadow was quiet for a second and Sonic grinned. "There's another one isn't there." He snickered when the other flushed green.
"I suppose that The last unicorn is not a bad movie either." Sonic almost laughed at the embarrassment on Shadow's face.
"Those are pretty good movies, but still not the best." He said instead, watching as Shadow's ears flicked to face behind them. Interesting.
"I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree." Tails smiled before Knuckles chimed in, "Or fight to see the winner of the movies." He punched his palm and grinned at the others. Tails grabbed Knuckles' hands and slowly lowered them. "Maybe not..."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The four wandered the town aimlessly, till it started getting dark and Shadow no longer heard the footsteps following them so he states much, "they're gone." The two words made the others breathe a sigh of relief.
"Good now let's go home, I wanna watch movies." Tails sighed, turning in the direction of the house, Knuckles and Sonic following.

Sonic stopped when his hand that was still holding Shadow's was suddenly weightless. He looked back and saw sonic taking his earrings out.
"What are you doing?" Sonic's voice made the other two stop as well and look at the ebony hedgehog, who set his earrings in Sonic's hand.
"I appreciate the kindness while I was healing and injured but I do not wish to over stay my welcome. These belong to you and I will get out of your hair now." Shadow bowwed his head before turning around and starting to walk away, only for Knuckles to grab his wrist.
"Where do you plan on staying?" It was a simple question, easy to answer but for some reason Shadow didn't want to just say he had nowhere to go other then the fort by the clinic, if it was still up.
"I'll find a place." He avoided eye contact as he answered in a small voice.
Sonic pulled Knuckles' hand off Shadow's wrist and grabbed his hand in replacement. "Why would you leave though?"
"That is a dumb question, your hospitality was enjoyable but I don't want you to get tired of me." He said it with such a monotonous voice, like it didn't just crush Sonic's soul. "I will leave before that can happen, simple."

"No way, you're staying with us for like, ever." Sonic had a determined look on his face and Tails could tell that if he didn't step in it would be a fight soon

"Why don't we ask Maddie, she'll give you a good answer, if you want to stay she'll be more than happy to welcome you and if you want to leave, I'm sure she'll help you find somewhere with warmth and food."
Shadow considered the words for a second before sighing.
"I suppose, she can be helpful in this situation."
_
Maddie sat at the kitchen table, thinking about the conversation she just had with the kids. After they ate dinner Shadow mentioned something about leaving and Sonic said something about her helping him convince Shadow to stay. Tails gave her an apologetic look and explained the talk the had on the way home afterwards.
Of course she didn't want Shadow to leave, they could make room for him if they actually went through with their plans to move the storage room and let Tails set up his room jn there while Knuckles took Tails' old room and sonic got the attic, Sonic and Shadow could share the attic, it was big enough but that was if Shadow even stayed.

She didn't want shadow to leave though, he didn't have anywhere to go. That's when she got an idea, it would sound a bit rude but it's what she came up with to get him to stay.
She stepped into the living room where the kids were gathered on the couch, Shadow noticably farther from the others. They were watching moana as per Tails request, and despite his scowl, the dark hedgehog actually seemed interested in the movie. She cleared her thought to get their attention and Sonic paused the movie when they all turned to look at her.
"Shadow, I've decided that if you wish to leave then you must repay us for all that we have given to you while you were here. If you choose to stay then all of this will be forgotten, afterall we wouldn't make someone that's family repay for being around." All their eyes widened and she felt bad for a second before Tails seemed to catch in the what she was doing.
"Yeah, if I wasn't part if the family I would have to make up for a bunch of stuff." This seemed to make Sonic and Tom catch on as well.

Knuckles and Shadow however didn't catch in therefore before Knuckles could say anything Sonic whispered an explanation to him. Shadow looked like he was considering both options, "is it required that I stay here while working to pay of my debt to you?"

Maddie felt guilt swirl in her stomach as she nodded in response to his question."Very well, I will repay your kindness with labor." When he turned back to the television, maddie knew the conversation was over, and she turned back to the kitchen, sitting with Tom at the table, she sighed as he rubbed her back.
Tom looked over at Maddie with a concerned expression. "Are you sure about this? It feels a bit manipulative," he said softly, trying to gauge her intentions.

Maddie sighed again, running a hand through her hair. "I know it sounds harsh, but Shadow needs to feel wanted, like he belongs somewhere. If he thinks he has to earn his place, maybe he'll accept it more willingly than if we just offer it to him outright."
Tom nodded, but the furrow in his brow remained. "I just hope he doesn't feel trapped. We want him to feel at home, not like he’s paying off a debt."
Meanwhile, in the living room, Shadow sat in silence, his eyes fixed on the screen yet seemingly lost in thought. Sonic leaned over, trying to gauge his mood. "Hey, you okay? You don't have to actually work for us, you know."
Shadow glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "It is merely a formality. I will assist as needed. I owe you all for your kindness, whether you see it that way or not."
Sonic frowned, not entirely satisfied with that answer but choosing to accept it for the time being.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The first thing Shadow did after waking up was ask Maddie for permission to take the dog out, he would be able to stretch his legs and the dog will get his fresh air.
"Um, yeah you can take Ozzy on a walk if you want, just be careful." Maddie smiled as she handed him the leash.
He took it and put it on the dog's collar as gentle as he could. He also grabbed a couple of the small cookies in the drawer that tasted kinda bland and put them in his pocket, the dog would probably like them. He made sure his earrings were in before leaving the house, Ozzy excitedly wagging his tail.
The walk was going alright, he found a couple cool rocks along the road and Ozzy found himself a stick. About thirty minutes into it, before he was gonna head back, he got the feeling he was being watched. He jumped out of the way right as a heeled foot grazed past his face, he let go of Ozzy's leash, trusting him to go back to his home and luckily the dog did just that, running back in the direction they came after barking at the bat mobian once.
She barely gave the dog a glance as she faced Shadow, "Hey handsome, nice earrings you got there. I was actually wondering if I could borrow them, you know, for a friend." She used her wings to hover a bit off the ground but not attacking.
"Over my dead body," Shadow clenched his fists at his sides, getting into a fighting stance.
"I guess we'll just have to do this the hardway, pretty boy." She sighed like it was a huge convenience to her.
She quickly aimed another kick at him which he dodged and threw a punch at her midsection. She flew out of the way barely before it could hit her, just grazing her clothes, leaving a hole. Just as she was about to attack him again he teleported behind her and kicked the back of her knee so she fell forward. She was quick to get back up, smiling at him like they weren't currently fighting.
"Nice move, but you'll have to do better than that," she taunted, brushing dust off her outfit as she regained her footing.
Shadow narrowed his eyes, "What do you want with my earrings?" he asked, trying to buy some time as he assessed her movements.
She chuckled, a light, melodic sound that contrasted sharply with the tension of their confrontation. "I think you know, and if you hand em' over I won't hurt you... much." She grinned
Shadow grit his teeth. He had a personal policy about not giving in to threats, especially when it came to items that held sentimental value. "Not happening."
With a swift motion, she launched herself at him, a blur of wings and intent. Shadow sidestepped, barely avoiding her grasp as she sailed past him. He could feel the rush of air from her movement, and it only fueled his determination to stand his ground.
"You're pretty agile," she remarked, flipping in mid-air and landing gracefully a few feet away. "But you’re going to tire out soon enough. I can keep this up all day."
"Then bring it on," Shadow retorted, focusing his energy. He decided to play it smart and anticipate her next move. As she lunged again, he feigned left, only to pivot right and deliver a solid punch to her side. She staggered back, caught off guard.
"This is getting interesting," she said, her expression shifting from playful to serious. "Maybe you’re more than just a pretty face."
Shadow smirked, "I’m glad you noticed. But if you think you can take me down that easily, you're sorely mistaken."
The air crackled with tension as they circled each other, each waiting for the other to make a move. Then, as if synchronized, they charged at each other, the clash of their wills echoing through the quiet area. The fight became a dance, a balance of strength and strategy, each trying to outmaneuver the other.
He's not sure how he managed to do it, but starting to aim a kick at her he tripped over his own feet, falling face first into the ground. He was quick to get up but when he looked up the bat was laughing, at him.
He glared at her and got back into a fighting position, barring his teeth at her. She wiped a tear from her eye as she calmed down, "I like you, it's too bad we have to be against each other right now. You seem like such great company." She stood in the same spot, but her eyes drifted behind him and she rolled her eyes. He didn't turn around, that would be dumb, but his ear flicked in the direction he heard a dog barking, the sound getting closer, followed by multiple pairs of footsteps.

"Looks like it's my time to go sweetheart, I'm not a big fan of these guys." She gave him a small finger wave before flying off, once he was sure she was gone he turned to see who the people approaching were but was instantly tackled by a dog. He didn't know this dog but he recognized the vest the dog wore.

G.U.N.
He swore to himself and teleported out from under the dog, but before he could do anything else a collar was snapped on his neck from behind, the last thing he remembers is searing electrical pain and sees someone standing above him, grinning before it all went black.
_
Maddie was instantly worried when Ozzy showed up in the front yard, barking at the house, Shadow nowhere in sight. She and the boys all rush outside, her checking Ozzy over for any injuries. After Ozzy sniffed everyone he bit the handle end of his leash and dropped it in front of Maddie. She pucked it up and as soon as she did Ozzy took off running, she was pulled a bit before she ran to keep pace with the dog, the boys not far behind her. After a bit of running, Ozzy stopped them at a cleared off bit of just grass. He sniffed around a bit before pawing at one specific spot in the grass, whining. Upon approaching the spot the grass was charred a bit, like it had been electrocuted. There were more spots in the grass messed up, it looked like someone fought here.
Suddenly a bat flew and landed in front of the group, she had a sly smile on her face as she looked at them. "I'll tell you what, if I tell you where they took pretty boy, then you give me something in return." She offered.
" You know what happened?" Tails asked at the same time Knuckles and Sonic exclaimed, "what did you do to the hedgehog, bat!" And "pretty boy?!"
She just nodded at Tails, the same smile on her face. "I saw who took him and I know how to get him back but I'm gonna need something in return." Ahe pretended to think about it while rubbing her chin, " like your emeralds!" She snapped her fingers, like she just got the idea.
"No way!" knuckles growled.
"Well then no mister grump!" She snickered.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Updates from here in our will be a little slow due to a distant family member being unresponsive to all of my family and they're not at their house so sorry

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Nevermind they're okay they just had do not disturb on and went to their out of state friend without telling anyone lol. Updates coming soon 😚

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Shadow woke up groggy, struggling to sit up. His whole body hurt, which was weird considering he has super healing abilities. Suddenly the memories from before came flooding back, he reached a hand up and felt the thick metal collar around his neck, stopping him from using any power and draining his Chaos energy, slowly killing him.
He looked around hurriedly, seeing only someone alseep in a chair he stood up carefully and tried to find anything to get this stupid collar off, it's far too tight and he can feel it rubbing his skin raw. That usually wouldn't be a problem but he can't heal now and his life in draining away so it seems to be affecting him alot more than it normally would.

Shadow’s heart raced as he scanned the dimly lit room, adrenaline surging through him despite the collar’s oppressive weight. The figure slumped in the chair was a stranger, their face obscured by the dark. Desperation clawed at him, he needed to escape.
He crept closer to the sleeping figure, careful to make as little noise as possible. As he approached, he noticed the glint of a small knife on the table beside them. If he could just reach it…

With a swift motion, he grabbed the knife and returned to his place, breathing heavily as he wrestled with the collar. The blade was cold against his skin, and he winced as he started to work it between the collar and his neck. Time was running out; he could feel the energy within him waning, like a candle flickering in the wind.
Suddenly, the figure stirred, their eyes fluttering open. "Hey!"
Shadow stumbled to his feet, holding the knife out as a form of defense. The person pulled out a taser gun and before he could react there was an intense pain in his abdominal area, making him tense and collapse on the cold, hard ground.
His vision blurred as he gasped for breath, the pain radiating through him like wildfire. The collar tightened even further, almost mocking his helplessness. He could hear the figure approaching, their footsteps echoing ominously in the room.

Shadow's mind raced, he needed to regain control of the situation. Struggling against the searing pain, he fought to push himself off the ground, gritting his teeth and trying to focus through the haze.
Before he could fully sit up the guard put their foot on Shadow's head and pushed him back to the floor. Shadow felt a surge of anger spread throughout him, the collar still tightened around his throat, and time was running out. He looked around for anything that might help when he realized the knife landed in his reach, he slowly stretched his arm until he could reach the handle. The guard had their foot on his head but they weren't looking at him, mistake on their part. He swiftly took hold of the knife and stabbed the guard in the calf, said guard screamed and held their leg, taking their leg off of his head in the process. He took the gun from the floor where they dropped it and shot them in the head, no hesitation. The guard dropped to the floor, blood puddling around their body. He stood on shaky legs and used the wall as support, trying to find the exit. It seemed like he needed a password for the door to leave the room, so after a bit of searching he crawled into the ventilation system.
The cramped space of the ventilation system was stifling, and Shadow could feel the collar’s tightening grip with every passing moment. He crawled slowly, the metal scraping against his skin, but the adrenaline coursing through him pushed him forward. He had to escape.

As he navigated the tight ducts, he could hear the distant sounds of alarms blaring, echoing through the facility. Somehow, his escape had triggered a security alert. Panic surged within him, but he forced himself to focus. He needed to find a way to disable the alarms or risk being caught before he could loosen the collar.
After what felt like an eternity of crawling, he paused at a vent opening that overlooked a large control room. Peering through the grate, he saw several technicians hastily typing at their consoles, their faces lit by the glow of multiple screens. In the corner, a large monitor displayed a live feed of various security checkpoints, including the area where the guard had fallen.
Shadow’s heart raced as he spotted a red button labeled "LOCKDOWN TERMINATE." That was it. If he could hit that button, it might just buy him enough time to escape.

He carefully pried the grate loose, trying to make as little noise as possible. Once it was off, he slid silently down to the floor and positioned himself behind a row of desks, keeping low. He could feel the chaos around him as the technicians frantically tried to regain control over the situation, their voices filled with urgency.
With a deep breath, Shadow steeled himself and sprinted towards the control panel. His legs felt weak, but he pushed through, desperation fueling his movements. Just as he reached the panel, one of the technicians turned and spotted him, eyes widening in shock.
“Hey! Stop!” they shouted, reaching for a nearby alarm.
Shadow didn’t hesitate. He lunged forward, knocking the technician aside and slamming his hand onto the red button. The alarm blared louder for a moment, then abruptly ceased. The lights flickered, and the room was plunged into semi-darkness, signaling the lockdown had been lifted.
“Go! Go! Go!” he heard someone shout from the other side of the room as chaos erupted. The technicians scrambled to regain control, and Shadow seized the opportunity to dart towards the exit.
He burst through the door, emerging into a stark corridor lined with heavy security doors. He could hear footsteps behind him, the guards mobilizing to contain the breach. Time was not on his side.
Rushing down the corridor, he spotted another door at the far end. It looked like an emergency exit. With every ounce of strength he had left, he sprinted towards it, pushing himself to go faster despite the pain coursing through his body.
As he reached the door, he slammed into it, and it swung open, leading him outside into the cool night air. He paused for a moment, taking in the vastness of the open ground ahead, and the distant sounds of sirens.
But he couldn’t afford to stop, he could feel the energy draining from his body, the collar still pressing tightly around his neck. He had to find help, someone who could assist him in removing it.

He sprinted across the yard, glancing back at the facility as the guards flooded out, searching for him. In the shadows of the nearby trees, he spotted a figure watching him intently. It was the bat from earlier. He glared at her and kept running, he heard guards running behind him as his legs gave out under him, his energy practically non-existent. Hands placed themselves under his armpits and he was lifted off of the floor, when he got the strength to lift his head the bat mobian kept her eyes forward, smiling slightly to herself.
"What do you want" he spat weakly.
"That little fox boy gave a pretty good offer, I help them get you back and I get a pretty jewel."
"They would never give you the emeralds!"

"You're right. It was a bit disappointing to hear him say they couldn't give me the emeralds but I get something in return regardless. From what I've heard it changes your appearance." She only glanced at him before continuing to fly.
They were approaching a field with the others standing in it when his collar sent a shock through his body, spreading to the bat aswell, making her wings tense up and the two if the start falling drom the sky. Luckily they weren't too high up so when they inevitably hut the ground they weren't too injured.
Sonic and his family rushed to make sure they were alright, Sonic reaching for shadow before the shock intensifies and left his hand numb for a second. Shadow was curled into a ball, his muscles all tensing and cramping.
"Tails! You got any idea how to get this thing off him?!" Sonic shouted behind him towards his younger brother. The last thing Shadow was away of before passing out was Tails' voice growing closer as a cold, wet liquid started dripping down his neck.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Sonic saw his brother slowly approach the unconscious hedgehog, after he passed out the collar stopped the electricity flowing through it and turned itself off.The fox was still cautious of it though as he inspected it before touching it.
"hm. It looks like it should be pretty easy to get off but since it drained most of his chaos energy and rubbed the skin on his neck away, it's probably gonna leave a pretty nasty scar, since his body couldn't heal it as it was happening." Tails inspected the bulky metal collar carefully.
There was a small spot on the inside where you could put a fingerprint and a tiny hole next to it. He wanted to get this thing off of Shadow as quick as possible but he didn't have the tools on him at the moment. He thought for a moment, "Hey Sonic, can you grab my kit from under my bed? It should be the only one under there."
The blue hedgehog disappeared and reappeared with the case in hand, giving it to the fox. Tails pulled out a pair of small tweezers and a miniature stick with prongs on the end of it. He used the tweezers to put space between the collar and Shadow's neck before using the small stick to poke the fingerprint reader and the stick let out a small zap before the collar seemed to start glitching and fell off. As soon as the collar was off, Sonic scooped Tails up and squeezed him in a hard hug.
"Thank you!" His older brother smiled at him while spinning him in the hug, Tails laughed as when Sonic set him down and turned towards the bat.
"Thank you for getting him out of there."
"Not a problem, plus he did most of the work. Now, about my payment!" She smiled wide and Tails sighed.
He reached reached into his kit and pulled out a small purple gem, "this can make you look like a human and it's only one of four, we can't give you the emeralds but I can allow you this."

She snatched it out of his hands quickly and inspected it a bit. "Well, it was a pleasure doin' business with you hun, but I better get out if here. I'll be around incase you find any jewels you don't need!" She flew off while waving bye to them.
Sonic watched her disappear into the sky, a mix of relief and curiosity in his eyes. "How are we even supposed to contact her if we do find more?" he asked, glancing at Tails, who was busy examining Shadow's neck.
"Who knows? But we should be careful with her. She seemed... a bit too eager," Tails replied, his brow furrowed with concern. He turned his attention back to Shadow, who lay still, his breathing steady but shallow. "We need to make sure he’s okay."
As they waited, Sonic paced nervously, glancing up at the sky. "I just can't believe G.U.N. would try and take him, how did they even know he was still alive?"
"I don’t know, but they did this clearly wanted to control him," Tails said, his voice serious. "That collar was designed to suppress his powers. It’s a good thing we got it off before it did any more damage."
Sonic nodded, still looking uneasy. "Do you think he’ll wake up soon?" Tom spoke up.
"Probably not, he needs rest and definitely lots of water. His throat must be killing him." Maddie gently picked Shadow up and started walking back to their house, the other following.
as they made their way through the familiar path back home. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow on the landscape, but the atmosphere was tense with worry.

Tails walked closely beside Maddie, glancing up at her with concern etched across his face. "Maddie, are you sure carrying him like that is safe? He could be hurt worse than we think."
Maddie smiled reassuringly, "I’ve got him. He’s lighter than he looks, and besides, we need to get him somewhere safe and comfortable." She adjusted her grip, making sure Shadow's head was supported.

Sonic, still anxious, began to brainstorm ways to help. "He should stay in my and Tails' room, we'll be able to keep an eye on him and he'll be more comfortable than on the couch."
"Good idea," Tails replied. "We’ll need to monitor him closely. If he doesn’t wake up soon, I can try to see if I can connect with his chaos energy somehow."
As they reached their house, Sonic quickly opened the door, allowing Maddie to step inside with Shadow. They laid him down on the couch, where he could rest comfortably. Tails immediately started rummaging through his kit for some basic supplies while Sonic dashed to the bathroom for a glass of water.
Maddie gently wiped Shadow’s forehead with a damp cloth, noticing the missing fur and skin around his neck where the collar had been. She'll have to take care of that. "Poor guy. He’s been through so much."
"Yeah," Tails said, carefully applying antiseptic to the abrasions. "That collar must have been unbearable," Tails continued, his voice full of empathy. "We need to make sure he heals properly."
Sonic returned with the glass of water, handing it to Tails for when Shadow wakes up. He watched his brother work, his heart heavy with worry for Shadow.
As Tails worked methodically, Sonic paced the room, glancing at the clock, the minutes dragging on. "How long do you think it’ll take for him to come around? He’s been out for a while now."
"It could take time," Tails replied, focused on his task. "He needs to recover from the chaos energy drain. But once he does, he’ll be back to his old self, I’m sure of it."
Just then, a soft groan escaped Shadow's lips, and both Sonic and Tails froze, their eyes darting to him.
Shadow’s eyelids fluttered open, revealing his crimson eyes that were slightly clouded. For a moment, he seemed disoriented, scanning the room as he tried to piece together where he was. "What... happened?" he croaked, his voice raspy.

Maddie spoke gently, kneeling beside him. "We got that pesky
collar off you after you passed out."
He blinked slowly, processing her words. "The collar... it hurt," he murmured, his hand instinctively moving to his neck, where the abrasions were still fresh. A flash of anger crossed his face. "G.U.N."
"We’ll deal with them later," Sonic said, stepping in to reassure him. "Right now, you need to focus on resting. We’re here to help you."
Tails handed Shadow the glass of water, helping him sit up slightly. "Drink this. It’ll help your throat."
Shadow took the glass, his hands trembling slightly as he brought it to his lips. He gulped down the water, the coolness soothing his dry throat. "Thank you," he rasped, looking at Tails.
"Just take it easy," Tails encouraged, noticing the tension in Shadow's posture. "You’ve been through a lot today."
As Shadow settled back against the couch, he sighed, a mix of exhaustion and relief washing over him.

The tension in the room began to dissipate as Shadow’s expression softened, a flicker of hope igniting within him. He glanced between Sonic and Tails, realizing that perhaps, he wouldn't be alone anymore.
Wait, what is he thinking. He can't get close to these fools, it'll kuts be a repeat of Maria. The thought of her made him sad and Sonic's face fell when he saw the look on Shadow's face. Suddenly Shadow perked up and started rummaging through his pockets, pulling out a few rocks. He handed Maddie a smooth red and white rock, mumbling out his thanks before turning to Sonic and Tails. He handed Sonic a blue ish grey rock about the size if his palm and gave Tails a spikey grey rock.
Neither Sonic or Tails were too sure what was going on or what to say but Maddie spoke up for them. "Thank you for the gift Shadow, it's beautiful." She smiled before going to put it next to her other one.
The other two seemed to catch on that Shadow had given the rocks as gift and thanked him as well. They both left to put the rocks somewhere in their room and left Shadow alone with Knuckles and Tom in the other room.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Guys I actually am stuck and have no idea how to continue this😭
I need ideas please helps me