Sonic was going to murder Shadow; he would be finding the most torturous way to kill the ebony hedgehog without hurting himself. The blue hero couldn't help but scream as he landed in the familiar pool that haunted his dreams. A couple of other splashes alerted him to the others. Someone hauled him up out of the water and onto the side.
Upon opening his eyes he noticed it was Dash and Rose leaning over him in concern, Dash was smiling while Rose frowned at him..
"Don't even start" Sonic grumbled climbing to his feet only to gasp, Shadow was holding Silver close to his chest while he healed the hedgehog who was unfortunate enough to snap his arm. Sonic ran over, and grabbed Shadows' ear harshly, "What did you do!" Sonic shouted in his fathering tone. Shadow only glared, having healed Silver who had retreated into Shade's arms. "Nothing, I misjudged and shoved Silver into the direction of the pool while I hit the solid ground, he is fine" Shadow said with a grumble, pulling himself to his feet adjusting his rings that were digging into his wrists.
"Alien!" Dash cried out running to hide behind Sonic who moved to the front when a young man stepped out with a baseball bat threatening whoever was on his lawn. Shadow only crossed his arms allowing Sonic to deal with this knowing the hero was better at this than him. He smirked when he felt a certain power, his bike. He could summon it which meant they had landed in…he groaned to himself knowing what was coming.
"Sonic?"
"Chris!"
The human was quick to hug the speedster.
"Argh! You're wet! Sonic, did you fall in the pool again! What are you doing back here!" Chris exclaimed, looking past Sonic to see a particular grumpy hedgehog and four other ones using Shadow as a barricade. They were all soaking wet with the exception of Shadow who looked to be in pain from his eyes blinking and him leaning further on his right side.
"Can we come in? I can explain more but I'm freezing and so are the kids" Sonic urged, Chris nodded gesturing for them to be quiet since it was during the night. Shadow moved forward looking more miserable as Dash and Rose clung to his hands. Looking down at the younger ones made him think back to that conversation he had with Amy just before Dash was born.
The Memory…
They had argued yet again leading to Sonic walking out and Shadow putting both Shade and Silver to bed. The ultimate lifeform currently sat watching some obnoxious show on the television that Sonic had while Tails worked on some invention at the kitchen table when the door went.
Tails instantly went to answer it. There at the door was Amy Rose who held a small bundle in her arms. It had been the bundle Shadow had argued about claiming Sonic needed to spend time with his daughter while the hero called her a mistake and wanted nothing to do with her. Shadow tried to argue that he had forgiven him and children shouldn't be abandoned. Shadow was trying to point out that it wasn't Rose's fault. Sonic wasn't having it and he left.
"Hey, Shadow? Can we talk?" Amy asked, the ultimate lifeform nodded directing Amy into the small office Shadow had set up in Sonics house. Tails smiled offering Amy some water. She took it, entering the room with Shadow closing the door.
The Ultimate Lifeform gestured to the seat, Amy took the one opposite him. Silence filled the area where they sat on the sofas for a few minutes with the two contemplating what to say.
"Shadow, I have something big to ask"
"Go on"
"Is there a chance…em…that if anything happens to me, could you take Rose?"
Shadow raised an eyebrow looking at the innocent hoglet in the arms of Amy.
"I'm gathering, asking Sonic is out of the question" Shadow pointed out, Amy could only nod looking ashamed. Leaning forward Shadow moved to sit beside her, "Amy, yes I may be unhappy but I have forgiven both you and Sonic. You got lost in the heat of the moment, I know fine well that there was no actual love between the two of you. I will certainly not be blaming the hoglet; it's not her fault. So I will do you one better. If you ever need anything and I mean it regarding both you or Rose. I will be here. I would rather kill myself than abandon a child. I would be going back on my promise to Maria if I did"
"So..?" Amy smiled knowing Shadow had forgotten to answer the original order.
"Yes I will take her and if it comes to it, I will walk out of Sonic's life for the kids anytime. All of them and that includes, Rose"
"Thank you Shadow, you don't know how much this means. Are you okay if I put you down as Rose's other guardian"
Shadow only nodded as he took Rose into his arms allowing Amy to show him the papers she had brought with her. Rose giggled up at him and he instantly saw a bit of Sonic in the small hoglet. Shadow couldn't help but interact with her knowing his son would be due soon.
Amy hugged Shadow in thanks when she was about to leave, his voice stopped her from leaving.
"Amy, you and Rose are invited to Shade's 10th birthday and I will remind them of their sister. They will know about her, and tell Sally. I said hi" Shadow smirked knowing where Amy had been living, the pink hedgehog blushed and nodded pecking his cheek before she left. Shadow smirked entering the kitchen only to find himself opposite a smirking Tails who hugged him. The two held each other knowing life would catch up to them eventually.
Shadow wasn't surprised when Amy visited with 1 year old Rose, who immediately started calling him Papa even in front of the others. Shadow had discussed it with Sonic who told him to do as he wanted. Shadow had ignored him knowing the hero was still in tantrum mode.
Shadow didn't mind and Knuckles became another parent to Rose since the pink hedgehog seemed to visit Angel Island a lot.
End of Memory…
"Please, come in. We haven't seen you in ages. All of you. Sonic, we have someone we want you to meet" Helen's voice knocked him out of his memory. Shadow looked up to see Helen walk into the room with a toddler hiding behind her leg. Chris smiled at them.
Rose moved closer to Shadow when a barking made her jump. Dash was on top of the table while Shade and Silver remained behind Shadow.
"Diesel down!" Chris called out alerting them to the dog that was running with a snarl at Shadow while Sonic watched smiling rubbing the dogs head. Who kept growling at Shadow, the ultimate lifeform ignored the dog while he kept his body in the way of it.
"Diesel No!" Helen yelled when the dog jumped for Shadow who shoved his kids out of the way and rolled backwards. The dog followed him outside until Shadow had his back to the pool, Sonic rushed outside trying to persuade the dog that Shadow was friendly but it seemed Diesel wasn't listening.
"Shadow No!" Sonic called out at the same time Diesel dived, Shadow created an orb which made the dog back away in fear running to hide behind Chris and Sonic who watched on confused. Until Shadow made the orb vanish and the ultimate lifeform looked very unimpressed with Sonic who was claiming the dog was a good boy.
Soon enough the incident was dealt with and they all stood or sat around the living room. Chris smirked as Sonic introduced all of his kids in the room. Helen frowned when the pink hedgehog wasn't introduced herself and Shadow was glaring at Sonic.
"So, who are you?" Helen asked in
Rose looked towards Shadow who nodded, "I'm Rose, Shadow's adoptive daughter" she introduced herself with a soft tone. Helen smiled, looking at Shadow for the story behind it but the ultimate lifeform was ignoring them all as Rose moved closer to his side.
"So, why are you here? No offence?" Chris asked, lifting little Toby into his arms as his son interacted with Sonic who smiled at him. Dash kept pacing and spinning in circles which led him to playing with the dog.
"I need to return to the Ark" Shadow grunted out, leaning further into the wall and pulling Rose in closer. The youngster was yawning beside him, Shadow had forgotten how much dimension travelling exhausted him.
"Shadow, there may be a problem with that" Chris rubbed his head.
"What do you mean?" Sonic interrupted before Shadow could say something with his attitude problem.
"Well when you disappeared. The president made a law that if any mobian was to return. He/she would need to meet them and he/she would decide whether their mission is worth it" Helen explained, "I'm surprised they haven't turned up already" Just as Sonic said that the doors were broken down and G.U.N agents surrounded the mobians.
Sonic instantly protected Dash, Shade, Silver and the humans while Shadow remained leaning against the wall with an unimpressed look. Rose securely tucked into his side.
"By order of the president, you must come with us now!" A G.U.N soldier demanded, Sonic looked over towards his partner and shook his head majorly especially when the commander walked in.
"Sonic! What are you doing back here! You must come with us willingly or we will…"
"Abraham"
Abraham Towers froze hearing his name in the tone he wished to never hear again. Turning around he found himself connecting eyes with Shadow the hedgehog who glared at any soldiers nearby.
"Project Shadow!" A soldier called out, most guns got turned more towards Shadow who took a step forward in front of Rose who clung to his back. Dash was trying to remain still beside Sonic but he wanted to go to his mother. Shadow sent him a signal to say 'stay put'.
"It's been a while Shadow, it would seem our paths have crossed again. I ask this politely, you come with us to visit the president or you are taken there. Your choice, hedgehog"
"Fine but only Sonic and I go or we repeat what happened last time we met" Shadow said, taking a step forward, the soldiers backed away in shock. Sonic took a step forward, "No harm comes to the others" Shadow threatened as he allowed the commander to snap the cuffs on his wrists.
"Understood. I am sure Chris will inform us, if…" A soldier was cut off as Abraham threw something at Shadow who cried in pain as his vision blurred and smoke covered the room. Shadow groaned as he was electrocuted in the side.
"Kill the others. The president only requested for Project Shadow's return to his containment" Abraham called out trying to grab Shadow only for Shade to appear in front of him and shove him backwards.
"Sonic! Go!" Chris cried out as Helen grabbed Toby and made a run for the car. They would go to Helen's parents house. Sadly, they didn't make it past the doorway.
The speedster nodded, moving in between the mayhem to grab Shadow when a gun was aimed at Helen, the ultimate lifeform groaned seeing the gun and stepped in the way. The soldier freaked out when he remembered Shadow was bulletproof. It was then and there Shadow lost control as the cuffs snapped and he grabbed Abraham by the throat, spawned his pistol in and stopped all action in the room.
"Tell me, who sent you and don't say the President because I know he is already dead!" Shadow yelled in anger pressing the gun closer to Abraham's head. The commander gasped pleading with the Ultimate Lifeform not to shoot.
"Eclipse! He returned last week claiming you would appear and be after the Ark! He killed the president! We are only trying to protect the next president!" Abraham cried out as Shadow glared trying his hardest not to pull the trigger. "What's the status of the Ark?" Shadow pressed the question, aware that his kids and Sonic were watching. Rose and Dash clung to each other behind Helen.
"Code:93748 is active. You will never make it past the shields. He said he had a surprise for you!" Abraham choked out as Shadows' grip tightened unconsciously. Shadow was quick to let go as he received a mind message from his so-called brother.
"Monster!" Toby cried out from within Helen's arms pointing at Shadow who looked down at himself with guilt. Chris and Helen had moved to shield their son while Sonic sent him a disapproving look. Shade and Silver looked elsewhere checking on Dash while Rose could only smile softly at him.
Dropping to the ground, Shadow mumbled something about humans.
"Stop right there! Shadow! You know what will happen if you do what you are going to do" Abraham said in an unconvinced tone, "Would Maria really want this?" He asked, Shadow rolled his eyes, "Her opinion doesn't matter. Last I checked she was dead…" Shadow muttered ignoring the guns aimed at his head. He threw something at Sonic who caught it, "What's this?" Sonic asked. "Your way back home" Shadow bluntly replied, going to walk off when someone caught his wrist.
"What about our blood, our trip?"
Shadow turned to Rose and sighed, "I can't put any of you in danger anymore…it's not…argh!" A gunshot went off as Shadow took a bullet straight through his arm. Normally it wouldn't affect him but his eyes blurred and he covered Rose only to hear laughing.
All attention turned to Eclipse who had appeared behind his brother with a weapon of somesort. Shadow slumped to the ground leaving a trail of blood on the ground. Rose cried out trying to help him when she found the gun aimed at her, Sonic looked up only to gasp.
"Shadow! Rose!" The blue speedster ran forward only to gasp when another gunshot went off and Shadow scrambled to his feet to tackle his brother while Rose lay coughing up her blood as a gunshot had gone straight through her chest.
"Rose! Hang on, oh my god! There is too much blood. Help! Anyone!" Sonic asked desperately as he looked at G.U.N agents and Chris who shook his head. "No! Rose stay with me!" Sonic cried out as Shade, Silver and Dash appeared around him. Shadow groaned, taking another gunshot to the ribs this time, Sonic looked up in fright until Shadow let off a mild chaos blast knocking Eclipse far away. The alien disappeared in victory while Shadow ran over to Rose's side.
"Papa?" Rose reached out for him, Shadow instantly took it.
"Shh, I've got you. This may hurt" Shadow grimaced as he started to heal her. Sonic and Shade looked at Shadow in concern, especially his wounds that weren't healing. Rose smiled as her own closed and healed her. Sonic grimaced when Rose pulled Shadow into a hug. The ultimate lifeform didn't say anything as he turned away from them all looking down at his body and picking up the shells.
"Shadster, why aren't you healing?" Sonic asked.
"Because Faker, those were blood arms infused bullets. They drain anyone with chaos energy" Shadow pointed out, he stumbled slightly trying to work out what to do.
"Mama?" Dash appeared by his side.
"I'm alright, I just need to get to the Ark" Shadow gasped out as he pulled the two bullets out of his body and accepted the bandage off Chris to wrap his arm while his chest one healed quicker.
"You can't access it. It doesn't belong to a monster" Abraham yelled as Shadow groaned, trying to work out how far the distance was when an idea made him smile making the G.U.N. agents and Commander back off.
"Hold on" Shadow warned his kids and Sonic as he glowed a white light. Dash and Rose clung to him while Shadow glowed a mild gold. Sonic frowned, pulling his elder two close just as they disappeared in a flash leaving Chris to talk about insurance on his house. Abraham was quick to alert the president who shook their head at the agent's behaviour claiming it was alright as long as the threat had been dealt with.
Stay Tuned for more chapters on the way soon!
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