An hour later, Sonic zooms into the cave.
Sonic: (sigh) What the heck am I doing right now? Shadow, you in here?
Shadow Chaos Controls in front of him.
Shadow: You came... on time.
Sonic: Yeah and I brought you a Meh Burger cause, I don't know why.
He hands Shadow a paper bag.
Shadow: Like I said before, I'm not a fan of Meh Burger but I'll eat this anyway to show you I appreciate the gesture.
Sonic: Fair enough. Why'd you want me to meet you here?
Shadow: I asked you to come here so we could talk more about that dream.
Sonic: Oh. Well that's a relief.
They both lean against the rocks and relax as Shadow eats the burger.
Shadow: This isn't half bad now that they added the worms
Sonic: I'm sticking with Meh Chili Dogs. So... some dream, huh?
Shadow: Yup. So weird.
Sonic: Robotropolis, what a dirt hole. Am I right, or am I right?
Shadow: Big time. And that Robotnick, he deserved to die. Stupid jerk shot me even after I thought I killed him.
Sonic: Is that how it happened? Fill me in.
Shadow: Sally got abducted. You tried to help but Snively shot you and you ate it. Then Robotnick shot me and I ate it too. Just like how I'm eating this Meh Burger. We both died hard in that dream. Fun, right?
Sonic: Are you being sarcastic?
Shadow: Partially.
Sonic: I didn't die by the way, I woke up and found Sally near the Great Forest with you but you were already, well... you died, I didn't.
Shadow: I always die in my dreams, it's no big deal. I've never shared a dream with another hedgehog before. What'd ya think of Princess Sally and Snively and all the rest of it?
Sonic: Oh I get it, I feel you, bro. Let's see, Princess Sally, total babe.
Shadow: I didn't think that at first but have come to agree.
Sonic: Snively, complete psychopath. Eggman's a piece of work but I'll take him any day over that guy.
Shadow: Same.
Sonic: Chuck was pretty cool.
Shadow: He seemed smart enough.
Sonic: Knothole reminded me a little bit of Hedgehog village.
Shadow: Sorta, yeah.
Sonic: I don't care for that Tikal girl.
Shadow: No?
Sonic: And you... you make a good bestie. That's pretty much it.
Shadow: Are you gonna keep that gold ring of mine? That's the part that stumps me, that you have an artifact from my dream.
Sonic: I guess you can have it back if you want.
Shadow: No. Not really. Not if it makes you... happy.
Sonic: I don't want that echidna girl to come back looking for it.
Shadow: You really despise her, don't you?
Sonic: I dislike her... a lot. Bunnie was cool though.
Shadow: Mmm, Bunnie. Let's just say, Bunnie was a babe too.
Sonic: I know, right?
Shadow: You and Sally, me and Bunnie.
Sonic: Totally!
They fist bump.
Sonic: Wow, did we just fist bump? Hold on, are we friends now?
Shadow: A little. Only cause you and Amy already have a thing.
Sonic: Huh?
Shadow: It was a joke. You never kiss Amy like that.
Sonic: You're not gonna let that go, are you? And I never kiss Amy at all.
Shadow: She's missing out. Thanks for the burger and thanks for the talk. I should go, I have to feed the cat... cats.
Sonic: Wait, are you leaving? I just got here. Come on Shadow, join Team Sonic already. You know you want to.
Shadow: Not sure what gave you that idea. I do like Team Shadow and Sonic though.
Sonic: Team Sonic and Shadow.
Shadow: Team Shadow and Sonic.
Sonic: Team Sonadow. Wait. Wait no. (giggle) Dude no! Okay, don't be on Team Sonic. It's fine. Glad we had this chat.
Shadow: Where ever you went, Sonic, I went there too somehow. Maybe some other version of me but it was still me, the one you dream about.
Sonic: Valor Shadow is definitely my dream bestie. If you retained any piece of him, then I totally heart you. Guess that "dream" of yours brought us closer together. It wasn't a dream by the way but whatever.
Shadow: It did bring us closer together... salaciously.
Sonic: Stop. Don't be a stranger but like, don't make it weird.
Shadow: Understood. I'll be teasing you mercilessly from this point on.
Sonic: Wish you wouldn't. You teasing me over Valor You is like...
Shadow: ...some really mean, nasty version of Maria teasing me over... Maria?
Sonic: Why do I know what you're talking about? Okay, this is getting too strange. Now I feel like you when you were ranting about dimension zero.
Shadow: Don't freak out. Look, I'm sorry, I won't tease you about Valor Shadow. He's obviously the same person as me only from another dimension. You... are you gonna be okay?
Sonic: Always.
Sonic winks and gives Shadow a thumbs up.
Shadow: Hmph. Whatever, Faker. I know another sad hedgehog when I see one. Fine, I'll be nicer to you from this point on and maybe... come around a little more.
Sonic: Man, it's all so confusing but either way, come around a little more. Please, Shadow?
Shadow: You really do care, don't you? Look at you, with that gold ring of mine. Hmm, perhaps a rogue member of Team Sonic is something I can manage since it makes you... happy. If you love me this much, the least I can do is be your hidden bestie. The one you pull out of your hat when the others aren't available.
Sonic: It doesn't have to be a secret. I can have more than one best friend.
Shadow: Then our truce in the woods is still valid.
He takes Sonic's hand and shakes it.
Sonic: Wha? Really? Yay!
Sonic shakes Shadow's hand back enthusiastically.
Shadow: You take care of yourself too, Sonic the Hedgehog. I'll see you around, I promise.
Shadow Chaos Controls away.
The End.
Next story in the series: Shadowless World.