How I claimed Amy Rose pt. 002

How I claimed Amy Rose

A narrative through the eyes of Shadow the Hedgehog

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm back at ARK, all those decades ago.... I look around to see the scientists and those damned GUN soldiers.... Always looking at me with fear and anger.... Knowing what I am, what I would become....

Oh God..... It's that day..... That faithful day..... The day that everything went to Hell..... The day that GUN invaded..... The day I tried to escape with Maria..... Please God..... Spare me from this painful memory, I'm not sure if my mind can take any more abuse.....

And then there she is...... Lying on the ground...... Bleeding out...... As I held Maria, I looked deeply into her eyes as she whispered "I will always love you Shadow"...... Then, as I watch in horror, the light leaves her eyes, and they slowly close...... That's when I lost it...... An unbearable rage sets in and suddenly I see nothing but red and feel an insurmountable surge of energy flow through me...... The most power I have ever felt in my entire life...... And then I dart a death glare at the GUN soldiers, and they knew, that they had made the biggest mistake of their lives......

"Shadow?! Shadow!!! Shadow wake up!!!"

My eyes shoot open and I look around. I'm laying on the ground, and Amy is kneeling by my side, holding my hand. I'm sweating like crazy....

"Shadow! What happened?! I just saw you on the ground convulsing! Were you having a seizure?!" She said as tears welled up in her eyes as she held my cheek.

"It was nothing Rose. It was just a bad dream...."

"Shadow, that wasn't nothing! You have to see a doctor about this!" She cried.

I slowly stood up and held my head. Amy stood up with me and I said, "I'm fine, I just need some more pills and it'll go away...." I slowly walked into the bathroom and locked the door. I heard Amy grunt angrily outside the door. I turn on the sink and wash my face. I slowly look up at the mirror and look at myself.

I pause as I see something weird, it almost looks like a piece of my cheek was ripped off. I touch it, but I feel nothing. But when I inspect it in the mirror, it looks like my skin was ripped off only to expose, metal, underneath... I slowly peel away more and more of the torn up flesh before I realize that half of my face looks normal, while the other looks like the endoskeleton of an android. Damn... Not this again.....

The robotic half of my face chuckles and says, "You just can't seem to get rid of me, can you Shadow....."

"I don't need this, not now, not ever. Go away android, you don't exist...."

"Oh, really. Then why am I here? Oh yea... That's right. Even after all these decades, you still can't prove it....." It chuckles.

"I don't have to prove anything to you! You are nothing....."

"Oh, I am everything to you. The doubt in your mind, the fear in your heart, that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach....... You aren't even sure if you are actually a living being, let alone, alive......" It says as it gives a metallic toothy grin.

"I know I'm alive. I have felt something for the first time in a long time....." I say as I clench my chest.

"That was just a minor hardware glitch Shadow and you know it. Face it Shadow, you're just another android with the most advanced A.I. ever invented!!! Tricked into thinking you are alive and have feelings like you were programmed to all along! Did you honestly think that they could make a living being from some alien blood?! No...... They needed something concrete........" The android says to me, flashing its glowing red eye at me.

"Enough of your lies. You are only there to deceive me. To trick me. To distract me. That's all you are..... A distraction....."

"Then. If you are so sure I'm lying. Why am I still here....?" It mockingly sneers at me.

I pause for a bit.

"That's right. The doubt still exists. Of course, you are open to one solution..."

"And what's that" I say as I scowl at the android.

He slowly moves closer to the mirror, and says very slowly and deeply, "Show me, that you, Shadow the Hedgehog, The Ultimate 'Life Form'... Can bleed......"

I stop and look down. A large knife on the counter. I slowly pick it up and inspect my other arm. The android half can only chuckle as I hesitate in cutting my own arm.

"If I do this. Will you leave forever?"

The android chuckles again. "If you survive...."

I jump when I hear a knock on the door, "Shadow? What's going on? I hear you talking to someone! Are you okay?" Amy asks, with worry in her voice.

I slowly look down and see the blade touching my wrist, one false move and I could have cut myself. I drop the blade and shake a bit, "Y-yea, I'm fine. I'm just, thinking out loud.... Just, wait for me...."

"O-okay" Amy said before walking away.

Goddammit. I nearly slashed open my wrist. I look back up at the mirror and see that the android has disappeared. When will this torment end?! I open the medicine cabinet and take my daily pills. I took just one more of my anti-psychotic pills just to be safe. I depressingly look down at the handful of pills I have to take every day just to keep it together. The medications and dosages are so high that these pills together could kill 100 people by overdose. But they can't kill me. These things are basically harmless. But they keep me, somewhat, sane.... I swallow them all down and cringe slightly. I drank plenty of water to wash it all down. Goddammit I'm still covered in sweat... I need a shower.....

I strip down completely and turn on the hot water. I step in and let the water rain down on my quills and body. I just stand there for a bit. I almost, cut myself. But if Amy didn't interrupt, I can only imagine what would have happened. And if the android would have even bothered to keep its so-called promise. I wash myself with my usual shampoo and soap. Nothing fancy at all. I wash off my fur and quills, turn off the water and step out. I dry off completely and throw the towel....

I walk out to my kitchen and pour some coffee. Wait.... I haven't prepared the coffee yet, which means....

I freeze and slowly look over at Amy sitting down in the kitchen table with a cup of coffee the widest possible eyes.....

"I'm... Naked, aren't I......" I say slowly to her.

She swallows down her coffee and says, "Uh..... Yea. I guess you don't have too many guests over? Nice muscle tone, and uh...." She says as she blushes while her eyes migrate downwards and blushes even harder.

"Please excuse me...." I walk back to my room and smack my head into the wall, "Dumb-ass!!!" I smack my face and groan loudly. I then gather myself. Wait, that scent.... I slowly look to my right, and there she is. Leaned up against the wall, smiling at me, giggling a bit....

"Please. It's embarrassing enough to see me once...." I say to her with dread welling up in my throat.

"Shadow, it's fine. Besides, it's not that embarrassing. You have an amazing body. And, you are...." She says as her eyes migrate down again, "Quite impressive...." which she finishes off with a bashful giggle...

I sigh as I get my clothes on. She doesn't bother to leave the room. But it doesn't matter at this point. She's seen everything, twice. Now I really want to die.... And an unusual scent fills the air. It's definitely not perfume. It's too natural and, musky? Anyway, it doesn't matter... Once I get my pants and shirt on and turn around, she gives me a big hug and rests her head on my chest. She smells so nice. And her chest is even softer than her skin.....

"Uh, what's the meaning of this?" I ask her as my heart skips a beat.

"I'm just glad you're okay now. I was so worried about you Shadow.... You really scared me back there...." She said as she admires the hug she give me. I can even hear her whisper under her breath "so warm"

"Why? Why are you worried about me?" I ask her.

She looks up at me with a befuddled look and replies, "Because you're my friend! Friends always worry about friends whenever they are in pain. It's that simple Shadow...."

Friend......

Nobody has ever called me that before... Never.....

"Friend. You.... Think of me as a friend?" I say as I look down at her, while she still hugs me.

"Of course! Sure, you and Sonic may still fight, but it's all in good fun! You helped us out a lot and even saved the world and its cities quite a few times! Of course we're good friends!"

Good friends. That word. It's such an alien phrase to me. Nobody has ever bestowed such a kind title upon me. I gently lay a hand on her back, sort of returning her hug and she smile brightly...

"Now c'mon you big, bad, black hedgehog.... Let's get some breakfast...." She says to me with a smile and light in her eyes.

"Okay" I reply as I follow her to my kitchen.

Friend.....