Shadow’s POV

The moon was high above me and had long since turned me into my werehog form. I aimlessly wandered the woods as I thought about my rival. I’ve finally accepted the fact that I like him. No, like it too weak of a word. Love him. Took me a couple months of disagreeing with myself but now… I really wish I didn’t. I mean, who would love someone like me? Being an emo hedgehog during the day and werehog monster at night. And imagining himself with the hero of Mobius. It’s not going to happen. Ever.

A twig broke and snapped me out of my thoughts as I crouch down and perk up, listening around for what had caused the disturbing noise. A blue hedgehog angrily marched his way down the dirt path near me, mumbling under his breath.

“Stupid Amy… Scourge… think he’s better than me… stupid pink bitch…”

I slowly put the pieces together to try and ease my confusion. Once it all clicked into place, I gasped. Then growled. Unfortunately, Sonic had heard my growl and spun around.

“Who’s there?!” he shouted.

I quickly press myself to the ground and hope that he doesn’t see me. Sonic cautiously came over to the brushery and pushed some of it aside. I close my eyes to try and blend into the ground more, thinking my black fur will make me look like a shadow. To my luck, Sonic brushed off his suspicion and walked off, leaving the forest. I sigh in relief and come out of my hiding spot, looking down the road for Sonic’s disappearing form. Except he wasn’t there. Where did-?

My thoughts had been interrupted when a scream emitted. I rushed to its source and was horrified but what I saw. Sonic was being pinned to the ground by Scourge, who was mercilessly raping him. I felt myself snap and growled at the threat. The green hog glanced over his shoulder and froze. He quickly stood to his feet, dropping Sonic after harshly pulling out of him, and backed away, pulling out his pocket knife. I advanced against him, teeth bared, loud growls rumbling, stance low low and threatening, ready for a fight.

Scourge attacked me first, blade digging into my side. I roared out in pain and bit down on his arms, smirking in satisfaction when hearing a sickening ‘crack’ before Scourges own cry of pain. He took a stumbled back a couple feet. The green hedgehog growled in frustration and launched at me again, knife at the ready. I was ready myself for his simple attack and caught him around the neck. Scourge gasped and clawed at my face with the knife, getting a cut over my eye. I then tightened my jaw and another snap was heard. Scourge went limp in my hold and I dropped him, watching his lifeless body hit the forest floor.

I scoffed at his stupidity and turn to Sonic, seeing he had not moved from his spot before, laying there crying his eyes out. I carefully walked over to his side and nuzzle his face. His whine emitted clear as day through my sensitive ears, making my heart drop in sorrow. That green bastard should’ve been tortured instead. I try to soothe the azure and lick his cheek, only ending with him whining softly, his ears folding back in a pleading way. I figured that he’d be too scared if I tried to soothe him more and looked down his body, seeing a small pool of blood at his rear. I went to his legs to see how bad it was.

I wanted to raise Scourge from the dead so I could kill him again. I held back a growl and started licking Sonic’s entrance. One of his legs pushed up over my shoulder and I was able to get better leverage to him. I pushed aside the pity as Sonic’s pained whimpers emitted loudly.

The sun began to rise and I stared at the sunset. I didn’t care anymore. I just didn’t want Sonic to be in pain and suffer for no reason. I looked down at Sonic’s rear, taking in that it had stopped bleeding and had already begun to heal. I backed away as I turned back into a hedgehog. I shook my quills from their new feel again and looked back up to Sonic. He still laid on the ground, though his crying had eased some. I crawled over to his side and picked him up, laying my love in my lap.

“Hey,” I said softly.

His emerald eyes fluttered open to greet my ruby. He stared at me a moment before looking around him, seeing Scourges dead body and pieces of fur around. When looking over me, he saw the wound on my side and cut over my eye.

“What-? What happened to you?” he whispered.

“Fought with Scourge,” I stated, shifting to be more seated so my legs wouldn’t fall asleep.

“T-That was… you? But I thought… you hated me…” he trailed off.

I set my chin on his head and rub circles on his back. “No. I don’t hate you. And it took me too long to notice that I didn’t.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean I love you.”

Sonic stilled. He didn’t reply to what I had said and made me sigh softly. I carefully stood with Sonic in my arms and teleported to the hospital. Nurses took me and Sonic to the emergency room and separated us there, me staying back longer for my cuts. After I was done being helped, I was taken to the same room as Sonic, him being on my left. I kept my head back and eyes closed, listening to the outside noises from the open window and hospital sounds from the door. I could feel the medicine I was being given start to make drowsy, and I felt it was beginning to become hard to stay awake.

“Shadow?” Sonic called nervously.

“Yeah?” I responded drowsily, my vision being edged with black.

“D-Did you mean it?” he asked, his voice seeming to become distant.

“Did I mean what?” I asked as loudly as I could.

“I-In the forest…” Sonic mumbled.

“Yeah.” I tried to keep my eyes open and ended up failing as they closed heavily and blocked out the world. Sonic’s voice was too distant for me to hear and only got farther as I slipped into the land of slumber.

I fluttered my eyes open with a hum. My head swung around and I rubbed my eye with my palm. I gazed over the room I was in, taking notice I was in a hospital. Confused, I looked back into my memory for an answer as to why I was there. I remembered the fight with Scourge and Sonic-...

Sonic. Is he alright? I remember coming here with him but he’s not here anymore… I couldn’t have been asleep that long…

The door suddenly swung open and in came said blue hedgehog that I began to worry over. Though… he seemed different. He was taller by a couple inches, he had a bit more muscle like he’d been working out, and his colors were slightly darker. A handful of flowers were in his ungloved peach hand and his brown leather shoes tapped against the marble floor, khaki pants swaying with his legs and plaid shirt tucked neatly.

“Sonic?” I called softly.

His green eyes looked up to meet mine, widening as his form stilled.

“Shadow?” he whispered so softly, making me think he was worried he’d shatter me if he spoke too loudly. Before I could say anything else, the azure hedgehog had tackled me in a hug, crying into my shoulder.

“Sonic? What’s going on?” I asked worriedly.

“You were in a coma… F-For three years…”

Coma? Three years? But… how…?

I was speechless beyond anything I've ever heard. I slowly wrapped my arms around him and bury my face in the crook of his neck. I could only imagine the things that could've happened. Though Sonic changing this much wouldn't be one of them. The door swung open once more and in strode the doctor. She smiled at me warmly and went to the machines next to me, checking each one and writing notes down on her clipboard. Without a single glance, she walked out of the room, acting like nothing had happened.

“Sonic?” I called, turning to the azure in my arms.

Except… there was no azure…. just…air. Nothing. No hedgehog. No being. Had I been seeing things? No… I couldn't have…

“Shadow?” cane a soft voice.

I look up and see Sonic standing in the doorway. Flowers in hand, dressy clothing on, and surprised emerald eyes staring at me in shock and disbelief.

“Sonic?” I said softly.

The azure hedgehog then came and hugged me tightly. Confusion took over my mind as I thought about what just happened. Again. I can be going insane, can I?

“Sonic? What's going on?” I asked.

“You were in a coma… F-For three years…”

I know that! What the hell is happening? Why is everything on some repeat?!

Before I could say anything, the door swung open and in came the doctor, smiling warmly at me, checking the machines, and writing down on her clip board before leaving. Turning to the hedgehog, he was gone again. Then the door opened, and there he was.

“Shadow?” he said.

Before he could hug me I pushed him away, backing away in the bed and looking at him with bewilderment and confusion. I stumbled for words as I look between him and the door.

“Shadow? What's wrong? Don't you remember me?” Sonic asked sadly, his ears lowering.

“Yes I remember you. But what the hell is going on?” I asked sternly.

Sonic was cut off by the doctor. After leaving, it was all repeated. Again and again and again. What the hell am I supposed to do with this?! Kill someone?! Cause I'd very well do that!

Sonic walked in and hugged me. I did nothing. The nurse came in and did her check. I sat there. Sonic asked if I was alright. I didn't answer.

This can't be real. It's just some thing of my imagination. I'm still asleep. Sonic is next to me in his own bed, sleeping as well. The nurse isn't even on her shift for work.

I sit there and let everything else around me happen as I my mind races with something to explain what's going on. Slowly, the walls begin to crumble. Sonic is still coming into my room and hugging me, like nothing is happening. The floor starts shaking. The nurse keeps her stance regular like nothing is happening. The lights went out. And all the colors flipped.

Sonic was now orange with red eyes instead of blue with green. The nurse was now white with purple eyes instead of black with yellow. I look between them and everything else. What is going on?

“Shadow? What's wrong?” Sonic asked. His voice was deeper, more husky and muscular instead of calm and soothing.

Then Maria came into the room. Skipping with her dress bouncing up and down with the flow. And Dr Gerald was right behind her. His white lab coat floating gently behind him as the air pushed against it.

But… they're dead. I watched them die. As I dead too? And Sonic? Everyone? What's going on? Why is everything happen like this? Why can't I escape?!

Escape…There's only one way to figure out if I'm truest dead…

I looked to my side and saw a metal table with a tray of medical utensils. I quickly picked up the knife and brought it to me wrist, putting a thin slice over the soft flesh. I watched the blood drip, though I didn't feel any pain. I did it again. And again and again and again until I could barely recognize my wrist. Though no pain.

“Shadow?!” Sonic screeched.

I snap my head and see Sonic. I looked at him confused as he rushed to my side, grabbing hold on my arm and looking at my work. I looked around the room, everything being normal. No switched colors, no Maria and Gerald, no dressed up Sonic. Only my Sonic.

My ruby orbs gaze back over to the azure as he hold onto my bleeding arm, the knife in my opposite hand. I looked at the azure and noticed half my vision was gone. Raising a hand, feeling the wrap around my bandaged eye. A doctor, the doctor came in and bandaged up my arm. I stared at the appendage blankly.

“Shadow?” Sonic called softly, grabbing my hand.

I look up and meet his worried emerald eyes. My hand comes up and cups his cheek, my thumb brushing over his cheek. Sonic called for me again and I looked at him once more.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“Yes,” I replied softly, going back to brushing his cheek. Sonic reached up and cupped my hand, leaning into my touch. Our eyes met in a soft stare. I couldn’t help to look into those capturing, deep, bright green, emerald orbs. I could still see the forest in his eyes from his daily runs, feeling myself next to him in a race. I couldn’t look away.

Sonic was the one to break the gaze, looking down to the bed. “S-Shadow… I-I-”

I stop him with my thumb over his lips, tracing the soft skin. He snapped up to me in shock. I brushed off his emotion and traced his lips once more before slowly meeting his gaze. I looked between each orb, lingering on one before changing to the other.

“I love you,” my mouth moved before me. I didn’t care what he would think. It’s what I truly feel and I won’t ignore it ever again.

Sonic smiled softly, tears pricking the corner of his eyes. He leaned up and kissed me passionately. He was sweet tasting. Like cherry and strawberry in a mix. I couldn’t help but wrap my hand around his neck to pull him closer as I tilted my head to deepen the kiss. My lungs began to give out with the lack of oxygen and I had to pull away, my breath lingering with his as we panted lightly.

“I love you too,” Sonic said happily.

I chuckled and smiled warmly, pecking his lips.

The doctor released me from the hospital and Sonic took me home. Well, his home where I plan to move into. I strode through the door and look at the familiar tapestries of the azure’s home.

“Haven’t changed a thing,” I commented.

“Mainly because I was lazy. But also because my mind would be too occupied over… other things.” Sonic walked around me and strode into the kitchen, me following shortly behind him.

“What ‘other things’ might that be, may I ask?” I teased, smirking as I leaned against the doorframe, already knowing what.

“Things,” he stated, becoming flustered as he started making something for dinner. I walked up behind him and grabbed his waist, resting my muzzle on his shoulder.

“What type of things?” I whispered, kissing his shoulder. His peach muzzle flushed bright red at my actions and his green eyes avoided me.

“Things,” he repeated. I leaned up to his cheek and nuzzled it.

“What type of things?” I repeated in a low whisper. I felt a shiver go throughout the blue hedgie and smirked.

“Y-You,” he mumbled. I kissed his cheek.

“You worried over me? How adorable.”

Sonic turned around and pushed me away, his face dark red from embarrassment. I laughed and hugged him.

“Awe. Is m little hedgie all flustered?” I teased in a baby voice.

Sonic groaned and buried his face in my shoulder.

“I hate you,” he mumbled.

I snickered and kissed his head. “No you don’t. You just don’t like the games I play.”

“Then I hate you and your games.”

I sighed and rocked him. “I love you.”

Sonic didn't say anything and tried wriggling out of my hold. I chuckled and held him closer.

“Say you love me.”

He groaned and pushed at me. I'm not letting go until he says he loves me.

“Say you love me,” I repeated.

Sonic pushed me more, ear flopped back and scowl on his face. I smirked and picked him up, making him squeak as I set him on the counter. He looked at me shocked as I rested my chin on his chest. His face was darker than my quills and Knuckles combined.

“Say you love me.”