The one who stayed //Sonadow//

Chapter seven.

Previously

...Sonic asked; "Where is Eggman exactly?"

"Look up." Shadow told the hero, who wasn't paying attention, and pointed up where Eggman was quickly approaching just over the vast collection of pine tree's.

-

Sonic let out a long sigh before looking up towards where Shadow had pointed, and sure enough, there Eggman was with his uncanny malevolence. Sonic had fought this man so many times that it had become easy to predict what he will say, do, and make.

Once the rotund man got closer Shadow snickered. "I'm starting to understand the nickname 'Eggman'."

Sonic hid a smirk. "Yeah egghead, why don't you get down here and fight me!"

Shadow always noticed something about the blue hero in moments like this; he always seemed ready for anything, no matter the size of the danger that will be waiting for him in the end. Shadow fought when he needed to, and the same is to be said about the speedster, but Sonic fought with a passion, a cause. Shadow, on the other hand, only fought when he was being threatened or for self-defense or if the speedster challenged him.

"Ho Ho Ho!" Eggman laughed, interrupting Shadow's inner-monologue, "You think you are so smart with your witty banter Sonic, well I'm going to wipe that off your face!"

The mad man floated down a few inches off the ground to clearly laugh in Sonic's face, this only annoyed the blue hero more. Shadow was tired with their bickering now, seeking to end it so he can get back to his day.

"Try it doctor, you know very well what I am capable of" the ultimate lifeform growled, his voice low and serious. Eggman now noticed the dark hedgehog. He gave him a bewildered look clearly seen even behind his blue circular glasses. "Shadow? Why are you defending this hedgehog? I'm surprised you're not helping me take him down!"

"I am defending him because I won't let you, or anyone else, take the one I care for the most away again" the ultimate lifeform hissed, and even if he knew Eggman wouldn't be able to take the blue hero down, he felt the urge to tell a whole ensemble of villains this and just see how many would dare cross him. Eggman had to be the first.

"Are you saying you're...in love with this pesky creature?!" Ivo Robotnik gasped falsely before breaking out in a loud, belly laugh.

Sonic watched the whole thing unfold. The way Shadow watched Eggman laugh was with pure disfavor. His eyes held a straight stare, his chin was pointed up and you could see him grinding his teeth together, his mouth held a thin frown, and his body was placed in a way that made him look the part of the ultimate lifeform; strong, fearless, dangerous.

"I wouldn't say he's a pesky creature Eggman" the dark hedgehog growled through clenched teeth, "but that is what I'm implying, so you have to get through me to get to him"

Shadow then bolted after Robotnik, leaving nothing but a cloud of kicked up dirt where he once stood. Sonic looked at the plume of dirt then back at Shadow, shifting between the two before realizing what had just happened. "H-Hey! Not without my help!"

The speedster caught up to the ultimate lifeform in the blink of an eye, almost breaking the sound barrier in the process. Shadow quickly glanced at the blue hero, giving him a swift nod. Sonic blushed at that but his iconic smirk still danced across his face.

The two broke apart as soon as Eggman started to let out a bombardment of missiles.

As the two dodged missiles and confused and angered Ivo Robotnik, Sonic looked over towards Shadow. He watched him glide effortlessly across the ground, that look of complete concentration on his face. The hero felt something rush through his chest at that moment. Something familiar. Something that felt right.