Crumbling

Chapter 2: All Washed Up

She had a knack for getting herself into trouble. Maybe that was why Sonic played so cold with her; she was such a pest. Well...No maybe. He'd called her a pest before and had made it very clear that he found her annoying. But the way she figured, if she just hung around him long enough, he'd finally realize they were perfect for each other! How could he resist? Was Amy Rose not the cutest, the sweetest, the most loyal? She was his best fan. One of these days, her feelings would have to find a way to his heart. She imagined that he'd suddenly grip his chest and fall back, struck by the arrow of love. And then they'd kiss and walk arm and arm into the sunset.

How did she end up here, like this... Tails had insisted that his tracking device could find Shadow faster than the brainiest sleuth could pick a spot on a map. He was always showing off for Sonic, and he got in the way of Amy's spotlight. She wasn't as smart as Tails, but she was a live wire. She could outdo him. She tried.

These thoughts seemed to flow on like the ever rolling waves. From somewhere far away she heard someone calling for her.. It took all the energy she had to pull her eyes apart and stare into the moon overhead. Sonic loomed over her suddenly, a dark form cut in the backdrop of the sky.

"Oh, you saved me," she said, though her voice did not have the usual delighted squeal to it. Amy fancied herself clinging gratefully to him; but in reality she could only grasp weakly at his arms.

Shadow was silent but relieved when Amy responded. It was odd to see her so small and fragile when usually she was such a firecracker.

"... No, I didn't." He responded curtly, pulling his hands away- he wasn't one for contact.
Now that the immediate concern of her being dead was out of the way, he realized it was... Very strange that she was here at all; he was in a remote place after all. Suspicion suddenly struck the hedgehog and he looked around for any signs of danger.

Meanwhile, the world around Amy started to clear up.

"Wait....Shadow?" Amy paused, trying to think of something to say, but her brain wasn't quite up to the task yet. "... Shadow?"

His scowl deepened: another case of mistaken identity with that stinking Sonic... No matter.

"Yeah, its me." He confirmed, deciding that he couldn't very well leave her on the beach like this.
"How did you even get here, Amy?" He asked, his tone monotonous with an edge of annoyance.

"We've been looking for you for da-," Amy finished with a yelp as she was suddenly lifted into Shadow's arms. Shadow had turned around and began carrying her to the path that would lead up the cliff.

Amy didn't think Shadow was so bad. She liked to think she and Shadow had a special sort of friendship. Of course, not as special as he had with Dr. Eggman or that Bat Girl, but she and Shadow shared some private moments together once. His silent moodiness didn't bother her at all; she'd endured worse stings from closer companions. In fact, it made him kind of interesting.

"Tails found you by using the emeralds somehow. I don't get it, but he could explain it to you."

"Hmph." Shadow grunted moodily at the news.

What did they want from him now? He had nothing to do with them recently; aside from taking residence on the floating island Knuckles' was so intent on protecting.

"Sonic wants to pick another fight, huh? Fine, I'll run circles around him like I always do," Shadow said with an over-confident tone, the ghost of a smirk on his face. The idea of getting into a tussle with Sonic was appealing in its own way. He was a match for him, even if he would never admit anything but superiority in front of anyone.