Shadow of a Doubt

Calling in Reinforcements

(Amy POV)

Blaze and Amy were downstairs preparing breakfast when they heard a scream, followed by a thud. They looked at the ceiling, then to each other, and sprinted to the base of the stairs.

"Maria?" Amy called up, praying for a reply.

When no one answered, they climbed up to the second floor.

They knocked on the door.

No answer.

They eased the door open to find Maria curled up on the floor. She was unconscious and shaking. Kneeling down, they checked her pulse and breathing.

"She seems fine, though her breathing is irregular and heartbeat a little fast." Blaze whispered, laying a hand on Maria's forehead.

"What should we do? Do we know what's wrong with her?" Amy asked, a bit shaken.

"Let's get the guys here and see what they think. They can also help us move her if we have to," she answered. "Go call them and tell them what happened. I'll stay and watch her."

Amy nodded and ran downstairs to make the call. Grabbing the phone, she dialled the number.

"Silver the Hedgehog speaking." a voice on the other line said.

"Hey, Silver, it's Amy."

"I assume you're looking for Sonic?"

"Not this time. I actually need all three of you guys over here asap." Amy corrected, glancing upstairs.

"Well, Sonic and Shadow are out for a run... Why do you need us?"

"Just find your brothers and get over here. I'll tell you why later."

"Okay. Be there soon."

Amy hung up and ran upstairs. She entered the room and sat next to Blaze on the floor. In the time it took Amy to make the call, Blaze had rolled Maria onto her back. She now sat cradling the yellow hedgehog's head in her lap.

"They'll be on their way as soon as Silver finds them." Amy said softly.

"She's smiling." Blaze murmured, never taking her eyes from Maria.

To Amy's surprise, she was right. The corners of Maria's mouth were slightly upturned.

"At least they're happy memories." Amy sighed and the waited for the men.

~!~

(Shadow POV)

Running through the forrest, wind in their quills, the two hedgehogs were quite content. What used to be serious fighting and rivalry had become a semi-goodnatured brotherly competition. As the blue and black blurs streaked across the land, they each had a pretty female hedgehog on their mind.

As always, Sonic was fantasizing about his pink love, Amy. They were planning a double date at the theatre, with Silver and Blaze, and he was excited.

Shadow on the other hand, was thinking of Maria. He hadn't seen her since the forced date due to a mission from work. If he could just see her again, talk to her; learn more.

He was drawn to this girl as if she could change his life.

It didn't help that this hedgehog Maria was so much like his Maria; Maria Robotnik. The hair, the eyes... even the voice was the same. From what Shadow saw at dinner, they also had the same personality and attitude.

Shadow had been considering the similarities ever since the date. He wished he knew how to spend more time with her without letting his brothers find out. He didn't need that kind of hassle.

"Hey, Shadow! Race you back to the house!" Sonic called over, interrupting his thought.

"You're on."

And with that, they sped home.

The three brothers lived together in a nice, two story house; painted white with blue trim. It was large enough that each had their own room and office, and was placed in the centre of a maple forrest. The front yard was a clearing with a Chinese maple and lilac bush in the centre. The backyard was also a small field for the brothers' horseplay.

As they arrived at home, they met Silver, who was locking the door on his way out.

"Hey, Silv, guess who won!" Sonic called over to his little bro.

"You because Shadow let you. Again." he answered in a board tone.

"Did not!"

"Did, too."

"Did not!"

"Did, too."

"Di-"

"Alright! Stop fighting. You two sound like a couple of eight-year-olds fighting over who broke the window." Shadow sighed. "Anyways, where're you going, Silver?"

"I was just about to come find you guys. Amy called; said she needed all three of us at her house asap." he answered.

"Did she say why?" Sonic asked, lounging on the porch railing.

"Nope, but it sounded important."

"Okay; we go see what she needs, help her out, then go get lunch."

"Sonic! Don't be insensitive. This could be important."

"What do you mean, Silver? Did she say it was an emergency or urgent?" Shadow asked, donning his signature posture, arms crossed.

"No, but she sounded off. Like she was nervous or something. I'm starting to worry." Silver muttered.

"Then let's get over there, pronto." Sonic hopped down off the railing.

With that, the three brothers -two running, one floating- sped off to visit a pretty pink house.