The wind danced freely through the summer's grass as it tangled and disentangled the flowers within it. The sun was beginning to set and the tweeting of the birds made the scene almost too perfect. Looking over the horizons, a black and red hedgehog wondered where to go next.

He had said his goodbyes to Rouge at Windmill Village and that was the end of it. After Sonic somehow convinced him that Dr. Eggman was harmless he didn't anything else to do.

"You tried to destroy me in the past too, remember? You even tried to obliterate an entire planet. So-what? You want me to take you out with Eggman? After all, if he can't be forgiven, can you?"

Sonic words still resonated in him. He tried not to let those kinds of things bother him, after all, he had redeemed himself and had come to terms with his past a long time ago.

... Did he?

Shadow began to run, he had nowhere in mind he wanted to go. He enjoyed the wind running through his quills, and thanks to his enhanced abilities, he could smell distinct flowers.

It was a beautiful planet and all he wanted was to protect it and all the Mobians on it.

But could he?

How could he save anyone if he let himself be convinced by Sonic so easily? 

He growled to himself. Maybe he could go back and wait till Sonic was gone so he could fully interrogate Eggman or take him to a place where he could be watched until he made sure he can be trusted.

But if Sonic was right? Maybe he was seeing too much of Eggman in himself. Shadow wished he had the same look like him. He would have preferred to forget everything and be good than been evil like he was.

Now that he looks back at it, it scares him the measures that he was willing to go to find the truth about himself.

He was dangerous then and maybe unconsciously, he was dangerous now.

He was ready to destroy Eggman even if he had changed, without giving him a chance.

Maybe Sonic was right ... he can't be forgiven.

By night time, Shadow had reached a small town which he didn't know the name to. He was going to keep on running but the destroyed gigantic crab-bot outside the town caught his attention. He decided to investigate a little, after all, it wasn't like he had any plans. He entered the town, colorful small houses and many of them. Some of the were destroyed and others were already up for re-building. He reached what it seemed to be the town hall, he was surprised to see the great number of destroyed bots. Sonic or someone else from the Resistance most had taken care of it. Too bad he wasn't there, it seemed like fun.

Shadow turned around, ready to run back the way he came from but as he did a scream resonated in his ears.

"It's another robot!"

Shadow noticed the townfolk was pointing at him, he wanted to go against his words but today's incidents were still in his head.

After all, if he can't be forgiven, can you?"

He broke out of his trance but it was too late. The town's militia had come out of the biggest building around. It caught the dark hedgehog off guard. And within seconds, he was surrounded and pointing wispons at him.

Couldn't they recognize him? Didn't they know he helped save the world as well?

Or maybe they did remember him ... and how he tried to destroy the world.

"Chaos-"

"YOU ALL PUT YOUR WISPONS DOWN!"

Shadow heard a female voice scream at the militia, he somehow felt familiar with it.

"It's Shadow the Hedgehog, so you all better leave him alone."

Mobians from the militia moved away as Amy Rose walked past them, walking towards the dark one.

"Everyone, go back to the town-hall, I got it from here."

Shadow rolled his eyes. He was annoyed at the fact that no one in the militia tried to apologize to him for the mistake. Did he radiate that much evil that he scared everyone instantly?

Shadow and Amy watched the militia walk back to the town-hall. When everyone was in, Amy directed her attention to the red striped hedgehog.

"I didn't expect you to see you here Shadow," Amy said. "I thought you-"

"What happened at this place?"

Amy left out a chuckle. She was a bit annoyed that Shadow cut her off like that but once again that was how Shadow acted normally.

"Bots came to attack the town, Sonic and I took them out." Amy added, "There was a lot of them but it was fun-"

Once again, Shadow interrupted the pink one as he turned around, wanting to leave the town.

Amy pouted angrily. Would he ever change? She was annoyed that Shadow couldn't even give her a few minutes of his precious time to talk. Even for old times sake. Well, not like they shared many memories. Their most intimate moment must be at the ARK and probably Shadow didn't remember that.

"Please Shadow I beg you ... give them a chance!"

Amy shook her head at the memory. For a few moments, she was embarrassed at the thoughts of her old self. She was ... something else.

"Seems like you are in a hurry," Amy had an idea, just to give him a little bit of payback for his rudeness. "I was going to tell you about how the recent bots attacks have been more organized ... someone is behind this and it's not Eggman."

Shadow stopped walking and he turned around to face the pink hedgehog. He had been traveling as well and he also had noticed that the bots attacks were different from before. He knew it couldn't be Eggman because he just saw him ... but what if it was him? What if he was secretly planning the bots attack. But that wouldn't be to Eggmanish. After all, he wasn't one to keep on the low.

"Tell me more," Shadow walked back to Amy. She seemed to be too sure about her statement. As if she knew the answers to his questions.

Amy smiled devilishly at Shadow. He looked impatient and that made her happiest the most. "Well, it's late already and I am hungry ... What if you stay for dinner and we can talk afterward?"

Shadow rolled his eyes again. This girl was getting to his nerves. Why couldn't she just give him the details? It would be much easier that way and he could leave and investigate the matter right away. 

Shadow sighed, "I don't have time-"

"You never do."

He let out a loud growl, he thought Amy would be intimidated but on the contrary, she had a smile on her face. She found him funny. Amy was making fun of him.

"The guts of this girl,"

Shadow spoke again, "Just tell me. If you don't I am still going to find out."

"I doubt it," Amy said. "The only ones who know about it it's Tails, Sonic and I and I doubt they will tell you anything on the matter."

Shadow hated to admit it but the pink one was right. He didn't have the best relationship with Tails and the recent fight with Sonic didn't leave them in the right terms.

Shadow looked around the town. He had his arms around his chest but he lowered his defense. He didn't want to say it, he was waiting for Amy to figure out his body language. But maybe that was too much to ask of her-

"Come on, let's go eat before the food gets cold."

.

Amy didn't have a good relationship with Shadow. Well, maybe she didn't have a relationship with him at all. However, she still tried to be nice to him whenever she could. In her mind, Shadow was still part of the Resistance and their team. He, just like everyone in the table, deserved to be treated with kindness.

But she had to admit she was having a hard time.

Inside the town-hall, the militia had already prepared themselves to eat dinner at the tables. Five long tables were placed across the room. In the middle, some catgirl and a sheep boy were distributing some type of soup. Amy and Shadow got a bowl of it and sat down in one of the tables.

Amy was in front of him, and as she took a sip of her soup she noticed that Shadow wasn't eating. She didn't know if it was because he was the Ultimate Life Form, that he didn't need to eat. Or simply because he wasn't hungry.

It was a lively atmosphere and the soup was really good, mostly because she helped to make it.

"Why can't he just enjoy it-"

The realization hit Amy like a truck. No one dared to sit next to them. They kept a distance of five seats away from the two. They looked at the two as if they were sick or infected with an incurable virus.

This wasn't a normal scene for the pink one. Amy was very used to be surrounded by Mobians. They would approach her and tried to be friends with her. However, today wasn't like that. She knew it wasn't her ... it was Shadow.

"Is this what everyday life is to him? Living alone and having to feel the judgemental stares of others on you?"

Amy drank a bit of water and tried to make some conversation as she smiled at him.

"Aren't you hungry-"

"No."

Well, that was that.

Shadow looked at Amy. He noticed how the smile on her face vanished the moment the word 'no' came out of his mouth. A sense of guilt overtook him. He still didn't know why Amy made him do all of this. They barely knew each other, maybe they had spoken a few words before. Probably when the BlackArms attacked but besides that, they didn't have any connection whatsoever.

And even so, he still felt guilty somehow.

"I don't need to eat. I never feel hungry ... " Shadow crossed his arms as he looked away. In the corner of his eyes, he could tell that the pink one had a surprising look but her face held a smile afterward.

"That doesn't mean you can't enjoy eating. You know eating is one of the few pleasures of life," Amy said. "You run like crazy as well ... so you can eat and no gain weight. So ... enjoy."

Shadow looked down at his plate as if he thinks about it. Amy decided to give him one more push.

Amy smiled again, "Also, I helped to make it! It's good, I promise."

Shadow looked at Amy and seeing that she was expecting him to try it, he reluctantly picked up his spoon. He looked at the soup in his spoon and he placed it on his mouth.

Salt, pepper and hot peppers. Different condiments touched his taste buds and he wasn't expecting how warm it made him feel on his stomach. Shadow never feels hungry. But for the first time, he was for craving more of this soup.

He put his spoon up and down his mouth in a rapid manner trying to eat as fast as he could. Feeling like he wasn't getting satisfied by the way he was eating, he puts his spoon down. He tilted his head up and placed an edge of the bowl on his lips. He began drinking his soup straight up from the bowl.

Amy looked at him in wonder trying not to judge him.

"When was the last time he ate?"

Even with Shadow's lack of table manners, Amy was happy that someone was so eager to eat her food. It has been a long time since she had cooked because she was busy with the Resistance but it was comforting to see that her skills were still there.

Without Shadow noticing. Amy had stopped eating and gave him her complete attention. She placed her elbow on the table and placed her chin on her hand smiled at him as he ate.

"What does he think he is doing?"

"What a hero he turned out to be."

"He eats like a little kid ... that's humiliating."

Amy heard the Mobians whisper between themselves as they gave Shadow a nasty look. If Amy could hear them, then Shadow all the better. 

Hearing their remarks, Shadow had put his bowl down. He didn't want to show it, but he was ashamed of his actions although he didn't know exactly what he did wrong.

But he always felt like he was doing something wrong anyways.

A part of Amy broke as she saw Shadow. He was such a strong character and seeing him doubt himself wasn't something that Amy enjoyed.

Amy loudly puts her spoon on the table, smack it against the wooden table as she got everyone's eyes on her now. She began to do exactly what Shadow was doing. Eating straight from her bowl as she added some noises just to let her thoughts be known to the others.

She finished quickly and she burped loudly as she placed her bowl down.

"Well, that hit the spot, didn't it Shads?" Amy didn't know where did she get the courage to nickname him like that all of a sudden, but given the circumstances, she didn't care.

Shadow was surprised once again at this girl. He didn't doubt her skills or anything for that matter. But he had always had that feminine perception of her. That whatever she had to do, had to be cute and feminine.

But Amy Rose was more than that.

She stood up from her seat as she looked at Shadow.

"Let's go to the rooftop and talk, shall we?"

.

Shadow wanted to get the information out of her and leave. However, he couldn't find the right moment as she began to vomit.

"This is what I get for eating so fast- Blargh" Amy was on the edge of the rooftop. On the other side, Shadow looked from afar.

Shadow rolled his eyes, he just couldn't understand the female. "If you already knew that you would get like this, then why do it?"

"Blargh- I did it -Blargh- for you!" Amy said as she finally felt better after letting everything out.

Shadow stance softens. At first, he had thought that Amy was coping with his eating mannerisms just to be funny. However, it seemed like just like he did, she heard the comments the other Mobians said about him.

"Those Mobians were speaking badly about you, I couldn't just stand there and do nothing," Amy said as she stood up the edge. "They are hypocrites. Believe me, if it was anyone else, they wouldn't have said anything. But because it's you-"

Amy stopped herself. She didn't want to get there but maybe she should have. After all, she was sure that Shadow knew about what others thought of him by now.

"I know I don't have the best reputation," Shadow said as if he was reading Amy's mind. "And I don't care."

Amy knew that was a lie but Shadow had too much pride to ever admit that. A few minutes passed without them saying a word. Amy watched the full moon in front of them, bigger than usual and even more beautiful. If instead of Shadow, Sonic was here, this scene could be way too perfect. Straight out of a romantic movie.

"Well, this is romantically awkward."

"Provide information." Shadow broke the silence. It took him a few minutes to realize where he was again. Amy's gesture had taken him by surprise. Even when she knew that she was going to throw up, she still decided to go through that pain for him. He decided, that he might as well try to be a bit nicer towards the pink one.

"Oh yeah about that ..." Amy looked around nervously. "I don't have much information. Tails was the one who came up with the theory that someone besides Eggman was controlling the bots in a more organized matter. Eggman likes to show off ... If it was him coordinating the bots, then we would have known by now. So we believe its someone else-"

"It's definitely not Eggman," Shadow interrupted her. He was a bit annoyed that everything he went through was for nothing. "We found Eggman in Windmill Village today."

Amy walked towards Shadow, confused.

"What?"

"Well, Sonic was already with him when I arrived with Rouge ... Eggman lost his memories and he now dedicates to building bots for good apparently." Shadow looked at the moon and not at Amy.

Amy had to admit that she was a bit angry that she was finding the news through Shadow and not Sonic. Couldn't he take some time off his day to communicate with her? She was only one call away anyways.

Amy dismissed her thought. At the moment Shadow was the one that worried her the most. His eyes showed something she couldn't quite describe.

Oh, wait. I know what it is.

"Alright, what did Sonic do?" Amy asked.

"What?" This time Shadow looked at Amy. She was next to him and maybe too close for his comfort.

"You have that face ... I always put that face when I am worried about Sonic." Amy said. "And something tells me you are not telling me the full story."

Shadow had to give credit where credit is due. Amy was very perceptive. He normally wouldn't say anything. In al honesty, if it was anyone else, he would have been gone in an instant. He wasn't very communicative but it seems like he was different with the pink one.

"I was there to get rid of Eggman but Sonic convinced me of giving him another chance," Shadow said as he looked at the moon again. "And I am just not fully convinced that he is good ... and if anything bad happens then there will be no one to blame but me."

Amy kept looking at Shadow as her eyes soften at the black hedgehog.

"He would blame himself instead of blaming Sonic for convincing him? That's very Shadow like."

"Shadow, why are you so invested in saving the world?" Amy asked.

The question caught Shadow off guard and he looked at the pink waiting for her to elaborate more on her question.

"I mean, I've seen how everyone treats you," Amy said. "I just saw it today ... a small moment of your life and you just deserve so much better. After today, I don't understand why you would want to save this world."

"Not everyone is bad," without a heart-beat Shadow answered. "Some people fight over the most trivial things. Some people may be selfish but they are basically good if they try their best and never give up on their wishes. They always have a reason to be happy and that's why I should help them out."

"Oh Chaos no, he remembers that? No, no, no-"

Amy gulped saliva and she looked everywhere but at Shadow's directions. She didn't want to show her embarrassment and at the moment, she didn't if Shadow was teasing her or he just simply remembered her words.

"What a nice ideology ..." Amy said as her voice trembled a little. "Where did you get it from?"

"Maria probably told me that, I think," Shadow made a pause. Maria's name came naturally to him but he was surprised that he was talking about her to Amy nonetheless. "But to be honest, I don't quite remember. It's a very blurry memory ... at the ARK and a voice."

Amy sighed in relief. She had to admit that it was a nice gesture of Shadow to remember her words at the ARK. After all, she did mean every word she said and she let her heart out when she begged him to save the planet. She has decided to keep that secret within her forever.

Even more now.

Knowing Shadow, he takes everything to heart.

And as far as he knows or remembers, Shadow helped save the word out of the goodness of his heart. If Shadow were to know that he helped save the world because Amy asked him to then he would have more complications. Would he think that he is no good? Shadow never gave himself enough credit for what he was done ...

"But maybe you are right."

Amy faced the black hedgehog again. A few moments of silence had passed between them and she still couldn't believe she was having a conversation with Shadow after so many years. Now, it was Shadow who started the conversation and she was grateful to him that he had started it this time.

"I don't know why I focus on saving the world when I am not even sure if I am good for it." Shadow said, "I always thought that the cause justifies the means ... but how can I save everyone when along the way I keep making the wrong decisions?"

Shadow didn't know if it was just the rush of the moment or the nice atmosphere around them that he felt relaxed. Maybe it was the fact that after this, they wouldn't be seeing each other after a long time. Until the world was at risk again. That comforted Shadow in a sense. Unlike Rouge, who he saw almost daily, he would see Amy in a couple of months or years even.

Right now, Amy was playing the role of a therapist which she didn't mind. She knew that people felt comfortable talking about themselves when the person they are talking to was a stranger. Or they had a low possibility of seeing each other. 

Whatever the reason it was, she was glad it was Shadow.

"Something tells me you are not telling me the whole story," Amy got closer to Shadow. For her, it was a way to bring him comfort and although he appreciated the gesture, he still wasn't used to it. "Did something else happened at Windmill Village?"

Once again, he couldn't figure out what it was. Yes, he hesitated. He was about to walk away and never come back but that strange thing is that he didn't want to. There was literally nothing attaching him to this moment. Amy had admitted to knowing almost nothing about this organized bots attacks, he should be gone by now. Looking for a nice tree to sleep on or try to at least.

But he felt very calmed and relaxed around the pink one. It can't hurt to let his guard down just for a few more minutes. Maybe it was something unconscious like his body and mind told him it was alright to be like this with her.

"I was fighting Sonic over whether Eggman was good an not and ..." Shadow looked to the side, not wanting to look at Amy for the moment. "He said that if Eggman can't be forgiven... then I can't be forgiven either."

A few seconds passed without the two saying anything. Shadow waited for Amy to say something, he expected something else. However, he should have known better. This was Amy Rose he was talking about. She would defend Sonic and his ideology's to the end of the world-

"Wow, what a jerk."

Shadow snapped his head at Amy's direction. Her words surprised the red striped one.

"Don't get me wrong," Amy said. "I trust Sonic and his decisions and I know that if anything bad happens he has our backs ... but that still doesn't give him the right to bring up your past mistakes!"

Amy looked over to the view in front of her, the town was beautiful at night. Fairy lights surrounded the entire town, Mobians lively walked and talk with their friends.

She saw that she had Shadow's full attention and decided to continue. "Eggman became good because he lost his memory but you? You made the conscious decision to redeem your self and you did! You worked hard and you are willing to do anything to save the world even when people aren't' the nicest to you. You are nothing like Eggman and will never be, Shadow you-"

Amy stopped herself. She realized she had been talking none stop about Shadow. Yes, she admired the black and red hedgehog. Her inner fangirl side may have gotten the best of her. She kept looking at the town, hoping that Shadow will take the hint and change the conversation.

"I may be nothing like Eggman but I still look like one of his robots." Shadow said. "Even this town's militia thought I was one today."

Amy sighed relief to be able to change the topic. "Don't blame them too much, your dark fur camouflages with the night and then you have the most vibrant red eyes I've seen! But to be honest, that's how I knew it was you. Your eyes are like rubies, very beauti-

"For Chaos Amy, stop talking! He is going to think you like him or something and it's definitely not like that!"

"Like I was saying!" Amy tried to compose herself, still, she didn't dare to look at Shadow. "You are not like Eggman and sometimes Sonic doesn't measure his words. If he ever offends you, just come to me and I'll show him a piece of my hammer."

"I can defend myself." Shadow said, "But ... thank you, Rose."

Shadow didn't expect this night to turn out like this. He thought he would have been gone in an instant but he was glad he decided to stay a bit longer. He wasn't to get complimented and in all honesty, he didn't know how to properly react to it either.

So, a simple thanks should be sufficient and proper.

"Rose? Should I refer to you as Shads now?" Amy let out a small giggle and it was Shadow time to be embarrassed.

"This is what I get for being nice ... never again."

They were looking at each other now and Shadow's uncomfortableness went away. They were so close that their shoulder's almost touched.

"Just call me Amy," Amy interrupted his thoughts. "Rose is too formal, and well I don't want us to be strangers."

"I'll keep calling you 'Rose'," Shadow responded.

"Alright ... Shads," Amy teased him and to her surprise, Shadow didn't protest against the nickname. After all, he did had a soft side. It's a bit sad however, she knew that it will probably be a long time before she gets to call Shadow that again.

"So ... what's your plan now? Anywhere specific you want to go?" Amy asked.

"Not really," Shadow said. " Eggman is no longer a threat and it seems like you and your team have everything under control."

"Well, if you don't have a place, the Resistance will always have the doors open for you." Amy looked at Shadow and their eyes met. They were comfortable with each other now and all past tension was gone. "We could use someone like you ... for cleaning the building I mean."

"What?"

"Come on Shads, you are fast! You will finish cleaning in the blink of an eye!! Amy added, "Or are you not as Ultimate as you say?"

"The guts of this hedgehog to insult me ... It's impressive."

Shadow looked over the moon once again, and then back to Amy. "Although I appreciate the thought ... I have to deny, I'll be on my way."

"Very well then, I can't stop you but just know I'll always be here in case you need anything-"

"Chaos Amy Rose! Stop talking like that! You sound like a crazy romantic, you have gone past that phase!"

Thankfully for Amy, Shadow was very unaware of what it meant to be a crazy romantic or anything for that matter. Shadow was never one to pay attention to those things not he had time. Not like he cared either.

"I meant everyone is here for you! We will always be here for you, Shadow." Amy smiled at him.

"Shads," Shadow said.

"What?" Amy asked.

"You are Rose and I am Shads."

If Amy could, she would hug Shadow but she knew that would be over the boundaries. Amy felt her body get warm at Shadow's soft side. He might have a cold personality but he had feelings like everyone else. Her heart was content at Shadow's hidden cuteness and she had a new personal mission.

Protect Shadow the Hedgehog at all costs.

"Well, it seems like I won't see you in a while then," Amy said. "Until the next destruction of the world at least."

"We will see about that." Shadow said, "I may go to the Resistance once in a while."

Shadow wanted to say something along the lines of 'I will visit you.' However, words like that will never come out of his mouth and for his own sake, he wasn't going to say them.

"For investigation purposes only of course." He added.

They looked at each other and Amy smiled at him. Surprisingly enough, Shadow smiled back at her and to be honest, that's all Amy wanted from tonight. For Shadow to have a good time and for her to learn something new about him.

Amy had always thought of Shadow as someone she could rely on. Now she was happy that Shadow thought the same about her.

Maybe, they could be friends later on. But for now, she was content at the moments they had.

"Of course, for investigation only."

There were many things Shadow wasn't ready to admit nor he ever was going to. But if there was one thing he was sure about was that Amy wasn't that bad at all. He could see himself talking to her more often and if she wanted, he could drop by the Resistance and help her out with the missions. It didn't seem like a bad direction to take after today.

But right now, that didn't matter. For once, he didn't care about his past nor the future. He was free to enjoy the present with Amy.

And that was all he could ever ask for.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A/N: I was re-reading Sonic IDW Issue #6 and it lowkey bothered me when Sonic brought up Shadow's past to convenience him to give Eggman another chance. I just couldn't stop thinking about it and I couldn't bring myself to write anything but that. That's why I decided to write this, to have a nice conclusion of my own. As well that I like to explore the relationship between characters. Yes, I ship ShadAmy but not of their interactions have to be romantic. Remember that intimacy can be many things and it can be with anyone.

Anyways, I am writing the last chapter of 'Stages' and that will be done and up online most likely tomorrow. I just sometimes need breaks from stories to get the ideas going. After 'Stages' is done, I'll start with the requests.