The travel back to Hedgehog Village was a quiet one. It took them two days to get back in which they both took turns to sleep and pilot the Tornado. Amy did most of the piloting of course since she was in Shadow's body, she didn't rest much. However, out of courtesy, Shadow took her place once in a while.

They arrived at night. And Shadow was way too exhausted to do anything.

"Let's switch bodies tomorrow morning, at the cave," Shadow said as he entered Amy's home, and threw himself at the sofa. "This would be the last night I am going to enjoy sleeping."

"Alright.", Amy agreed immediately. Amy was acting differently, and Shadow noticed this. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I am not sleepy so I am going for a run."

"..."

Shadow didn't want to fight it. It was more than over now. The faster they got over it, the better.

He watched Amy walk past the door, never looking back at him. However, she made a stop on the door, "If I am not back by the morning, meet me at the cave,"

Then she left.

.

.

.

Amy kept running, she didn't have a place in mind to go, she knew that she was running just to feel like she could run away from her problems.

Even with all the power in the world, she still didn't have a chance to fix anything.

She finally reached the beach, the moon was splendid, the waves were strong yet beautiful. The crashing of the waves was soothing enough that's what she needed at the moment.

She closed her eyes and let the breeze hit her face.

Everything was going to be fine.

Just fine.

Who the heck was she lying to?

Nothing was fine, tomorrow morning, would be the last time she would see Shadow.

Tomorrow is the last time she would see that hot-headed, stubborn, evil hedgehog and she would finally have her body back.

So, why wasn't she happy?

The answer was there.

But she didn't want to admit it.

She couldn't believe it, she didn't want to believe it.

She couldn't believe... that she was in love with Shadow the Hedgehog.

She was in love with that hot-headed, stubborn, evil hedgehog.

Shadow was right from the beginning. Amy didn't love Sonic. She was so used to following Sonic and thinking that she was in love with him that eventually, she didn't realize her feelings for him were gone long ago.

Now there was nothing more but to subside her feelings.

But how could she?

How could she forget Shadow when he was so caring, kind and gentle?

But she had to.

There was nothing she can do, but to forget.

.

.

.

Shadow didn't even remember falling asleep. It was strange enough, but it felt nice to be back on his body even if it was just a dream. He was walking in the middle of nowhere.

Everything was white.

No beginning nor end, just white.

"So, Amy Rose it is then."

Shadow turned around as soon as he heard her voice. Not even once after she died, he was able to see her. Not a picture, not even in a dream.

But there she was.

Maria.

"You are not the type to stay this quiet, Shadow. Maria smiled as she moved around him, taking a good look at him.

"You won't say anything?"

"This is not real...you are dead," Shadow mumbled to himself.

"Wow, how harsh, you don't have to remind me,"

"Maria, I am so-"

"You are going to waste your time with apologies?" She stood up in front of him, smiling and Shadow was still to shocked to react.

They stared at each other eyes for a few seconds and that's all they needed. The worries went away, his heartbeat regulated and he finally had the answer to his questions.

"Shadow...be happy."

.

.

.

     Shadow woke up exalted, he looked everywhere around the room. First thing first, Amy wasn't there, and it was already morning. He rushed out of the house with all pieces of the broken Purple Gem in a bag and ran where the cave was.

Shadow felt motivated, he was going to get back his body and he would tell Amy everything. 

Everything.

He finally made it to the cave and as he entered, he saw Amy waiting for him.

But she wasn't alone.

"Old man," Shadow greeted the old red echidna. The man who raised him, the one who taught him how to use Chaos Control.

"You thought that I would be ignorant enough to believe you?"

The old red echidna, leader of Emerald Island came out of the shadows. "I need to make sure you come back and marry my daughter,"

"I know that old man, " Shadow walked towards Amy and the Leader. "I just need to go back to my body and we will be on our way,"

Shadow pulled out the bag were the rocks remained. He placed them on an elevated flat rock, the same one in which the Purple Gem used to be.

"Are you ready?," Amy asked Shadow as she approached him.

"Yes,"

They began to build the gem and looked at each piece trying to figure out where each piece went.

"You know," Amy began, "The first time I saw the Gem, there was something encrypted on it, "If in front of me war unfolds, I'll curse both until love is found,"

"That's a warning, actually" The Leader approached them, his expression changed and both Amy and Shadow listened. "It is self-explanatory, if you fight in front of the Purple Gem, it will break and curse you. You will switch bodies with the one you hate until you both find a peaceful resolution,"

"All of this because we fought? We fight all the time, that didn't fix anything," Amy added.

"Oh, seems like you both still don't know..." The Leader began to help them fix the Purple Gem, four pieces were together and the last one was in his hand, ready to be placed at the top. "This is a curse, after all, love was found but never said, therefore...you two must never see each other again,"

Amy and Shadow were confused, they wanted to ask more questions but The Leader had already placed the last piece on the Purple Gem.

The gem glowed brightly, fusing with every single piece, finally creating the Purple Gem.

Shadow grabbed Amy's hands and their eyes met, both of them glowing as they exactly knew what was going to happen.

Shadow had not time, once again he failed to express his feelings.

And he was going to pay a terrible price for it.

"Amy, Amy I love-"

And then,

it happened.

.

.

.

Amy woke up, the sun began to set already. Se had been asleep for hours now and had a headache.

Amy looked at her own body, pink and lots of pink.

She was back to her own body.

"Shadow, we made it! We are back to our bodies!" Amy said in excitement as she looked around the cave.

But not one was there,

The purple gem was gone

and she was alone.

"Amy, Amy I love-"

Amy began to sob at the sudden realization. If she had only more confidence to express her feelings, if she wasn't so afraid... then maybe...Shadow and her...

She covered her mouth to stop herself from crying. Nothing matter now, Shadow was gone, off to marry someone else.

She was never going to see him ever again, just like they promised.

Sobbing and without comfort, Amy whispered what her heart wanted to say for so long.

"I love you, Shadow."

.

.

.