"It's me! Hello! I am the problem it's I!

At coffee time everybody agrees!

I look directly at the moon but never in the mirror, it most be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero!"

"NEW RISING POP-STAR TYLER SWEET IS TAKING OVER THE WORLD WITH HER NEW ALBUM!"

Shadow is eating his daily coffee beans as he softly sings his favorite song. He is not one to listen to gossip news but he just had to whenever Tyler Sweet drops a new album. He just hopes she succeeds in the music charts. Shadow has secretly been following him since she started uploading her songs on MusicCloud and he is glad she has finally had her breakthrough.

"Shadow."

The actor recognizes Omega's robotic voice as he enters the kitchen.

"Hey Omega, did you sleep well?" Shadow asks as he looks inside one of his kitchen cabinets. There he finds car oil. For Omega of course. Omega doesn't need sleep. However, Tails took the liberty to program a 'sleep' software on the robot. And he seems to have enjoyed it."

"Yes. I am 'rested."

After a few seconds, Omega makes a pause and Shadow looks at him.

"I have two notices," Omega says. "Rouge says she will come to visit soon."

"Alright, gonna have to break a leg so she doesn't force me to go shopping with her," Shadow puts a few coffee beans in his mouth and chews them. "What is the other news?"

"... Your ShadAmy Comic has gotten over 100k reads on Weebtun"

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Shadow's phone has not stopped ringing with notifications. Comments, likes, and shares. He had spent many days drawing that comic and even thought his art was not good enough to get praised.

As much as he wants to get excited, he knows he can't. Especially when he is a famous actor and he can't risk being exposed as a crazy fanfic fanatic in real life.

He quietly rubs and puts pressure on the middle of his palm to alleviate his anxiety. Shadow was definitely not expecting that many people to read his comic and somehow that's making him sweat.

"Shadow!"

Shadow snaps and completely forget that he is on set.

"Your lines? We don't have all day."

But Shadow stays quiet. Looking side to side, confused.

"Nevermind. Let's all take five. Shadow, either learn your lines or improvise!"

He sighs heavily and goes to his black chair. Next time there is a table with coffee beans as snacks. But right now he is not interested in that. Shadow sits and pulls out his phone. He should be studying his lines but he knows them already. He needs a different kind of support.

TheFanfictioner#0619: "I am starting to think I suck at my job."

Shadow texts his online best friend and eats some of the coffee beans. He had muted his notifications from Weebtun but he can't help and constantly check the app. The reads are growing and so is his anxiety.

ARoseWithoutTorns#0923: "You have a job? I thought you were too busy being a fanfic fanatic to have one."

TheFanfictioner#0619: "If that was my job, I wouldn't complain. But sadly, I entertain people for a living and I hate people most of the time."

From afar he sees Sonic Team gathering together and talking. While they are distracted Shadow looks around him and next to his chair finds his backpack. He usually brings things with him, a charger, laptop, sketchbook and pencils so he doesn't have to go back to his dressing room.

ARoseWithoutTorns#0923: "Do you hate me?"

TheFanfictioner#0619: "I tolerate you. Consider yourself lucky."

Shadow takes out his sketchbook and a pencil he looks at Amy from afar and starts sketching her. It might be strange but he needs to have as many references as possible. He can probably get pictures of her online but nothing is better than having the real person in front of you.

His phone rings, and he responds.

ARoseWithoutTorns#0923: "Oh, I am happy I am not on your naughty list."

TheFanfictioner#0619: "Only because you write my favorite fanfic."

He goes back to sketching and looks at Amy who has picked up her phone and is typing.

Not even a second passes and Shadow's phone rings.

ARoseWithoutTorns#0923: "Fair. But tell me what is bothering you?"

TheFanfictioner#0619: "The fan-comic I did for you fic ... It's getting too many reads and I was not expecting that. It's giving me anxiety for some reason."

He puts his phone aside on the table and sketches Amy again who is on her phone again. Typing.

Then his phone rings again.

ARoseWithoutTorns#0923: "You know, if it's too much to handle, you can always delete it. I won't mind."

TheFanfictioner#0619: "I don't know. I do enjoy the nice comments and it's motivating me to draw more but I am not used to so much attention."

The actor is able to draw Amy's eyes. She is moving a bit too much, smiling and giggling with Sonic and her friends. Then she takes out her phone again and types.

And then his phone rings again.

Interesting. But whatever.

ARoseWithoutTorns#0923: "You said you were an entertainer? Are you not used to people giving you attention?"

And before he could respond, the director speaks up.

"Alright change of plans! We are recording the last scene of the last episode for this season."

Amy Rose feels shivers run down her spine because she knows what that means. Heck, she was the one who wrote the ending for this season. Still, she is not mentally prepared to do this. But the time has come and she can't run away.

They were recording in the forest and they need to hurry up before sunset.

"Let's just record the kiss as the sun goes down and let's call it a day," Mr. Johnson says and he picks up a camera. He is going to be the one to record the kiss.

Shadow and Amy get on the scene and Shadow places Amy against a tree trunk. Just like in the script.

"Now Shadow, I need emotion," Mr. Johnson starts to record and gets extremely close to their faces. "Remember your character desires Amy but secretly feels that he has some genuine feelings for her. To prove that, you need to kiss her ... Slowly. First-"

"Please, just keep quiet and let me do my job," Shadow interrupts him and at that, the director just sighs and nods.

"Ok .. Lights, camera ... Action!"

As Shadow gets into character, Amy's knees go weak. She looks him in the eyes. Vermillion and beautiful. He caresses her cheeks and pulls a string of her hair on the back of her ear.

Shadow slowly closes his eyes and gets closer and closer to her and

Amy pushes him away.

Completely red and shaking, she looks at everyone in the room. Flabbergasted and speechless. Except for Sonic who is smiling.

She doesn't know what to say. Should she apologize to Shadow who is looking at her in disbelief? At everyone for wasting their time and money?

She could only look at the director.

"Please just give me two days to prepare!"

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She closes her eyes and thinks of Shadow. His beautiful eyes and prince-like aura. Getting closer to her to kiss her. She immediately opens her eyes. It's not like she finds him repulsive, it's the contrary. He is so beautiful that being close to him makes her extremely nervous.

She is in her room, wearing pajamas with a cup of strawberry milk next to her. The laptop is open and on her wall is a poster of Chao in Space 2.

Shadow is on it. Covering a big part of it.

The pink hedgehog stands up and slowly makes her way to the poster. She looks directly at Shadow and closes her eyes. Puckering out her lips and waiting for them to make contact with the paper.

"Am I interrupting?"

Amy screams and falls to the ground as she sees Sonic sitting on her window.

"Have you ever done that with my posters too?" Sonic asks with a cocky smile.

"What are you doing here?!" Amy avoids the question as she stands up and walks towards the window to greet the blue bur. "Eggman better be attacking the town or something of those sorts."

"I wish! But you know he never attacks while we record for the show ... for some strange reason," Sonic quickly looks inside Amy's room. It's still pink and a few posters are hanging on the wall.

"Are you alright?" Sonic asks as he sees that Amy is obviously embarrassed and nervous.

"Yeah! Why wouldn't I be?" Amy lets out a nervous laugh and goes back to her bed. It's been a long while since Sonic had visited her room. Usually is an emergency or because he needs milk.

"You were about to kiss Shadow's poster."

"I was umm ... Practicing my acting."

The blue hero sees this as an opportunity and jumps into Amy's room. He is feeling a bit nervous but feels confident seeing that Amy is way more overwhelmed than him.

"Do you want to practice with me?" he puts his hands behind his back. Tightly grasping his wrist to try and lessen his nervousness. "I know all of Shadow's lines."

Amy gives it a quick thought and mostly answers due that saying 'no' to Sonic would be extremely awkward.

"Oh ok ... Let's do it."

Sonic clears his voice and takes a sit on Amy's bed, she is next to him. He has his eyes closed and Amy looks at him. After a few seconds, he opens them and his aura is completely different from before.

"I don't know what you see in him," Sonic says. "He is always running away from you."

Amy knows this is acting but she wants to scream and fangirl at how seductive Sonic is looking at her. But she has to control those emotions and be professional.

"He is ... complicated but I know deep down he feels something for me."

Her voice changes. To that of sadness and disappointment. For a second, Sonic had forgotten the embarrassing position she had found her earlier. Right now, he is completely immersed in acting.

"And are you going to wait until he figures that out?" the blue hero grabs her arm, delicately touching her skin to not harm her. "Wait your whole life?"

"If that's what it takes."

Suddenly, Sonic pushes Amy into her bed. He places himself on top of her. His face is now extremely close to hers and Amy did not know if this is still acting.

"Well ... I can't wait that long," Sonic continues to say Shadow's lines but there is some truth to them. "If I want something, I just take it."

The next line is a difficult one. Mostly because is a question that Amy has been wanting to ask Sonic. And she doesn't know if Sonic will answer this as himself or as Shadow.

"Do you ... like me?"

There is some hesitation in his eyes. Sonic wants to break character and may finally let out his feelings. Feelings that he has been avoiding. Avoiding because he is scared and a total fool.

"No. I desire you," he says words that are on his mental script. Letter by letter. "And if you allow me ... I wish for you to finish my long wait."

And here he is. The moment he is been waiting for. He is underneath her and could feel her slim body perfectly fit with his. He caresses her right cheek with the back of his palm.

Amy has also been wanting it. The closeness. The feelings and intimacy.

And as Sonic is getting closer and closer to kiss her ... she has to remind herself that this is not real.

"Sonic, Amy and Shadow don't kiss in this scene. They get interrupted remember?"

She interrupts him and Sonic immediately feels his cheeks go hot. He quickly pulls away and stands up.

"Oh, yes. My bad Ames. Sorry."

"It alright-" Amy is about to reassure him but Sonic can't handle his embarrassment and decides it's time to use his super speed and leave.

"Anyways, gotta go bye!"

He leaves a wind rush as he runs away. Almost making all of Amy's posters fly away. But thankfully the only thing Sonic ruined was Amy's hair.

It was so fast that Amy could only blink in startlement.

"Ummm bye?"

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Shadow's phone has not stopped ringing. He decides to put in on mute but feels bad because his manager, Mia, sometimes needs to text him about schedule changes. Just like today. The dark hedgehog had completely forgotten about a photo shoot he had to do for the show's promotion.

But his damn co-worker is not here on time.

He is still wondering why she out of everyone on the team was chosen as his partner for this photo session.

"Wouldn't it have been more proper for Amy to be my partner?" Shadow asks Mia who is standing next to him while he eats a few coffee beans.

"I agree but Amy was scheduled today to have a photoshoot with Sonic. For promotion, we are making posters of two ... Next shoot you have it with Knuckles," Mia shows Shadow her notebook and the actor notices how busy he will be the rest of the month.

Photoshoot, recording, photoshoot, recording, promotional interview, photoshoot, recording-

"And where the fuck is Sticks?" Shadow just wants to get it over with so he can go home and continue to read fanfiction.

"We are looking for her. She doesn't like being surrounded by people so she probably ran away," Mia says. "Don't worry, they will find her in a couple of hours."

Shadow rolls his eyes and stands up. There's no way he can stay here and do nothing.

"I'll find her myself."

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After 30 minutes he found sticks in a nearby library. Now Shadow realizes why it took the crew so long to find her. No one would expect her to come here.

Sticks is hiding behind a shelf of books, looking directly at the library's counter. At first, Shadow thinks that she is stalking the library but he noticed she is actually more focused on the people entering and exiting the library.

"There you are," Shadow puts his hand on Stick's shoulder and she immediately feels a shiver run down her spine. "Let's go back to the photo shoot. Now."

She did not scream but is more annoyed to be interrupted. The badger just rolls her eyes and keeps hiding, looking at the library's entrance.

"I am doing an important undercover mission."

"In a library?"

"Yes, I am trying to discover who is the real ARoseWithoutTorns."

Shadow knows that Sticks had a reputation for being paranoid and a bit crazy and this only confirms those rumors to be true.

"What?"

Sticks looks at Shadow and wishes he could disappear. She knows he doesn't care in the least. Might as well scare him off with her theories.

"On page 84 of our script, there is a line that says ... Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow-"

"Yes, I know I read the script," Shadow says as he crosses his arms in front of his chest. He looks side to side and is glad that there are no fans nor paparazzi in here. Maybe he should come more often.

"Well, that's a clear reference to Romeo and Juliet! So I came here and found out that the only copy of that book has been borrowed," Sticks says.

"I asked the library and they couldn't give me the information about who last took it ... BUT! She said that today was the last day they had to turn in the book and the library closes at 5 p.m. and-"

"I am more surprised that you have read Romeo and Juliet," Shadow interrupts her and Sticks quickly turns her head to look at him. It's a judging and uncomfortable look. Shadow sighs and rolls his eyes.

"Apologies, continue."

"As I was saying," Sticks raises her voice a little but keeps her eyes on the door. It's almost time and she won't miss it. "And if this person doesn't want to pay a fee, they need to return the book in the next couple of minutes."

"A very interesting theory but have you ever thought that maybe, I don't know MAYBE ARoseWithouTorns is from another part of the world and they just tend to have read a very popular book?"

Shadow doesn't know why but he stands next to her. His eyes are now fixed on the door as well. He tries his best to look in between the many books in front of him. There are more people going out, after all, the library is about to close.

"That's what I thought too but then I went into her fanxfiction page and found out that she always posts her fanfiction between 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ... Our time!"

"And so what? There are a bunch of islands that share our time zone."

Sticks sighs which Shadow finds quite annoying. He begins to wonder if he sighs so much that other people find him annoying as well. No, that can't be possible ... right?

"Are you stupid? Have you actually read any of the fanfictions?"

"Yes, I have even written analysis essays."

Shadow takes offense to that and wants to brag about the 20 times he has read all of ARoseWithoutThorns' fanfics. But he can't say that. Not now, not ever. Not to Sticks. Never.

"The way ARoseWithoutThorns writes, how she describes our battles and personalities ... is too specific. It has to be someone from this island who has seen us fight before. I know it."

Shadow pauses and thinks for a second. Sticks does have a point. And even starting to doubt her online friend. But although Sticks has a good theory, Shadow still believes that ARoseWithouThorns is from Acorn City. It makes the most sense. After all, she was willing to meet at a local cafe.

"Or maybe they are just a really good writer," Shadow picks up Sticks and puts her on his shoulder. Carrying her like a potato bag. They need to go back to the photo session. "Come on, I don't have all time."

"But! Wait!"

Sticks could not say anything as Shadow left running as fast as he could.

Completely missing the moment Amy entered the library to return her book.

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Amy doesn't know if this is the right thing to do. Nor is certain if she wants to do it. She wants to leave the place but wouldn't move. Her best choice is for Shadow to not show up. Maybe he simply did not read her letter. Maybe he put it in the trash and didn't even look at it.

Maybe he-

"You know, we could have just met at the beach and not this ... cave."

The pink hedgehog makes a little jump as she noticed Shadow at the entrance of the cave. He is calm like he usually is. Of course, he wouldn't be nervous like she is. To him, it's something normal to practice, to her not so much.

"So, why of all places do you want to kiss me here?" Shadow walks closer to Amy as he looks around the cave. There is nothing much to see but rocks and Amy holding up a flashlight. "This isn't the same cave we went to when we were looking for that metal Omega needed."

"No, this one is different. It's kinda hidden, I am glad you were able to read the map I gave you with the letter," Amy feels her throat go dry as she knew that sooner or later she will have to ask him to do what he came here for. "Thank you for coming."

"Don't mention it ... If we want to make this episode good, we have to give our best," Shadow looks at Amy and after a few seconds he sighs. "But you know ... If you really don't want to kiss me, then we can ask the director to change the scene or-"

"No, it's not that! I do want to kiss you!

That did not sound like she wanted. She feels her cheeks get warmer as it began to rain.

"I mean I only want to kiss you because of the scene we have to shoot! Just because of that!"

"Heh."

Shadow is not helping at all. He has a little smile and Amy could see his vermillion eyes shine in the darkness of the cave. She can't hide her fangirl side for too long. He is too beautiful, ridiculously so and if she could scream and giggle, she would.

But she can't be a fangirl, not right now. She has to be professional.

"Why don't you show me this place first? Maybe that way you can relax a little," Shadow takes a few more steps inside the cave. He is not expecting much but that doesn't matter. What matters is to make Amy feel comfortable with him. "Anything special around here? Or a specific reason why you like this place?"

"The cave is an ancient one ... there are drawings here made by the first Mobians," Amy turns on her flashlight and points to the rocky walls of the cave as she walks next to Shadow. "It's a story about the beginning of time."

With her flashlight, Amy illuminates the walls. There are eight circles drawn in different ways. One with broke lines, the other with crooked lines, the other with other circles in the middle. Each circle is unique.

"Before time existed, there used to be eight Suns surrounding this planet. The Suns were always in a constant battle over who would rule over this world," Amy's voice changed to narrate the story. Something that is not common among people. Only storytellers do it so naturally. Maybe everyone can tell stories after all.

"The first to lose the battle was the Sun of Water and as punishment, the Sun of Life destroyed their body and sent them to our world."

Amy illuminates another wall, showing the circle with wave-like lines being transformed into something Shadow recognized immediately. A Chaos Emerald.

"Then was the Sun of Earth and the same thing happened to him. The sun of Fire, Air, Love, Hate and lastly Death," Amy says as Shadow took a moment to look at her. There is excitement in her eyes. Some unrecognized admiration for this wet and lonely cave.

"The Sun of Life was victorious in battle and turned the other Suns' energy into Chaos Emeralds. The Sun of Life gave this to the first Mobians as a gift and a promise."

And as Amy was busy telling the story, Shadow could only stare in awe at her. For how happy she looks. Only he did not know if she was happy because of the mysterious cave or because she is telling a story. Either or ... he finds it amusing and even lovely.

"May the Chaos Emeralds choose a hero to protect the world from all harm, even from the Sun of Life."

After she finishes reading the hieroglyphics, with a smile she turns to look at Shadow. Only to find him smiling back at her. She did not expect this but did not know how to interpret this. The only conclusion she could come up with was that Shadow finds this story to be funny and stupid.

"How um-"

"Boring? Yeah, I've heard that before," Amy scratches the back of her head but then relaxes and makes her stand."But I think it's very interesting. Probably not real but, I think it's amazing how stories have always been present in history. We may not be here forever, but the stories we tell live for eternity."

The actor wants to agree but he is too fascinated with her to formulate words. There is more to Amy Rose than he expected. Of course, she would be. She is smart, creative and even if he won't admit it out loud, talented. But her views on simple things always made him want to listen to her talk more and more.

"I was going to say that it's captivating ... I enjoy reading Mobian mythology from time to time."

"Really? What is your favorite story?"

It is still raining outside but no one cared. Only their voices and the green and red eyes that are saying more than words ever could.

"The story of the princess who fell in love with the sun of death but-"

"But the Sun of Death asked the Sun of Love to make the princess fall in love with a Prince," Amy interrupts Shadow not to be rude but out of excitement. Such a feeling made her take a few extra steps closer to Shadow.

"And when the Princess started to fall in love with him, she killed herself because she felt guilty not being able to love the Sun of Death anymore?"

Shadow feels his heart beat faster and he is now aware as to why. Maybe because she is too close ... but then again why does that matter? Why is he feeling like this when she is not even aware that her actions made him feel unknowingly emotions?

"Yes. That story," he says as he remembers how Maria used to tell him that story from time to time. Many years ago. "It's a sad story and sometimes I wish I could re-write another ending for it."

"Then do. To me is not that sad of a story if you see it from a different angle," Amy's mind created many scenarios. Of different tales and characters. Maybe it's due to her writer persona of wanting to write fanfic for every single thing. Whatever it is, it didn't matter. It would be something she would usually hide, this side of her. But not with Shadow. Not him.

"Maybe it means the Princess gets to be with the Sun of Death in the afterlife. Together forever and not even the Sun of Life can take that away from them."

She smiles and Shadow's eyes were filled with unknown feelings. He softly walks towards her and places his hand on her cheek, caressing softly.

"May I?" He asks and instead of receiving a response, Amy closes her eyes as a sign of approval.

He tilts his head and breaks the distance. His lips softly touching hers.

Being delicate is not one of his qualities but he tries for her. As he is scared to hurt her. And it's just small pecks, brushing of lips and his are firm. Hers are soft. Shadow could only fight the urge to bite them.

He breaks the kiss but the distance between their faces is close. She is like in trance, her green eyes want more and Shadow wants to do it again as well. But he looks at her, asking for permission to continue.

"Do it again," Amy whispers, forgetting for a second that this is Shadow the Hedgehog who she is kissing. "Please. More."

And he kisses her again.

"More."

And again.

"More."

And again.

Shadow uses both of his hands to hold her face. Making her as close as possible to him. Shadow could feel Amy's body against his as he pushes her against the cave's walk.

This is what he came to do. This is what she asked from him.

Deep down, Amy knew that they were doing this as practice for their kiss scene tomorrow. This is all for the shake of the show. That's what she wrote in her letter to Shadow. This is why he is here.

Nothing more, nothing less.

It's all with professionalism.

But ... in between those kisses ...

They will often forget that they were both actors, practicing too much for just a 10-second scene.

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In another part of Mobius ...

A blue-eyed, blond hedgehog girl swirls around until she falls into the commodity of her sofa.

She turns on the TV and sees the news. Her music video is being played on different music channels. It's a total hit and she couldn't happier.

Way too happy ... but something is missing.

She looks around and sees no one in her home. She's alone.

Something is not missing, but someone.

And she is tired of not having anyone to share her happiness with.

The beautiful hedgehog keeps pressing the 'next' button on her TV control. Switching channels until something gets her attention.

There he is.

Shadow the Hedgehog.

The new star of the famous show 'Sonic Boom' playing the character of an anti-hero who fell in love with Amy Rose, the heroine of the show.

Maybe its a concidence. But she likes to call it 'destiny.'

She picks up her phone from the table and quickly dials a friend of her.

The phone rings for a seconds until someone answers.

"Hey Rouge, sorry for the late call," the blond hedgehog says, her voice that of a sweet person. "But, you know how you told me you were good friends with Shadow the Hedgehog?"

On the other side of the phone, a soft 'yes' is said.

And almost a maniacal smile appears on Tyler Sweet's face.

"Do you think you can arrange me a meeting with him?"

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A/n: It's been over a month? Sorry for the long wait. But hey, they finally kissed! We are getting close to the ending of Season 1 of The Fanfictioner ... I wonder how all of this will end.

You can always follow me on Twitter @/shadamywriter