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Chapter Text

The air thickened noticeably as Shadow and Amy exited the throne room, their footsteps clacking unevenly against the glossy black floor. A strange quiet had settled over them—one of those silences that was loud enough to swallow every stray thought. Neither seemed willing to disturb it, each lost in their own tangled reflections.

Shadow’s head was a noisy place at that moment. Black Doom’s words repeated endlessly, punctuated by memories he’d rather forget—the sharp pressure of his father's claws, the stinging ache across his cheek, the sickening command to kill Amy. It made his chest feel tight, as if his heart had suddenly swollen to twice its size and couldn’t find room to beat. His hand rose reflexively, fingertips brushing against the dried blood trailing across his cheek. He barely even registered the movement.

Amy walked beside him, stealing glances as subtly as she could manage. Her stomach twisted into knots of unease, the throne room’s scorching heat still lingering beneath her cloak. The way Shadow had looked—bare-faced and vulnerable, nothing like the cold and powerful prince she expected—had her thoughts spinning in ways that surprised even her.

Finally, she couldn't stand it any longer.

"King Black Doom… was that your father?" Her question came out hesitant, softer than she meant it to be.

Shadow barely acknowledged her. "Yes."

She bit her lip, working up her courage. "So, are you going to tell me what happened back in the throne room?"

"No."

Amy glanced at him, concern and annoyance flickering across her face. "Are you going to explain why your face is bleeding?"

He wiped his cheek casually, expression inscrutable. "No."

She huffed in exasperation. "Fine, then… Are you taking me to my friends now?"

"Yes."

Amy's patience frayed dangerously thin. She stopped abruptly, fists clenched. "Is that really all you can say?"

Shadow paused mid-stride, turning toward her slightly, a tiny smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. "No and yes."

He reached up, placing the mask over his face with practiced ease, concealing any hint of emotion beneath. With nothing more to say, they resumed walking, enveloped once again in tense silence. The castle seemed determined to press in on them, its twisting corridors growing narrower and more oppressive with each passing moment.

Amy’s eyes drifted toward Shadow's helmet, studying the smooth, emotionless curve of its surface. She couldn’t help but wonder about the hedgehog underneath all that intimidating armor—someone who, moments ago, had seemed almost empathetic. Curiosity wrestled with apprehension inside her as she finally spoke up.

"Why do you wear that thing, anyway?" she asked, quieter this time, her tone genuinely curious rather than challenging.

Shadow’s steps slowed briefly. "Wear what?"

"That mask," she clarified, gesturing vaguely toward his face. Her brow furrowed slightly as she tried to figure him out.

He continued to walk, ignoring her. But Amy’s curiosity pierced through.

"It’s not like you need it," she muttered quietly.

He halted as he turned towards her, unable to mask the subtle tension in his stance. "I do, though."

She pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully as a strange sense of empathy washed over her. "But why?"

He was quiet again, long enough that Amy began to think he wouldn’t answer. When he finally spoke, his words carried a careful weight.

"To put others into place and have them respect me. Everyone must know that I am in charge of the future throne. That is the way of the Black Arms."

Amy’s expression hardened slightly as she glared at him, crossing her arms defiantly. "Well, it certainly doesn't work on me. I don’t respect bullies out of fear, especially someone like you."

A smirk, barely perceptible, tugged at the corners of Shadow's mouth, his demeanor unshaken by her defiance. "I know you don’t. That’s why you’re different."

Amy stared at him, startled, caught off guard by the sincerity in his admission. Silence settled around them again, but it felt different somehow—softer, more uncertain. Amy struggled to reconcile this strange, conflicted creature beside her with the monstrous image she’d expected.

Everything she thought she knew about the Prince of Black Arms was unraveling, and she didn’t know whether to feel relieved or terrified.

Shadow’s sudden change of subject broke her from her musings.

"Since you'll be traveling with me," he began, voice regaining some measure of cool detachment, "do you know what Chaos Control is?"

He extended his hand, revealing a Chaos Emerald, its vibrant green light pulsating gently through his fingers, casting an ethereal glow upon his features. Amy’s eyes widened slightly at the sight, and she listened intently as he explained.

"This emerald can manipulate time and space," he murmured thoughtfully. "For someone such as myself, I only need one to temporarily stop time or travel through space. But with seven Chaos Emeralds… the possibilities of what I could do are endless."

He moved toward her unexpectedly, closing the distance until mere inches separated them. Amy froze as her cheeks burned red beneath her mask, feeling her pulse accelerate wildly at his proximity. She struggled to keep her composure as his quiet, teasing voice brushed against her senses.

"Just name a location," he said softly. "Anywhere, any place. Think of it, and I'll take you there, Rose."

Amy stumbled backward slightly, nerves flaring into irritation as she tried to steady her racing heart. She scowled fiercely beneath the mask, flustered and annoyed at his ability to rattle her composure so effortlessly.

"You really need to stop doing that," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Shadow tilted his head with a smirk, feigning innocence. "Do what?"

"That!" she snapped, glaring at him. "That… thing you do when you lean in so close! Why are you always doing that?"

He leaned even closer with a teasing, almost playful whisper. "Oh… you mean like this?"

Amy’s heartbeat hammered against her ribs, shoving him away as she growled under her breath, "Ugh! You're lucky I have this mask on, or you'd be smashed into a wall right now."

A soft but amused chuckle escaped from Shadow, a genuine, unguarded sound that seemed so alien coming from the stoic Prince. Amy blinked, taken aback by the unexpected display of emotion.

She cleared her throat awkwardly, trying desperately to regain some semblance of dignity.

"Anyway," she said quickly, voice shaking slightly. She gathered herself, glancing toward the emerald still gently glowing in Shadow's hand. "You said... with seven Chaos Emeralds, the possibilities are endless. What did you mean by that?"

Prince Shadow's posture abruptly shifted, the playful light that had danced in his eyes moments before now replaced by a grave seriousness. He considered the emerald thoughtfully as he answered.

"The Chaos Emeralds, when united, have the power to warp reality itself," he explained calmly. "They can alter time, manipulate space, and even grant wishes to whoever wields them."

Amy eyed him warily as her mind raced with unease, contemplating the implications of such power. Her voice dropped to a whisper, filled with quiet defiance. "And you intend to use that power… for the invasion, don’t you?"

Shadow's response was immediate, delivered in a flat monotone that left no room for doubt or debate. "It is the will of King Black Doom. The Chaos Emeralds will ensure our victory and establish the dominance of the Black Arms across the universe."

Amy instinctively drew back a little, her shoulders stiffening. The enormity of what he was suggesting didn't settle well at all. It was one thing to consider her own survival, another to willingly bring suffering upon countless lives. When she spoke, her voice quivered softly, but her resolve stayed intact.

"I can't... I won't help you in causing pain and suffering to others."

Shadow turned slightly as the emerald glowed ominously over his mask, hiding whatever emotion lay behind it. "You don't have a choice, Rose. Your fate is intertwined with ours now."

Amy felt her heart quicken as she stepped closer, a sudden surge of bravery eclipsing her earlier fear. "You're wrong, Shadow. I always have a choice."

The silence that followed her words felt charged, like the seconds before lightning hits the ground. Shadow's posture remained unreadable, though a subtle tension settled into his frame.

His response was almost whispered, dangerously calm. "Do you think your defiance will change anything, Rose? You have no idea who you're dealing with. The Black Arms have conquered worlds, extinguished stars, destroyed planets, and brought mighty civilizations to their knees. Your resistance is futile."

Amy drew a shaky breath, feeling the enormity of his words pressing down on her. Still, she refused to let her gaze waver from his helmeted face. "Maybe it is futile," she admitted softly. "But if there's even the slightest chance that I can prevent the suffering of others, to protect my friends and stop this invasion... I have to take it."

She stepped even closer, closing the space between them so boldly that Shadow nearly flinched. Her emerald eyes searched his hidden ones, trying to find the slightest opening in his armored exterior. "And I believe there's a part of you that doesn't want to see others suffer, either."

Shadow's hand trembled almost imperceptibly as his fingers curled around the emerald tightly. The silence stretched, punctuated only by their breathing, as he tried to collect himself.

"I've seen it in the way you've interacted with me,” she pressed on insistently, “in the way you've protected me. There's more to you than the mask you wear and the title you bear."

Shadow shifted his weight uneasily, head tilted slightly downward, seeming momentarily thrown off by her boldness. His reply was low, barely audible. "You know nothing of what lies beneath, Rose. The darkness that dwells within me is boundless, and the path I tread is stained with the blood of countless beings."

Amy gently reached out, resting her hand lightly atop his gauntlet-clad one. The warmth of her gloved hand against the cool metal seemed impossibly out of place here.

"But darkness isn't absolute, Shadow," she whispered gently. "There's always light, however faint, that persists amongst even the darkest of shadows. And I believe that light exists within you, too."

For a heartbeat, they stood frozen in that oddly gentle connection, the echo of her quiet declaration filling the empty space around them.

Then, without warning, Prince Shadow withdrew his hand, the Chaos Emerald's glow dimming as he concealed it within his cloak. His next words were colder, starkly devoid of the intimacy from moments ago.

"Then your beliefs are misplaced. And your compassion and optimism will be your downfall."

Without waiting for a response, he strode away, his boots echoing heavily in the corridor. He paused near a heavy dungeon door, glancing back briefly as though contemplating something, before speaking with impersonal detachment. "Your friends are just down the hall. I will be waiting for you here when you're done speaking with them. You have ten minutes."

Amy was left standing alone, her heart hammering painfully in her chest. She turned hesitantly, walking slowly toward the imposing prison dungeon. Her footsteps sounded hollow, reflecting the bleak emptiness she felt inside.

The dungeon corridor was darker and colder than she'd imagined. Its oppressive air pressed in on her from all sides, and she struggled to steady her breathing. She moved toward the central cell, barely able to make out the two familiar figures slumped against the far wall.

"Sonic! Tails!" Her voice cracked slightly as she approached, a rush of relief quickly overwhelmed by a wave of anguish at their state.

She gripped the bars tightly, her knuckles pale beneath her gloves. Inside, Sonic and Tails were barely recognizable—limp, drained, their spirits seeming extinguished.

"It's me, Amy," she whispered.

Sonic stirred weakly, lifting his head with obvious effort. His emerald eyes, dull and tired, sparked briefly with recognition as he managed to speak. "Amy... be careful..."

She didn't hesitate. Her hands fumbled anxiously with the lock, desperation fueling her movements until it finally clicked open. Pushing the door inward, she rushed to them, kneeling down beside her weakened friends. Her heart sank at their ragged appearances.

Tails managed to stir faintly. "A-Amy... you have to get out of here... this castle... it’s very dangerous. You shouldn’t... be here…"

Amy shook her head fiercely, tears brimming beneath her mask. "No! I'm not leaving you!"

She worked feverishly at the chains, scraping and tugging until her fingers burned with frustration. "I-I'm sorry," she whispered, voice trembling with guilt. "This is all my fault. If I had just been there to help when Shadow captured you, then..."

Her words faltered as realization dawned. Her fingers went to her cloak, pulling out the small patch Shadow had given her earlier. For a heartbeat, she hesitated. Then, gently, she applied it to Sonic's arm as hope and anxiety tightened her chest.

Seconds passed—slow, agonizing—until finally, Sonic's breathing eased. His eyes cleared slightly, regaining some of their sharpness. Recognition lit them once more. "Amy?" His voice was faint but clear, concern rising swiftly to the surface. "Amy, what happened? Are you hurt?"

Amy shook her head as she sobbed with relief. "No, Sonic, I'm okay. But we need to get you and Tails out of here."

Sonic tested his restraints, frustration tightening his features. Memories of his earlier clash with Prince Shadow flooded back, stirring his anger anew. "Shadow..." he sharply muttered. "Where is he? What did he do now?"

Amy hesitated, wary eyes darting briefly back to the door. "He's outside. He... he gave me the patch to help you. Said it would counteract the fumes."

Suspicion crept across Sonic's expression as he looked at her cautiously. "Why would he help us? After capturing us and bringing us here?"

She struggled for a reply, shaking her head slowly. "I don't know. There's something about him—something conflicted. But you're right, we can't fully trust him."

Sonic's eyes flicked urgently toward the door. "Amy, we have to get out of here. This place—it's dangerous. Shadow's dangerous. We have to warn G.U.N. before he attacks again."

He glanced worriedly at Tails, still unresponsive, and steeled himself. "We need to save everyone before it's too late."

Suddenly, heavy footsteps approached, and Amy turned in alarm as Black Arms soldiers emerged from the shadows. One spoke gruffly, authority resonating through the darkness. "Time's up, girl. Step away from the prisoners."

Amy reluctantly rose, casting one final, determined glance back at her friends. "I'll get you guys out of here, Sonic. I promise."

Sonic's eyes locked with hers in unspoken understanding. "I know you will, Amy. Just please... be careful."

As Amy was escorted away, Sonic watched her go, regret tightening his throat. "I'm sorry, Amy," he thought grimly, already beginning to maneuver the locks of his chains. "You're strong... and I know you'll understand why I have to do this."

As soon as Amy had gone, Sonic twisted and strained, using his sharp quills to scratch furiously against the metal. Then, in one swift motion, one of the locks popped open.

With a quiet clang, the chains fell away, freeing the both of them at last. He took a steadying breath, carefully scooping the still-unconscious Tails into his arms as determination settled in.

Sonic braced himself. With a sharp, crackling spin dash, he barreled forward, smashing through the dungeon walls in a blur of blue sparks.

Then he escaped onward, never once looking back.