{"submission_id":"1543215","keywords":[{"keyword_id":"6182","keyword_name":"amy","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"4791"},{"keyword_id":"9534","keyword_name":"amy rose","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"8635"},{"keyword_id":"1588","keyword_name":"fingering","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"7706"},{"keyword_id":"1465","keyword_name":"heat","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"2309"},{"keyword_id":"1008","keyword_name":"hedgehog","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"47857"},{"keyword_id":"1670","keyword_name":"horror","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"2264"},{"keyword_id":"11507","keyword_name":"male/female","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"40283"},{"keyword_id":"52230","keyword_name":"maria robotnik","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"208"},{"keyword_id":"837","keyword_name":"monster","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"12403"},{"keyword_id":"265","keyword_name":"orgasm","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"14315"},{"keyword_id":"5611","keyword_name":"season","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"236"},{"keyword_id":"39178","keyword_name":"shadamy","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"391"},{"keyword_id":"1005","keyword_name":"shadow","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"9228"},{"keyword_id":"20724","keyword_name":"shadow the hedgehog","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"8502"},{"keyword_id":"115764","keyword_name":"sonic boom","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"1642"},{"keyword_id":"7252","keyword_name":"sonic the hedgehog","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"29066"},{"keyword_id":"1846","keyword_name":"voyeurism","contributed":"f","submissions_count":"2409"}],"hidden":"t","scraps":"f","favorite":"f","favorites_count":"8","create_datetime":"2018-02-12 23:31:24.119631+01","create_datetime_usertime":"12 Feb 2018 23:31 CET","last_file_update_datetime":"2018-02-12 23:23:44.19016+01","last_file_update_datetime_usertime":"12 Feb 2018 23:23 CET","username":"Chinry","user_id":"447612","user_icon_file_name":"153322_Chinry_image.png","user_icon_url_large":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/large/153/153322_Chinry_image.png","user_icon_url_medium":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/medium/153/153322_Chinry_image.png","user_icon_url_small":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/usericons/small/153/153322_Chinry_image.png","file_name":"2188699_Chinry_ic5.doc","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/2188/2188699_Chinry_ic5.doc","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/2188/2188699_Chinry_ic5.doc","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/2188/2188699_Chinry_ic5.doc","files":[{"file_id":"2188699","file_name":"2188699_Chinry_ic5.doc","file_url_full":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/full/2188/2188699_Chinry_ic5.doc","file_url_screen":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/2188/2188699_Chinry_ic5.doc","file_url_preview":"https://nl.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/2188/2188699_Chinry_ic5.doc","mimetype":"application/msword","submission_id":"1543215","user_id":"447612","submission_file_order":"0","full_size_x":null,"full_size_y":null,"screen_size_x":null,"screen_size_y":null,"preview_size_x":null,"preview_size_y":null,"initial_file_md5":"571ef4d87ade14c787ffaf9d63c7bd8d","full_file_md5":"571ef4d87ade14c787ffaf9d63c7bd8d","large_file_md5":"","small_file_md5":"","thumbnail_md5":"","deleted":"f","create_datetime":"2018-02-12 23:23:44.19016+01","create_datetime_usertime":"12 Feb 2018 23:23 CET"}],"pools":[{"pool_id":"49514","name":"Internal Combustion","description":"My full blown story about the trials and tribulations of Amy and Sonic's early relationship. Boom based.","count":"14","submission_left_submission_id":"1543210","submission_left_file_name":"2188694_Chinry_ic4.doc","submission_right_submission_id":"1554176","submission_right_file_name":"2205572_Chinry_ic8.doc"}],"description":"We're here, some horrors and some smut, every bodies favourite things. The forest is important to the story and will appear again. There is no explanation to their existence, perhaps they are alien or ancient, perhaps they aren't even there. It's up to you when it comes to them. \n\nAgain I had to mold a history for Boom Shadow. It's not a vital part of THIS story, but he goes between worlds, and is vaguely aware of the demise of his counterparts. ","description_bbcode_parsed":"We're here, some horrors and some smut, every bodies favourite things. The forest is important to the story and will appear again. There is no explanation to their existence, perhaps they are alien or ancient, perhaps they aren't even there. It's up to you when it comes to them.  

Again I had to mold a history for Boom Shadow. It's not a vital part of THIS story, but he goes between worlds, and is vaguely aware of the demise of his counterparts. ","writing":"\tThe Chaos Control method Shadow used to flick between places was handy but she did not like the feeling. It was like every molecule of her body being spun in a different direction from the other. This time he held her steady as in a blink they were stood in her hut. The familiar smells of her plants and the sea and the varnished wood of her beautiful sofa hit her first as her eyes worked their way in to focus. \n\n\tShadow was used to the effects of Chaos, so it was himself who noticed Sonic asleep on Amy's couch. The blue hedgehog was not enjoying a peaceful sleep, and deep in the pit of his feelings there was a pinch of empathy. But surfacing too, he found himself feeling jealousy as he watched his pink companion walk over to her old flame.\n\n\tA voice in her head was screaming at her to wake Sonic up. The pained expressions his face was contorting in to were nearly enough to make her weep. Logic won out; Sonic was clearly already in a poor state and seeing her paired up with Shadow would not end well. She quickly scooped up a few home comforts, and before they left she lay a hand carefully on Sonic's muzzle. His writhing stopped, so she quickly lay down the letter she had penned by the TV (he would notice it there) and she allowed Shadow to carry her away.\n\n\tThe following days were less tedious with books to read. She could delve in to a book further than she could a TV show and it quietened her thoughts. She was still a sucker for romance and her novels swept her away to lands of knights and genies and creatures who became monsters at night. The hero, her hero, well there was only one blue boy who could fit that part, but creeping around the edges of her fantasy came the shadows.\n\n\tShe did not know what he did during the hours he was gone. There had been a couple of days he hadn't returned at all, and the nights alone had drawn on and on. The whispers of the forest called to her; using her friends voices to try and lure her in. Why of all places Shadow had chosen this supernatural patch of land to house himself was still a mystery to her. When he returned after a short absence, she hated him for leaving her to the horrors on the edge of her minds eye. This evaporated however, when she would see he was wounded and she tended to him immediately.\n\n\t“You don't have to do that, I will heal quickly without any aid, I am the Ultimate...”\n\n\t“...thorn in my side. Shut up and let me at least clean you up.”\n\n\t“Fine, but try not to cause more damage with those cumbersome digits of yours.”\n\n\tShe growled at him but carried on dabbing at his wounds. Not that he could tell her so but her enjoyed her delicate touch. Rouge may have been concerned for his wellbeing but she was as hard as the diamonds she craved. He had rarely come back to his house, choosing to sleep at work or in the wilds somewhere, but knowing Bud would be there made it feel more like a home. He was fond of her.\n\n\tThe respect he had found for her didn't mean his desire to physically own her had gone away. Her movements when fighting him were graceful and there was a spark in her eye when she thought she had the upper hand that stirred up the animal inside him. He knew she was weak at times too, that her ravenous need to mate could only be kept at bay by tiring her out for so long. He knew too she still foolishly pined for Sonic, but it was below him to reveal to her the blue idiots escapades. Not only would it hurt her, but it would break her final barrier to him, and as much as he wanted that it was the dishonest way. He could easily take her, so easily arouse her, but he was better than that. He was teaching her to be stronger than that. She was not the sum on her hormones.\n\n\tHe had caught her listening to messages on her communicator. He had permitted her to bring it if it was only going to be used in a dire emergency. The look on her face had brought him to a standstill, and he hid from view as she had quietly cried to herself.\n\n\t“I don't like being left alone here,” she sighed, gently cleaning a wound on his shoulder, “this place feels strange.”\n\n\t“Does it look like I had much of a choice,” he lightly growled back.\n\n\t“If you weren't so stubborn about keeping to yourself and got yourself a communicator you could have at least warned me.”\n\n\t“Why should I have to do that?”\n\n\t“Even Sonic isn't so brash he does let me know he's okay.”\n\n\tShadow fell silent again and she bit her lip lightly. She didn't intend to say the forbidden 'S' word, but the reaction she received this time was much less defensive than it had been. When she had first arrived she had slipped Sonic's name in to conversation more than she even realised she was doing, and he had chastised her for it. Even when she was away from him he was the main focus of her imagination and Shadow was simply trying to break that. She wanted it to be broken.\n\n\t“I just want you to let me in,” she sighed, unable to stand his silence any longer, “I want to know you, on a deeper level.”\n\n\t“We are going in to the forest.”\n\n\tShe dropped the tape she had been using to bandage him up, “The...now?”\n\n\tHe didn't respond with words but he grabbed her hand, pulled off her glove so their bare palms were touching, and dragged her out in to the night. She protested and tried to pull away but his resolve was stronger.\n\t“I know what's in there,” she cried, “I can't face them head on yet.”\n\n\t“We aren't here to see your demons”\n\n\tShe finally stopped pulling against him and gripped his hand tighter, “You still see them? Why do you stay here? How can you stand to listen to them?”\n\n\tHe turned to look at her, his fiery orbs glowing in the pale light of the moon, “To ground myself. Keep hold of my hand, if we stop making contact you will be lost to your own fears.”\n\n\tUsing her teeth she yanked off her other glove and wrapped her bare hand around his arm, while she locked the fingers of her other hand with his. She let him lead her towards the nightmare ahead but her legs trembled all the same. The whispers grew louder as they approached the edge of the trees, but they were not voices she recognised.\n\n\tHe pulled her close to his side, “They cannot physically hurt you Bud, they feed of the fear of their victims. You want to know me? Then buckle up.”\n\n*****\n\n\tShe stayed glued to him and they broke the barrier between reality and purgatory. Even the reassuring heat from his body and the grip of his hand could not stop her shaking. She wanted to turn and run so much she could physically feel herself twisting, but the promise of breaking the riddle that was Shadow the Hedgehog steadied her resolve. \n\n\tHer ear caught a sound and they stopped walking. It was the sound of several male voices, angry sounds, commanding them to stop. At least she had thought they were aimed at her. Out of the black she saw a human girl running towards them. Amy knew little about humans outside of Eggman, but the girl was clearly only a child. She tore passed them, her face full of fright and tears streamed off her cheeks. Almost within a heartbeat the men behind the voices appeared, soldiers with guns, several of them. There was no way they didn't intend the girl harm and the hero in Amy jumped forward. \n\n\t“Stop!” Amy cried, but they didn't hear her.\n\n\t“Nothing will stop them. Just watch, don't react.”\n\n\tThe sound of the gunshot rang painfully in her ears. She watched in horror as the girl fell, blood staining her delicate blue dress a sickening crimson hue. The men evaporated in to the air, leaving Amy, Shadow and the ghost child. The girl reached a bloodied hand out in their direction.\n\n\t“Sha...dow. Why...did you let them...do this to me.”\n\n\tAmy took a step towards her but Shadow yanked her back to his side, “You cannot do anything. I have tried. The consequences of making contact are not worth repeating.”\n\n\tAmy coughed back a sob, “Is this a memory?”\n\n\tHe closed his eyes to the ghost girl, “It is a warped memory. Maria was lost to the cruelty of mankind, but she rescued me before they took her. In her own way, she defied their cowardice even upon her death. I could not stop them, but I still blame myself. The creatures of this forest know that.”\n\n\tUnable to look at the child's slow demise any longer, Amy looked away. Even as the light of the scene faded and they were once again in darkness she couldn't remove that face from her minds eye. She felt a small squeeze of reassurance in her hand, and she realised the pain she was feeling must have been tenfold for Shadow.\n\n\t“I'm so sorry,” she gasped, “if I had known...”\n\n\t“All or nothing Bud. We are not backing out of this now. The only way out is to face this.”\n\n\tShe took in a breath to reply when the eerie glow shone again. In a clearing appeared the image of Sonic, years younger than he was now, closely followed by Shadow. Or at least, a much younger Shadow.\n\n\t“You can't catch me,” the blue baby taunted, “slow poke, can't keep up.”\n\n\t“Hey wait!,” young Shadow called after him, but the streak of blue had already disappeared in to the surrounding black. Amy noticed the young Shadow was wearing normal shoes, not the super powered trainers she had come to associate with him.\n\n\t“You will never speak of this to him.”\n\n\tShe laughed, “I don't need to. I can't believe you two knew each other as kids.”\n\n\t“We didn't. This isn't a memory.”\n\n\tShe turned to look at him and young Shadow faded from view, “I don't understand.”\n\n\tHis eyes met hers briefly but quickly looked away, “I have no recollection of childhood. I have no recollection of anything before....”\n\n\tShe jumped back, nearly losing her grip of his hand, as a monstrous glass tube appeared before them. Suspended in the liquid within was Shadow as she knew him, but his eyes were vacant. A wisp of smoke drifted next to the tube and morphed in to two figures. One looked like Eggman, but much older and less colourful. Next to him formed a horned mass she could not begin to comprehend. It was expressionless, practically faceless, but there was a smug, evil feel to it. \n\n\t“He will be powerful, he will be strong, he will be forever connected to us,” the demon hissed in a voice that rumbled through their otherwise silent surroundings.\n\n\t“He will protect us,” the Eggman look-alike added, determination in his ageing voice, but he was met with a harsh laugh.\n\n\t“Fool, he is a weapon, and that is all he ever will be. Awake, Shadow, my creation!”\n\n\tThe glass shattered and Amy raised a hand to shield herself, but all the world went dark and she was left standing next to the real hedgehog who had come from that terrifying vision. When he had fought them in the past she had never known why he hated them so much, or why he was taking orders from Eggman who he clearly had little tolerance for. He was a creation, or a mutant, a manipulation of DNA from that monster that had just stood there. \n\n\t“Stay with me Bud,” he whispered, “don't let go. No matter what you see now, you must hold on to me.”\n\n\tHer breathing was becoming heavy as her heart thundered in her chest. She needed this to all be over, she needed the time to gather her thoughts and feelings, but she was denied such luxury as more images swept in to view. She could see another Shadow again, but a light around him burned bright and she could barely make out the figures who were also part of the scene. A robot, and a white bat, strangers to her but they were pleading with the ghost Shadow.\n\n\t“Stop!” cried the female bat, “Don't you remember us? We're your teammates!”\n\n\t“Affirmative,” chimed the robot, “please do not destroy us. We are friends.”\n\n\tThe ghost Shadow was not deterred, “I am not a friend, I am not a team mate, I am just a weapon.”\n\n\tThere was a blinding flash, a scream of pain. She heard the sickening sound of breaking bones and even the smell of blood in her nose. As the light faded down, the entire image was gone.\n\n\tAmy realised she was holding her breath. Her hand ached as she realised Shadow had her in a death grip. It was at that point she noticed she had stepped back from him as far as she could. The scene before her had shaken her, not knowing what was his real memories and what was the creatures causing a nightmare.\n\n\t“One more,” he growled, and pulled her back to him.\n\n\tAmy let out a sob of surprise and anguish as her own image appeared before her. The ghost of her was older, pink quills swept on top of her head, and cradled in her arm was a squirming baby hoglet. She was cooing at the child, making it giggle, and the real Amy felt a pang inside her she had never known before.\n\n\t“Here comes Daddy,” ghost Amy laughed.\n\n\tShadow appeared, his ghost not far removed from the real one stood beside her, but he looked like a far happier soul. He smiled at the Mother and child, kissing them both on the forehead. They stood peacefully for a moment, before the world was shattered. Out of the trees came demons, aliens, so many black monsters who consumed Shadow in one fell swoop. He cried at ghost Amy to run, but she too was soon wrapped in tentacles from nameless sources. The baby was screaming as ghost Amy was swallowed by the black mass, and ghost Shadow was left to watch as his child was carried away and he succumbed to the claws that tore in to his flesh.\n\n\tThere was a shrill scream, and as the scene vanished in a flash Amy, the real one, realised it was her own. \n\n\t“They will not take her from you, they will not take her from me!” she cried, unable to stop herself from giving in to the burning anger and fear. She could hear the rustle of excited whispers as the night demons rejoiced in her pain, but before they could reach her she was engulfed in the strong arms of the hedgehog by her side. In a flash, they were both stood in front of the fireplace in his home. He did not let her go, and in the safety of his sure embrace, she gave in to the tears.\n\n*****\n\n\tShe wrapped her hands around the warm mug as he offered it to her. The tears had finally subsided but she still shook, even wrapped in a blanket in front of a roaring fire. Her throat was parched so they both sat in silence as she slowly drank her tea. Finally, Shadow spoke.\n\n\t“I'm...sorry,” he croaked. \n\n\t“Don't be,” she mumbled back.\n\n\tSilence again.\n\n\t“What was real. Why was...”\n\n\t“If I had known that last vision would include you, I wouldn't have made you face it.”\n\n\tAmy turned sideways to look at him, “Was that...new?”\n\n\tHe didn't return her stare but carried on looking in to his drink, “No, but she has never had a face before. I thought they were more symbolic, a vision of personal loss. Perhaps it is more literal than that. I don't know if I am able to breed if I wanted to.”\n\n\tShe considered his comment but did not push further. Instead she asked “The monsters that took me....I mean, her...what were they?”\n\n\t“It's already been a long night Bud, maybe you should....”\n\n\t“Tell me!”\n\n\tHe felt a flare of anger at her command, but looked back at her tear stained face he felt she had seen enough already to know the truth. She had not run from him yet, and though she was tearful now, she had shown strength in the face of the forest demons.\n\n\t“I was created. At least, I think I was. Whether I was moulded from scratch, or I was just another hedgehog who was used as a base, I don't know. Dr Robotnik, Eggman's Grandfather, he brought me to life.”\n\n\t“Eggman? Does he know about this?”\n\n\t“No, but his Grandfather had once been a good man. It took me a while to find out, but I was made to help cure disease. The Ultimate Life Form, incapable of succumbing to illness and death. Specifically, the disease that was killing his Granddaughter, Maria.”\n\n\t“The human girl.”\n\n\t“Humans are stupid, fearful creatures. When they discovered my existence they moved in to destroy the Doctors work. Maria, she got caught in the crossfire. She made sure I would survive so her Grandfathers work wasn't completely forgotten.”\n\n\t“Maria was a child, but Eggman is much older, how are siblings?”\n\n\t“My escape pod acted as a stasis tube. I was asleep for nearly fifty years.”\n\n\tAmy began to feel her head grow heavy with too much data, “Fift....then, those monsters....”\n\n\t“Black Doom. Aliens. The other worldly properties in their DNA were a key ingredient in giving me my powers. They are in my blood, I am connected to them. Robotnik had no idea just how evil they were, for their intention was always to use me as a weapon. To destroy or take control of the planet, as they deemed fit.”\n\n\tAmy stood abruptly and walked over to the fire. Staring in to the flames she tried to burn out the image of Shadow mercilessly killing his teammates. In his fights with Sonic she had seen how he wanted to beat him, but she would never have believed he could kill him. The bat's screams of pain rang so loudly still in her ears.\n\n\t“What you are picturing never leaves my mind!” he snapped suddenly. The fear of opening up to anyone beyond Rouge and Omega had always seemed logical, but he had believed this Amy Rose had more conviction in the good of people then to let his past taint him.\n\n\t“I destroyed Black Doom, but their blood will always run through my veins, and as such if I ever choose to have a family...”\n\n\t“I'm going to bed,” she interrupted and practically flew from the room. She had no door to hide behind so she buried herself under the covers. Ignoring the sound of a mug smashing, in to the fireplace from the sound of it, she bit down on her finger to stifle a sob.\n\n*****\n\n\tHours passed, and once the house had fallen silent she peeled back the covers. The visions would not leave her head, and the guilt she felt at running from Shadow burned through her. She didn't even know why she had walked away from their conversation. She had asked to know him, and through it all she had no regrets, but it was so much to process. It was no wonder he thought they were all so naive; the world had just expanded to other dimensions right in front of her. Her fairly simple life in her village, with her friends, with her love...they seemed a million miles away from her. She pined for her childhood and her simple crush and her home comforts.\n\n\tWhat she needed was physical contact to bring her back to the worldly plain. Shedding the safety of the covers she tip-toed back in to the main room, unsure if he was still there. She could see the remains of the smashed mug amongst the embers of the dying fire and wondered if it was best to leave him alone anyway. \n\n\tWhen she saw him asleep on the sofa, as he always did, she knew now was not the time to shy away from her instincts. The red stripes in his quills and fur were far more alien than she could have imagined, but they were such a part of him she couldn't picture them gone. The fleeting image of the baby her ghost had held earlier also sported a red stripe down the centre of her head. The genes he would pass on to his child. \n\n\tCarefully she sat in front of the sofa and took in his sleeping image. The ghost Shadow had looked so happy to see his family. Amy knew she was only part of that vision because she was at the forefront of his mind at that time, but all the same they made a nice trio. She was years away from wanting children yet, but tonight was the first time she had felt longed for that time to come sooner. Hormones were a funny thing, her body was calling for her to mate but her mind was far from Motherhood.\n\n\tMuch as she had done with Sonic before, she brushed fingers gently across his muzzle. The feeling of his breath on her fingers was so reassuring, so warming, that before she realised what she was doing she was leaning over him and planting a kiss delicately on his lips. \n\n\tWhen his hand slid behind her head to hold her in place she was not startled. They remained frozen in that delicate moments for too long, and out of discomfort and desire she couldn't help but manoeuvrer herself so she lay on top of him. His strong body below hers did not feel dangerous or alien, it felt like the safest place to be. As he began to explore her mouth further, the nightmares of their adventure melted in to the backdrop. He tasted like brandy, a favourite tipple of his she had learned, but it's vaguely oak and crisp taste encapsulated him so perfectly. She wanted to think of nothing more than the sensations she was feeling right there and then. His tongue danced against hers, his fingers buried in her sensitive spines. The sensation danced down her spine.\n\n\tBreaking away from him she lifted her head to look in to his eyes, “I need more,” she breathed.\n\n\tHis teeth clenched in his jaw, he had already pushed a boundary and though his body was aching to proceed he looked away, “we can't.”\n\n\tShe was not going to be denied, not tonight, so she sat up to lean all her weight on his hips, “we can.”\n\n\tHe balled his fists and fought against the desire growing where their bodies connected, “you aren't in the right state of mind.”\n\n\t“Maybe I'm bored of thinking with my mind. Maybe I want my body to talk,” she purred, twisting her hips harder in to him. She should have been bashful at the hard mound forming below her. She should have been coy but she pushed against him all the same, her body savouring the tingle she allowed it.\n\n\t“Stop that,” he barked, grabbing her at the waist and lifting her so they no longer making contact. Her fingers tangled in to his chest fur and there was a flash of anger in her beautiful eyes. Just as soon as it appeared, it deflated, and she looked sad once again.\n\n\t“I want those images to go away,” she whimpered.\n\n\tShe had got him. In those few simple words and in the fall of her shoulders his resolve was defeated. Scooting as far in to the back of the sofa as he could he helped her lay down flat on her back. There was conviction in her request, and if he could do anything at that moment it would be to wipe away the horrors he had originally thought were right to present her with. He leaned over and kissed her again, but his finger traced a line down the front of her body. He didn't know how far she had gone before with a male, but her moans did not quiver. He paused when he reached the hem of her shorts, but she didn't even flinch at the intimate nature of his exploration, and he buried a couple digits under the fabric. The heat of her skin burned a mark in his fingers he would never lose.\n\n\tShe broke their kiss with a light gasp, but she soon pulled him back in and kissed him even deeper than she had been. Her tongue was greedy but it was a reflection of her need to blot out everything but physical feelings. His fingers danced over her intimate spot and she was once again pulling away to gasp for air.\n\n\tNever before had he found such desire in watching a partner enjoy the magic of his touch. His eyes never once left hers, but her lids fluttered like a butterfly. Her mews of pleasure were almost more than he could take, but this was all for her and his needs would have to wait. The hand she had buried in his white fur chopped and changed between a tight grip to trembling stroking, and he indulged in imagining that hand elsewhere. \n\n\tAs her yelps became more desperate he quickened his pace, deciding against dipping a finger inside of her, wet as she was. Instead he concentrated on the small solid mass that was so sensitive each time he flicked it her face contorted. She was so absolutely at his mercy. As her hips bucked upward and her mouth formed an O he knew she was closed off from anything but physical pleasure and he grinned with satisfaction as with one final squeal she gave in to her orgasm. \n\n\tHe continued to watch as she rode out the crashes of her desire. He rested a hand on her stomach, wanting to keep contact, so even as her other senses were cut off she knew he was still there. With some difficulty he managed to lay back down himself and she curled up by his side, head resting on his chest. He was sure he felt a tear wet his fur, but rather than disturb her further he let her fall into a deep sleep.\n\n*****\n\n\tShe woke the next morning with a start. She was back in the familiar bed, the sun pouring in through the window, and the innocent sound of the birds singing their morning song. The world around her seemed at peace with itself and for a beautiful moment her mind was free.\n\n\tAfter learning so much about Shadow, she wasn't sure if she knew him even less than she had before. She had a lot to work with, but he wasn't even sure what he was himself. She had seen in to his soul, and he dreamed of a childhood as a hedgehog, he feared being anything but. She felt for sure he must have been born to regular parents. If, like Sonic, he had shown stronger abilities than most creatures it would make sense to use his body as a base for the alien blood. It must have ravaged him to the core and loss of memory would follow such destruction. Did he challenge Sonic in a desperate need to feel alive? He had been so tender with her; he was more than a weapon. It was hard to look back on the times he had fought her and her friends with the same anger she had before. Now she looked for a reason buried in his shady past. \n\n\tThe shrill sound of her communicator calling to her snapped her from her trance. She had not been taking the calls, but if she caught them in time she would listen to the message left, just in case. So far it was mostly conversational messages from Tails and Knuckles, telling her about their day, battles with Eggman, saying they missed her. It was now nearly three weeks since she had left, and she knew if they asked she would be returned in a heart beat. But she was too deep in to things now, she had seen the real challenge awaiting her in those woods and she was not backing down.\n\n\tShe pressed for the message to play. It was Sticks, the first message from her since Amy had left.\n\n\t“You aren't in season any more, so your brain can't be too scrambled by hormones now. You better be in love or having the best sex imaginable to leave us like this.”\n\n\tAmy made a sound akin to a puppy's yip. It was the sound of surprise mixed with anger. She didn't expect to hear from Sticks because even being her best friend, she knew the badgers insane fears of technology would put her off using the communicator more than necessary. She expected even LESS for her friend to say such a thing to her. Why assume that the only reason Amy hadn't come home was because she was...\n\n\tAmy dropped her head in to her hands and she flushed as she recalled how her night had ended. Swept up in all the emotions the evenings had brought she had sought physical reassurance and Shadow had provided it. Her stomach danced with the enormity of what they had done, only now letting logic crawl in and whisper in her ear. What would become of her friendship with Shadow? What would her friends think? What would Sonic think?\n\n\tHer blue hero had always been in the back of her mind. They had known each other for so long now and this had been the longest period she had ever been parted from him. She was sure he had no secrets from her and she had held on to the dream that they would finally end up together. She had only ever thought about him being her first experience and she was sure he hadn't looked at any other girls in that way. Or at least he wouldn't have acted upon it, he surely knew if he waited she would be ready.\n\n\tHer body had betrayed her heart and her head. She knew it was a risk staying with Shadow, but without talking about it directly she knew he had felt guilt for nearly taking advantage those weeks ago. He wanted to teach her to fight against him so they could never have an interaction like that again; so that she could overpower her lust and only give in when she was sure and ready.\n\n\tShe had given in. There was no denying she had wanted it and that she loved every second; she had demanded and begged and he had eased the pain in her heart. How could something that had felt so right now seem so wrong. If what Sticks had said was true, and Amy could now sense it was, the desires that clouded her judgement had passed and she had lusted for the black hedgehog because she specifically wanted him.\n\n\tShe stormed in to the kitchen, made herself some breakfast, and sat at the small table she spent her mornings reading at. The pile of books that sat there had all been read, bar the one at the bottom. It was all about a subject she both loved and loathed. Ever since their battles with Lyric and the mech suit that had consumed Sonic she had trouble facing the texts again. It was beyond superstitious, she was scared of it, and now was the time to end that. The horrors of the wood, that kept her trapped but Shadow safe from his bigger demons, had been watching her for long enough now. It was time to fight back on her terms, face her innermost fears, and get herself back to Mr Know-It-All. ","writing_bbcode_parsed":"\tThe Chaos Control method Shadow used to flick between places was handy but she did not like the feeling. It was like every molecule of her body being spun in a different direction from the other. This time he held her steady as in a blink they were stood in her hut. The familiar smells of her plants and the sea and the varnished wood of her beautiful sofa hit her first as her eyes worked their way in to focus.

\tShadow was used to the effects of Chaos, so it was himself who noticed Sonic asleep on Amy's couch. The blue hedgehog was not enjoying a peaceful sleep, and deep in the pit of his feelings there was a pinch of empathy. But surfacing too, he found himself feeling jealousy as he watched his pink companion walk over to her old flame.

\tA voice in her head was screaming at her to wake Sonic up. The pained expressions his face was contorting in to were nearly enough to make her weep. Logic won out; Sonic was clearly already in a poor state and seeing her paired up with Shadow would not end well. She quickly scooped up a few home comforts, and before they left she lay a hand carefully on Sonic's muzzle. His writhing stopped, so she quickly lay down the letter she had penned by the TV (he would notice it there) and she allowed Shadow to carry her away.

\tThe following days were less tedious with books to read. She could delve in to a book further than she could a TV show and it quietened her thoughts. She was still a sucker for romance and her novels swept her away to lands of knights and genies and creatures who became monsters at night. The hero, her hero, well there was only one blue boy who could fit that part, but creeping around the edges of her fantasy came the shadows.

\tShe did not know what he did during the hours he was gone. There had been a couple of days he hadn't returned at all, and the nights alone had drawn on and on. The whispers of the forest called to her; using her friends voices to try and lure her in. Why of all places Shadow had chosen this supernatural patch of land to house himself was still a mystery to her. When he returned after a short absence, she hated him for leaving her to the horrors on the edge of her minds eye. This evaporated however, when she would see he was wounded and she tended to him immediately.

\t“You don't have to do that, I will heal quickly without any aid, I am the Ultimate...”

\t“...thorn in my side. Shut up and let me at least clean you up.”

\t“Fine, but try not to cause more damage with those cumbersome digits of yours.”

\tShe growled at him but carried on dabbing at his wounds. Not that he could tell her so but her enjoyed her delicate touch. Rouge may have been concerned for his wellbeing but she was as hard as the diamonds she craved. He had rarely come back to his house, choosing to sleep at work or in the wilds somewhere, but knowing Bud would be there made it feel more like a home. He was fond of her.

\tThe respect he had found for her didn't mean his desire to physically own her had gone away. Her movements when fighting him were graceful and there was a spark in her eye when she thought she had the upper hand that stirred up the animal inside him. He knew she was weak at times too, that her ravenous need to mate could only be kept at bay by tiring her out for so long. He knew too she still foolishly pined for Sonic, but it was below him to reveal to her the blue idiots escapades. Not only would it hurt her, but it would break her final barrier to him, and as much as he wanted that it was the dishonest way. He could easily take her, so easily arouse her, but he was better than that. He was teaching her to be stronger than that. She was not the sum on her hormones.

\tHe had caught her listening to messages on her communicator. He had permitted her to bring it if it was only going to be used in a dire emergency. The look on her face had brought him to a standstill, and he hid from view as she had quietly cried to herself.

\t“I don't like being left alone here,” she sighed, gently cleaning a wound on his shoulder, “this place feels strange.”

\t“Does it look like I had much of a choice,” he lightly growled back.

\t“If you weren't so stubborn about keeping to yourself and got yourself a communicator you could have at least warned me.”

\t“Why should I have to do that?”

\t“Even Sonic isn't so brash he does let me know he's okay.”

\tShadow fell silent again and she bit her lip lightly. She didn't intend to say the forbidden 'S' word, but the reaction she received this time was much less defensive than it had been. When she had first arrived she had slipped Sonic's name in to conversation more than she even realised she was doing, and he had chastised her for it. Even when she was away from him he was the main focus of her imagination and Shadow was simply trying to break that. She wanted it to be broken.

\t“I just want you to let me in,” she sighed, unable to stand his silence any longer, “I want to know you, on a deeper level.”

\t“We are going in to the forest.”

\tShe dropped the tape she had been using to bandage him up, “The...now?”

\tHe didn't respond with words but he grabbed her hand, pulled off her glove so their bare palms were touching, and dragged her out in to the night. She protested and tried to pull away but his resolve was stronger.
\t“I know what's in there,” she cried, “I can't face them head on yet.”

\t“We aren't here to see your demons”

\tShe finally stopped pulling against him and gripped his hand tighter, “You still see them? Why do you stay here? How can you stand to listen to them?”

\tHe turned to look at her, his fiery orbs glowing in the pale light of the moon, “To ground myself. Keep hold of my hand, if we stop making contact you will be lost to your own fears.”

\tUsing her teeth she yanked off her other glove and wrapped her bare hand around his arm, while she locked the fingers of her other hand with his. She let him lead her towards the nightmare ahead but her legs trembled all the same. The whispers grew louder as they approached the edge of the trees, but they were not voices she recognised.

\tHe pulled her close to his side, “They cannot physically hurt you Bud, they feed of the fear of their victims. You want to know me? Then buckle up.”

*****

\tShe stayed glued to him and they broke the barrier between reality and purgatory. Even the reassuring heat from his body and the grip of his hand could not stop her shaking. She wanted to turn and run so much she could physically feel herself twisting, but the promise of breaking the riddle that was Shadow the Hedgehog steadied her resolve.

\tHer ear caught a sound and they stopped walking. It was the sound of several male voices, angry sounds, commanding them to stop. At least she had thought they were aimed at her. Out of the black she saw a human girl running towards them. Amy knew little about humans outside of Eggman, but the girl was clearly only a child. She tore passed them, her face full of fright and tears streamed off her cheeks. Almost within a heartbeat the men behind the voices appeared, soldiers with guns, several of them. There was no way they didn't intend the girl harm and the hero in Amy jumped forward.

\t“Stop!” Amy cried, but they didn't hear her.

\t“Nothing will stop them. Just watch, don't react.”

\tThe sound of the gunshot rang painfully in her ears. She watched in horror as the girl fell, blood staining her delicate blue dress a sickening crimson hue. The men evaporated in to the air, leaving Amy, Shadow and the ghost child. The girl reached a bloodied hand out in their direction.

\t“Sha...dow. Why...did you let them...do this to me.”

\tAmy took a step towards her but Shadow yanked her back to his side, “You cannot do anything. I have tried. The consequences of making contact are not worth repeating.”

\tAmy coughed back a sob, “Is this a memory?”

\tHe closed his eyes to the ghost girl, “It is a warped memory. Maria was lost to the cruelty of mankind, but she rescued me before they took her. In her own way, she defied their cowardice even upon her death. I could not stop them, but I still blame myself. The creatures of this forest know that.”

\tUnable to look at the child's slow demise any longer, Amy looked away. Even as the light of the scene faded and they were once again in darkness she couldn't remove that face from her minds eye. She felt a small squeeze of reassurance in her hand, and she realised the pain she was feeling must have been tenfold for Shadow.

\t“I'm so sorry,” she gasped, “if I had known...”

\t“All or nothing Bud. We are not backing out of this now. The only way out is to face this.”

\tShe took in a breath to reply when the eerie glow shone again. In a clearing appeared the image of Sonic, years younger than he was now, closely followed by Shadow. Or at least, a much younger Shadow.

\t“You can't catch me,” the blue baby taunted, “slow poke, can't keep up.”

\t“Hey wait!,” young Shadow called after him, but the streak of blue had already disappeared in to the surrounding black. Amy noticed the young Shadow was wearing normal shoes, not the super powered trainers she had come to associate with him.

\t“You will never speak of this to him.”

\tShe laughed, “I don't need to. I can't believe you two knew each other as kids.”

\t“We didn't. This isn't a memory.”

\tShe turned to look at him and young Shadow faded from view, “I don't understand.”

\tHis eyes met hers briefly but quickly looked away, “I have no recollection of childhood. I have no recollection of anything before....”

\tShe jumped back, nearly losing her grip of his hand, as a monstrous glass tube appeared before them. Suspended in the liquid within was Shadow as she knew him, but his eyes were vacant. A wisp of smoke drifted next to the tube and morphed in to two figures. One looked like Eggman, but much older and less colourful. Next to him formed a horned mass she could not begin to comprehend. It was expressionless, practically faceless, but there was a smug, evil feel to it.

\t“He will be powerful, he will be strong, he will be forever connected to us,” the demon hissed in a voice that rumbled through their otherwise silent surroundings.

\t“He will protect us,” the Eggman look-alike added, determination in his ageing voice, but he was met with a harsh laugh.

\t“Fool, he is a weapon, and that is all he ever will be. Awake, Shadow, my creation!”

\tThe glass shattered and Amy raised a hand to shield herself, but all the world went dark and she was left standing next to the real hedgehog who had come from that terrifying vision. When he had fought them in the past she had never known why he hated them so much, or why he was taking orders from Eggman who he clearly had little tolerance for. He was a creation, or a mutant, a manipulation of DNA from that monster that had just stood there.

\t“Stay with me Bud,” he whispered, “don't let go. No matter what you see now, you must hold on to me.”

\tHer breathing was becoming heavy as her heart thundered in her chest. She needed this to all be over, she needed the time to gather her thoughts and feelings, but she was denied such luxury as more images swept in to view. She could see another Shadow again, but a light around him burned bright and she could barely make out the figures who were also part of the scene. A robot, and a white bat, strangers to her but they were pleading with the ghost Shadow.

\t“Stop!” cried the female bat, “Don't you remember us? We're your teammates!”

\t“Affirmative,” chimed the robot, “please do not destroy us. We are friends.”

\tThe ghost Shadow was not deterred, “I am not a friend, I am not a team mate, I am just a weapon.”

\tThere was a blinding flash, a scream of pain. She heard the sickening sound of breaking bones and even the smell of blood in her nose. As the light faded down, the entire image was gone.

\tAmy realised she was holding her breath. Her hand ached as she realised Shadow had her in a death grip. It was at that point she noticed she had stepped back from him as far as she could. The scene before her had shaken her, not knowing what was his real memories and what was the creatures causing a nightmare.

\t“One more,” he growled, and pulled her back to him.

\tAmy let out a sob of surprise and anguish as her own image appeared before her. The ghost of her was older, pink quills swept on top of her head, and cradled in her arm was a squirming baby hoglet. She was cooing at the child, making it giggle, and the real Amy felt a pang inside her she had never known before.

\t“Here comes Daddy,” ghost Amy laughed.

\tShadow appeared, his ghost not far removed from the real one stood beside her, but he looked like a far happier soul. He smiled at the Mother and child, kissing them both on the forehead. They stood peacefully for a moment, before the world was shattered. Out of the trees came demons, aliens, so many black monsters who consumed Shadow in one fell swoop. He cried at ghost Amy to run, but she too was soon wrapped in tentacles from nameless sources. The baby was screaming as ghost Amy was swallowed by the black mass, and ghost Shadow was left to watch as his child was carried away and he succumbed to the claws that tore in to his flesh.

\tThere was a shrill scream, and as the scene vanished in a flash Amy, the real one, realised it was her own.

\t“They will not take her from you, they will not take her from me!” she cried, unable to stop herself from giving in to the burning anger and fear. She could hear the rustle of excited whispers as the night demons rejoiced in her pain, but before they could reach her she was engulfed in the strong arms of the hedgehog by her side. In a flash, they were both stood in front of the fireplace in his home. He did not let her go, and in the safety of his sure embrace, she gave in to the tears.

*****

\tShe wrapped her hands around the warm mug as he offered it to her. The tears had finally subsided but she still shook, even wrapped in a blanket in front of a roaring fire. Her throat was parched so they both sat in silence as she slowly drank her tea. Finally, Shadow spoke.

\t“I'm...sorry,” he croaked.

\t“Don't be,” she mumbled back.

\tSilence again.

\t“What was real. Why was...”

\t“If I had known that last vision would include you, I wouldn't have made you face it.”

\tAmy turned sideways to look at him, “Was that...new?”

\tHe didn't return her stare but carried on looking in to his drink, “No, but she has never had a face before. I thought they were more symbolic, a vision of personal loss. Perhaps it is more literal than that. I don't know if I am able to breed if I wanted to.”

\tShe considered his comment but did not push further. Instead she asked “The monsters that took me....I mean, her...what were they?”

\t“It's already been a long night Bud, maybe you should....”

\t“Tell me!”

\tHe felt a flare of anger at her command, but looked back at her tear stained face he felt she had seen enough already to know the truth. She had not run from him yet, and though she was tearful now, she had shown strength in the face of the forest demons.

\t“I was created. At least, I think I was. Whether I was moulded from scratch, or I was just another hedgehog who was used as a base, I don't know. Dr Robotnik, Eggman's Grandfather, he brought me to life.”

\t“Eggman? Does he know about this?”

\t“No, but his Grandfather had once been a good man. It took me a while to find out, but I was made to help cure disease. The Ultimate Life Form, incapable of succumbing to illness and death. Specifically, the disease that was killing his Granddaughter, Maria.”

\t“The human girl.”

\t“Humans are stupid, fearful creatures. When they discovered my existence they moved in to destroy the Doctors work. Maria, she got caught in the crossfire. She made sure I would survive so her Grandfathers work wasn't completely forgotten.”

\t“Maria was a child, but Eggman is much older, how are siblings?”

\t“My escape pod acted as a stasis tube. I was asleep for nearly fifty years.”

\tAmy began to feel her head grow heavy with too much data, “Fift....then, those monsters....”

\t“Black Doom. Aliens. The other worldly properties in their DNA were a key ingredient in giving me my powers. They are in my blood, I am connected to them. Robotnik had no idea just how evil they were, for their intention was always to use me as a weapon. To destroy or take control of the planet, as they deemed fit.”

\tAmy stood abruptly and walked over to the fire. Staring in to the flames she tried to burn out the image of Shadow mercilessly killing his teammates. In his fights with Sonic she had seen how he wanted to beat him, but she would never have believed he could kill him. The bat's screams of pain rang so loudly still in her ears.

\t“What you are picturing never leaves my mind!” he snapped suddenly. The fear of opening up to anyone beyond Rouge and Omega had always seemed logical, but he had believed this Amy Rose had more conviction in the good of people then to let his past taint him.

\t“I destroyed Black Doom, but their blood will always run through my veins, and as such if I ever choose to have a family...”

\t“I'm going to bed,” she interrupted and practically flew from the room. She had no door to hide behind so she buried herself under the covers. Ignoring the sound of a mug smashing, in to the fireplace from the sound of it, she bit down on her finger to stifle a sob.

*****

\tHours passed, and once the house had fallen silent she peeled back the covers. The visions would not leave her head, and the guilt she felt at running from Shadow burned through her. She didn't even know why she had walked away from their conversation. She had asked to know him, and through it all she had no regrets, but it was so much to process. It was no wonder he thought they were all so naive; the world had just expanded to other dimensions right in front of her. Her fairly simple life in her village, with her friends, with her love...they seemed a million miles away from her. She pined for her childhood and her simple crush and her home comforts.

\tWhat she needed was physical contact to bring her back to the worldly plain. Shedding the safety of the covers she tip-toed back in to the main room, unsure if he was still there. She could see the remains of the smashed mug amongst the embers of the dying fire and wondered if it was best to leave him alone anyway.

\tWhen she saw him asleep on the sofa, as he always did, she knew now was not the time to shy away from her instincts. The red stripes in his quills and fur were far more alien than she could have imagined, but they were such a part of him she couldn't picture them gone. The fleeting image of the baby her ghost had held earlier also sported a red stripe down the centre of her head. The genes he would pass on to his child.

\tCarefully she sat in front of the sofa and took in his sleeping image. The ghost Shadow had looked so happy to see his family. Amy knew she was only part of that vision because she was at the forefront of his mind at that time, but all the same they made a nice trio. She was years away from wanting children yet, but tonight was the first time she had felt longed for that time to come sooner. Hormones were a funny thing, her body was calling for her to mate but her mind was far from Motherhood.

\tMuch as she had done with Sonic before, she brushed fingers gently across his muzzle. The feeling of his breath on her fingers was so reassuring, so warming, that before she realised what she was doing she was leaning over him and planting a kiss delicately on his lips.

\tWhen his hand slid behind her head to hold her in place she was not startled. They remained frozen in that delicate moments for too long, and out of discomfort and desire she couldn't help but manoeuvrer herself so she lay on top of him. His strong body below hers did not feel dangerous or alien, it felt like the safest place to be. As he began to explore her mouth further, the nightmares of their adventure melted in to the backdrop. He tasted like brandy, a favourite tipple of his she had learned, but it's vaguely oak and crisp taste encapsulated him so perfectly. She wanted to think of nothing more than the sensations she was feeling right there and then. His tongue danced against hers, his fingers buried in her sensitive spines. The sensation danced down her spine.

\tBreaking away from him she lifted her head to look in to his eyes, “I need more,” she breathed.

\tHis teeth clenched in his jaw, he had already pushed a boundary and though his body was aching to proceed he looked away, “we can't.”

\tShe was not going to be denied, not tonight, so she sat up to lean all her weight on his hips, “we can.”

\tHe balled his fists and fought against the desire growing where their bodies connected, “you aren't in the right state of mind.”

\t“Maybe I'm bored of thinking with my mind. Maybe I want my body to talk,” she purred, twisting her hips harder in to him. She should have been bashful at the hard mound forming below her. She should have been coy but she pushed against him all the same, her body savouring the tingle she allowed it.

\t“Stop that,” he barked, grabbing her at the waist and lifting her so they no longer making contact. Her fingers tangled in to his chest fur and there was a flash of anger in her beautiful eyes. Just as soon as it appeared, it deflated, and she looked sad once again.

\t“I want those images to go away,” she whimpered.

\tShe had got him. In those few simple words and in the fall of her shoulders his resolve was defeated. Scooting as far in to the back of the sofa as he could he helped her lay down flat on her back. There was conviction in her request, and if he could do anything at that moment it would be to wipe away the horrors he had originally thought were right to present her with. He leaned over and kissed her again, but his finger traced a line down the front of her body. He didn't know how far she had gone before with a male, but her moans did not quiver. He paused when he reached the hem of her shorts, but she didn't even flinch at the intimate nature of his exploration, and he buried a couple digits under the fabric. The heat of her skin burned a mark in his fingers he would never lose.

\tShe broke their kiss with a light gasp, but she soon pulled him back in and kissed him even deeper than she had been. Her tongue was greedy but it was a reflection of her need to blot out everything but physical feelings. His fingers danced over her intimate spot and she was once again pulling away to gasp for air.

\tNever before had he found such desire in watching a partner enjoy the magic of his touch. His eyes never once left hers, but her lids fluttered like a butterfly. Her mews of pleasure were almost more than he could take, but this was all for her and his needs would have to wait. The hand she had buried in his white fur chopped and changed between a tight grip to trembling stroking, and he indulged in imagining that hand elsewhere.

\tAs her yelps became more desperate he quickened his pace, deciding against dipping a finger inside of her, wet as she was. Instead he concentrated on the small solid mass that was so sensitive each time he flicked it her face contorted. She was so absolutely at his mercy. As her hips bucked upward and her mouth formed an O he knew she was closed off from anything but physical pleasure and he grinned with satisfaction as with one final squeal she gave in to her orgasm.

\tHe continued to watch as she rode out the crashes of her desire. He rested a hand on her stomach, wanting to keep contact, so even as her other senses were cut off she knew he was still there. With some difficulty he managed to lay back down himself and she curled up by his side, head resting on his chest. He was sure he felt a tear wet his fur, but rather than disturb her further he let her fall into a deep sleep.

*****

\tShe woke the next morning with a start. She was back in the familiar bed, the sun pouring in through the window, and the innocent sound of the birds singing their morning song. The world around her seemed at peace with itself and for a beautiful moment her mind was free.

\tAfter learning so much about Shadow, she wasn't sure if she knew him even less than she had before. She had a lot to work with, but he wasn't even sure what he was himself. She had seen in to his soul, and he dreamed of a childhood as a hedgehog, he feared being anything but. She felt for sure he must have been born to regular parents. If, like Sonic, he had shown stronger abilities than most creatures it would make sense to use his body as a base for the alien blood. It must have ravaged him to the core and loss of memory would follow such destruction. Did he challenge Sonic in a desperate need to feel alive? He had been so tender with her; he was more than a weapon. It was hard to look back on the times he had fought her and her friends with the same anger she had before. Now she looked for a reason buried in his shady past.

\tThe shrill sound of her communicator calling to her snapped her from her trance. She had not been taking the calls, but if she caught them in time she would listen to the message left, just in case. So far it was mostly conversational messages from Tails and Knuckles, telling her about their day, battles with Eggman, saying they missed her. It was now nearly three weeks since she had left, and she knew if they asked she would be returned in a heart beat. But she was too deep in to things now, she had seen the real challenge awaiting her in those woods and she was not backing down.

\tShe pressed for the message to play. It was Sticks, the first message from her since Amy had left.

\t“You aren't in season any more, so your brain can't be too scrambled by hormones now. You better be in love or having the best sex imaginable to leave us like this.”

\tAmy made a sound akin to a puppy's yip. It was the sound of surprise mixed with anger. She didn't expect to hear from Sticks because even being her best friend, she knew the badgers insane fears of technology would put her off using the communicator more than necessary. She expected even LESS for her friend to say such a thing to her. Why assume that the only reason Amy hadn't come home was because she was...

\tAmy dropped her head in to her hands and she flushed as she recalled how her night had ended. Swept up in all the emotions the evenings had brought she had sought physical reassurance and Shadow had provided it. Her stomach danced with the enormity of what they had done, only now letting logic crawl in and whisper in her ear. What would become of her friendship with Shadow? What would her friends think? What would Sonic think?

\tHer blue hero had always been in the back of her mind. They had known each other for so long now and this had been the longest period she had ever been parted from him. She was sure he had no secrets from her and she had held on to the dream that they would finally end up together. She had only ever thought about him being her first experience and she was sure he hadn't looked at any other girls in that way. Or at least he wouldn't have acted upon it, he surely knew if he waited she would be ready.

\tHer body had betrayed her heart and her head. She knew it was a risk staying with Shadow, but without talking about it directly she knew he had felt guilt for nearly taking advantage those weeks ago. He wanted to teach her to fight against him so they could never have an interaction like that again; so that she could overpower her lust and only give in when she was sure and ready.

\tShe had given in. There was no denying she had wanted it and that she loved every second; she had demanded and begged and he had eased the pain in her heart. How could something that had felt so right now seem so wrong. If what Sticks had said was true, and Amy could now sense it was, the desires that clouded her judgement had passed and she had lusted for the black hedgehog because she specifically wanted him.

\tShe stormed in to the kitchen, made herself some breakfast, and sat at the small table she spent her mornings reading at. The pile of books that sat there had all been read, bar the one at the bottom. It was all about a subject she both loved and loathed. Ever since their battles with Lyric and the mech suit that had consumed Sonic she had trouble facing the texts again. It was beyond superstitious, she was scared of it, and now was the time to end that. The horrors of the wood, that kept her trapped but Shadow safe from his bigger demons, had been watching her for long enough now. It was time to fight back on her terms, face her innermost fears, and get herself back to Mr Know-It-All. ","pools_count":1,"title":"Internal Combustion: 5","deleted":"f","public":"t","mimetype":"application/msword","pagecount":"1","rating_id":"2","rating_name":"Adult","ratings":[{"content_tag_id":"4","name":"Sexual Themes","description":"Erotic imagery, sexual activity or arousal","rating_id":"2"},{"content_tag_id":"5","name":"Strong Violence","description":"Strong violence, blood, serious injury or death","rating_id":"2"}],"submission_type_id":"12","type_name":"Writing - Document","guest_block":"t","friends_only":"f","comments_count":"7","views":"126","sales_description":null,"forsale":"f","digitalsales":"f","printsales":"f","digital_price":""}