Maria...
He.
Took.
Her.
I can't believe the doctor would have the gull to kidnap her...
I will take her back. I... I have to. You know why...
I might have been a little more explosive than I should have been when I heard the news.
Her friends are worried too...
Tails have made a plan to infiltrate the doctor's base, though I still don't know the full details.
Also...
I told Rouge.
She seems okay with it. I'm glad.
No matter what...
I'll be there for Pinkie.
Love,
Shadow
Shadow woke up from a light sleep. In truth, he did not get much sleep the previous night. He stared up at the ceiling.
His heart was heavy as he inhaled and exhaled calmly.
He could feel tears in his eyes.
He closed his eyes and sighed. Shadow slowly sat up and opened his eyes.
Pinkie's room was silent, and felt empty, just as he was. He slid off the bed, and slowly walked across the room. He stopped in front of her bed.
Sometimes he woke up in the middle of the night and ended up watching Pinkie sleep until he could sleep again.
She was different when sleeping.
She was angelic, and peaceful. Calm.
He was missing her.
He put a hand on the blanket, and stayed silent.
"Unky?"
Shadow blinked. He turned to see the Cake twins, Pound and Pumpkin, looking up to him with concerned eyes. He briefly wondered how they had gotten up the stairs so silently. Pumpkin was the one who had called to him.
"Auntie Pinkie okay?" Pound asked. The two were learning how to put sentences together.
Shadow sighed silently, and smiled softly at the two little ones. He bent down to their level.
"Auntie Pinkie Pie will be alright. I promise."
The foals smiled at him and pointed at the stairs.
"Bak ride!"
Shadow knew what they wanted, and rolled his eyes with a smile.
"Alright, but you have to hold on tight."
He picked up the two foals, and put them on his shoulders.
"Down the stairs we go!"
He thumped down the stairs, while also saying thump in every step he stepped.
The cakes twins giggled and laughed with joy.
By the end of the stairs, he was also laughing along with the two little ones as they entered the shop.
Mr. and Ms. Cake noticed the sudden laughter, and turned their heads to Shadow. Shadow took no notice as he carried Pound and Pumpkin back onto the ground.
"Thankie uncle Shady!"
Shadow smiled at the two.
"You're welcome little ones."
He stood straight, and returned to a neutral face.
He looked to the Cakes.
"I have to get going. We're going to get her back."
They nodded, and Ms. Cake smiled.
"Take care of yourself Mr. Shadow."
Shadow nodded, and walked out of Sugarcube Corner.
"So, what's the plan?"
Sonic and co, and the mane 5 stood on a hillside, from where they could see the base Eggman had built. Sadly, the mane 5 had to stay back and were there only if anything magical happened. Tails was relaying the plan.
"Eggman's main base of operation is in the center of the facility. Pinkie is being kept somewhere in the back of the facility. It was decided only one of us will go rescue Pinkie Pie, while the others cause a distraction."
Knuckles nodded.
"So, who's rescuing Pinkie?"
Rouge looked to Shadow.
She gave him a look that said all she needed to. Shadow gave a fake sigh.
"I'll find Pinkie, and sneak out the back door of the facility."
Sonic and Silver looked at him strangely.
"Really?" Silver asked.
"Are you sure Shadow? I mean, me and Silver could-"
"No." Shadow said forcefully. Perhaps a little too forcefully.
He sighed again.
"I mean, Eggman would be least expecting someone like me to rescue somepony I supposedly hate."
Tails was surprised. "Supposedly?"
Shadow gasped internally. He let too much out.
He turned, and looked away from the group.
Sonic, Silver, Tails, and Knuckles stared at him with confused looks.
Sonic spoke.
"..Shadow, what's going on?"
The mane 5 felt a panic coming on, and Rainbow Dash decided to interrupt.
"Come on guys, we don't wave all day!"
As soon as she had said that, Eggman's robots began to stream out of the base.
The group would have to talk later.
Sonic gave a glance to Shadow, who immediately charged forward, with one goal.
Sonic and his friends ran forward, ready to face Eggman.
Pinkie was locked behind bars, but she was not all sad and somber like most would be. Actually, she was having quite a pleasant chat with Orbot and Cubot about favorite board games, while playing go fish.
They were in the prisoner containment area, and Pinkie was eating a cookie she had brought in her hair.
"I personally love sea serpents and stairs." Pinkie commented, remembering the last time she played with Rainbow Dash. RD lost.
"I've always found great personal enjoyment in connect 4." Cubot said, his voice changing halfway through the sentence.
"Chess is more of my personal style," Orbot added, glancing at his cards.
"PInkie, do you have a red card?"
"Nope, go fish!"
Orbot sighed and picked up a card from the deck.
Suddenly, Eggman came flying in on his usual machine.
"Orebot! Cubot! What did I say about patronizing with prisoners?"
"No more than 1 hour." Cubot responded in a matter-of-fact voice.
Eggman checked the clock he had onboard the machine.
"Then get out of here!" Eggman yelled, making the two robots panic.
"Yes, boss, right away boss."
The two robots ran down the hallway, leaving Eggman with Pinkie.
She beamed.
"Hello again Mr. mustache! You know, you're not so menacing without any machines, and-"
Pinkie kept talking, and Eggman was already annoyed.
"I can't take much more of this." He mumbled under his breath.
Suddenly an alarm sounded.
" Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert! Sonic and his annoying friends spotted in the outer facility!"
Eggman suddenly grinned evilly.
"Ah, perfect timing!"
Eggman pushed a button, and the bars lowered. Pinkie beamed.
"Are you finally going to let me out?"
"No, you idiot! I'm going to use you. For a trap!"
A claw grabbed Pinkie and made her yelp. It carried her to the center of hallway, and dropped her there.
"Now we wait."
"Wait? What do you-"
Suddenly another announcement came through.
"Intruder alert! Shadow the hedgehog has entered the building!"
Pinkie gasped. She wasn't peppy now.
"Shadow..."
Shadow ran through the halls with ease, tearing through Eggman's robots like Pinkie's usage of confetti.
He could feel her presence.
He was running down the big prisoner's hall when he saw her. Pinkie Pie.
He stopped in his tracks and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Pinkie."
Pinkie smiled, but then her face turned into one of worry as realization hit her.
"Shadow, wait! It's a trap!"
All of a sudden, Eggman appeared in his walking mech, gun aimed... At Pinkie.
"Ah, ah, ah Shadow!"
Pinkie's eyes widened, and her ears drooped in fear.
Shadow stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes widened, and he growled fiercely.
"Let go of her Doctor!"
Eggman began to laugh.
"You know Shadow, I would never have taken you as the sentimental type. But after a little snoop around Ponyville, I've seen you two are more than mutual acquaintances.
Shadow growled again, and was about to step forward when Eggman interrupted.
"Shadow, before you escape with her in your arms, let me bring up an important point to consider."
A screen appeared before Eggman. It read:
Self-Destruct:
2 minutes
Shadow felt his eyes widen.
"Yes... Your comrades are walking into a bomb! The control room will be the first to blow! So, what will it be Shadow? Them, or her?"
Shadow gritted his teeth. He looked away; the decision was getting to him. He even felt non-existent tears in the corner of his eyes.
"Shadow!"
Pinkie suddenly spoke, making Shadow turn to her. Her eyes were flowing with tears, but she held a smile.
"Please... Go save them... I'll be alright.."
Shadow closed his eyes. He took in her words. He took in her trust. He trusts her.
He opened his eyes, and gave a slight nod, turning, and racing back to the main group.
Eggman did not follow. He only watched him leave.
"Uh-oh. Uh, Sonic?"
Tails begin to worry as the door to the control room sealed shut behind the group. Sonic grunted as he realized.
"Eggman's tricked us!"
Suddenly, a timer appeared on the screen.
Silver ran up to the screen.
"We've got to get out of here, and fast!"
Knuckles, Amy, and Rouge turned to the door.
"Let's bust our way out!" Amy lifted up her hammer, and the trio started running towards the door. They punched, kicked, and hammered, but they could not make it through the door.
Knuckles gritted his teeth.
"If we don't find a way to get that door to open, we'll all be toast!"
Sonic glared at the door and was ready to homing attack it when he heard a voice.
"Chaos... BLAST!"
Suddenly, the door was no longer there, and who was there was Shadow.
"Shadow? Where's Pinkie Pie?"
Shadow turned, avoiding the question.
"We've gotta get out of here, this place is about to blow!"
No one made any objections, and everyone started running out.
"Soooo, can I go now?"
Eggman groaned. He was making his way out of the compound, Pinkie in a floating cell next to him.
"No, I've got to get out here."
Pinkie gasped sadly.
"So you're going to... Leave me here?"
Eggman facepalmed.
"No, of course not, I-"
Before he could finish, Pinkie was already talking.
"So you're taking me with you? Cool! I like adventures, not so much when I'm chained, but they're still cool, like how one time me and my friends went to go find this book au-"
The more and more she talked, the more Eggman grew angry.
Finally, he couldn't take it anymore.
"Alright, Alright! That's It!"
Eggman released her from the cell, and she landed on the ground. They were just outside the facility.
"Leave, before I change my mind."
Pinkie was puzzled.
"You're letting me-"
"GO! Just, go please! I never want to hear you ever again."
Pinkie beamed.
"Thanks Mr. mustache man!"
Pinkie ran off, leaving a frustrated Eggman.
"THE NAME IS EGGMAN YOU DUNCE!"
Sonic and co. were running away from the site, and finally reached the hill where the mane 5 was. They got to the top, and before anyone could say anything, Shadow turned, and saw the explosion. His eyes widened in shock, and felt tears quickly pool in his eyes. He fell to his knees, and lowered his head to the ground as he punched the ground.
"No. No. NO!"
The others were worried, and in shock. Not just because of the explosion, but also...
Shadow's response. It was full of emotion, pain, sorrow.
And, they could even hear the black and red hedgehog starting to weep.
A moment of silence passed, with only Shadow's cries flowing through the air.
All the others noticed her, slowly walking up the hill.
She stopped in front of him.
"Shadow?"
He knew her voice all too well. He looked up, teary-eyed, to see Pinkie Pie. She was alright, no injuries or illnesses. Pinkie immediately saw the sorrow in his tears.
She gave a small reassuring smile, one telling him it's alright.
Suddenly, Shadow did something that nobody, and nopony, expected. Not even Pinkie.
He latched onto her with a tight, close hug. Pinkie's eyes widened.
Shadow's walls fell, and his feelings poured out.
"OH GOD, PINKIE, I ALMOST LOST YOU! I can't believe it! I-I Don't know w-what I would do with myself if you!-"
"Sssshhh."
Pinkie comforted him, and sat with him. She rubbed his back in their hug. He stifled his sobs.
"It's okay Shady. I'm okay."
That calmed Shadow down. He stopped sobbing, and embraced her warmly.
He didn't care anymore.
Another moment of silence passed.
Shadow slowly pulled back, and looked into her eyes. Those big, beautiful, sky blue eyes. He could not hide it from her. He couldn't hide it from anyone anymore. Shadow felt himself blush, but that didn't deter him from what he was about to say.
"Pinks, I... I Love You."
Pinkie smiled softly, and felt a blush on her own cheeks.
"I love you too Shady."
The two's lips met in a sweet and slow kiss, not a care in the world.
They had each other, and that was all they needed.
Sonic and co, except for Rouge, gasped. They were flat-out shocked.
Rouge smirked, and wondered how long Shadow was longing for this moment.
The mane 5 were all smiles, giddy about their friends finally confessing.
The couple departed from the kiss, and Pinkie noticed the shocked faces. She chuckled, blushing. She turned her attention back to Shadow, noses touching.
"You broke the Pinkie Promise."
Shadow was also blushing, and stared at her.
"You did too."
Pinkie motioned her head forward, and Shadow turned his head to see their flabbergasted looks.
Shadow blushed more, and looked down to the ground. He smirked, and looked back up.
Squees were coming out of the mane 5 and Rouge, while Amy was starting to crack a huge grin.
Sonic finally spoke.
"WHAT THE-?!"
Shadow sighed, and stood, Pinkie following suit.
"Guys, I can explain-"
"Explain, Explain WHAT?! YOU JUST-! I-!"
Silver was at a loss for words, but words came fumbling out anyways.
"SHADOW AND PINKIE PIE LOVE EACH OTHER?!" Knuckles shouted in disbelief.
Tails was the first to come out of his shock. The couple started walking off, and the rest followed.
"How did this happen? Shadow, don't you hate her?"
Shadow shook his head, and sighed.
"No. I never did. I've been friends with her since we met."
Sonic let out a laugh, finally had gotten over his shock.
"No kidding. But, why then? Why did you mean to hide this from us?"
Shadow sighed heavily.
"You would assume that this-" He referred to himself, and to Pinkie, "Would be a little strange. And, I figured none of you would accept it."
Shadow mumbled that last part, but Rouge was there to hear it.
"It's a good thing you were wrong then."
Shadow turned his head to look at her. She smirked.
"Because I think you two are absolutely adorable!"
Shadow blushed a light pink, but smirked.
"Shut up Rouge."
Pinkie Pie abruptly nuzzled his side, making him even more embarrassed. When he turned to face her however, she just smiled.
Shadow gave a small smile back.
He had found her.
The one for him.