Dear Maria,
Today's mission went well. Well, except for me. They caught me off guard, and I have a pretty big gash on my forehead, including a sprained ankle. It'll heal quickly as they always do, but the head commander ordered me to take a few days off as a result. I was unfocused. I hate that.
Rouge's going to help me to Equestria. I promised Pinkie we'd have dinner with the Cakes tonight. I don't know how she's going to react.
Love,
Shadow
"Thanks Rouge, but I really didn't need this help."
Shadow thanked the bat helping him through the portal. Rouge was holding his underarm as Shadow had an arm on her shoulder. Rouge glanced at the strip of bandage around his head. "Hon, if I didn't you'd have more problems than that injury on your head."
Shadow chuckled, hearing the bouncing from the hallway. "Oh I know I will."
As Pinkie entered the room, she noticed the bandage on his head.
"Oh Shady!" She trotted up to him with concern."What happened?"
"He has a head injury, and a sprained ankle. A little mistake." Rouge explained.
"I'm fine. It's nothing to be concerned about." Shadow tried to brush it off, but Pinkie wasn't going to let it go that easily. Pinkie bumped him onto her back.
"Ow, hey!"
Pinkie looked back at him. "You aren't walking anywhere. I'll take you home." She smiled to Rouge. "Thank you for bringing him Rouge."
Rouge waved her hand, and turned back to the portal.
"No problem. Just don't rough him up too much."
Pinkie giggled at her light joke. "I won't. He'll be taken care of well."
With that, Rouge walked back into the portal, and Pinkie began trotting out to the hallway. "So, what exciting adventure did Shady the Hedgehog get up to today?"
"I don't wanna talk about it." Shadow was moody when asked.
Pinkie made her way to the castle doors. "It doesn't sound like a good day, Shady. Tell me."
"The day was okay." Shadow didn't say more.
"But?..." Pinkie prodded, walking up to the castle doors.
Shadow went silent for a good minute as Pinkie walked out of the castle. She noticed his ignoring of the question and stopped. She looked to him. Shadow sighed, and spoke with a stone face.
"I was unfocused. You know how I feel about that."
Pinkie did know. "Oh..." This wasn't the first time Shadow had been down on himself for such a simple error in combat. She continued thinking as she started to trot.
"Were there bystanders in the crossfire?"
"No.." Shadow answered, lingering on the word.
"Did anyone in your battalion besides you get hurt?"
Shadow answered this question with more haste. "No... I'd-"
"Prefer it that way?" Pinkie interrupted, finishing his thought.
Shadow took another moment of silence before answering slowly. "...Yes."
"Then what's the problem? You accomplished what you needed to." Pinkie tried to reason him, and they continued to Sugarcube Corner.
".." Shadow didn't have anything to say to that. He kept silent.
Pinkie broke the silence. "At least you didn't fatality hurt yourself."
"It could have hurt someone else if I wasn't there!" Shadow suddenly exclaimed, frustrated.
Pinkie abruptly stopped. "Shady."
Shadow didn't stop. "The possibility even existing is-"
"Shadow the Hedgehog.'
He stopped at her stern use of addressing his name. She turned her head to him, and smiled.
"You put too much on yourself. Stop this self afflicted put down, and appreciate what you did. I know I do!"
Shadow blinked. "If you continue to sound like Sonic I'll cream you."
Pinkie laughed at this, knowing that it was a joke. She continued trotting, smiling. "Is it something Sonic would say?"
Shadow pondered. "..Maybe. If he knew as much about me as you do."
They finally approached Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie smirked, but it only looked like a grin. "Which he won't. I'm the number one Shady expert here!"
Shadow gave a small laugh for that as they entered the bakery.
"Mr. and Ms. Cake! We're home!"
Ms. Cake called from the kitchen. "We're just preparing the table dear, come in to the dining room!"
Pinkie chuckled to Shadow. "Would you like more assistance?"
Shadow slowly slunk off of her.
"I would like to walk by myself." He took one step forward, causing him to inhale through his teeth in slight pain.
"Looks like you still need a crutch."
Shadow put an arm on Pinkie, and she helped him to the Cake's personal kitchen. Mr. Cake turned to them first as was tending to the dinner. Mr. Cake was watching the twins play around.
"Hello you two."
"Hi." Pinkie greeted brightly. Shadow gave a wave. Ms. Cake turned, and noticed his condition.
"Oh dear, what happened to you Shadow?"
Shadow brushed it off. "It was a little accident. I'll be fine shortly."
Ms. Cake let his explanation slide. "Well, we're glad that you got back safely."
"Come, sit down. Pound and Pumpkin have been waiting for you in particular." Mr. Cake added.
Shadow took a seat as the Cake twins excitedly run up to him.
"Unkle Shady!"
"Hello little ones. What did you get up to today?"
Pumpkin held up a hoof.
"Wai ere!"
The twins ran into the other room, and Pinkie simply smiled at Shadow.
"They've been waiting all day for you to get home." Mr. Cake said, adjusting their high chairs.
The twins aburptly ran back in with papers in their mouths. "Look wut we made!"
Shadow picked the papers from Pound and Pumpkin. The twins had drawn a picture of Shadow holding a cupcake. Shadow chuckled lightly at the children's drawings.
"Wow, they look so much like me. You two did a really good job."
The two were really happy to hear that from him. "Play after dinner?" Pumpkin asked with eagerness.
Shadow sighed lightly. "I would've loved to Pumpkin."
Pinkie elaborated for him. "But sadly uncle Shady here sprained his ankle, and suffered a concussion. He needs to heal some before he can play again."
Both Pound and Pumpkin were disappointed. "Aw..."
"Don't worry- When Shady's done healing, he'll be able to play with you." Pinkie reassured them.
The twins perked up quickly. "Okay!"
"Pinkie, can you help the twins up into their high chairs?"
______
Pinkie was helping Shadow up the stairs after a time, as the sun was setting.
"Take it slow now Shady."
Shadow nodded slightly, taking the steps one at a time. When they reached the top, they noticed Mr. and Ms. Cake taking the children across the hallway to bed.
"Oh, Shadow, the twins wanted to give you another drawing." Mr. Cake stopped to let the twins run to Shadow as Ms. Cake took new blankets into the room.
They showed off their work proudly.
"Get better soon!"
The pictures were get well cards. Shadow lightly chuckled as he bent down with Pinkie's help to pick them up.
"Aw, thank you two, really."
They took the opportunity to hug Shadow, and he hugged them back gently. They broke from the hug, smiling.
"Night night Unkle Shady!"
Shadow smiled for them. "Good night little ones."
Mr. Cake followed the kids into their room, and Pinkie continued helping Shadow across the hallway to the next flight of stairs. She smiled softly to him as the climb up the stairs continued.
"You certainly have a way with foals and fillies."
Shadow shrugged. "Kids just seem to like me."
The two went up the next flight stairs, entering Pinkie's loft.
She led Shadow to her bed, and he sat down on the side edge of the bed.
"Don't move!" Pinkie held up a hoof to him, and trottied back down the stairs.
"Not like I really can." Shadow replied, Pinkie giggling at the comment.
As Shadow was left alone, he took the time to take his shoes/socks off and set them aside. He layed down on the bed, and stared up to the ceiling.
The day was now dark, and the lights in the room was what kept the area nice and bright.
Shadow noticed a slight chill pass by his surroundings, and glanced around of what he could see on the second floor. The doors to the balcony was seemingly left open. He closed his eyes. The cold waft made his fur stand and the chilly air refreshed his mind.
It wasn't too cold for a summer's night, but it was cold enough.
Pinkie hopped back up the stairs with some sort medicine in hoof, along with a small bag.
Shadow didn't notice her presence until he felt the bed shift.
He opened his eyes and glanced in front of him to see Pinkie gently touching his right leg with her hoof.
"I'll help this sprained ankle and your forehead feel much better!"
Pinkie set the small plastic circle container beside her, and opened it.
"Pinks, you don't have to-"
"Too bad, I'm helping you."
Shadow chuckled, and slid his arms back to raise his upper body slightly.
"What are you using?"
She rubbed the rub on his ankle.
"It's a cooling, soothing lotion. It's supposed to numb your pain, and make it less noticable."
"So it's Vaseline." Shadow observed.
"It's what?" Pinkie asked.
Shadow decided to brush it off.
"uh, nevermind."
She put a clean sock over his foot, and kissed his injury.
Shadow smiled. "Do you have to do that everytime I get a injury?"
Pinkie Pie scooted up to his face. "It helps it heal faster, silly."
She stood on the bed, and positioned to crouch over Shadow so she could help him get the head bandage off, to put on a new clean one.
When she saw the gash she gasped lightly.
Shadow sighed slightly in response. "That bad huh?"
Pinkie grabbed a new bandage. "Oh, uh, I just wasn't expecting the long cut."
Shadow kept silent as she wrapped the bandage around his forehead. She finished her work and pushed aside the supplies.
"There, all better."
She kissed his forehead, and before she could pull her head back Shadow stole a kiss from her lips.
She didn't mind however, and gladly kissed him back. She started to depart again, but he kept capturing her kisses.
Pinkie started to giggle. "Shady.."
Shadow playfully bantered. "Let me keep kissing you~"
He kissed her again while she giggled once more. After a few more, he let her pull away, a cheeky smile on his face.
Pinkie grinned bashfully back. "What was that for?"
"A thank you."
Pinkie let her body sink onto him, and he put his arms around her. Pinkie breathed through a chuckle. After a minute or two, Shadow shifted, the movement asking her to move off.
As she did, Shadow spoke. "Hey, before we go to bed, we should go look at the stars from your balcony. It's a nice night."
Pinkie got off the bed, and picked up all the injury supplies. "Sure, that sounds fun. Let me put away these supplies first."
Shadow sat up as Pinkie trotted down the stairs with the bag and bandage wrap in hoof. He turned his body and dangled his legs on the edge. Abruptly Pinkie came back up the stairs.
"Another flight of stairs to climb huh?"
Shadow chuckled lightly at her comment as she walked over to him. Pinkie pointed to her back.
"Hop on this time. I don't want you walking anywhere else tonight."
Shadow nodded slightly, and slid onto her back. She walked over to the incline stairs and trotted up. She walked past balloons, blank banners, among other things. She got to the balcony, closed the balcony doors, and let Shadow climb off of her, his hand staying steady on her back. His eyes scanned the now quiet town, lit by moonlight and tinted windows. It was peaceful.
He looked up to the stars, and Pinkie did the same.
"Just.. wow."
Shadow whispered quietly, admiring the painted speckled sky. The moon shone brightly, a testament to Luna.
The two slowly sat down and leaned on each other, drinking in the sky's beauty. The slightly chill but calm wind teased their skin to shuffle closer.
The two cuddled as Pinkie spoke.
"Maria said she and you loved to look at the stars."
"We did. I still do."
Shadow observed something about the sky as he remembered. "The stars here... They don't look too different from the ones you could see on Earth."
"Hm." Pinkie didn't have much to say, as she soaked the moment in. She was comfortable in his space.
Soon, Shadow could feel Pinkie slowly start to doze off. Shadow chuckled, and gently rubbed her side.
"Hey. Come on, if you want to sleep you have to take me back inside too."
Pinkie stirred, pausing her drowsiness to stand, and helping Shadow up onto her back.
She opened the balcony doors to come back inside and closed them again, the room now a normal temperature.
She went down the stairs and to their bed. She let Shadow get off her and climb into bed. Pinkie followed suit and the two fell asleep soundly. Shadow had forgotten all about the injuries he had sustained, just in peaceful bliss with his soon-to-be.