ARAAT3: The Forbidden Experiment

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A Rose And A Thorn 3: The Forbidden Experiment

Co-Written by Harley Quinn hyenaholic and Froggy22651

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Froggy: Harley is not around for this week’s update, leaving it up to me to maintain the schedule in her absence. One more, the power is mine! While I revel in (temporary) control, cackling in typical villain fashion, enjoy the new chapter! I demand it.

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Chapter Fifteen: You Can’t Or You Won’t?

Amy rocked Eclipse gently in her arms, running her hand over his quills. He was growing quickly now - babies always grew quickly, or so the mothering books said, "Sweet," she whispered to him, "You're so sweet..." She listened to the door to their apartment opening, and the familiar sound of Shadow's footsteps followed after. She stood quickly and turned to face Shadow, a smile on her face, half expecting to see his sister behind him. She was therefore only half-surprised to not see the other Project, "So, how did it go?" she asked him.

“Not well,” Shadow walked over to her and briefly looked down to see their child before he faced Amy, "Not well at all,” the dark hedgehog answered, "Mirage escaped from Espio and joined with Ashura..."

"Oh dear, that doesn't sound good at all," Amy said, worried. She walked over to Eclipse's cot and tucked him in, "She must have been good, to get away from Espio though."

"I'm sure she was,” Shadow said distantly, mostly to himself as he shook his head, "She's with Ashura now. Ashura has all of the Chaos Emeralds, and according to Espio, his next target is the Master Emerald."

"Why would he want that if he has the Chaos Emeralds?" Amy asked, "You can use one or the other, but you can't use them both." She walked over to a chair and sat down in it. She looked as exhausted as he felt, "I don't think you can..." she said.

The black and red hedgehog took a seat across from her on the couch, leaning forward and looking at the floor, "Sonic has claimed to have done it,” he told her, "But even if Ashura lacks that ability, what he is doing is taking from us the one weapon we have that may stop him."

Amy nodded eventually, and moved to sit beside Shadow, "Baby, it's going to be okay," she said, more calmly than she felt, "We'll find a way to stop him. He's just another megalomaniac."

"No, he's not,” Shadow insisted, looking up into Amy's eyes, "He's something different. Something much worse."

Amy had never heard Shadow talk like that. She smiled weakly, “Everything has a weakness," she told him, "I expect Sonic has told you about the time we all beat Perfect Chaos?”

"Well, he made it sound like he did all the work,” Shadow said, giving Amy a wry smile, "But yes, he told me."

"He would," Amy wrapped her arms around Shadow, holding him in her arms a little like she did Eclipse, "The important thing is that because we all worked together, we defeated something that would have destroyed the entire world," she kissed Shadow on the forehead, "We did it again when we beat that Biolizard thing. Do you remember that?"

"Vaguely,” he admitted, reached up to rub the side of his head. From the moment he became Super Shadow, his memories became blurred, as if it was a dream. At first, he had thought it was just his faulty memory playing games with him again, but Sonic told him that it was a perfectly normal side-effect of becoming Super. His crimson eyes looked into hers as he said, "This is different. Biolizard was a flawed prototype. Chaos was exactly what his name implies: pure chaos. But do you know what me and the other projects are capable of?"

"Well... I know what you're capable of," Amy replied, stroking his forehead, "And I know what you've done. And you've done so much more good than bad. I know you have a heart and a soul. Gerald would never make anything that didn't have a heart and a soul."

"Souls can be corrupted,” he said, "Ashura's has, and he has similar powers to mine. Chaos Control... have you ever thought about that word, Amy? About how much of a paradox it is? Chaos, by its very nature, is the antithesis of control."

"And yet you control it," Amy replied, looking into his eyes, "Shadow, Rouge told me something, something important. She told me that Gerald based your soul, and that of Emerl's, on Maria. I never knew Maria, but I know how you feel about her, and that's how I know that you are not and never will be evil."

Shadow gave his lover a soft smile, "Thank you, Amy. But it’s not me that I'm worried about. Ashura has that power, the power to control chaos, the power to defy the basic nature of the universe, and he most definitely is evil." It suddenly struck Shadow that he and Ashura were almost perfect opposites. One was a personification of Hell, with the colours of death and blood, forever troubled by his past, but yet had become a force of good while the other was the personification of Earth, with fur coloured like grass and eyes like the sea, looking towards the future.. The future he planned to shape to his liking. His appearance hid the darkness within. "He is my opposite, my true opposite.” he told her, "And for that reason, I don't know how or even if I can stop him."

"You can't," Amy agreed, "But together, we can do anything. Take on anyone." She cuddled the obviously troubled Shadow gently, "Together... we're stronger than we could ever be alone."

Shadow held Amy, returning the warm gesture, "You're right,” he admitted, "I can't. But we can. And we will. ...I just wish Mirage understood that."

"She will..." Amy replied, "In time. You did."

Shadow nuzzled Amy and said quietly, "Sometimes, you make me question which one of us has the more impressive power."

Amy blushed, "I just want to help," she said, "I don't like it when my friends... and family... hurt inside. It's not that impressive a power."

"You've made me feel better. You always do, with just a few words,” he said as he looked back at her, smiling, "If that's not impressive, I don't know what is."

Amy smiled back and kissed him gently, "We're engaged, Shadow," she replied, "I love you. When you hurt, I hurt. It's as simple as that." She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek on his shoulder, "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Sonic must have been insane to miss this, Shadow thought, Gods I’m glad he’s such a stupid bastard… "Me neither,” he said softly as he held her close, again wondering what the future would bring for them. If they could just get rid of Ashura and Eggman and all the people in GUN who now wished them harm, it could be a very bright future indeed.

“Do you feel better now?” Amy asked Shadow, pulling back slightly and looking into his ruby-red eyes hopefully. She rested one hand on his cheek.

Shadow returned the smile and rubbed his cheek against her hand, "Much better,” he assured her, "Thank you, Amy."

Amy hugged Shadow again. He was happy, and that made her happy. He was often happier now, and it was so easy to forget about... about everything, when he was so close. His strong presence comforted her just as much as she could comfort him.

For a moment, Shadow allowed himself to forget about Ashura and Mirage and Espio, allowed himself to relax and enjoy himself. For a moment. He couldn't let it last, "We will need to go to Angel Island,” he told her.

"I know that," Amy let go of Shadow reluctantly. That could wait. For him, she'd wait forever, "I hope Mirage hasn't already gotten to the Master Emerald," she added.

"Me too," he nodded, caressing her face once as she pulled away, "Who do you think we should take with us?"

"Everybody who will come," Amy replied, "Anybody who's ever met Mirage, even to fight with her - she'll need to see familiar faces. Team Chaotix, and Tails, and Knuckles, and... and Sonic too." It hurt Shadow's heart to know that she had difficulty even thinking about the blue hedgehog even after all this time, but he suppressed the general hatred that came up at the mention of the name anyway, "I don't think Cream should come though. It will be dangerous. Vanilla will have to babysit Eclipse."

Shadow nodded in agreement, but paused for a moment, "Are you sure that taking Sonic is a good idea?" he asked her, "With Rouge taken by Ashura, he might takes this a bit too personally."

"And you won't?" Amy asked, "Ashura took your sister. Anyway, we might need his help in the end."

Stifling a sigh, Shadow reluctantly agreed with her, "Yes, he could come in very useful. We'll bring him too."

"I'll phone Tails," Amy replied, "He can contact Knuckles and Sonic."

"He's already at Angel Island,” the dark hedgehog replied, "But reaching him before we get there may be a good idea. I'll contact the Chaotix."

"Are you going to use the phone?" Amy asked, reaching for the cordless, "Or Chaos Control?"

"The phone,” he said, "I have the feeling that Ashura can sense when I use Chaos Control. I should keep its use to a minimum."

Amy nodded and handed him the phone, along with the phone number of the detective agency: 0900-VECTOR IS COOL. Espio and Charmee had been trying to change it for some time now, with no success. She looked at the number with a sigh, "I swear, sometimes Vector is almost as bad as Sonic when it comes to egos."

"At least he isn't quite as obnoxious about it,” Shadow noted as he punched in the number and called the agency.

After a few rings, the phone was picked up. Shadow could hear Charmee screaming in the background, "I wanna talk to the customers!"

Fortunately Vector spoke louder than most people shouted, "Yeah, this is Team Chaotix, we're detectives you want on your side!"

"This is Shadow,” the hedgehog spoke, "I need you guys to get ready. We're going to Angel Island. It’s time to pay Ashura a little visit."

On the other end, it sounded like Vector was trying to hit a hyperactive bee, "Right," he answered, "Anything we need to bring? Any special- Dammit, Charmee, that's my beer! No! Don't drink-" There was a brief pause, and a thump, "Anyway, we'll get sorted. Angel Island, right? You think Ashura's there?"

"If he's not, I'm sure he soon will be."

"Okay, I'll get Espio. And see ya at the Master Emerald Altar. That's as good a place as any, right?"

"Yes. Besides, what else would Ashura want from there?" asked Shadow. And then he hung up.

"They're coming, right?" Amy asked him. She hesitated, "And what did you mean earlier? I said Mirage must have been good to escape Espio, and you said..." she hesitated, "What was that supposed to mean?"

Shadow paused and turned to answer Amy, "I think they got rather close while they were away, if you know what I mean."

Amy thought for a moment, "Yes I think I do. Oh. That could make things... problematic."

"No kidding,” Shadow muttered under his breath as he turned and prepared for their trip

"So... I guess I'll telephone Sonic, shall I..." Amy said, feeling a little uncomfortable. Whatever had happened between Espio and Mirage, Shadow didn't want to talk about it. She picked up the phone and dialled Sonic's number, half-hoping he was out.

After several rings, Sonic finally picked up the phone, rather slow for him. "Hello?" he asked.

"Uh, hey Sonic?" Amy replied, "Uh..." she suddenly wished she'd planned the conversation beforehand, "Ahem. We know where Ashura is, or is going to be. And we might need your help. Do you want to help us?" she asked.

A moment of silence followed, and then Sonic spoke up, full of more energy than before, "You bet I want I help! Where are we going?"

"The Master Emerald Altar, as soon as possible," Amy replied, "We'll be meeting Team Chaotix, Tails and Knuckles there too."

"Gotcha. I'll be there,” he replied.

Amy hung up on him with a sigh of relief, "Yes, he's coming," she told Shadow, picking up the phone and dialling Cream's number.

"That was fast,” noted Shadow as he crossed his arms over his chest. "He didn't have much to say."

"Yes, it's... difficult to talk," Amy replied, awkwardly.

Shadow nodded, understanding a little too well, "I know. It may always be like that."

Amy tried to speak again. As long as she didn't think about it, she was fine, but as soon as she thought about it, she seized up inside, "I'm sorry," she said, "I know you... know how I feel, a bit... I shouldn't feel like I'm the only one... it's just that I do, sometimes..."

Shadow stepped towards her and pulled her into a warm embrace, "I know, and it’s alright. We've both gone through very rough times."

Amy hugged Shadow back and relaxed again as the bad memories flowed away. Shadow had never actually talked about what had happened when he'd been tortured on Prison Island, but what she had seen was bad enough for her to not want to fill in the gaps, "Every time I think about it... I wish I'd reached you earlier," she murmured.

Shadow knew what she was referring to, and he fought back against the memories that threatened to rise in him. He refused to let his foul nightmares haunt this moment, "I'm just glad you reached me at all,” he told her.

Amy nodded. Whenever they came even close to talking about It, Shadow seemed to shrink a little, as if he wanted to hide in her. She changed the subject quickly, for both their sakes, "So," she said, more brightly, "Let's get moving. We've got a planet to save!"

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Froggy: The heroes are gathering and events are pushing them towards a confrontation with Ashura. Who will win? Will the heroes once again predictably take the villain down? Will we do the unexpected and insane, having the villain win?! You can never tell with us. Be afraid.