I'm sensing a pattern with these chapters getting longer and longer hahaha.
Hope you'll like it 😳
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Your life at the cabin was peaceful and uneventful.

You didn't mind though.

At least, that's what you told yourself. But... you sort of missed Team Sonic.

Sure, they weren't exactly quiet and Eggman kept attacking, interrupting the peace, but... it'd been sort of nice to be with them.

You quietly sighed, closing the book you were in the middle of reading and gazed out of the window.

What did you want?

You loved life with Shadow, though he wasn't around all the time. But he hated Team Sonic like you'd never seen him hate anything else, so it wasn't like you could just stroll back to them.

You didn't want to upset him... and besides, you'd promised him not to leave outside an agreed area.

One kilometre, in every direction from the cabin.

He just wanted to keep you safe, especially after having lost you once.

He didn't want to feel that again.

The door opened, and you didn't need to look who it was to know.

Only Shadow didn't knock, which was fair, considering he also lived here.

Kind of.

Sure, he wasn't here all the time, but he kept coming back.

You sent him a smile, one he didn't return, but you were used to that.

"Welcome back." You said, making your way to him to embrace him.

He patted you on the head, with the other arm around your frame, and you just couldn't help yourself.

You buried your face in his chest fluff, something which he thoroughly seemed to enjoy.

"I'd ask if you missed me, but I can tell you did." He chuckled, and you eventually released each other.

"I always miss you, when you're not here." You said with a sweet smile.

You'd basically returned to normal, just without your memories.

Of course, he'd love for everything to return to you, but this wasn't all bad.

If they didn't come back, he wouldn't voice much of a complaint.

The garden outside the cabin had been tended to during your absence, undoubtedly by Shadow, but now you'd taken over again.

It grew various vegetables and fruits, some of which had even ripened to perfection while you were gone.

You were out picking a few apples, putting the reddest ones into a basket, excited to eat them.

Maybe you'd bake an apple pie!

In your own world, you hadn't noticed that someone was approaching, until they finally spoke.

"Hey, Bun!" You froze in place.

Slowly turning your eyes to the source, you saw Knuckles.

He was running towards you, seemingly excited.

"Wait, Knuckles-!" You called out, but before you could finish your sentence, he'd been pummelled into a tree.

Owch, that had to hurt...

"Get out of here, you vacuous idiot." Shadow snarled, standing with his back to you, as if to protect you.

Knuckles was harmless though, at least to you.

"Hey, I'm not a vacuum!" Replied Knuckles, clearly miffed at the insult.

Shadow looked, for the lack of another word, done with him.

"How did you find this place?" Shadow questioned, wanting to be sure no others would get here.

"I got lost." ... Yeah, that sounded like him.

"Go back." Shadow snarled at the echidna, and you could tell he wouldn't be afraid to fight if things came to it.

He never was.

"Thing is, I sort of forgot which way I came from." Knuckles replied, looking behind him.

There was a fork in the path leading away from the cabin.

"Then go into the forest and die from starvation." Oh, that was a little harsh, wasn't it?

"But I like to eat! And I had a mission... uh... oh, right! I'm supposed to get Bun back!" This was the straw that broke the camel's back, and Shadow sent himself flying towards Knuckles, punching him so hard he was sent into another tree.

He wouldn't let anyone else have you.

"Then suffer the consequences of my wrath." A fight ensued, but it was pretty one-sided.

Your heart tore in two at seeing Knuckles being beat to a pulp like that, but what could you do?

If you ran in, you'd surely be hurt yourself.

Finally, as Shadow was about to deliver the final blow to the poor echidna, you called out.

"Stop fighting!!" A little late, but it's the thought that counted.

Tears filled your eyes, seeing Knuckles in such a state, and you wanted nothing more than to run over to him and take care of his injuries.

Alas, you knew you couldn't.

"Please..." You begged, watching Shadow's fist slowly lower.

He finally released Knuckles, letting him fall to the ground with a loud 'thud', sending him a glare as he made his way to you.

You hadn't expected for the echidna to call for backup, but you should have.

Before you knew it, Shadow was the one being pummelled into a tree by a familiar blue blur.

Oh great, just absolutely fantastic.

"Hey Bun! Miss us?" Said Sonic, flashing you a smile, before sending himself off for Shadow again.

You wiped your tears, watching as the others came running in, ready to fight.

You'd no idea why, though.

You were happy out here!

... Did they... consider you their friend?

Surely not!

It'd be nice, but... ack! Now wasn't the time!

Shadow, who was usually cool and collected, seemed truly angered, which honestly scared all of you.

Sure, he was always grumpy, but furious?

Yeah, that was terrifying.

Knuckles, being incapacitated for now, laid on the ground, watching his friends as they valiantly fought Shadow, as did you.

Despite having Shadow outnumbered four to one, they still weren't a match for him.

Not with his anger fueling him.

You watched on helplessly, as they laid on the ground, moaning and groaning in pain, beaten.

Well, except Sonic.

He still stood, ready to fight.

You had to admire that.

"I suggest you get out of here, blue boy." Shadow growled, though Sonic didn't seem deterred in the slightest.

"I never leave a friend behind!" He replied, whilst holding his arm. It must hurt...

Wait.

" 'Friend'?" Questioned Shadow, not taking his eyes off the blue hedgehog, glaring.

"Bun's our friend! We can't just leave her behind with the likes of you." O-oh... you were a friend to them...?

"Don't make me laugh." Sneered Shadow, sending a mocking gaze to Sonic.

You didn't need friends. You had him. He was all you needed.

You were silent as you felt your heart tear into a million pieces.

They considered you their friend, even going so far as to get hurt for your sake.

Tears flowed freely from your eyes as you stood there, in shock at Sonic's words.

They began fighting again, though it was a swift victory for Shadow.

"Sleep well, Sonic." Said Shadow, before Sonic was knocked out cold.

"What are you... going to do with them?" You hesitantly asked as Shadow tied the unconscious group up.

"Take them back to where they came from. And I have to move you. This place isn't secret any more. They'll find their way back and try to take you from me." You wanted to protest, but something told you that was a bad idea.

"Start packing your things. Only the most essential." You quickly nodded, before running into the house.

You didn't want to move... at all. Still, you found a backpack and began packing.

Your favourite book, some clothes, your sketchbook... ah, if only you didn't have to move.

Pausing, you brushed your fingers over a sketch of Amy, your eyes saddened.

No, you weren't going to move!

You were going to stay here!

Filled with a strange feeling of determination, you exited the cabin, watching Shadow tying up Sonic.

"Shadow?" You stepped up to him, and he turned his head towards you as he tightened the ropes around the blue hedgehog.

"I... I don't want to move!" He didn't seem overly impressed with your words.

"What." He replied, which honestly frightened you a bit.

Still, you stood your ground.

"I don't want to move. I want to stay here." Had you a tail long enough, it'd be between your legs, and he could tell.

And had it been any other time, he'd likely have admired your determination.

But right now?

He was irritated.

"We're leaving this place, whether you want to or not." You stomped your foot into the ground, showing your dissatisfaction with the situation, which he seemed to ignore.

"I don't want to leave!" You replied, and he audibly grumbled.

"I told you, whether or not you want to, we're leaving." Shadow had made a decision, and he was going to stick by it.

He just wanted to keep you safe. Why couldn't you see that?

"Please, Shadow... I'm begging you." Having finished tying Sonic up, Shadow looked to you, his face having irritation written all over it.

"And why should I let you stay here?" He asked, arms crossed.

"Because..." You glanced to the side, hesitant.

Could you really say it?

"Well? I'm waiting." You had to. You couldn't back down.

"Because I want to be close to my friends!" Silence.

Your eyes were closed as if fearing what Shadow might do, and as you heard his footsteps approach you, you braced yourself.

You weren't sure why. He'd never harm you, but maybe he'd yell?

"Keep your eyes open when you talk to me." He ordered, and you, as you tended to, did as told.

He didn't look that terribly pleased, and you almost wished you'd kept your eyes shut.

Looking into your eyes, it felt as if he was staring directly into your soul, and it felt so uncomfortable, you squirmed where you stood.

"... Hm. So be it. Be with your pathetic little friends." Turning himself away from you, he snarled.

"But don't expect to see me around any more." And just like that, he was gone, having teleported away.

He... didn't mean that, did he?

Argh, right now you had other things to focus on.

Untying your friends, you hurried inside to fetch a first aid kit, and patched them up to the best of your ability.

Granted, you had to read a guide inside the kit, but hey, you did it.

They woke up not long after.

"Ugh..." They collectively groaned, obviously still in pain, but alive.

Suddenly, they sprung to life, unaware of how long had passed, and ready to fight Shadow still.

But they just saw you, sitting on the grass.

"Oh, Bun! Where'd Shadow go?" Asked Sonic. You glanced to the side, saddened, and shrugged.

"He left." You murmured, quite clearly upset about what had happened.

"After he went through the trouble of catching and keeping you out here?" Questioned Tails, as if not quite believing it.

You shrugged.

You really didn't feel like talking about it.

Amy glanced to her arm, noting how it stung a bit, and was quick to notice she'd been patched up.

Actually, all of them had.

"Hey Bun, did you do this?" She asked, referring to the gauze around her arm.

You sheepishly nodded, glancing away.

"I couldn't just leave you to bleed..." The group examined their bandaged injuries, and thankfully nothing was broken.

Just some nasty scratches here and there.

"Hey, thanks!" Said Sonic, flashing you a smile.

One you didn't really feel like sending back, though did anyway, coming out forced.

"Don't mention it." The group was quick to note your bad mood, turning to each other as you looked away from them, and soon, Knuckles spoke.

"Let's get out of here before he comes back. I don't think I can handle being pummelled into more trees." Turning their backs to the cabin, they began the trek back to 'base', which was really just Sonic's shack, but still.

You turned your back to them, before you heard Amy speak.

"Bun, where are you going?" She asked, urging you to turn back.

"Aren't you coming with us?" Tails continued, and honestly, you were a little surprised they even wanted you back, after what Shadow had done.

"O-oh... I just need to get my bag!" You replied, pretending as if you weren't just about to let them leave without you.

You ran into the cabin, collected your bag, and ran back out, following closely behind the team as they walked.

Feeling awful was putting it mildly.

You felt horrible.

You wanted Shadow back, but it was too late now, wasn't it? Still, no use crying about it.

Or... at least, you'd wait till you were alone.

Hold your head high, you thought, though that was harder said than done.

What would life be like now, without Shadow by your side?

Granted, you'd lived without him for a while, but... you'd gotten so used to him being there.

And now... you held back the oncoming tears. You'd be fine.

You had your friends.

They'd help you through it.

Still, despite that... you couldn't help but to feel... empty.

You just hoped that feeling would go away with time.