A New World (Shadow x Reader)

Chapter 40: Aftermath Reunion

I awoke to a all too familiar bedroom of mine. Well, Shadows bedroom.

It was empty, and dark outside. The windows revealed nothing but the night sky and the brightest thing in the room was the dark red comforter.

I stood up from my bed and glanced around for the chaos emerald. It was nowhere to be found. Did Shadow take it? How did I even get here? Did he bring me back?

Ignoring these questions, I pondered my conversation with Maria. Should I tell Shadow about it? I wasn't sure if it'd upset him or not. Maria was a very touchy subject for him.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to dwell on it for long as a creek was heard from the door and a tiny Cream was revealed staring at me.

"Oh, Miss Y/N! You're awake!" Cream cheered, immediately running over to me.

"Yeah. What happened?" I looked down at the adorable rabbit who put a glass of water on the nightstand for me. I assume.

"You passed out after you found the chaos emerald. You had Mister Shadow real worried! He was pacing around and everything!" Cream rambled, taking little notice in my awed expression. I tried to ignore the part of me that loved Shadow's concern.

"Where is Shadow?"

"Downstairs. Mister Sonic told him to leave you alone for a while!" Cream chirped innocently. I simply chuckled in response and began walking downstairs. The rabbit followed behind me.

When I reached the living room, it dropped to immediate silence. Everyone's gazes were at me and I couldn't help but feel suddenly very small.

"Oh my gosh! Are you alright?!" Amy hurried over to my side.

"Um, yeah. Am I not supposed to be?" I rubbed my forehead with confusion. Why were they so worried?

"It's just that...you were groaning and screaming a lot in your sleep. We were really scared, y'know!" Amy helped me to sit on the couch. Shadow hadn't taken his eyes off me since.

Why would I be doing that? The dream was peaceful!

"That's weird...I didn't dream about anything bad." I didn't know how to word it. I'm not sure how Shadow would like it if I revealed something so private to him around everyone.

"Did you get the answer you were searching for?" Tails looked at me curiously.

"Yes. But I don't know if I should share it with you. Something along the lines of ruining fate and stuff..."

"Silver said something like that." Rouge batted her eyes at Shadow, who simply huffed in annoyance.

"That makes sense. We're just glad you're okay." Sonic smiled at me and rubbed my back. I could practically feel Shadow's eyes burning on him from my spot.

"Thanks. What happened to the chaos emerald?"

"After you passed out, Shadow took his own chaos emerald and chaos controlled you back here. We have the other emerald you grabbed but it won't be any help to you anymore. It can only do it's normal power." Knuckle's explained. Surprising me with his knowledge.

"Is it normal to pass out like that?" I glanced around the room, who's faces all soured and dropped.

There's my answer.

"...No. But it's probably because you're a human and this hasn't really happened before. We don't know what a typical reaction would look like." Tails looked at the used chaos emerald in his hand and back at me. Shadow, still fixed on the closeness of Sonic and I.

"Okay. Where is the next one then?"

"Woah! Maybe you should take a little break there, Y/N..." Sonic warned me. The others nodding in agreement.

"What? Why?"

"Using too much chaos power can really drain you. You might need to rest a little before you try looking for the others." Tails put the chaos emerald back on a desk. I was growing inwardly frustrated and impatient.

For how long do I have to wait to get an answer?!

"Fine. When can I start looking again?" I sighed in defeat.

"Hmm, maybe in a few days? Don't be so bummed out, you'll have fun with us!" Sonic chuckled and elbowed me in a friendly manner.

"Hmph. I highly doubt anyone could have fun with someone like you." Shadow chimed in, his first time speaking being to insult his rival, of course.

"Aw, Shadow's being a grumpster again. Are you mad that I'm sitting here and you're away from Y/—"

"If you know what's good for you, you will shut it." Shadow growled. Sonic complied and stopped his teasing, settling back down next to me.

"What time is it anyway?" I dryly laughed, desperate to change the topic of this conversation.

"Oh, like midnight." Rouge admitted casually.

Why the hell is Cream up this late—

"We wanted to wait for you to wake up." Cream said, bashfully. I looked over towards her and smiled. Such a sweet little girl.

"That's nice but you didn't have to do that."

"Anytime, Y/N. Besides, we didn't know if you'd be loopy or not. Wouldn't want someone like that roaming around the house." Sonic, once again, chuckled. Amy giggled alongside with him as Shadow glared.

My attention was sent towards him for a moment. Should I tell him? When? What would he think? Is he going to be mad at me? It's not my fault I ran into Maria, right? Would he want me to speak of her? Would he w—

"Ready to go to bed, Knuxie?" Rouge cooed at the red echidna. He blushed angrily and crossed his arms, snapping me away from my own trance.

"Quiet, bat."

"Great, here we go again." Amy whined.

"Again?" I gulped.

"This has been going on since you've been sleeping!"

"Oh, don't be so upset, pinky. You've been flirting with Sonic just as much!"

"FLIRTING?!"