A Single Spark
Erin: This was my first fanfic, yay!
Cody: We hope you all love it as much here as our other reader did! Kap-king!
Erin: Oh, that was me boyfriend! ^^ Cody Sargent. Anyways, have fun!
Disclaimer: Think about it pplz, if I owned Sonic, would I be here writing fanfiction? Key word FAN! I thought not, I'd be out making episodes to my liking! I did wish I owned Shadow though, *sigh* wishful thinking. I'll shut up now.
Warning! I haven't seen all of the episodes yet, only up to the one where Shadow comes in, curse you FoxBox! So, please forgive me if any characters or signifying of events seem out of place!
Chapter One: I Didn't Ask For Your Help
Sonic was becoming quite irritated. The stubborn Eggman refused to give up, even though death was inevitable. He swung it's huge mechanical claws at him, which he easily dodged. Sonic cracked his knuckles, before driving his poison dripping claws into the Dr. Robotnik's stomach. He roared painfully into the night, and fell limply to the forest floor. Sonic let out a pleased chuckle. Yes, his thirst for vengeance was quenched, now that he disposed of the doctor that dared to attack Tails.
"Impudent beast," he spat before turning his heels to leave. Before he could gloat over his victory, he felt a sharp pain pierce his side. Sonic fell to his knees as crimson blood spilled forth from his wound. He lifted his hand and touched the wound, then examined his bloodstained fingers, as if acknowledging that it was really his.
He turned to face Robotnik, who surprisingly wasn't as dead as he thought. He staggered, barely able to stand on its own feet, before gaining all of its composure again.
"You'll regret that," Sonic ran at full speed towards Dr. Robotnik, and attempted to slice his body in half. To his surprise, the Eggman was able to dodge it, and took another swipe at him. He dodged to the side, and was about to run past it for a side attack when a faint glitter caught his eye. 'A Chaos Emerald!' he noticed three embedded on his back. 'No wonder he can last so long, no matter, he will be dead soon enough.'
It was now that the jewel decided to take full effect, as Sonic undoubtedly noticed he was becoming ten times faster! Or rather, Sonic was becoming slower. It wasn't until then that he realized he had suffered a great blood loss, even for himself.
"Damnit!" he cursed under his breath.
~ ^_^ ~
"Shadow! A Chaos Emerald straight ahead!"
"I'm all over it!" Shadow sped up, with Rouge barely able to keep up in flight. Omega was trailing behind on wheels. Vibrant colors of green passed as the forest scenery flew around them. Somehow, Rouge sensed not one, but two very strong beings in the direction of the Chaos Emerald.
'I hope this won't be too hard.' They had stopped in a small clearing, Rouge was utterly shocked at the scene that met her eyes. A machine and Dr. Robotnik was towering over a mortally wounded Sonic. Shadow noticed too, because in a blink of an eye, his own Chaos Emerald was drawn and poised for attack.
"Faker!"
The blue hedgehog head snapped up at the sound of the voice. He growled at the sight of his incarnation. 'Great, just what I need.' He was about to avert his attack on Shadow before he heard a honey sweet voice reach his ears.
"Shadow! The emerald is on the Eggman's back!" Rouge yelled. Shadow hesitated turning his back on Sonic for a second before going after the Eggman. He swung the Chaos Emerald at Dr. Robotnik's back, and destroyed with a single blow. The other emerald fell onto the ground, which KRouge picked up and purified with her touch.
He turned his attention back to Sonic, a victorious gleam in his eye. Sonic growled, cursing himself for being in such a weakened state in front his incarnation. He could barely stand, and his vision was beginning to look fuzzy. 'No! I will NOT die at HIS hands!'
"Well, well, this seems to be my lucky day," Sonic smirked, "I get to kill two birds with one stone!" he raised the jewel, ready to strike when-
Whack! Rouge striked Shadow in the head with the heel of her steel boot.
"Bitch! What'd you do that for?" he cursed into the dirt.
Rouge paused, why did she stop him? Sonic was one of their greatest enemies, and if he was killed, there would be one less problem, right? She glanced over at the wounded hedgehog. Her heart melted. 'Because it's wrong to take advantage of him when he's so hurt. If it were anyone else, I'd still help them, and Sonic's no exception.'
"Because he's hurt! And we're gonna help him!" She said, her tone final.
"Are you crazy?! This is Sonic! He's tried to kill you before, or have you forgotten, hey listen to me when I'm talking to you wench!"
"Shadow?" She smiled sweetly at him. 'Uh Oh,' he knew what was coming next. And with that, Rouge kicked him square in the shnoz.
Rouge walked calmly around Sonic's subdued form and stood before him. He let out a feral growl that said 'If you come any closer, I'll kill you!' She ignored it though, and bent down at his weakened form. To see him like this, it kind of scared her and weirded her out at the same time.
"I didn't ask for your help, wench!" he spat. She gazed at him, her blue eyes questioning.
"I know, but I wanted to anyway," She answered. With that, Sonic gave into his exhaustion, and steadily let his eyelids droop. Before giving into slumber completely, he caught a glimpse of what was perhaps concern, flicker across the bat's face.
~ ^_^ ~
"Rouge, are you sure it's safe?" Cream looked cautiously at the fallen hedgehog before fixing her gaze back on Rouge. It just didn't make sense to her. Sure, Rouge was a kind and warm-hearted person, but this WAS Sonic we're talking about here.
"No." She said truthfully, while continuing to bandage Sonic's wounds. "But I just couldn't leave him there. Besides, I don't think it's right for Shadow to slay his own kind, even if he is a bloodthirsty killer."
A/N: Yeah I made him an assassin. Thought it'd heat things up.
"You're right, I know you're not that kind of person," Cheese pounced in between the conversing girls and puffed out his chest.
"Don't worry Rouge! If anything happens, I'll protect you!" Rouge only giggled at his little boast.
"Of course you will! You're my hero Cheese-chan!" Cheese's smile grew wider upon hearing this, and he happily jumped into Rouge's lap.
The fire crackled merrily, casting shadows on all of the members sitting around it. Shadow was sitting on top of a tree, as usual, deep in thought. He occasionally threw heated glances at Rouge and his still passed out other being. Only one thought resounded in his head. 'Why?' He knew Rouge was known for her kindness, it's one of the things that he adored about her, but he knew that even she must have her limits.
"Shadow?" came Rouge's voice. He grunted, showing that he was listening. "Thank you, for understanding."
"Feh! Just don't get used to it! Next thing I know, you might want to invite Eggman over for tea! That was just an android, you know!"
"I might just do that," Shadow nearly fell out his tree at her response, and glared daggers at her when she went into a fit of giggles. But his face slowly softened after she stopped and gave him a warm-hearted smile. 'It's all worth it, just to see her smile.'
Rouge turned her attention back to the blue hedgehog when he began to stir. 'I have to admit, he looks like and angel when he's not trying to kill people, or yelling, 'Die Shadow!''
She gently brushed loose blue fur out of his eyes, but pulled back her hand almost instantly as if she touched fire when she found two emerald orbs staring curiously at her. They seemed to stay like that for hours, staring at her until Rouge decided to break the silence.
"Feeling better?" he didn't respond, but instead closed his eyes and inhaled her scent. She smelled of sakura blossoms and jasmine, and there was a hint of nervousness in her scent, but no fear. For some reason, he was glad that she wasn't afraid of him. All in all, she smelled rather pleasant for a bat.
As soon as he thought this, he mentally slapped himself. 'All bats are filthy, and this one,' he glanced at her emotionlessly, 'is no different.' But still, he was rather curious of her actions. He had expected her to let Shadow kill him, but instead she saved him. He just had to find out why.
"Why did you save me?" Rouge sighed in relief. She half expected him to lash out at her.
"I don't know. But do you always need a reason to help someone?" She answered shyly. Sonic thought over what she said.
"Yes, for you bats, it does. There is always something that you want in return for a certain deed. If you are looking for a reward, you are sadly mistaken."
Rouge was taken back at his reply. She felt tiny pricks of anger rising in her chest. Sonic noticed her sudden shift in moods also.
"Well sorry! If you wanted to die so much than why don't you say so next time?" Rouge crossed her arms over her chest and pouted, directing her gaze elsewhere. Sonic was slightly surprised at her response, she was brave for a bat. Or rather, stupid. He made a move to sit up, but quickly regretted doing so, as a sharp pain went through his side. 'That's right, I'm injured.'
His hand flew up to touch the wound, but he was surprised to find it already bandaged. He looked over to the bat, 'She did this.' Although he would never admit it, he was grateful, and knew that if anyone deserved respect, it was her.
"Tell me, what is your name?" He asked. Rouge was needless to say shocked. She looked into his indifferent face, and noticed that his eyes were a bit softer than before. Or maybe it was just her imagination.
"Rouge. My name is Rouge."
"Rouge." her name rolled of his tongue, "It suits you."
Rouge could only blush at the comment.
"Thank you, Sonic-sama."
End Chapter ^_^
Erin: The first couple of chappies are shaky, but do not fear! I won't disappoint you!
Ja Ne! ^_~