“Promise me we’ll stay like this forever!” said Sonic, cuddling into the ebony and crimson hedgehog. The two had been lying in the flowers for what seemed like an eternity. “I promise” whispered the dark one. Sonic smiled, knowing that nothing could disturb this peace… well… almost nothing. A large axe landed between them. They looked up to see one of the Black Arms standing there. The dark hedgehog had told Sonic all about the Black Arms and they weren’t friendly! The alien spun around and looked the blue hedgehog straight in the eye. An annoying beeping sound was heard and…

Sonic sprung up, gasping for breath. He rubbed his eyes and hit his beeping alarm clock with his fist. “It was all just a dream… who was that guy?” he said, looking around the room. He lay back down again and cried quietly to himself. ’When I think about… of course it was all a dream… That black and red hedgehog was so… perfect… I heard the wind whisper… even the rain seemed to speak to me’ he mused, wrapping himself in the bed sheets.

“SOOOOOOOOONIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Called the pink hedgehog. Sonic pulled himself off the couch and walked over to the door and pulled it open. “Leave me alone… I‘m ASLEEP!!!” he said, pretending to cry. Amy giggled and patted the top of his head. “Aww!” she said in the most patronising voice Sonic had ever heard. “You’re still in your pyjamas? Get dressed you lazy so-and-so!” Laughed the pink girl. Sonic was barely listening, he was in his own world with the black and red hedgehog. “Sonic? Mobius to Sonic!” said Amy, waving her hand in front of Sonic’s face. Sonic was oblivious. Amy got bored and left. “Bye” she called, walking away.

Sonic curled up on his bed. The fact that the sun was still up was irrelevant. ’Maybe if I fall to sleep I’ll see him again… I need to know his name!’ he thought, closing his eyes.

“Sonic? Sonic, are you ok?” Sonic sat up, looking around. He found himself in a dark room. “I’m fine… uh, where am I?” he said, looking up at the black and red hedgehog. He smiled and cuddled him close. “In my house… don’t you remember? You fell asleep in the field so I thought I’d bring you here to rest.” He said. Sonic smiled and buried his face in the dark hedgehog‘s chest fur, suddenly feeling a great sense of tranquillity. “Shadow?” he said, not really knowing why. “what?” asked the black and red hedgehog. Sonic looked up at him. “Your name is Shadow!” he said. The dark hedgehog nodded, looking confused. “Are you ok, Sonic?” he asked. Sonic shook his head. “I feel like I’m constantly flipping between worlds… but you’re not in the other world… and no one from the other world is in this world!” he explained. Shadow listened to his every word, even though he didn’t understand.

“So… when you’re asleep you’re in my world… and when you’re awake you’re in a different world?” asked Shadow after Sonic’s long explanation. Sonic nodded. Shadow got off the bed and walked into the bathroom. Sonic sighed and cuddled under the sheets, wondering why Shadow had left.

Five minutes later, Shadow returned with tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I needed some time to think.” he said. Sonic sat up and tilted his head. “Why are you crying?” he asked. Shadow sat on the bed and wiped his eyes. “I wanted to put off telling you for as long as I could… but… you more or less figured it out…” he sobbed. Sonic crawled over to him and cuddled in to him. “Sonic… I’m… I’m dead!” he said. Sonic sat bolt upright. “What?” he asked. Shadow turned his head away. “I died two years ago… But… last night I saw you and knew I had to have you… so I entered your dream…” he explained. “You can do that?” asked Sonic. Shadow nodded, tears pouring down his face. “I thought that we could be happy together in a world I created… so I don’t know how to explain the Black Arms soldier… but I just wanted to be with you…”

Shadow’s voice stopped. Sonic found himself in his room again, crying. “Shadow?” he said. He jumped off the bed any ran into the bathroom. “I have to do it!” he sobbed. He pulled a blade from the medicine cabinet. He bit down on his bottom lip and pressed the blade against his wrist. “I’m coming Shadow!” he said. The blade move real swift. He watched the blood pour out of his arm and started feeling weak and dizzy. He fell to the floor and slowly stopped breathing.

“Sonic?” came a familiar voice. Sonic sat up. “Shadow!” he said, smiling. Shadow wrapped his arms around the azure hedgehog. “You freaking idiot! I was watching the entire time!” said Shadow, still sobbing. Sonic smiled… in his happy place

… Now

… And forever!