Okay, so I didn't finish this by Christmas. So what? At least it's done before another year passed. lol

Please enjoy the last chapter of How Shadow Stole Christmas, and thank you for reading it!

(I do not own any of these characters.)

At the top of the mountain, Shadow laughed to himself. He was certain his plan had worked. "And now for the climax in my symphony of downright-nasty-not-niceness!" He said. "The crescendo of my odious opus!" Shadow began pushing on the sleigh, inching it closer and closer to the edge of the cliff at the top of the mountain.

Shadow pushed with all his might, ready to push the sleigh over. But then he stopped.

"Shadow heard a sound rising over the snow. It started out low… but started to grow."

Shadow blinked in confusion as he heard the strange sound, and moved away from the sleigh and climbed down to the ledge in front of his lair to listen in a little better.

"But this sound wasn't sad. Why, this sound sounded… glad. Everyone down in Station Square, the tall and the small, was singing… without any presents at all! He hadn't stopped Christmas from coming. It came… somehow or other…"

"It came just the same!" Shadow growled, as Snax followed him down to listen to the music coming from the town below.

"Shadow stood there, with his air shoes ice cold in the snow. He puzzled and puzzled."

"How could it be so?" Shadow demanded, taking off his hat and wringing it in his hands. "It came without ribbons… it came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags!" Shadow's face wrinkled in confusion. How had this happened?

"He puzzled and puzzled, till his puzzler was sore… Then Shadow thought of something… he hadn't before…"

Shadow's eyes became wide, as a thought came to him. "Maybe Christmas…" He said. "…Doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more."

It was then he remembered Maria's words, about how gifts were the perfect way to show someone you loved that you cared. But only now did he realize that it was the love that it represented, and not the present that was most important.

Suddenly, Shadow felt an odd feeling in his chest, and gasped. He fell to his knees growled as if in pain. "Snax!" He called. "Help me! I'm… feeling!" Snax just rolled his eyes.

"And what happened then? Well, in Station Square they say… that Shadow's small heart grew three sizes that day."

Shadow, now allowing himself to feel emotions he thought he'd rid himself of years ago, began to cry. "What's happening to me…?" He asked. But then, he looked up and saw the sun rising in the east, casting a warm glow on the world that Christmas morning.

Oddly enough, Shadow found himself smiling. "I'm all… toasty inside." He said. He wiped the tears from his face and looked at them on his hand. "…and I'm leaking." He turned to his Chao and smiled. "Oh Snax…" Snax tilted his head to the side in confusion. "I… I love ya!" Shadow held his arms open and Snax gladly flew into them, kissing Shadow's face all over. "Okay, okay…" Shadow laughed. "All right, that's enough… stop it Snax… Enough now! Enough!" Snax jumped away as Shadow stopped laughing and returned to normal. "One step at a time Snax!" Shadow sighed and looked up. It was then that he saw the sleigh sliding over to the edge of the cliff. "Oh no! The sleigh, the presents… they'll be destroyed! And I care! What… is the deal?!"

Shadow jumped up and ran to the sleigh and grabbed it by the bumper, desperately trying to pull it back. But it was too heavy.

Shadow, still hold the sleigh bumper, stopped pulling and sighed. "Oh well." He said. "It's just toys, right?"

But then, he looked up and saw Amy looking down at him from the top of the large load in the sleigh. "Hi Shadow!" She called.

Shadow gasped. "Amy? What are you doing up there?!"

"I came to see you." She replied. "I didn't want you to be alone on Christmas."

Shadow was surprised by her answer… but it also made him happy for some reason. He smiled up at her, and she returned his smile warmly.

But then, the sleigh shook, and Shadow remembered that it was sliding to the edge of the cliff. Amy realized what was going on, as well, and whimpered in fear.

Shadow, with new determination, narrowed his eyes and gave another pull. This time, the sleigh began to move.

"And so, with the true meaning of Christmas shining through, Shadow felt the strength of ten hedgehogs, plus two!"

Shadow pulled with all his might, and found he had more strength then ever before. He pulled, and the sleigh moved away from the cliff, and he even managed to lift the sleigh over his head!

"I've got you Amy!" He called up.

"You did it!" Amy cheered, and Snax cheered as well.

A little later, the sleigh was flying down the mountain, headed back to Station Square, with Amy and Snax at the controls. Shadow, meanwhile, for reasons unknown, decided he'd sky behind. He held onto a rope hooked to the sleigh and glided on his air shoes.

As he skied down the mountain, Shadow smiled from ear to ear, as he enjoyed the Christmas morning sun. He then turned a bit, but found himself going up a slope the took him up and around the sleigh.

With a worried shout, he flew around to the front of the sleigh and hit the large bag in the back, before falling onto the hood of the vehicle in front of Amy.

"Shadow!" She shouted worriedly. "Are you alright?!"

Shadow had been laying there for a moment, but just lifted his head and smiled. "Are you kidding?" He asked. "The sun is bright and the powder's bitchin'!" Amy laughed, now that she knew Shadow was alright. "Now scoot over, it's my turn to drive!"

Amy did as she was told, and Shadow sat down in the driver's seat. They soon saw Station Square, as they drew ever closer.

"I'd better slow this buggy down." Said Shadow, as he pulled the brake. But as the brake was only an old boot attached to some hinges and springs, it broke, and the sleigh sped towards Station Square. "Huh?" Shadow asked.

"We're gonna crash!" Amy cried in terror.

Shadow turned to her with a serious look on his face. "Now you listen to me Amy," He said. "Even if we're horribly mangled… There'll be no sad faces on Christmas." Shadow smiled, and Amy returned the smile.

But when they turned around and saw Station Square coming up faster and faster they both screamed.

Down in Station Square, everyone heard the scream and turned to see the sleigh coming faster and faster towards them.

"Amy?" Cream asked. "What's she doing in that sleigh?"

"It's outta control!" Vector shouted. "Run for your lives!"

Sonic saw it, too. "We've gotta do something!"

Thinking fast, Tails ran to his house and pulled down the Christmas lights, no longer caring about them now that his friends were in danger. "Rouge, help me with this!" He called, and Rouge helped him right away, also pulling down her own lights to make a rope.

Rouge along with Espio, and Tails along with Sonic each grabbed an end and pulled the light rope across the sleigh's path.

"Move outta the way!" Shadow called. "I have no insurance!"

The sleigh roared down the street, as people jumped out of its way, and when it reached the light rope it just plowed on, dragging Sonic, Tails, Rouge and Espio with it. It made its way towards the center of town, headed right for the tree.

Just then, Knuckles walked into its path and held up his hands, determined to try and push it back.

"Knuckles, move!" Amy pleaded when she saw him.

"Yeah Knucklehead, move it!" Shadow shouted.

The sleigh reached Knuckles, but instead of him pushing it back, it pushed him back.

The sleigh kept going forward into the tree, but just when it looked like Knuckles would be squashed, the sleigh slowed down and finally stopped.

Shadow breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks for the help Knuckles." He said. Knuckles nodded in reply, and breathed his own sigh of relief. Shadow stood up and turned to the crowd that had formed. "Merry Christmas one and all!"

Sonic got back to his feet and walked up to the sleigh. "Well, what do we have here?" He asked.

Shadow turned to his blue rival. "You got me Sonic!" He said, jumping down from the sleigh. "I did it! I'm the Shadow who stole Christmas!" Shadow's grin faded. "And I'm… sorry." Shadow waited a moment before looking confusedly at Sonic. "Aren't you gonna have the cops take me away? Declare something about justice or some such crap and haul me away?"

Amy jumped out of the sleigh and stood in front of Shadow. "Don't you dare Sonic!" She said. "Shadow's learned from his mistake and he only wanted to fix everything."

Sonic grinned. "Oh really?" He asked. "Is that so?" Amy and Shadow nodded. "Hmm… Well, it looks like everything's accounted for. What do you think folks? Should we forgive him, in the spirit of Christmas?"

There was a bit of hesitation, but soon everyone voiced their agreement.

"Well Shadow," Sonic continued. "Looks like we all forgive ya."

"Thank you Sonic." Said Amy.

"Don't mention it." Sonic held out his hand. "So Shadow… what say we put the past behind us and start getting along? I'm willing to if you are."

Shadow paused for a moment, but smiled and shook Sonic's hand. "Sure thing… Faker." The two hedgehogs smiled in a friendly way, as they shook hands, and everyone cheered.

After Shadow returned everything to their rightful owners, he fixed the short circuit in the giant Christmas tree, restoring power to everyone's lights.

The crowd cheered again, and Amy tapped Shadow on the shoulder. When he turned to her, she smiled. "Merry Christmas Shadow." She said. Shadow smiled back, but was surprised when Amy kissed his cheek. She moved away and had a strange look on her face. "Shadow… your cheek is so…"

"I know." He said with a sad frown. "Hairy."

"No…"

Shadow became confused. "Greasy? Stinky? Do I have a zit?"

"No…" Amy smiled. "Your cheek is so… warm."

Shadow smiled back, and they walked hand in hand over to where the others now stood around the tree, singing Christmas carols.

Later, the time came for Christmas dinner, and Shadow sat with the rest, just as much a part of their little family as everyone else. And for that, he was glad.

"And then, Sonic and his friends sat down to a feast. And he… he himself, Shadow… carved the roast beast."

Shadow carved pieces for everyone, even a piece for Snax, who sat on next to Amy. Amy, meanwhile, sat next to Shadow, who smiled happily.

"Nothing like the holidays." He said. "Who wants the gizzard?!"

"I do!" Big called.

"Too late! That'll be mine…"

"We hope your Christmas is never blue. Happy Holidays… from us to you."

The End