It has been a week after the battle took place in New York. The island of Manhattan is in a state of trying to recover from the battle taking place although most of the occupants are trying to get on with their lives inside the damaged city. The authorities are still trying to find out the identity of the people who have caused millions of dollars of damage to the city and they have declined the event as a terrorist attack seeing as how the giant gryphon and wolf are beyond scientific reasons.

Everyone in the tri-state area is advised to be on the lookout for a brown or black haired girl about the age of thirteen to fifteen and is possession of two fantasy-like swords. One is either a long-sword, war sword, or is of a medieval background, and the other resembles a Japanese Katana that has a black colored blade. The authorities have given this mystery character the title—

"Mona,"

The brunette looked up abruptly from the newspaper when she heard her name being spoken. Her face was bandaged over her scars and her brown bangs stuck out at odd angles. Mona also had on a black long-sleeve shirt and a clean pair of jeans. Kianna stood next to her desk and was giving her odd looks.

"Not that I care but," The Hispanic girl squinted, "what happened to your face?"

"I got it scratched up," Mona replied, raising a half-bandaged eyebrow.

"Yeah, but how did you get it scratched up?" She pressed. The brunette looked at her classmate with some nervousness in her expression before shrugging, giving Kianna the best excuse she could come up with.

"I tripped and fell off a curb."

A silence passed as this was processed a few times through her classmate's head. The Hispanic then rolled her eyes, humored.

"Geez Mona, I never knew you were a klutz!"

Mona only watched as the girl walked off before shrugging and re-reading the newspaper.

The authorities have given this mystery character the title Volt Slayer until further notice. She is very dangerous and it is not known what her motive is along with the other creatures spotted.

After re-reading the title and the last statement, Mona sighed silently and slid the newspaper under her chair prior to glancing at the digital clock just as the final bell rang.

"One more hour left…"

"Just thirty more minutes…" He murmured. As much as Shadow wanted to stay on Earth with the brunette, he knew very well of the dangers going on…and he had to get back to Mobius. The hedgehog was caught a bit off guard when Myst prodded him with its cold nose but relaxed and stroked its head. "You're going to miss me too…even though we had our little bouts when you were an Eevee…"

The Vaporeon seemed to shrug and purred in content as Shadow pet it behind the ears. The hedgehog smiled faintly before hearing the front door open and close, letting in the currently wrapped-like-a-mummy brunette who closed the door and locked it before setting down her load. The backpack hit the floor with a dull thump before Mona spoke up wearily and walked into the kitchen.

"I'm home…"

Shadow slowly stood up. The injuries he had sustained a week ago from the battle healed rather fast, so moving around wasn't much of a problem.

"You sound exhausted," The hedgehog walked over with a casual pace, trying not to rush his last moments until he went back.

"School has that ability…" Mona sighed as she sat down on a kitchen chair. "I had to tell 30 or so people I fell off a curb so they wouldn't ask too much about why I'm wearing bandages."

"That wouldn't exactly explain the scars they're going to see on your face." Shadow smiled as he stood behind her. The brunette got out of her chair before turning to the hedgehog and embracing him, both arms around his shoulders. Shadow returned it, one arm around her waist while the other went diagonally to her shoulder.

"I'm going to miss you…" She murmured, a bit uncomfortable from the bandages.

"I would stay longer but…" Shadow sighed as he held her close. "…I don't think it's safe right now…"

"…yeah…I know…"

Both remained in silence, still in a tight embrace. No other words were exchanged, just that they wanted to make the most of what time was left. Shadow's ears seemed to fold against his head as he silently counted down.

"Shadow…maybe…"

"Hm…?"

"Maybe…during the summer…I could…you know…" The brunette tried again. "I only have…60 or so days of summer…so…if…"

"Yeah…that sounds good…" Shadow smiled before an idea came to mind. "Mona…?"

"Yes…?"

"I'm going to bring your power-ups with me…"

"Huh…?" Mona was caught a bit off guard. "Why…?"

"I think Tails was working on a miniature storage unit before I left. I think it would be easier for you to carry everything around in case of emergency so…"

"So I wouldn't have to be wearing them all the time?"

"I don't think an Elemental of Doom is going to show its face anytime soon." Shadow smiled. "Besides, we've had enough traumatizing experiences for quite a while."

"Point…" Mona chuckled before glancing at the clock. Five more minutes… She sighed and ducked her head back down into the hedgehog's shoulders. "We'd better get ready…you came through the game system…right?" Shadow nodded briefly before carefully warping them to her room. The brunette released her hold and turned on the television screen before she did the game. The mini screen displayed the cube insignia as Mona stood back up.

"Just three minutes…" Shadow murmured.

"I know…" Mona sat down again. The hedgehog followed her example and sat down next to the brunette. "…I don't want you to leave…"

"We'd better make the best of these last few moments then…" Shadow whispered, going next to her ear and reaching slowly around her waist. Mona turned abruptly at the sound of his voice.

"Wait…wha—?" Any other thought was omitted when bronze and peach connected.

"I can't believe Shadow just left for Earth without telling us about it!" Sonic exclaimed as he walked around the room of Tails' workshop in the Mystic ruins. "He just up and left just in time for Eggman to release a robot and cause havoc with Chaos Control!"

"Calm down Sonic…it's not like he did it just to spite us." Tails replied as he put finishing touches on a hexagonal machine. It was a bit flat but had enough room for either one of the Mobians to walk through. In short, it was a dimensional gate…which seemed to be in its prototype stage.

"Yeah, maybe he wanted to visit his girlfriend…" The blue hedgehog shrugged.

"Sonic…" Tails' voice gained a warning note as he tightened a bolt.

"Okay-okay, but if I'm right and you open that gate and link it to Shadow's position-or-whatever, he's going to…err…I can't think of anything…but I know it's got something to do with…" Sonic stopped pacing with a finger to the side of his head just as the prototype-gate sparked to life and the Kitsune found himself staring into it. Sonic turned his attention to the gate and noticed Tails had gone silent. "Tails…?"

The twin-tailed fox had a faint blush on his face which caused the blue hedgehog to gain an incredulous expression.

"TAAAAIIILLLS…?" Sonic waved one of his gloved hands in front of his friend's face. Tails continued staring ahead which caused the hedgehog to look into the portal. "Geez, did you hook up to someone's TV reception o—OH MY GOSH!"

"Wow…kiss her again…" He drawled. This caused Sonic to laugh harder while Mona and Shadow stared at him incredulously.

"TAILS!" Mona flushed a deep red and clung onto Shadow like a lifeline.

"Stop watching us!" Shadow yelled before turning towards Sonic, who was still laughing. "And you stop laughing!"

Myst continued watching the spectacle from outside the room. The Vaporeon rolled its eyes as Shadow yelled in anguish and charged into the game system, aiming to strangle his rival, before sauntering down the stairs to the kitchen.

"That's enough excitement for one day…"