Preface

Hi!

As some of you may have been wondering where I have been the whole time, I am taking the liberty to do some major editing, revising and updating for 'I'll Be There'. This ShadAmy piece of work I have started since 2006 when I was 16 is in drear need to be done and I am already feeling guilty for not finishing this story I had started. In case some of you have been wondering where the hell I have been in all these years, I have earned my degree, travelled some aspects of the world and worked a full-time job that I miserably hated.

I wanted change. I wanted to reconnect with some of things I loved doing, and wanted my passion turned into a potential career. I quit my full-time job, moved away from the city to the island, went back to school for graduate's studies, reconnected with anime (especially Sonic (Shadow) the Hedgehog :p) and so far, just loving what I am currently doing right now.

I decided to take the initiative and make this story worth my investment of time, effort, and imagination. I re-read the entire story of what my 16 year old me had done, and my late-20-something-year-old self wants to update this fanfic right. There will be TONS of changes involved with this, and I may change up a few aspects of the story, while I still keep the authenticity and purpose of it. This is my gift for those that have been anxiously waiting long enough for an update. I still exist, and I haven't fallen off the face of earth!

All Sonic characters belong respectively to Sega. The display artwork is all beautifully done by Aimyneko (check her out in deviant art!).

I'll shut up now and let you read.

Here we go!

I'll Be There

Shadow's POV

Well, this happened.

I stood at the far back underneath the shadows, while I listened to the priest's words. Dreadfully in this moment, it is no surprise how much the community is affected when his friends and civilians had discovered the somber news. Even being rivals, or without having the intention to care, I acknowledged that guy for who he is. Unfortunate enough, the incident just so happens to be a blink of an eye between a typical battle of him and Eggman... which had led to a devastating event after.

Deep breath. Sigh.

I turned around and saw his friends up front, crying that his life had lived so short. Everyone else in the funeral had strongly felt the same. The cries and woes had become increasingly agonizing over the death of the person they believe is the hero amongst the city and the community. It's a little difficult to determine how I feel about the incident, because again, it all just happened. Other than our fair share of battles and heroic moments, I only considered him as an ally.

But most certainly not a close friend.

His girlfriend (I suppose) was not seen amongst the crowd, and her friends knew how much she devoted her life to that blue hedgehog. From the moment she threw her arms around him, and without a notice of how much she always suffocates him ridiculously, she truly does care with her heart... essentially.

As the end came near where people had given their flowers by his grave, there was no sign of her. Cries and woes had continued, I remained in the same spot in the shadows, listening and bearing the agony and pain of the crowd. I had greater intentions to stay hidden, partially to avoid being the centre of attention and the reason of this incident as well. I don't want questions, I don't want any one even asking me why. Because honestly, I don't know - it just happened. Hell, the media is just worst for that - they know how to stir anything personal and turn it into juicy details.

An hour had passed by, and the service had came to an end. Everyone had silently walked away from the coffin of the blue hedgehog, still in disbelief about his sudden death. I watched every civilian walked by, all expressing tremendous sadness for Sonic. His friends had stayed behind, preparing to give their final words for the guy.

Tails led the prayer, trying to bear the tears shed while speaking. Knuckles' let his tears flowed on his cheeks, while Rouge did the same. The little rabbit had strongly tried to contain her emotions, but instead, she fell on her knees and cried into her mother's arms.

Deep breath. Sigh.

I understand how difficult and upsetting it is to lose someone that is incredibly important to them - I know that feeling. I lost Maria and she was my world. It was truly hard and unforgiving... and at times, I had found it very difficult to move forward from that because it was just so Goddamn traumatic. My one true friend threatened and shot in front of me, because she wanted what's right for me and she took her life because of me. If she hadn't done so, our life would've been great here on earth.

After their last prayer, they all left their flowers by his grave, and sauntered away.

Silence had remained, and there was no one on sight. When I took a few steps forward from the shadows, I quickly noticed a figure walking the same direction to where I was heading. I hid again and checked out of curiousity to see who it is. From this dear moment, she finally made an appearance.

She approached to his coffin and stood there watching. She stood there bravely to endure this tragic moment alone, and bravely enough to exceed my expectation of even attending. I do however worry if she is brave enough to accept that he is no longer alive. A few minutes went by while she stands in front of his coffin, and shortly after, she fell on her knees. She broke down and painfully cried her heart out.

I empathized her pain. She had little control of the situation because everything just happened... right in front of her too. Her cries had became increasingly disturbing, as I watched her sadness conquer her entirely, I never would have expected to see it this painful to watch. At any point of this moment, I could no longer bear watching her like this, I decided to appear out of the shadows and approached gradually right beside her.

I placed my hand on her shoulder, she turned to her left and looked at me surprisingly; her saddened look with those green emerald eyes and the tears she had smudged herself into, it didn't occur to me how... beautiful... she looks.

"Shadow…?" She murmured through her whimper. I wasn't sure what to say, my words became something to none. I let silence take over and let the awkwardness prevail for a bit. Few minutes went by and with no response, she finally stood up and buried herself on me, crying on my chest.

I... am not really good or know how to reassure people. I couldn't recall a moment in my life where I had told somebody that everything is going to be all right. Amy continued to sob and murmur words I couldn't hear. My empathy for her continues to grow and overall, I felt bad to see her going through such a difficult time, I know that only time can help heal her from this incident.

"Don't cry." I said bluntly, trying to reassure her with a few pats on her back. Her sobs have suddenly piped down a tiny bit, the feeling of reassurance had made her feel a little better.

After a long moment of her crying, she finally managed to redeem herself and went on being silent. She left her bouquet of flowers by his grave and watched silently. I looked over to the blue hedgehog resting in his coffin with his hands gripped tightly together, his face lacking emotion and his body laying motionless. There is really nothing else for me to say, other than wishing him to rest in peace.

I left my last flower by his grave and walked away in silence with the rose hedgehog.

I glanced at her, and observed how very depressed she is at the moment. Again, I let awkwardness prevail because I don't have any more ideas to try and make her feel better. Maybe a cup of hot beverage will cheer her up.

"This way." I point towards a trail knowing that it leads to a coffee shop.

She looked at me confusingly, but nodded and followed en route. She saw it happen, I saw it too. Coincidentally, the both of us had just happened to be there and witnessed everything. We walked on the trail with silence, but upon walking, we hear droplets of rain making it's way down.

Deep breath. Sigh.

The weather immediately turned grey and within seconds, it was from showers that immediately turned into a torrential downpour. Quickly, I escorted her to quicken her pace towards the direction of where the cafe is located.

We had finally entered the café after being soaked from the rain. Until then, a server had appeared and assisted us to our seats.

"Oh my, it's pouring out there!" She obnoxiously said to break the ice, which the both of us had not responded. She chuckled embarrassingly, while she rapidly started digging out her notepad and pen.

"So... what can I get started for both of you?"

"I'll get a dark roast." I looked over at Amy to hear her order of beverage, but she continued staying silent to herself.

"... A hot chocolate would be good for her." Her eyes had turned puffy and red from all the crying in the past hour after leaving the cemetery. Again, she sat still looking very lifeless in her seat. I could not put into one thought about any more intention to make her feel better about the situation, but here I am, still trying to reassure her that everything is going to be fine... when I know it's not. I started feeling restless and wiped wet droplets from the rain around my upper quills.

"Here you go sir, your coffeé." The waitress came back shortly.

"Thanks."

"And for you young lady, your hot chocolate." Amy didn't respond.

"Amy." I said, trying to get her attention.

Amy reached for her chocolate, nodded towards the waitress and stared at her hot beverage. She didn't take a sip nor touch her hot chocolate and also barely touched the whip cream atop of it, she looked completely dozed off in open space.

"You saw what happened." I took sips of my coffee. She clenched her dress, while trying to hold against her tears.

"I saw it too."

"Stop p-please…" She whimpered, as tears flown on her cheeks.

After taking a few sips, I put down my coffeé and stared off to the window. Watching Sonic die in front of Amy and I was surprising and devastating to see that it all happened in just a blink of an eye. It's a given that the doctor would always lose to Sonic, but to kill Sonic? If that was ever the doctor's case, I believe the intention to do so is completely rare for him to do such thing.

It all had started when Doctor wanted to continue with his plans to build the 'eggman empire'. As expected from everyone else, we all know Sonic would be there in the jist of the moment to stop him immediately before the doctor even tried to abolish things on his way.

I had happened to be there alone at the lookout point. As soon as the doctor arrived with his aerial fleet, I decided to just watch the entertainment because I know this would easily be taken care of by the blue hedgehog. The whole area was surrounded by water, making things a bit challenging for Sonic to deal with. Sonic on the other hand didn't look petrified for too long, but continued maintaining his playful attitude to defeat Eggman like it was a piece of cake. As expected, Sonic had absolutely no problem dealing with Doctor regardless of what his evil plans were. Like always, the blue hedgehog ends his battles with the biggest smirk on his face additionally prevailing with his 'thumbs up' to execute his performance.

Typically like a hero.

Sonic landed on his aerial fleet, spin dashed his way to defeat the Doctor's machinery soldiers and reached towards where his arch nemesis is. I expected that the doctor had no chance to defeat Sonic in a position he is in now; it was 'til then, my expectations had suddenly changed.

Doctor took out his sniper rifle, I assumed he wanted to use the gun to pose a threat to Sonic. In a blink of an eye, he shot the blue hedgehog merely in just a second, as the bullet had penetrated through Sonic's chest. After witnessing the tragedy, I had froze in disbelief.

Everything happened so damn fast that I didn't know how to react, I startled when I heard noises on my left.

I peered over to see Amy completely devastated with her hands covering her mouth when she saw Sonic being shot by the doctor. Tears begin to flow on her face, as she immediately tried in attempting to jump off from the cliff and rescue Sonic herself. Obviously, 'tis not the smartest decision to make to jeopardize your life, when somebody is already falling towards the deep blue.

I quickly grabbed her, knowing that it's not worth saving Sonic at the moment. She struggled in trying to escape from my grip, and ferociously giving no absolute thought about her own matter of life and safety.

"Let me go!" Amy cried out. I continued to hold on to her, while she continued trying to loosen my grip.

I pushed her back with the intention to stop her from doing something stupid. I know it's not worth seeing another life slip away because someone else had already done so.

She looked at me in shock and started crying, she felt completely awful for not saving the blue hedgehog. My intention to save her from this mess had become so immediate that I was already starting to draw my concern for her life and safety. Amy, who is still traumatized of watching Sonic die in front of her had cried like the world is ending tomorrow.

I turned to look at the doctor and saw him drop the rifle, looking awfully in shock from the action he had caused. He stared down towards the ocean where Sonic had fallen in the depths of the blue sea and his own blood. I clenched my fist, feeling disappointed at the doctor for crossing the boundary that shouldn't be bound to happen at all. I teleported to his aerial fleet and knocked him out before he attempted to make an escape. I didn't intervene in this mess to show the doctor's consequences, but I did it to justify what's right.

The doctor was therefore sentenced a lifetime in a high secured facility area and was charged for first-degree murder. I managed to get a hold of the blue hedgehog, and had used chaos control to get him to the nearest hospital, but everything after became too late.

Deep breath. Sigh.

Looking upon what the Doctor had done, I am still in lost of words on why he would something extremely notorious to go that far. All I know is that it's a stupid gesture to make when you try to threaten your nemesis with a sniper rifle. I scoffed, he eventually earned that mistake to suffer his own consequences.

I checked my watch to see the time being close to 8:30pm. With early errands tomorrow at the G.U.N. Headquarters, I looked over at Amy, who is still crying silently in her seat and barely touching her beverage this whole time.

"I'll walk you home." I said. She nodded without saying a word. I ringed up the bill, paid the expenses and left the café walking back to the route leading to central city. Amy sauntered a little during our walk, still continually feeling depressed about today.

During the long (and awkward) walk to her place, silence still continued among between the rose hedgehog and myself. I didn't mind the silence, but I had started to develop a bit of concern for Amy. We finally arrived, as I stood in front of her apartment building. I looked at Amy once more, still unsure of what to say at this point.

"We're here." I said bluntly.

"… Thanks for walking with me and the hot chocolate." She urged to finally say.

She waved good-bye with a lack of effort, then sauntered to the entrance of her apartment.

As I walked away after seeing Amy off to her apartment building, the blue hedgehog suddenly crossed my mind. The last time I ever spent briefly with Sonic was that time I disliked his annoyance of always challenging me to race him. His challenges always seemed like a childish thing to do, and I remembered that was the only faint memory I had the last time of him.

(Flashback)

I was at the park alone and looking over the sunset. As always, I stood at the lookout point watching the sunset and thinking of about life in general.

"Hey Shadow! Hiding in the shadows again?" Sonic smirked and arrived randomly. I startled when he called my name, but had given no absolute interest to talk to him.

"What do you want." I said with my coldest tone of voice.

"Oh nothing." He smirked. "You just happened to steal my shadowy spot for me to watch the sunset."

"Say that once more, and I'll punch you in the face." I crossed my arms. "Go find another spot."

I heard him chuckle. Nothing irritates me more than seeing him with his usual cheery, uplifted attitude he carries with him all the time. Undeniably annoying.

"Wanna race?" He asked randomly.

"No."

He sighed. "I knew you were going to say that."

He stood there for a minute, checking to see if I had a change of mind, I continued giving him the cold shoulder and let him figure it out that I wasn't interested. He finally took a hike and walked away, I looked over him and had thought, 'why not'. I could probably use the time to show him who's the boss.

"Hey Faker." He quickly turned around, annoyed with what I said.

"Prepare yourself." I said, checking my hover shoes.

"Oh do I hear a challenge?" He smirked, briefly stretching his arms and legs.

"Hmph." This is not something I always do, but since I am the living ultimate life form, I have the advantage to do what I want. As the sunset had set, the both of us sped off to our race.

(End of flashback)

In the end, seeing how stupid this challenge may be, it isn't quite bad… my last faint memory of him before he suddenly died. I checked to my right and looked over at Amy's apartment building. My gut can't seem to shake this suspicious feeling of what she'll do about the blue hedgehog being gone.

Deep breath. Sigh.

End of POV

And that's it for chapter one.

You may have notice this chapter being longer than usual. I decided to combine both chapter one and two together to create a better flow of the story, and so far, it worked! Also, I cleaned up the grammar big time for both of these chapters, and just rereading it over again makes me feel completely satisfied that it sounds a lot better. Meticulous, but I can't help but cringe of the grammar I had written when I was 16!

Anyway, read and review as you wish. Please keep comments positive and constructive. Any negative, flaming comments will be removed and possibly reported. Stay tuned for chapter 2!