Black Petals: Chapter 17 ~ What Cost...?

Amy blinked. A moment ago, she was in front of a broken robot and now she was back in her apartment! Looking around, she saw Shadow kneeling. 'He must have used Chaos Control!' As he stood up, she said, "That was close! Thanks, Shadow!" Shadow, however, glared at her. "Take your thanks and shove it!" This cruel response outraged Amy. "What's your problem?!"

"My problem," he shouted, "is that you almost got yourself killed!" Amy rolled her eyes at him. "What are you talking about? I took those robots down easily! And I stopped whatever it was Dr. Eggman was trying to do. Nothing bad happened, so what's the issue?" Shadow just growled. As someone more experienced with disaster, he knew better. Looking towards the remote control on the kitchen counter, he snapped his fingers. The flash of Chaos Magic knocked the remote into the air towards Shadow, who caught it effortlessly. He then promptly turned the television on, flipping channels until he found the local news.

[This is Scarlet Garcia with a breaking news flash! A shopping district in Central City was ripped apart by an explosion moments ago. The cause of the devastation was none other than Doctor Eggman and his army of vicious robots. According to eyewitnesses who claimed to be at the scene, the notorious mad scientist had been demanding an audience with the mayor of Central City when he was intercepted by local resident, Amy Rose, who had reportedly been on a shopping spree with Shadow the Hedgehog, of all people.]

[Witnesses say that Amy - who, after not being seen for a year or so, was sporting a daring new appearance - challenged the would-be Eggman Emperor and swiftly took down his mechanical troops single-handed, though it wasn't easy. Just as victory was at hand, the two remaining robots suddenly detonated, causing a massive explosion that decimated the entire area. Thankfully, all citizens had fled before the explosion occurred, though it is not known if Amy herself survived the destruction...]

Shadow then muted the TV and glanced at Amy, who was looking at the decimated scene in shock. "I...I didn't know..."

"Of course you didn't," Shadow spat. "You were too busy showing off that you forgot a very important lesson I taught you. Can you attempt to remember what that is?" Amy thought carefully for a few moments. Then, she spoke. "To be mindful of my surroundings and to expect the unexpected." Shadow nodded. "Precisely. Always be ready for an attack. But, you let your guard down in the face of victory. A win is never certain and the battle is never over until your opponent has nothing left to use against you. You should know this, Rose." Amy was silent as she took this in. "Not only that," Shadow continued, "But your carelessness put innocent lives in danger. Honestly, what were you-"

His tirade was halted by the small sound of whimpering emanating from the young woman before him. "I'm sorry, Shadow. I...I should have known..." Amy whispered quietly, and kept wincing from the pain of her wounds. Shadow sighed with exasperation and said nothing for 5 minutes. Eventually, he chose to comfort her. "I suppose it's not a total loss, though. After all, no one was hurt, and you did take down the Doctor's troops by yourself. If that wasn't enough, we got the Chaos Emeralds we came here for. Amy looked at him in bewilderment. "We did??"

Shadow smirked half-heartedly and displayed the green and purple Emeralds. "And, I managed to save our new clothes." Amy sniffled and said, "Thanks, Shadow. I owe you." He nodded and replied, "Damn straight. You can begin your atonement by holding still." He warped out and returned within seconds with a first aid kit and begun wrapping her wounds, as well as sharing his Rings. "After your wounds are dressed, I'll start preparing dinner. We're heading back to Soleanna in the morning."

"What, so soon?" Amy stated whilst wincing from the stinging ointment. "I wanted to visit Cream and the others." Shadow looked straight at her with a no-nonsense expression. "That might have been possible, but you and the Doctor quite literally blew those plans to hell." Amy remained silent after that, save for hissing from the ointment.