#Shadamy Week 2021

[sonic-nada]

Hi there fellow shadamy lover

You're my friend now

[thespectral-wolf]

An Idle Conversation

My (only) submission to this year's Shadamy Week. I actually started writing this back in 2021, but I wasn't satisfied with it. But since I saw that it thematically fit both of the prompts of the first day (Immortality/Late Night-Early Morning), I went ahead and reworked it.

---

Amy lay in her bed, eyes closed. She stayed like that for a couple of minutes before glancing at her clock. 5:49 am. She has been hoping for the sweet embrace of sleep to take her back again for almost an hour now.

This has been a recurring problem lately and more and more had she been wishing back to her young days when she could sleep like a stone after an adventure. Maybe she missed the thrill more than the ability to sleep longer. With Eggman gone, there wasn’t anyone bold and ambitious enough to kickstart world threatening events anymore. Not that she would give up the peace that she and her friends now have. All she has to worry about is keeping her little business going and making sure to stay in touch with the others. Still, some days, she still longed for adventure…

She let out a silent sigh and sat up. Might as well start the day early instead of making futile efforts to fall back asleep. She yawned as she stepped out of her bedroom and went to the kitchen. She has been staying in her weekend house for a few weeks. She planned for a little alone time, however an unexpected visitor similarly looking for some peace changed her plans a bit. The door of the guest room was closed, but Amy knew he was up from the freshly brewed coffee in the pot. She took out a mug and poured herself some, grabbing a few sugarcubes from the counter and a spoon from the drawer before going outside.

She stepped out to the porch, and took a deep breath of the chilly morning air.

“You’re up early.” Shadow was sitting at the coffee table solving some sort of newspaper puzzle.

“Couldn’t sleep,” Amy said as she took a seat across from him. She started stirring her coffee before she continued “Why’d you make coffee this early though? You don’t even like it.”

“As a drink,” Shadow rebutted without looking up, “and I thought you’d appreciate it.”

“It would’ve gone cold by the time I normally get up, don’t you think?” she picked at him playfully.

“That’s what the microwave is for,” he said with a slight edge in his voice, although his faint smile showed he wasn’t actually annoyed.

“True,” she took a sip while resting her eyes on her garden, which was basked in the golden light of the rising Sun.

“What’cha solving?” she asked after a brief pause.

“Crosswords,” Shadow answered without as much as glancing at her.

Somehow the whole idea of Shadow occupying himself with ‘old people entertainment’ amused her.

“And how’s it going?” she asked, barely containing her smile.

“Too easy,” he folded the newspaper and reached down beside him. He showed a dozen of other newspaper pages with the crosswords already filled out. “They hardly give me a challenge. At least if the punchlines were better…” He promptly threw the papers down and returned to solving the one in his hand.

“If you dislike them so much, why do you bother then?” Amy inquired.

“It keeps me busy, I guess,” Shadow shrugged.

Amy mused on that a little.

“You know, this isn’t such a bad idea actually,” she pointed at the paper. “Doing mental work, I mean. Maybe I should start doing something like that. Old people have to keep their brains oiled, right?” She joked.

“You’re only 56, Amy. You’re not old.”

She rolled her eyes.

“You’re one to talk, Mr. Forever-Young,” Amy teased. She was just taking in the scenery when she noticed that Shadow went quiet. She looked over to him. He put the paper down and stared with an unreadable look on his face. Amy cocked her head:

“What’s wrong?”

Shadow seemed to shake out of his trance, his eyes dashed to her for a moment before he shook his head and averted his gaze.

“Nothing,” he hesitated. “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”

“C’mon,” Amy pressed. “I can see that something’s bothering you.”

“It’s just,” Shadow sighed. “I don’t like it when you call me that. It reminds me that I’m…”

Oh… that.

“I’m sorry,” she said, almost instinctively.

“It’s okay,” he reassured her.

"No, I’m really sorry, I know you hate when we bring that up.”

“It’s fine, really!” Shadow said with a bit too much force on his voice. He blew out some air. “Let’s just… talk about something else.”

But no other topic seemed to come to either of them. They sat there in silence for several minutes, staring off to the treeline surrounding the yard. There was a low mist still hanging to the ground in the distance, making it all seem ethereal.

“I like these moments,” Shadow spoke up eventually. “When everything’s slow and you can just exist in it. I just wonder… if I’ll remember them a hundred years down the line.”

“Why wouldn’t you?” Amy blinked at him.

Shadow shrugged.

“I have forgotten so much already. If it weren’t for the logs, I would not remember much of my time on the ARK. And if a single trauma was enough to wipe my memories,” he tapped his head for emphasis, “how can I be sure that it won’t happen again?”

Amy could practically feel the sadness in his voice. She knew all too well about Shadow’s fear. Even now, there were moments when he wasn’t quite there with them. Moments when he woke up and seemed to be completely lost for several seconds, as if he did not recognize his surroundings. Moments when he was quiet even by his own standards, looking at nothing, breaths deep and heavy. It took so many years for him to open up and tell those who were the closest to him that the damage Professor Gerald and his fall through the atmosphere did still left his mind vulnerable. 

“But you’ll have pictures and videos to keep by your side. And your family will be there to remember us,” she made a weak attempt at comforting him. “And I’m pretty sure Omega will be around.”

“Pictures will fade, data can corrupt. And they weren’t there with us on our old adventures. They don’t have our shared memories,” Shadow’s response sounded like as if he practiced it. “And in a generation or two, there will be no one left to remember. Also, “he gave her a pointed look,” what do you think Omega will do once he has hunted down and eliminated the last of Eggman’s legacy?”

“Well, I’m stumped,” Amy threw her hands up. It was far too early to deal with all of this. She didn’t even finish her coffee yet! She rested her head in her hand. She wasn’t frustrated with Shadow’s rebuttals, but she hated that even after all these years he could still get so caught up in his own thoughts. And in some sense, he was right. They didn’t know just how long will Shadow live, but it was obvious that for someone in his fifties — or nineties if they counted his time in stasis — he looked like someone fresh out of college. Only his soul aged.

“It’s just…” Shadow continued. He fiddled with his hands as he went on, staring in front of him. “I have sworn to keep the world safe. And I am keeping to that oath. And it means that I’ll have to go on, no matter the circumstances, but,” he breathed out slowly “So much has changed since then. I tried keeping everyone at distance thinking it would make it easier, but I was just lying to myself. And now… I don't want to lose this. Just thinking about the fact that there will be a time when I’ll have nothing left of you outside of fickle memories, it…”

“It terrifies you,” Amy finished for him. Shadow nodded, eyes looking away.

She sighed, rubbing her eyes.

“Listen, I’d be lying if I said that I would know how to handle outliving my loved ones. And it pains me to think about how you’ll have to watch us go, but… look, I know you’re strong. And I know you’re able to let new people in your life, even if it takes time. And you will be making new memories,” just then, a thought came to her. “There is a saying, you know… ‘nobody is really gone as long as we keep talking about them’,” she reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, looking into his eyes. “Do you get what I’m saying?”

Shadow gave her a defeated look.

“I guess,” he swallowed. “When the time comes, I can… tell our stories. As long as I am able.”

Amy squeezed his shoulder.

“I trust that you will tell them truthfully… But that being said,” she nudged him lightly, “it’s not like these are urgent matters,” light playfulness returned to her voice. “You said it yourself, I’m only 56. And I’m not planning to go till I’m at least a hundred!”

A faint smile appeared on Shadow’s lips.

“You better keep yourself to your word then.”

“Oh, you bet! You’ll have me at 99, still kicking, and ready to talk your ear off whenever you try to question yourself.”

That got a small chuckle out of Shadow. He shook his head, amused look on his face, as he picked up the newspaper and his pen again. “I have no doubt about it.”

Amy smiled, and discreetly watched him work through the crosswords while she finished her coffee. The melancholy feeling still lingered; she knew there will be a time when Shadow will have to face all of this, and neither she or the others will be there to walk him through it. But maybe, moments like this will be enough to help him. What she knew for certain was that however long he can, he will cherish them.

[vivicanyounot]

day 16 - mystery who is he? he's a mystery indeed.

this prompt was inspired by this manga panel that I saw around here on tumblr actually. i think it was under the Shadamy headcanons tag hahaha but i can't remember the link (sorry op!!) i wanted to draw Sonic too i love a love triangle hahaha

[mysuperlaserpiss]

Shadamy Week 2021: First Meetings / Cosmic

Thinking about if Team Rose and Team Dark met in Sonic Heroes (probably in Metropolis). Hopefully this isn't too far from the prompt

[klaudia96art]

My ships ❤️

[shadamii]

Day 1: Dream

[shadamytrash777]

Black Tea

Picrew

AO3 link!

Summary: A Shadamy Coffee shop AU (And human AU), Amy Rose barista and shop owner. Shadow her frequent customer.

Chapter One

He has never been here before and grimaced at the thought. Change was not his forte, nor something he enjoyed. Having to tell his order to some idiot who didn't even know how to spell his name correctly and then having to trust them to make tea to his standards? Laughable.

Some would say he was too picky having such high standards for something as simple as leaf water. Maybe it was a bit excessive to try ten different places in the last town they were stationed at? Rouge teased him about it all day, but the results were adequate at best. However it did make his life easier in that particular city. 

"Hi, I can help who's next!" A bubbly voice called out. Shadow looked up from his phone and pocketed it as he stepped up. A petite girl with pink hair. He doubts she'll get his order right, much too... ditzy. 

Shadow frowned before speaking. "Black tea, one teaspoon of sugar." He emphasized his speech hoping she'll pick up his  hint on how important it was. "Not a heaping teaspoon,  and don't burn the tea either, I can tell… and make it strong." 

Most of the baristas in the past usually would seem annoyed at his specific requirements, others would look like a deer in headlights. This young lady on the other hand blinked a few times as she entered the order. "I think that is my new favorite order!" She giggled. 

"You have a favorite order?" He paused at her absurd statement. "Why?" 

"Because! It makes you think how they got there? Y'know? How many combinations did they have to try before finding their perfect drink? And is that really the best? You get to find out so much about a person in one little moment." She flashed him a warm smile. 

Shadow glanced around the shop for cameras., Was he being pranked? No way was this a real person. So filled to the brim with joy? She was like staring at the sun and he wished he brought his sunglasses. "I guess." He grunted wishing she would move along ready.

The young lady took the hint. "That'll be 3.47." She held out her hand for his five dollar bill. "I'll do my best!"

He looked down at her name tag. Amy. 

"Thank you Amelia." He took the change and stepped to the side. Was she the only one working today? While he waited, he took a moment to inspect the shop.

There was the narrow kitchenette with a yellowed white countertop, behind a few wooden beams and some exposed brick. The place certainly had charm… with dozens of knick-knacks and motivational stickers stuck on the counter. It also had a large store front window that would have provided lots of natural light if it weren't for it being covered floor to ceiling with lost dog posters, local band flyers, and high school play advertisements. Many of them were from years ago. That amused Shadow. The owner must be lazy or sentimental. The rundown appearance of the shop must've been why there wasn't anyone else there. At least it was clean. 

Shadow was the only customer on this Tuesday afternoon, not unusual. He didn't exactly have a normal schedule. Working as a G.U.N agent took a lot of time from what would be a normal life, not to mention in his free time he was designing weapons for the agency. Moving from city to city and never looking back. That's how he liked it. 

His eyes wandered back to the young women. She was carefully preparing his tea. To his surprise she was filling a little  drawstring tea bag with a little more than one tablespoon of black tea. She took a to-go cup and dropped the home-made bag at the bottom. Again to his surprise the young lady checked the temperature of the water before she poured it over the tea. The aroma filled Shadow's nose. A delicate flower note rose above the bitter and earthy qualities. Good leaves. 

Shadow then took notice of the fact that she was keen on measuring out the correct amount of sugar. The exact amount he asked for. 

"And here you go!" She set the cup on the counter and winked proudly. "I hope it's to your liking!" 

Shadow took the cup with an awkward frown, sipped the tea, and quickly shoved two dollars into the tip jar before making his exit. 

Amy frowned. She wondered if he liked it or if he was just being polite. It would be good to have another regular customer. Lord knows she needs them. 

*

This was the best Goddamn tea Shadow has had in years. He desperately wanted to chalk it up to a good tea brand but he knew he'd be lying. It was barely mid-day and he wanted to go back for a second cup but for some reason he felt embarrassed at the idea. Maybe it was because he misjudged the pink haired young lady. 

Shadow felt a strange sense of guilt crawl into his heart, he had been so gruff and cold to a very competent worker. Those who know how to do their jobs and how to do them right don't deserve such behavior from him. The tea was impeccable. He savored its very last drop, and then buried his head into his hands feeling all sorts of waves of emotion.

"Uh, you alright there grumpy?" Rouge peeked her head above the cubicle wall. She had two to-go cups in her hands and a worried look across her face. 

"Yes, I'm fine. Leave me to die in peace." He said monotone. 

"Dramatic as always I see," She paused looking for the reason why her friend was so distressed., Her eyes fell to the now empty cup on his desk. "I brought you a refill. This should cheer you up!" She held out the cup for him to take. 

To Rouge's surprise when he took the cup and gave it a taste he seemed to flatten in his office chair and looked even more upset! His brows furrowed and frown deepened. It was from his 7/10 place, what was eating him alive? "Uh are you okay, Shadow?" She asked softly, coming around the corner into his office space. She leaned against the wall and sipped her own latte. 

Shadow sighed not really wanting to go into detail but knowing Rouge would just persist if he didn't say anything. "I found a new tea place." 

"That bad?" Her face twisted in confusion. Who knew bad tea could set off an acute case of depression?

"That good!" His eyes flicked to the empty cup on his desk. "Magnificent even… the best tea I've ever had, and I was well.." 

"An ass?" 

"An ass." He gruffly mumbled, disappointed with himself. He shrunk away in his chair even further wanting to disappear into the gray fabric. Rouge gave him a look of concern. She knew deep down Shadow was a pretty sensitive guy beneath that confident exterior. He never liked being the bad guy to those who didn't deserve it. Those who did deserve it however...he didn't mind being the devil himself taking them straight to hell and maybe beyond some. 

Lil' Pinky didn't deserve his crappy attitude. 

"Why don't we just go during lunch break? You can see the barista again and tell them how grateful you are?" Rouge smirked seeing Shadow squirm with guilt. It wasn't everyday the man looked so distressed.

A soft ting of color fell onto Shadow's cheeks. "Maybe." 

Rouge took notice and a large smile crept over her face. "I'll see you in thirty then!" Shadow feeling bashful? She needed to see this. Who on earth made him feel so guilty? Rouge's mind wandered as she went back to work, and she couldn't shake the smile on her face. 

Shadow barely got any work done in those thirty minutes. Once Rouge came to his office, he was already ready and pacing around the small six by six space. 

"Nervous?" She chuckled.

"More like, apprehensive." He answered truthfully, but then again maybe he was nervous. He didn't know why. The girl, Amy, was friendly it seemed. 

"Sure, apprehensive. Let's call it that." Rouge teased as she waved her hand. 

*

Amy had barely moved from her spot. She leaned up against the counter with her phone in hand,. endlessly scrolling trying to fill the void of time. She hadn't had a SINGLE customer after that one quiet guy. A wave of frustration crashed into her like a ton of bricks - this was hopeless! 

Today's profits are three dollars and some change… 

She buried her head into her arms. There was no way she was going to make rent this month. How on earth did Vanilla do this?! Amy slammed her hand hard on the counter. Instantly regretting her decision, she began jumping up and down in pain, holding her now hurting hand. Why did things have to be like this? She didn't ask for any of this. She didn't ask for Vanilla to be gone. 

What normal twenty six year old girl inherits a coffee shop and someone's child? Not that she disliked being a guardian, but it was a lot more work than she bargained for. More work than she could ever manage. It was all a series of unfortunate events. It has hardly been a year of having this shop in her name, and she was already failing. 

"Arggg!" Amy cried out as she slid down to the floor defeated with the day. Tears threatening to spill out of her eyes. Amy closed her eyes and started to pray. Vanilla if you are up there, please send some good luck my way. She couldn't hold back anymore, choked sobs came from her throat. She felt so alone. 

The sound of the shopkeeper’s bell startled Amy out of her crying state. She quickly stood up knocking her head on the counter. "Ow! Shoot!" She rubbed the bump on her head and grimaced at the pain. "Hey guys! I'll be with you in a sec!" Her voice was still shaking. She called out and wiped her tears stained face hopefully before anyone could see. 

Shadow hadn't budged from the welcome mat — Was she crying? His heart sank — Was it because of him? He knew from doing so many interrogations that her tears weren't from the pain of hitting her head. Her nose and cheeks were all red, and her emerald green eyes were glossed over and puffy. She must have been crying for a while. 

Rouge took no notice, or if she did, then she didn’t react as he did. Her eyes remained on the menu of drinks. "Oh so many options here!" She waved her at Shadow, calling him closer.

"I'm glad to see  you’re back!" Amy smiled at Shadow. "I thought I did a bad job." 

"No it was... Excellent." He awkwardly smiled back, shifting his weight from foot to foot. Rouge raised her eyebrows urging Shadow to say more. "Best I've had, if I'm honest. I'm sorry if I was rude earlier." He rubbed the back of his neck, no longer making eye contact. 

"Oh, it's fine." She giggled. "Everyone is like that before their first cup of coffee, uh I mean tea!" She leaned on the counter by the cash register. "Would you like the same thing? Black tea, one teaspoon of sugar. Not a heaping teaspoon and don't burn the tea either, you can tell… and make it strong!" Amy lowered her voice mimicking Shadow to the best of her ability. 

Rouge started to laugh. "You did that perfectly!" She turned to Shadow and teased him. "She's got you down pat!" 

Shadow blushed and slowly nodded his head. "Yes, please." 

"And what would you like?" Amy looked up from the register. 

"Hmm." Rouge's eyes went to the menu again. "I'll take a cappuccino." As she reached into her wallet her eyes caught the glass display case full of sweet confections. She paused and looked over the options. "And a blueberry muffin. They look marvelous!" 

"I'm glad you think so, I made them this morning. That will be 12.79. For here or to-go?" She held out her hand for Rouge's card. 

"For here hon." Rouge said before Shadow could protest. 

"Alright just give me a moment! I'll be sure to do my best!" Amy smiled and gave a thumbs up before working on their drinks. Once she was turned around, Rouge went to Shadow's side to tease him relentlessly. 

"Ah I see, feel bad you were rude to a pretty girl?" She pinched his side. 

Shadow batted Rouge's hand away and gave a frowned. "Quit it." He observed Amy, his eyes following her hands. "Does it look like she's been crying?" 

Rouge raised an eyebrow but turned to look at the pink haired girl. She narrowed her eyes and took a big long look. "Maybe so," she paused a smirk taking over her face. "and why do you care?" 

Shadow straightened his back and crossed his arms. "I don't." He felt his cheeks getting warmer the longer Rouge stared at him. 

Luckily the shopkeeper’s bell rang, signaling that another customer was here. The pair turned to see who it was. A short teenager with twintails at the nape of her neck. She looked very displeased. 

"Oh! Hello Cream!" Amy turned around with a large smile on her face. She set down the blueberry muffins on a tiny plate and came around out of the kitchen. "How was school today?"

The girl, Cream, turned her head away and looked at Rouge and Shadow. "Fine." 

"Do you have any homework?" Amy held her arms open for a hug. "I missed you so much!"

"I finished it at school." The girl walked past Amy without a second glance, and walked straight to back door. "Let me know when dinner is ready." Everyone flinched at the sound of the slammed door.

Amy blinked and awkwardly lowered her arms laughing painfully. "Eh, teenagers right?" 

Shadow's eyebrows shot up. Wasn't she a little too young to be a mother?  He looked at Rouge who also seemed to be bewildered. 

"Very difficult darling. Don't be too worried about it. She'll come around." Rouge offered a kind smile and nudged Shadow to say something. 

"Er, yeah….kids." 

Previous chapter/Next chapter

Author's Notes

Hey so this is a repost but, I wanted too reformat the way I posted it :3 second chapter up later today!

[iridescentmidnights]

ShadAmy week day 3 First Meetings/Cosmic

Unfortunately I missed day 2 🥺 I just couldn’t think of anything

@shadowxamyweek​

[nvrfearthefall]

Shadamy Week 2021: Day 3

First Meetings/ Cosmic

"How do we rewrite the stars? Say you were made to be mine?"

Whose to say they can never be? Canon??? Don't know her.

[shadamyheadcanons]

All’s Fair in Love and War

Written for Shadamy Week 2021 Day 7 – Gods and Pantheons

Amy Rose is Aphrodite’s best cupid. With her trusty tarot cards, magic, and hammer of love in hand, she takes on her most challenging assignment yet: Shadow the hedgehog, Ares’ right-hand man. Contains: angst, magical girl shenanigans, fight scenes, and 20 pages of me geeking out over Greek mythology.

Cross-posted on AO3.

Amy dashed swiftly into the front hall of Aphrodite’s temple and skidded to a stop at the end of the line of cupids in front of her. She straightened her lightweight white robes and rocked back on her heels in excitement. The small rabbit in front of Amy turned to face her. She yawned and blinked her eyes heavily. “Good morning, Amy! You look chipper as always.”

Amy grinned brightly. “Morning, Cream! Are you ready to start the most important day of someone’s life?”

Cream adjusted the quiver of golden arrows on her back with a sleepy smile. “Maybe once I’m awake. I admire your enthusiasm.”

Amy’s eyes shone, and she clenched her fists in excitement. “Today’s gonna be a great day. I can feel it!”

“You say that every day, Amy,” Cream pointed out with a smile.

Amy nodded happily. “And every day, I’m right!”

Their conversation ended when they reached the foot of Aphrodite’s altar. At twenty feet tall, the goddess of love gazed down at the two of them, beautiful and self-assured. Cream knelt briefly at Aphrodite’s feet before fluttering up to hover in front of her. Aphrodite tucked her luxurious, golden-red tresses behind her ear and picked up a manila folder. She handed it to Cream.

“Here’s your assignment for the day, Cream. She’s visiting Angel Island. You’ll have no trouble flying up there, I assume.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Cream saluted, then turned to fly off. She waved briefly to Amy and opened up the folder. As she left, Amy glanced over her shoulder and spotted a picture of a very pretty bat inside the folder, and she smiled. Cream’ll have no trouble.

“Amy.”

Amy’s gaze snapped back forward, and she bent to one knee at Aphrodite’s feet. “Reporting for duty, ma’am!”

“You may rise.” Amy did so, and she grinned up at her boss.

“What’ll it be today, ma’am?”

Aphrodite looked more serious than before. She took out another folder and bent down to Amy’s level. Before handing it to her, she held up a finger of caution. “This is no ordinary mission, Amy. This is the toughest case we’ve ever had.”

Excitement bubbled up in Amy’s chest. “Good! I’m always up for a challenge!”

Aphrodite raised an eyebrow. “We’ll see about that.”

Amy took the folder from her hands and peeked inside. Her eyes widened. “Wow, he’s...uh...” She looked back up at her boss, then blushed at her unprofessional response. “He’s just...striking, that’s all. He really needs our help?!”

Aphrodite was covering her mouth with her hand, sparing Amy the embarrassment of seeing her laugh. “Oo, yes.” She shook her head, then bent down further to whisper, “Frankly, he’s a real piece of work. You’ve got your work cut out for you.” Amy giggled, and Aphrodite pulled back. “Are you sure you don’t need a vacation, Amy? It’s been eons since you took time off. You’re the best cupid I’ve got. I worry about you, you know.”

Amy could see how sincere she was, so she nodded with a confident smile. “No problem, ma’am. This is the most important job in the world, and you don’t get the best record in Olympus by taking vacations!”

Aphrodite sighed. “I can’t argue with that. Just be careful out there. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with this mission.”

Her smile was mysterious. Amy saluted and smiled back. “You got it, ma’am!” She turned and dashed off to get right to work, missing the mischievous twinkle in Aphrodite’s beguiling eyes.

Amy sprinted through the temples to the gods of Marble Zone and weaved through the ancient pillars of Marble Garden Zone. She admired her surroundings as she sped past, glancing inside the folder in front of her and reading about how he often trained here. I can see why. It’s beautiful here!

She flipped through the background information Aphrodite had provided once more. Looks like he’s powerful, sincere, passionate, intense, tenacious...says here he’s stubborn, but that always goes along with tenacity. She turned back to his picture. And damn, just look at him...how the hell is he still single?! Her confused frown turned determined. Doesn’t matter. I’m not here to analyze the problem, I’m here to fix it.

Amy skidded to a stop when she reached her destination. She spotted Shadow and hid herself behind a tree to observe him while he trained.

“HAAAH!”

Shadow let out a passionate shout as he leapt in the air and delivered a powerful kick to a nearby tree. It splintered at the strike. He withdrew a xiphos from a sheath at his waist. He dashed swiftly back toward the tree and sliced the blade sideways to cut cleanly through the side of it. He didn’t even look back as it fell behind him, landing with a deafening thud against the ground. After a moment, he deftly spun his blade and sheathed it once more.

Amy’s eyes widened. Poor tree. I wouldn’t want to get on his bad side. That’s some impressive power!

Shadow strode toward the edge of a cliff facing away from Amy and removed his helmet. He shook out his quills, sat down, and faced out across the chasm at the scenery lit by the morning sun.

Amy couldn’t hide a smile. Aww, maybe he’s a romantic!

Shadow retrieved a rock from his pocket. Amy squinted, then grinned when he started sharpening his xiphos with it. Perfect!

Amy summoned her trusty hammer and swung it overhead to cast a quick silencing spell. She propped the head of it against the ground so she could lean on the tip of the handle. Keeping a watchful eye on Shadow, she fished her cards out of her robes. Few had the ability to read tarot cards, and Amy was the only one who applied their arcane magic to her work. Most cupids simply relied on the primitive innate powers of their weapons alone.

Amy Rose took her job far more seriously.

She sifted through the contents of the manila folder one more time and picked out the characteristics she knew would be most useful, then expertly paired them up with the cards that matched best.

“Let’s see...let’s keep it simple. I’ll try the Hermit for his sincerity and intensity, the Chariot for his strength and tenacity, and the Magician for his passion...and as for his partner...hope and healing could balance out his seriousness, so the Star would work best. They’ll need to be patient to deal with his stubbornness, too, so the Temperance is a good idea for sure. And...how about the Strength to finish things off? He deserves someone who’s just as passionate as he is!”

Satisfied with her plan, Amy plucked the cards she needed from her deck. She glanced at Shadow again, but he was still polishing his xiphos. She lightly tossed all six cards in the air and levitated Shadow’s over the others. She lifted her hammer and flipped it to hold the head under her chin. She closed her eyes and recited a spell under her breath.

“I call upon the arcane power contained within these cards! Wands, pentacles, cups, swords, show me the potential his future holds! Where will this path lead?”

The cards shook in the air. Golden threads of energy sparked, connecting the top row with the second, then continued downward with a sizzling crackle. Three more cards raced from the deck in Amy’s hand and flew into position below the second row. They spun rapidly, then slowed to a stop in front of her.

Amy examined them. “The Wheel of Fortune, meaning destiny and inevitable fate...the World, bringing fulfillment, harmony, and completion...and the Lovers, for partnership and union?! Holy Hera, you can’t get a better reading than this!” Amy’s face had never been brighter. She peeked below the third line to watch for the compatibility rating she knew would be there. Love magic wouldn’t take if the number were less than 85%, but Amy always swapped her cards and tried a new reading until she got one that was 90% or higher anyway. She waited patiently for the number to appear.

And when it did, it showed 100%.

Amy gasped. I’ve never seen a perfect match before! She glanced back to Shadow and grinned brightly. Shadow the hedgehog, you don’t know it yet...but you’re about to have the best day of your life.

Without further ado, Amy spun her hammer and raised it above her head. She chanted toward the cards once more.

“I strive to locate the individual with these traits. Fates, grant me guidance! Tyche, lend me luck! Where can I find the one who I seek?”

As Amy spoke, the cards began to revolve around the handle of her hammer. Golden swirls of magic danced before her fingers. Amy took a deep breath, lowered her hammer...and frowned.

“What the...?” Is my hammer on the fritz? Amy squinted at her hammer and turned it over to tap it against her heel. A few flecks of golden powder showered off of it, but when she tipped it back up, nothing changed. She scratched her head, perplexed.

Where’s the arrow? Why isn’t it pointing to his soulmate? Amy turned in a circle to see if it was pointing behind her, but the arrow still didn’t show itself. She frowned.

That’s never happened before.

Ordinarily, Amy just knocked her target in the direction of their future partner with her hammer and let the crush and spontaneity of the moment do the work for her, but that wasn’t an option now. She paused and considered her options, then shrugged. There’s no way I’m letting this guy’s perfect soulmate go. I’ll just whack him and hash out the details later. She held her hammer horizontally in front of her body in both hands and cast one more spell.

“Eros! Philia! Agape! Ludus!” She shifted the hammer to her right hand and began twirling it, slowly at first. She spun the weapon with practiced ease, dexterously transferring it to her other hand. “Aphrodite, I call upon you! Instill my strike with the power of love!” As she chanted, she twirled the hammer behind her back and then brought it forward again. She rolled it over her wrist and switched hands one more time, then lofted it into the air and reached toward the sky. “Olympus, hear my plea!”

The hammer hovered above her, spinning rapidly on its end. A maelstrom whipped up in a tight circle around Amy’s feet. Suddenly, a bolt of golden energy flashed from above, as if thrown by Zeus himself. The energy crackled as it struck the tip of Amy’s hammer and spread down it, coating it with a gleaming golden sheen. When the sounds faded, Amy reached up and took it in her hand, feeling the wind peter out as she did so. The magical energy fizzled through her body at the contact, making her fur stand on end.

One last glance showed her that Shadow was still at work sharpening his blade. Amy smirked. With all her incantations out of the way, she dropped the silencing spell to conserve her magic. She crept toward him, keeping her steps feather-light against the grass. She tiptoed closer, inch by inch, until he was within striking range. She lifted the hammer over her head, and her smile turned giddy as she swiftly swung it down.

She noticed the way his ears twitched a split second too late. In the time it took her to blink, Shadow had whipped his whole body around and caught the head of her hammer in one hand, stopping it cold. His intense red eyes flashed in cold fury. She whimpered at the sight, and the magic around her hammer dissipated.

I can’t even move it...how strong is he?!

“Did you really think you could catch the ultimate warrior by surprise? You sneaky little—”

“Hey, hey!” Amy stammered with a nervous, disarming smile. “I know this looks bad, but—”

Shadow squinted at her, but then his eyes shot open and showed more ire than ever. “You!” He practically tossed her back the way she came. She held onto her hammer and backpedaled, flailing her arms to keep her balance.

“No, I’m on your side!” she reassured once she’d regained her footing. “I’m here to help you find—”

“I know exactly why you’re here, cupid.” He spat the word with the same disgust most would feel toward a cockroach. He leapt to his feet, donned his helmet, and pulled out his xiphos. “And you’ll never get me.”

Amy blinked in confusion and held up her hands defensively. “I just want to help you find your soulmate, that’s all!”

The loathing in Shadow’s glare didn’t lessen. “And make me as soft and weak as every man you’ve cost me? Never. Not a snowball’s chance in Hades.”

Shadow deftly spun his xiphos into a distinctive reverse grip and launched himself toward Amy. She barely had time to mutter a resilience spell for her wooden hammer to keep it from splitting when he swung the sharp blade at her. She blocked the strike just in time.

His eyes momentarily widened in surprise at her speed, but he remained steadfast and pressed harder. Amy grit her teeth as she slid backwards a few inches in her sandals from his strength.

I know Aphrodite said he was ‘a real piece of work,’ but I wasn’t expecting this!

Amy sidestepped to the right and redirected his momentum to throw him off balance. While he stumbled, she responded with confusion. “What are you talking about? We don’t attack your soldiers!”

“Hah!” He laughed bitterly as he righted himself. “You’d really say that directly after trying to strike me in the back?”

Amy faltered. “Well, uh...that’s different! It’s for your own good!”

Shadow took advantage of her hesitation and leapt forward again. “I don’t just mean physically. I’ve lost more men to matrimony than mortality!”

Amy immediately smacked her hammer against the ground to launch herself over his attack. She flipped end over end afterward and caught a glance of him behind her. He immediately reversed direction and sprang back to try and intercept her in the air. She swung sideways to deflect his attack, and they landed clumsily about ten feet apart. Shadow paused to look her up and down.

“Since when do cupids know how to fight?”

Amy twirled her hammer and held it over her shoulder to pose proudly. “You think I’ve never dealt with a ‘fighter’ before?” She smirked. “I’m the best in the business. Why do you think they sent me after you?”

Shadow snorted. “You honestly think that?”

Amy narrowed her eyes. Her teeth clenched. “What’s that supposed to mean? I’ve got the best record out there. Of course they’d send me!”

Shadow actually laughed. He smirked and placed a hand on his hip. “Oh, and I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that they sent the cutest cupid they have? Aphrodite’s more foolish than I thought if she believes sending someone who’s my type will convince me that easily.”

“Y-you—!” Amy’s face flamed. “I’m just here to hit you with my hammer and knock you into someone else! You’re not supposed to date me. Why would it matter what I look like?!”

Shadow opened his mouth to respond, then snapped it shut again. His cheeks turned pink in embarrassment. “W-well...I knew that! It’s just...” After an awkward pause, he jumped back into a fighting stance. “Don’t think I’ll go easy on you just because you’re cute! You’ve taken too many of my men. You won’t get me!”

Amy shook off the embarrassment as he did and dodged left just in time to avoid his attack. “We don’t ‘take’ your men. We bring them happiness and unite them with their soulmates! We’re helping them reach their destinies and find fulfillment!”

Shadow just stared at her for a moment. “Gods, do you always talk like this?”

She pondered for a moment, then shrugged and grinned. “Yeah, pretty much! That happens when you’re passionate about your job!”

Shadow looked unimpressed. “You use your mind-control magic to force people into doing things they never would otherwise, taking them away from the important jobs they’re passionate about!” He swiped his blade sideways.

Amy ducked and executed an upward strike, knocking his arm up and throwing him off balance in the process. She hopped to the side and channeled her indignation to strike him hard in the back. He flailed and nearly fell at the hit. While he floundered, she snarled back at him, “Our magic isn’t mind control! When a person needs help, we bring their potential inner feelings of affection to the surface so they have the drive to pursue their own happiness with a partner!”

Shadow’s anger made way for visible confusion. “What?”

“Ugh!” Amy rolled her eyes. “We give people crushes, and they act on their own. We can’t force people to do anything they don’t want to, and the magic won’t even take if they’re not compatible enough.”

After a moment of contemplation, Shadow dropped back into a fighting stance. “You’re still messing with people’s heads. It’s nothing but a cheap trick!” He snapped his fingers and disappeared into thin air with a flash of green light.

Amy flinched at the bright light. When she opened her eyes, she found he was gone. Before she had time to panic, pain erupted in the back of her head, and she was knocked forward onto her hands and knees. She whipped her head around and saw Shadow’s form for just a moment before he vanished in another flash of light. “What the—”

She was struck again, this time on her right side. The hit made her roll to the side. She growled and leapt to her feet. He repeated the action multiple times. She dodged and blocked his kicks and punches as best as she could as he warped incessantly around her, but every counterattack she launched met only empty air. She looked around in futility, trying to find a pattern, counting herself lucky that he wasn’t using his more dangerous sword. She blocked another attack and snarled out, “And you call us cheap?! Quit teleporting and fight like a man!”

He popped back up long enough to tease her. “Don’t you know all’s fair in love and war? A true warrior uses everything at his disposal to win.” She dove forward, but he disappeared before her hammer could connect.

She growled again in frustration. “I’ll show you fair. Dolos, shroud my form with a trick of the light!”

Magic tingled over Amy’s skin as her form appeared to waver, then evaporate into thin air. She heard him let out a baffled, “Huh?” She quickly located him with the sound, then charged forward and whacked him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. “Oof!” Shadow recovered and tried to blindly hit her, but she easily stepped aside and connected with repeated thwacks of her hammer. She caught him in the side and back, then struck upward to knock his helmet off his head. He stumbled as it fell to the ground and rolled away, then teleported away to avoid her, landing nimbly on the branch of a nearby tree. He groaned and held his stomach in pain. She let the spell fade and watched him pant and stare at her in disbelief. He sheathed his xiphos and pointed at her accusingly.

“You can turn invisible?!” With his helmet off, Amy could clearly see how impressed he was. She twirled her hammer and smiled smugly, and he shook his head in irritation. “No, I mean...you can turn invisible, and all you use it for is glorified matchmaking?”

Amy’s smile turned bitter. “You can teleport, and all you use it for is beating up cupids who are just trying to help you out?”

His nose wrinkled. “Help? Is that what you call it? Chipping away at my forces until none of them will return to the front?”

Amy sighed. She tried another approach. “It’s obvious you care about your men. Don’t you want them to be happy?”

“They can’t be happy if they’re dead,” he deadpanned. “Without an army, Apotos will fall. I cannot—will not—allow that to happen.”

Despite his blunt words, Amy couldn’t help but admire Shadow. He may be misguided, but it’s obvious how much he loves his country and his men. I have to respect that.

Her sympathy waned when he added, “You’re just like every other cupid. I’ve heard it all. All you ever talk about is how if love ruled the world, there’d be nothing but peace forever. That’s not how it works in the real world,” he sneered. “People fight. Just look at us right now! It’s in our very nature. You’ll never get rid of war!”

Amy’s expression turned dark at his accusations. She gripped her hammer more tightly. “I know we’ll never get rid of war. I don’t want to!”

The anger dropped off of Shadow’s face. “What? But you...”

She stood up straighter and glared up at him, defiant. “War can be ugly, and I don’t like everything that it does to people, but it’s necessary. You can’t have war without love!”

Shadow snorted. “What are you talking about?”

“You fight because you love your country! People fight because they love their families!” He looked taken aback, so she continued. “Nothing worth doing can be done without passion. People join your army in the first place for love. They’d never risk their lives for less than that! The only way to get rid of war is to prevent love entirely, and I will never allow that to happen.”

Shadow was speechless. She could see his hands shaking. His face looked uncertain for a few seconds. Just as Amy was starting to think she’d gotten through to him, though, his expression hardened again.

“If you really felt that way, you wouldn’t make it so difficult for us!”

Shadow warped away from the tree again. Amy grumbled. ‘Stubborn’ is an understatement with this guy. She heard him run in from the side in time to dodge his next strike. He popped up on her other side, and she blocked his next attack with the handle of her hammer, pushing back as hard as she could to counter him. When he disappeared again, she almost fell forward from the sudden lack of resistance, and she looked around again for the next attack. I can’t keep casting invisibility to counter him. I’ve used too much magic already. She jumped over his next punch and observed his movements. This time, she picked up on the pattern. She anticipated that the next attack would come from behind her and struck preemptively, catching him off guard with the hardest hammer strike she’d made thus far. She saw the shock in his eyes as he caught a hammer to the face and went flying.

Amy was proud at first, but then she saw the direction he was headed, and she sprinted after him in panic. He collided with the ground and kept rolling until his body tumbled off the edge of the cliff behind him. With a burst of energy, Amy dove forward and grabbed his wrist. His momentum dragged her down until she was lying on the grass next to the cliff, but she held on tightly. She opened her eyes to see him gazing up at her in shock and confusion, and she gritted her teeth. “Don’t just hang there, do something!” He snapped out of it and grabbed onto a root sticking out of the side of the cliff, using that and Amy’s hand to pull himself up until he was on solid ground again. He fell to his hands and knees and panted. After a moment, Amy rolled onto her back, then sat up and locked eyes with him.

He stared at her for a moment longer, baffled, but then his face turned suspicious. “Why did you save me?”

Her eyes narrowed, and she gave him a flat look of disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

He scowled. “We’re enemies. I attacked you. Mercy has no place in a fight.”

Amy rolled her eyes. “I told you I’m on your side. Even if you were my enemy, I wouldn’t just let you die!”

Shadow sat back on his heels and crossed his arms. “Don’t think this changes anything. I could’ve just teleported. It’s not like I owe you my life or anything.”

“Is this always how you say ‘thank you’?” Amy snapped. She tried to hold back her temper. “If you don’t learn some manners, you’ll never impress your soulmate.”

Shadow’s face spread into a pleasant but mocking smile. “Now you’re getting it!”

“Ugh! Gods, I can’t believe I was looking forward to this so much!”

Shadow scoffed. “Why not? I bet you always do, Miss I-shape-people’s-destinies.”

Amy stood up slowly and sighed. “I was ecstatic after one look at this assignment because I was so happy for whoever was lucky enough to wind up with you. The report said you were sincere. Passionate. Intense. Tenacious. That you worked hard and put your all into everything. I thought you were the perfect guy. Imagine that!” She laughed sarcastically. He stared up at her, just as disbelieving as she was. “But somehow—somehow!—you’ve turned all of those in the wrong direction! How someone as selfish and stubborn as you has a perfect match out there, I’ll never know!”

Shadow stood slowly. “You need to watch your mouth. You don’t know me.”

His icy tone didn’t faze her. “I know enough, Shadow. I know there’s a compassionate, caring person under there with a match made in Olympus who’d make him happy beyond belief if he’d only let love in! And you want to know how I know that?” He growled and got into a fighting stance, but she didn’t stop. “Because if love really meant nothing to you, you wouldn’t care. You wouldn’t get mad like this when I talk about you and your soulmate. You’re only upset because you know you deserve love!”

Fear flashed momentarily in Shadow’s eyes, but he banished it and leaped backwards. “Chaos Spear!”

Amy raised her hammer and spun it rapidly in front of her to deflect the wicked bolt of energy. He responded by releasing more of them, spear after spear landing in her wake as she fled farther from the cliff. She panted. He’s too fast...I can’t keep this up forever...

Shadow leapt into the air. “Chaos Spear!” he shouted once more. He held his arms in, then threw them out to release a storm of the blasts in Amy’s direction.

Amy glared defiantly up into his fiery eyes and stood her ground this time. She wound up her hammer for a mighty swing and shouted, “Storming Heart!” A deluge of pink hearts made of pure energy were flung from the hammer when she swung it. They flew in Shadow’s direction and collided with his spears. Crackles and booms filled the air with a series of flashes. The light faded, leaving bolts and hearts falling around the two of them as they fizzled out. Shadow fell slowly to the ground. His face was dumbstruck. Amy didn’t smile this time. “When will you stop being surprised that I can defend myself?”

“It seems it’s time to get serious.” The resolve was clear on Shadow’s face as he reached down and took out not one, but two xiphos from their sheaths. He clenched his fists around them, one in each hand. “You’re lucky, you know. Most of my enemies never have the privilege of seeing me go all out.”

Fear took root in Amy’s gut. Oh, come on...as if this weren’t tough enough... She hid her apprehension by teasing him. “I thought you said you weren’t going easy on me before. Something about me being cute...?”

“It’s—!” He shook his head, clearly flustered. “I always do it this way. It’s not like that. Most people aren’t worth the effort, that’s all!”

Amy’s head tilted, and she smirked. “Should I feel special, then?”

As he struggled to respond, she snickered a little. He might be obnoxious and in denial, but I have to admit he’s kind of fun to mess with.

Lacking the words to respond, Shadow gave up and rushed toward her instead. Amy backed up and avoided his blades. Each slice got closer, and anxiety crept up in the back of her mind. I can’t keep up much longer, and I’m nearly out of magic. I have to get through to him.

“You can get mad at me all you want, but at the end of the day, you could never build an army without us!” She parried his blades as best she could with her hammer and her waning energy. “There’d be no one around to protect Apotos, and you know it!”

Shadow’s teeth clenched. “Armies can exist just fine without love. They’d be bigger! Stronger! How can you not see that?”

She caught one of his xiphos on the handle of her hammer. He lifted his arm to strike with the other one, so she frantically spun on her toes to push his body sideways, knocking him off balance. She jumped back to give herself some breathing room as she continued. “Because our work leads to marriages, and marriages lead to families. Almost every single member of your army was brought into the world by love!” He paused, then regained his balance—both literally and figuratively—to run toward her again, both blades raised. She blocked the simple attack and stayed close. “You need me just as much as I need you, and you know it.”

Shadow froze. The pause allowed her to push him back, and he slid a couple feet before pulling back and jumping away. He sheathed his weapons, then growled and held his head in his hands. “Stop doing that!”

Amy’s grin was determined. “What, talking sense? It’s about time you—”

“Not that!” he interrupted. His glare looked manic. “You keep messing with my head! How are you doing that?!”

Amy lowered her hammer a bit. “Wait, what are you talking about?”

Shadow lowered one hand and glowered. “My chest doesn’t feel right, my head isn’t working like it should, and you—” His eyes widened. “That’s it! You’re using your magic on me, aren’t you?!”

“What?” Amy glanced down at her hammer. “What magic are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb!” Shadow clenched both hands at his sides and lifted his shoulders. “You’ve been doing it this whole time, haven’t you?!”

Amy propped the head of her hammer against the ground and leaned on the handle, confused. “Storming Heart and invisibility are basic offensive and defensive magic. They’re not too different from what you’ve been doing, and they definitely wouldn’t affect your brain in any way. Are you feeling alright?”

“Don’t act concerned!” Shadow snapped. “And I don’t mean those! I mean the...the...you know what I mean! Don’t make me say it!”

Amy thought back, then counted on her fingers. “Let’s see...apart from Storming Heart and invisibility...I used a silencer, resilience for my hammer so your swords wouldn’t tear it to shreds, tarot compatibility, soulmate finder...and a failed love spell. I think that’s it, isn’t it...?”

Shadow looked around nervously. “’Failed?’ I mean...it still hit me, didn’t it? It had to have...there’s no other way I...”

Amy scrunched up her nose and thought back. “No, you blocked it with your glove. I need direct contact to—” She froze. Realization dawned on her. “You—”

“NO, I DON’T!” Shadow interrupted, shouting this time. “You’re just messing with me using your magic! You’ve been silently casting it all this time, haven’t you?! That must be why it keeps getting worse...”

He trailed off and rubbed his chin. Her jaw dropped. “Shadow...I haven’t hit you with any love magic. You just have a cr—”

“DON’T CALL IT THAT!” Amy flinched at his increasing volume. His face looked concerned for a second. “Sorry, I...” He shook his head harshly. “No, I’m not! I’m not sorry for anything. It’s time to end this!”

Before Amy could react, Shadow launched himself forward and tackled her, knocking her hammer aside in the process. The two tumbled end-over-end until Amy landed harshly on her back. Shadow hovered over her. His face was both scared and enraged as he held his fist above his head, prepared to strike. She squeaked and hid her face behind her arms.

But nothing happened.

After a good ten seconds, Amy opened her eyes a sliver and peeked up past her arms. Shadow was still in the same position, but the fear had overtaken the anger. He was shaking as badly as she was. “What have...what have you done to me?!”

Amy tried to calm her pounding heart. “Shadow, I didn’t do anything. There’s nothing wrong with you.”

Shadow glanced at his own fist. He lowered it, then stared at his hand as if it had betrayed him. “I never show an enemy mercy. Never. Why can’t I hurt you? Why don’t I want to?”

Amy slowly lowered her arms. “Of course you don’t want to hurt me. You like me,” she pointed out, still a bit mystified by it herself.

Shadow scoffed. “Of course I don’t like you! Why would I? Just because you’re an impressive fighter, you never give up, and I might be thinking differently because of you...and I think you’re cute...doesn’t mean...” Amy just watched with wide eyes, waiting while Shadow dug himself into a hole. He trailed off, then cursed and started yanking on his quills. “Argh! Enough! It’s all just magic anyway!” He pointed harshly right at her nose. “I demand you lift this spell so I can get back to training. Once you do, I’ll let you leave unharmed. That’s a promise.”

Amy crossed her arms and stared back, unimpressed. “There’s no magic to be lifted, Shadow. You just like me because of who I am. This happens all the time.” She paused and scratched her chin. “Well...not toward me, but I see it every day at work, so I’m kind of an expert here...”

A different flash of irritation crossed Shadow’s face. “What? Why not?”

“Why not what?”

Shadow looked genuinely confused. “Why don’t other people like you that way? Surely someone else can see that you’re...” His words faded out, and he forced anger onto his face again. “Nothing! It doesn’t matter!” he shot back, pinning his hands down on either side of her head to glare at her.

Amy blushed at his intensity and averted her eyes, embarrassed. “Look, if we’re gonna have this conversation, can we at least be standing up for it? This is a little...”

He narrowed his eyes and looked at her sideways. “What, so you can try to run away or hit me with your hammer again?”

Amy groaned and held a hand to her forehead. Shadow. Oh my GODS. “No, it’s just—!”

He tilted his head curiously. “Why...” His eyes moved lower to settle on her lips for a moment, and his expression softened. Then, he frowned a little. His gaze drifted farther down, and his face blanched as he noticed their position, as if for the first time. “Shoot, I—!” He clumsily scrambled to his feet, eyes bewildered.

Amy sighed in exasperation and relief. By the time she sat up, a gloved hand was in front of her. Her eyes went wide as she took it and Shadow gently pulled her to her feet. When he just stared at her for a moment, she grinned. “So you do have some manners in you, huh? Maybe you’ll get that soulmate after all!”

Shadow growled and forcefully withdrew his hand. “I don’t want you to put me with anyone else.” At her intrigued look, he seemed to pick up on his own implication. “I don’t mean it like that! I just want this to be over!” He snatched up his helmet and turned back toward her. “Come with me. I need your help fixing this.” He took her by the wrist.

“Wait, what—!”

Before Amy could blink, a flash of green light temporarily blinded her, and she felt a strange yanking sensation inside of her. When the light faded, she blinked her eyes open to find herself in a completely different location. She looked around frantically, taking in her surroundings. Fear drenched her when she found they were standing right in front of Aphrodite’s temple. “What are you doing?!”

Shadow stepped forward and pulled her along with him. “I’m solving the problem at the source.”

Panic flooded her, and she planted her feet. “Oh, no! No way! I can’t go in there until I set you up with your soulmate. I’m not supposed to make you fall for me! If she finds out...” Amy’s teeth chattered in trepidation. “What if I get sacked?!”

Shadow rolled his eyes. “You’re the best, most persistent cupid she’s got, remember? You’re the only person who wouldn’t give up on someone like me.” His cheeks acquired a reddish tinge, and he looked away. “No boss would be stupid enough to fire you. Now let’s go.” He stubbornly dragged her to the temple, and she stumbled after him.

Aphrodite sat on her throne, patient to a fault, as the two approached. Her gaze flicked down to where the two were essentially holding hands, and her mouth opened in a mischievous smile. “Already, Amy?”

Amy flinched in terror and confusion. ‘Already’...?

Shadow ignored the goddess’ words. “Aphrodite, this cupid has cast an intrusive spell on me, and she refuses to lift it! As the goddess of love, it is your job to fix this. Now.”

Amy let out a small “eep!” She hurriedly latched onto Shadow’s upper arm and pulled him down to his knees beside her. “Shadow, you can’t talk to a goddess like that!!! At least kneel!” she hissed.

He growled at her. “I’ll talk however I want. It’s her job to fix this!”

Both of them looked back at Aphrodite—one in anger, the other in fear. For a moment, Aphrodite just examined them with an eyebrow raised, but then her smile turned playful, and she shrugged casually. “No.”

Shadow leapt to his feet. “Excuse me?!”

“I’m the goddess of love. I know best. I like this,” she said, gesturing between the two of them, “so I’m not changing it. I don’t take orders from anyone when it comes to love.” She crossed her long legs and placed her elbow on the arm of her throne, then gently leaned her face into her hand. “And there’s nothing you can do to change that.”

Amy gulped. Shadow’s muscles tensed in response. “Well, I may not be able to do anything, but once Commander Ares hears that a cupid’s magic is keeping his highest-ranking general from doing his job right—”

Aphrodite’s pale eyes flashed dangerously. “I suggest you hold your tongue, soldier. Your words are starting to sound a lot like hubris.”

Amy scrambled to her feet to come to his defense. “Aphrodite—ma’am! He doesn’t mean it, I swear!” When Shadow opened his lips to argue, she slapped her hand over his mouth. “Really! He’s just worried about Apotos, and his words are getting away from him!” Shadow struggled to take her hand away, but Amy glared and kept it there, steadfast. “This is for your own good!” she snapped.

The dispute was halted by a series of loud booms. They grew louder as they approached. A large shadow was cast over Shadow and Amy. They turned around slowly, then immediately fell to their knees.

In the entryway of the temple was Ares himself, standing serious and confident at eighteen feet tall, spear in hand. His gaze snapped between the temple’s other inhabitants. “Is there a—” His eyebrows rose when he saw Shadow and Amy’s proximity. “Already?”

Amy could hear the teasing smile in Aphrodite’s voice. “I told you she was good.”

Amy looked back and forth between the gods in suspicion, but Shadow didn’t seem bothered. “It’s nothing but a trick, Commander Ares. She’s turned her magic against me, and now I’m...soft! Distracted! I can’t work like this. I’m not myself!”

He let out a yelp of pain when Amy yanked on his ear. “I told you, I haven’t used any love spells on you! This happened on its own!”

Ares frowned and bent down to examine her. She shied away at first, but then his chiseled jaw and stern features softened from intrigue. “If that’s true, it’s quite impressive.”

“But it’s not true. That’s impossible!”

Aphrodite sighed, clearly losing patience for Shadow’s denial. “Amy. Your hammer, please.”

Amy summoned the hammer. She knelt at Aphrodite’s feet and held it up for her horizontally. Aphrodite plucked it from her hands with her first two fingers. She twirled it and unscrewed the handle. She pulled the handle out to show the inside, revealing a few levers. She tilted one, and a list of golden words rose up from the hammer’s shaft. “Let’s see what we’ve got here...looks like she used an ordinary silencer, her typical Tarot Tether and Soulmate Seeker...” She raised an eyebrow at Shadow and pointed out the one spell that was shown in red, “a failed love spell, as you can see...plus resilience for her hammer, invisibility, Storming Heart—” She whipped her head toward Amy in concern. “Amy, did someone attack you? Are you alright?!”

“I’m fine! I started it, not him!” she blurted.

Aphrodite’s eyes narrowed. She turned to Shadow. “’Him’?”

Amy jumped in before Shadow could say something stupid. “I struck first. He was only defending himself, I promise!” Well...that’s not the whole story, but...

“Hmm...” Shadow and Amy turned around when Ares cut in. He reached out a finger and prodded Shadow in a few spots where his fur was ruffled from the tussle. Shadow flinched at a few that still hurt. Ares turned back to Amy, and he looked more intrigued than ever. “You fought my best general and lived? He barely left a scratch on you!”

Shadow knelt before Ares again. “She is more than she appears, Commander. Her strength and magical powers make her a force to be reckoned with in battle, and she fights with more passion than any soldier I’ve ever seen.” Amy’s heart thumped at the sincere flattery. She knew he meant every word. Shadow looked up at Ares and added, “In fact, I believe she may be best suited to your forces. I’d even feel honored to train her myself once this curse is eradicated. Her talents are wasted as a cu—”

Ares slammed his spear against the marble floor, letting loose a shockwave that only seemed to affect Shadow. It knocked him flat onto his stomach. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll show these two the respect they deserve.” His eyes flicked back to Amy. He scratched the stubble on his chin. “That said...perhaps you have a point. Tell me, Amy, have you ever considered taking a second job?”

“Don’t even think about it, Ares.”

A deep chuckle escaped his throat. “Just a joke. I wouldn’t dare.”

Aphrodite looked down at the hammer pinched between her fingers. There was concern in her eyes, and she laughed bitterly. “Joke or not, I can’t risk my best cupid adding more to her plate. Did you know she hasn’t taken a day off in ten years?”

Amy thought back. It really has been that long, hasn’t it? She felt a bit of guilt at making her boss worry. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Shadow looking up at her in shock.

A loud bark of laughter passed Ares’ lips. “You were right. She really is as bad as he is.”

Aphrodite raised an eyebrow. “Really? How long has it been for him?”

“Just eight years, but only because I had to force him to stay home once.” Ares shot his prone general an amused look. Amy could see concern behind his eyes. “He couldn’t walk, but he literally dragged himself to the training grounds with a broken leg anyway.”

Amy’s eyes bugged out. “Is that true?!”

Shadow lifted himself into a sitting position and crossed his arms. “Hmph. I don’t need to walk. I can teleport.”

Amy gave him a deadpan look. “I can’t tell whether you’re dumb or dedicated.”

Instead of being insulted, Shadow just shrugged. “Most people say it’s a mixture of both. They’re not wrong.”

“Well, dumb or not, you’re stuck anyway, Shadow.” Everyone turned to Aphrodite. She continued. “She really didn’t use any magic. This happened naturally, so it’s the Fates’ will, not just mine,” she pointed out. “Even if I could reverse it, though, I still wouldn’t.”

Amy’s heart clenched. “Isn’t there anything I can do?” She backed off a bit and bowed her head. “I don’t mean to question your authority, of course! It’s just...he has a perfect match out there, ma’am, and I haven’t found them yet! I don’t want to get in the way of his happiness!”

Aphrodite’s face went blank, as if Amy were missing something obvious. She looked back down to the hammer and scrolled down the list. She highlighted the compatibility spell and tapped it with a perfectly manicured nail, then screwed the handle back on. The hammer sparked back to life as the spell repeated itself. Aphrodite tossed it back to Amy. “Catch.”

Amy hopped to her feet to catch the hammer. Confused, she flipped it around to hold it properly in her hands. Again, golden swirls of magic encircled her hands, and the “100%” graphic appeared just as it had before. Once more, though, nothing further happened. She looked back up at Aphrodite and frowned. “See? It did this before. There’s no arrow. I don’t know where to find them! This had never happened before him!”

Aphrodite sighed and held a hand to her forehead. Amy tilted her head, still confused. “What?”

“...Uh...”

Amy turned to the side to see Shadow looking down between her and the hammer. He looked nervous. She frowned at him. “What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You—” He held a hand to his forehead, matching Aphrodite’s pose. “You just—surely you know! Are you really going to make me say it?!” When he was met with silence, he locked eyes with her again. “Oh, come on. You’re not stupid! You know as much about love as anyone!”

Amy grit her teeth, irritated. “What are you saying? Spit it out!”

He stared at her for a moment longer, and then his mouth flattened into a thin line. He grumbled and reached forward. “Just...here! Look!”

With that, he placed a hand under the head of her hammer and tipped it up and back until it was pointing right at her. Once he did, it released the low, resonant tone it always did once she locked onto her target. Her eyes widened slowly in realization.

“Oh.”

A heavy silence permeated the temple. Amy put her hammer away. She glanced at Shadow, who was shyly averting his gaze and kicking his foot against the marble floor. She blushed in response and folded her hands together in front of her.

Aphrodite cleared her throat to get the others’ attention. Amy peeked up at her, feeling even more bashful at her smug smile.

“While you’re here, Amy, I might as well give you tomorrow’s assignment.”

Amy’s eyes narrowed. She’s up to something, I can tell.

“I want you to do some...mm...observation, let’s say. To keep an eye on...oh, I don’t know...” She tapped her chin, pretending to think. “The Colosseum, maybe? Hey, Ares, what do you think of that idea?”

“Huh, how convenient!” Amy turned toward Ares, seeing Shadow do the same out of the corner of her eye. She wondered if he was as wary of this as she was. “Let’s see, where are they...” Ares rooted around in the folds of his tunic for a moment. “Aha!” he declared, withdrawing two slips of paper with a flourish. “I just so happen to have a ticket to the big exhibition at the Colosseum tomorrow! What a coincidence!” He handed her a slip, and she took it, knowing she had no choice. She could hear Aphrodite holding back laughter.

“Uh, Commander!” Shadow cut in, sounding frantic. His tone made it clear he’d picked up on their suspicious behavior. “If there’s nothing else, I’d like to request dismissal for the day so I can—”

“Ah, ah! Not so fast,” Ares interrupted. “Since you’re here, I might as well be efficient and give you your assignment as well, don’t you think?”

Amy saw Shadow’s fists clench nervously. “I...suppose so, sir...”

Ares scratched his chin. “I think it’s about time I assigned you some R&R, don’t you? It has been eight years, and I can’t have my best general getting burnt out.”

Amy’s eyes widened. NO...are they REALLY...?! She stayed silent, as did Shadow, his posture rigid with worry.

“Hm...” Ares pretended to ponder the dilemma for a moment. Then, his olive-toned cheeks spread into a smile. “I know! I just so happen to have this other ticket to the Colosseum. I know you like watching fights as much as anyone,” he teased, handing the other slip to Shadow.

Aphrodite mock-gasped from behind them. “No way!” she gushed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Amy loves watching the fights, too!”

“Huh! Interesting...OH! You know what?” Ares exclaimed. “Why don’t these two go together?”

Amy and Shadow started at his suggestion. Aphrodite laughed once and clapped. “Sounds perfect! A cupid should always have a date, you know.” She winked at Amy. Amy balked at her blunt suggestion.

“It’s settled, then,” Ares agreed. “Shadow, you’ll escort Miss...?”

“R-rose, sir...”

“You will escort Miss Rose to the fight,” he finished. He fixed Shadow with a pleasant but firm smile. “You’ll pick her up shortly before noon. Dismissed!” He smiled benevolently at Amy, then stood up and exchanged a nod with Aphrodite. He slammed the butt of his spear against the hard floor with a harsh noise and disappeared in a cloud of red smoke, not giving Shadow a chance to argue.

“Uhh...” Amy trailed off. She and Shadow both turned back around.

Aphrodite lounged on her throne. She smirked down at them. “Something wrong, Amy? You’re free to go for the day, you know. You have your mission for tomorrow, and you already completed today’s assignment.” She winked, and Amy shrank back down in embarrassment. “Just be ready in time so you don’t keep Shadow waiting.” When Amy and Shadow still awkwardly stayed put, Aphrodite’s smirk turned suggestive. “Although...you can’t miss him if he stays the night...”

Amy choked on her words again. “I—!”

“Ok, thanks. ALL SET,” Shadow forced out, voice cracking halfway through. He turned on his heel to speed-walk out of the temple, dragging Amy along with him. This time, though, he held onto her hand instead of her wrist. Amy sputtered and followed him as best she could, hearing Aphrodite’s giggles behind her.

Amy jogged to reach Shadow’s side. She opened and closed her mouth a few times before managing, “Um...I’m guessing you go to the Colosseum often, then?”

“Yes. Usually alone, though. This might be a nice change, actually.” Shadow peeked down at Amy, then snapped his gaze forward again out of embarrassment. “Not that I wanted you to come or anything! It’s Ares’ will, not mine!” Amy tried valiantly to hold in her laughter. Shadow let out a “hmph!” and ignored her reaction. “Aphrodite had better not be lying about you enjoying this kind of thing. You won’t keep me from watching the fights, or serving in Ares’ military, or—”

“Shadow?”

He stopped walking when he saw her unimpressed expression. “What?”

“A true soulmate would never force you to give up something you love like that. You’re still going to be you.”

He gazed at her for a while longer before nodding, apparently deciding she was sincere. He looked forward again and kept silent, but Amy felt him squeeze her hand just a little bit in response.

Amy squeezed back and beamed. He’s definitely not a romantic...but I think I kind of like him this way.

Mini-epilogue: Amy and Shadow still kept busy with their jobs, but they made plenty of time for each other—and a son. Cole has Shadow’s black fur, red eyes, and serious attitude, but he has Amy’s downturned quills, persistence, and compassion, and he wields a hammer—but it’s made of metal, not wood. He works as Hephaestus’s smithing apprentice, having grown to love weapons from being taken to the Colosseum so many times by his parents.

@shadowxamyweek

[sonic-nada]

Are you Ready Rose?🌺

Because it's shadamy time ✨✨

I love them sm🥺🥺 and how about my new art style?

Bouns art :

Annoying blue

[toxic-marcy-ilustrations]

Día 2: ✨Recuerdo✨

[vivicanyounot]

This is a continuation from the prompt drawing I posted before where they are both on the same mission-- But this time its at the end of their mission! Amy tries to convince Shadow to come away from danger but Shadow being the hero he is, refuses. Just the thought of having someone think of you in the midst of danger seems comforting for our silent hedgy. I just love them very much.

[mysuperlaserpiss]

Shadamy Week 2021: Soulmates AU/Shenanigans

Since it's gonna take a long time I'm gonna spoil it, Shadow and Amy will at one point go to a acrade in the comic. Idk I thought it would be very cute😳😳😳

[klaudia96art]

Shadamyweek 2021

[shadowsfascination]

Shadamy Week 2021 | Day 7 : Song Inspo

"Our connection is sealed, but secured within the Chaos, trust me."

// Undisclosed Desires - Muse \\

I want to reconcile the violence in your heart

I want to recognize your beauty's not just a mask

I want to exorcise the demons from your past

I want to satisfy the undisclosed desires in your heart

-- I strongly believe that Amy will develop Chaos abilities over time, and it will deepen her connection with Shadow. I gave the Chaos energy a blue color because the green gave me nuclear vibes. Plus: I think it adds to the headcanon of Silver being a descendant of Shadow and Amy, as his Chaos Energy is blue as well.