#bridge to terabithia au | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

saphstories · 2 months ago

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Terabithia AU

(This is an Unfinished WIP!!! I don't know if I'll ever finish writing it, but I wanted to share it with you anyway. I hope you enjoy!)

Under the shade of a lone apple tree, Shadow the Hedgehog reclined against the trunk, arms crossed over his chest and garnet eyes closed but ears pricked, seeking the rhythmic footsteps of the maiden hedgehog due to join him here.

He wasn't left to wait long. Soft yet eager pads against the tall grass of this small park on the outskirts of Hedgehog Village had the Ultimate Lifeform opening his eyes, spotting Sapphire the Hedgehog beam upon the sight of him awaiting her. "You came!" She happily exclaimed, her blue eyes sparkling with delight.

Shadow shrugged one shoulder. "I was bored, and the doctor was grating on my nerves."

Sapphire playfully nudged him. "Still sore about losing to Team Sonic this morning, huh?"

"You have no idea."

Sapphire sniggered. "So, what do you want to do?" She asked expectantly.

"You asked me here, Hedgehog." Shadow reminded her.

"Yeah, but...I always pick what we do." Sapphire retorted. Shadow conceded that particular point. Ever since Shadow recovered from his amnesia, Sapphire had been inviting him to do activities with her, hang out with her, in her words. And Shadow, at first, only agreed because one could only take the idiocies of Dr Eggman for so long without committing murder...but found that he didn't mind accompanying Sapphire for whatever she had planned. But it was always what Sapphire wanted, with Shadow along for the ride.

And it wasn't as if they could do much together in public, either. With Shadow in cahoots with Eggman, and Sapphire a firm member of Team Sonic...they were technically enemies. The media would have a field day with the news that they were somewhat...not-enemies at times, not to mention what their respective allies would say about this occasional arrangement...

Sapphire cleared her throat, and Shadow shrugged again. "Wanna race?" He suggested.

She scrunched her nose. "I'm not speedy like you and Sonic, Shad. You'd win, no contest. What'd be the fun in that?"

Shadow smirked lightly. "True." He thought for a moment, and cocked his head. "...Why don't we just...take a walk then?"

"You wanna go hiking?" Sapphire clarified.

Shadow shrugged again. "Just until we find something else to entertain ourselves."

"...Okay, I'm game." She gestured. "Lead the way."

Shadow strode towards the treeline, aiming for the faintly trodden path between the trees with Sapphire easily falling into step beside him. Flickies greeted the hikers into their woods with chirpy melodies, and Sapphire hummed thoughtfully after a few moments of companionable silence. "You know, I don't think I've been in these woods before." She mused.

"Haven't you been all over the Island?" Shadow replied, holding up a low hanging branch for her.

"More or less." She shrugged and tipped her head back to peer through the sunlit canopy above. "Sure, I've been to plenty of places all over Seaside Island, but I haven't had the chance to really explore every nook and cranny yet since I followed Sonic and the others here."

Shadow's ear pricked. "Followed?" He repeated curiously.

Sapphire merely shrugged. "I mean, I didn't really object much. Eggman was setting up here, so Sonic came to meet him. I'm part of his team, and he's my brother. I'll always be there for him."

"I admire your dedication to Sonic, but did you come because you genuinely wanted to, or because you felt you had to?" Shadow pressed.

Sapphire shrugged again but averted her eyes, then cocked her head. "What's that?" She wondered aloud and scampered off the trail and deeper into the forest.

"Sapphire!" Shadow took off after her. The last thing he needed was for the Hero of Mobius' sister to get lost.

"Shad, come and look at this!" Sapphire's excited voice directed Shadow's navigation through the trees, until he found her beside a small creek gingerly trickling through the forest. Sapphire grinned excitedly and pointed. "Look at that!"

Shadow cocked his head curiously. There, hanging innocently from the overhanging branch of a thick oak tree above the gentle waters of the ravine, was a rope. Although it was yellowed with age and slightly frayed at the ends, it was thickly woven and tied with heavy knots toward the bottom, meant to be used for children to swing on.

Shadow wasn't given an opportunity to contemplate why a rope swing would be in the middle of a forest when Sapphire picked up a long branch and fished for it, tugging lightly when it was in her grip. "Feels sturdy enough." Sapphire commented. She glanced around, and her blue eyes lit up when she spotted a heavy log covered with moss just behind her.

"What are you doing, Hedgehog?" Shadow demanded incredulously as Sapphire climbed atop the log.

"Getting up higher." She answered simply.

"You're not-," Shadow protested when Sapphire bent her knees.

"Live a little, Shad." Sapphire winked, then hopped, wrapping her legs around the knot and swinging over the creek. The slight breeze ruffled her navy quills, and a delighted grin broke across her muzzle, a joyous giggle bursting from her lips. She dropped down once back in front of the log, breathless and beaming. "I haven't done that since I was a kid!" She exclaimed, eyes sparkling, and eagerly offered the rope to Shadow. "Come on, you gotta try it!"

"I don't think so." Shadow huffed.

"Come on!" Sapphire pouted. "Just once? If you really hate it, you never have to do it again. It really is a lot of fun, Shad."

Shadow glowered at her, arms crossed tight over his chest, but Sapphire's pout was quickly joined by her 'sad Chao' eyes...which Shadow still hadn't built a great resistance to. He sighed. "Fine. But just once."

Sapphire beamed and passed the rope to him as he climbed on the log. Shadow refrained from rolling his eyes and jumped.

Oh. Shadow's ruby eyes popped wide, the breeze ruffling his quills as he swung over the creekbed. While it wasn't quite the rush he felt when skating or fighting...it still left him thrilled and breathless.

All too soon, the ride ended, and Shadow barely restrained his grin as he passed the rope back to Sapphire for her turn. She giggled and happily clambered on the log, the hop to swing an eager little bounce.

Sapphire tipped her head back and let the breeze play with her long curls, wondering if this is how Flickies felt when they flew...happy and free.

Sapphire landed on the grass and passed the rope to Shadow, who took it without a protest. "Let you head hang back and watch the clouds. It feels like flying."

Shadow hopped on the swing and did as instructed...and was instantly swept away by the wondrously light feeling that blew over him. A true smile stretched unbidden across his muzzle, and remained when he landed to hand the swing back to Sapphire.

But the navy blue hedgehog didn't swing like he expected her to. Instead, she fiddled with the rope, her expression thoughtfully determined. "We need a place." She declared.

"A place?" Shadow repeated, cocking his head.

"Yeah." Sapphire nodded. "Our own place, where we can do whatever we want, without worrying about Sonic or Eggman or anyone else. A place we can be ourselves, together."

"As nice as that sounds, Sapphire, where would we even find such a place? Seaside Island isn't that large." Shadow pointed out. "And beyond that, I don't think there is anywhere that Eggman, Sonic, or anyone else has not already found and tainted."

Sapphire pursed her lips. "Well, what if there was?" She countered. "What if it's just over the creek? A special forest full of magic and wonder...a kingdom all our own...and the only way to enter it, is by swinging on the enchanted rope?"

Shadow snorted. "Enchanted rope?"

"Yeah!" Sapphire climbed back onto the log and swung across the creek, but instead of returning, she dropped from the rope and vanished into the foliage on the opposite side.

"Sapphire!" Shadow shouted after her, catching the rope as it swung back. Silence answered him, and he groaned audibly; onto the log he climbed, and over the creek he swung to follow his childish companion to whatever fantasy she decided to chase now. "Sapphire!" Shadow called, trudging through the forest and spotting not a quill of the female hedgehog and recieving no answer. "Sapphire!"

Finally, Sapphire poked her head out behind a tree trunk and waved. "Come on, Shadow!" She encouraged before vanishing once again.

Shadow hurried after her. "Where are you even going, Hedgehog?" He demanded. "This is unfamiliar territory; anything could be here!" Shadow's ears twitched at a near-silent rattling sound like wind chimes, and he turned just in time to spot a shadow-y shape dart through the trees and vanish into the thicket.

"Shadow, come on! You gotta see this!" Sapphire excitedly called. Shadow shook his head and raced towards Sapphire's voice, which came from higher than he expected. Shadow looked up, and Sapphire waved. "Isn't it amazing?" She spread her arms to showcase the rundown treehouse nestled in the branches of a tall oak tree. Its ceiling had long caved in, and moss and vines crawled up the rotted walls and inside the structure. Dead leaves and twigs littered the creaking wooden panels of the floor and crunched with Sapphire's every step.

"It's alright for a treehouse." Shadow conceded. He had no doubt that, back when it was first built, it had been magnificent. Decently spacious with a swing, rope ladder, and even a lookout perch stationed among the higher branches.

"Treehouse?" Sapphire shook her head as Shadow climbed up to join her. "No, Shadow, this isn't a treehouse." She gingerly clambered up the ladder to the lookout perch. "This was the palace of two wise and benevolent rulers, a King and Queen beloved by their entire kingdom. In a time when peace reigned in the forest, because the King and Queen dedicated their lives and used their incredible powers to help and guide their subjects through all sorts of troubles. But it was that love and dedication that doomed them in the end."

Shadow frowned. "What game are you playing, Hedgehog?"

"I'm not, Shadow. It's all true." Sapphire insisted. "The King and Queen would help anyone that asked, but they couldn't have known there was one in particular that would use their kindness against them. Just as the King and Queen were beacons of light and good, and used their magic to help their people, the Dark Master used his magic to spread his darkness and evil. He besieged the palace, enslaved the citizens of the forest, and killed the King and Queen."

"You've quite the imagination, Sapphire." Shadow chuckled.

"That's beside the point." Sapphire's ears twitched. "Hear that?"

The wind chimes were back, rattling warningly in the wind, and Shadow frowned as another dark shape flitted into view at the corner of his eye, only to vanish when he turned his head. "What is that?"

"The enslaved citizens of this forest, Shadow. That sound is the rattling of their chains." Sapphire explained, ears pinned back in sorrow. "They've been waiting so long for their torment to end...for their freedom to be returned to them. For their King and Queen to come and save them and their kingdom from the Dark Master."

"Sapphire, really?" Shadow shot her an unimpressed look. "I know you said we needed our own place, but this is ridiculous."

Sapphire narrowed her eyes. "Still don't believe me? Fine. I'll prove it to you." She turned away from him and raised her voice to the skies. "Prisoners of the Dark Master, hear me! I know you have suffered long under the tyranny of evil that has enslaved you, stolen your home and abused the magic that gives your life light! But I bring you news of great hope, of freedom! We are Shadow and Sapphire the Hedgehogs, and we have come to free you from the Dark Master! Can you hear us? Show me you hear us!"

At that moment, the slight breeze picked up into a mighty wind that blew through the treehouse and shook the leaves. Sapphire beamed at Shadow.

But Shadow scoffed. "You got lucky. The wind has been off and on all day."

Sapphire raised her arms again and shouted. "Can't hear you!"

On command, the wind roared and seemed to swirl around Sapphire and Shadow, as if in celebration. Shadow huffed an astounded laugh, and his ears pricked at the sound of cheering within the gales. Shadow turned back to Sapphire, bewildered, and couldn't help the smile that stretched across his face. She stood in the center of the vortex, her expression pure joy, her laughter like music, and her beaming smile brighter than the sun.

Perhaps...if such fantasy made Sapphire this happy...it wouldn't hurt to play along.

The two hedgehogs returned to the forest the next morning to renovate the treehouse into their own woodland castle. For hours, Shadow and Sapphire toiled away at their task, determined to return the old 'palace' to its former glory. All through the morning and well into the afternoon they worked, and when afternoon became evening, the exhausted hedgehogs rested and celebrated their work with a picnic.

"I can't believe we finished this in a single day." Shadow shook his head and bit into a juicy red apple.

"We did good." Sapphire proudly stated, admiring the fresh-stained floorboards, repaired ceiling, and gleaming coats of bright paint. The treehouse looked leagues better than the poor state it had been found in. And while the major renovating was completed, Shadow and Sapphire still had their own personal touches to add at a later date. Sapphire was determined to bring her favorite flowers to add beauty to their 'castle', and Shadow made a mental list of his favorite books to bring from his room at Eggman's compound. Little things to make the treehouse truly theirs. Sapphire grinned at the thought. "It's so easy."

Shadow snorted. "Did you miss the part where that board almost gave me a concussion?"

"Not that, Shads." Sapphire giggled and playfully nudged him. "I mean this." She gestured around them. "It's so much easier here, where we don't have to pretend at anything other than who we are."

"King and Queen of an enchanted kingdom." Shadow mused. "But, what do we do about the Dark Master?" He asked. Sapphire frowned in thought.

"Well, he probably knows that we're here now, and that we found the old palace and claimed it." Sapphire pointed out. "He's had power over the kingdom for so long, he won't just roll over and give it up without a fight."

THWACK!

"Ow!" Shadow yelped, flinching away from the object that had sailed through the air to strike against his brow. Sapphire yelped and threw her hands up to shield herself from the projectiles as more rained down on them. Shadow lifted one, and his crimson eyes widened.

In his grip was a small, unimpressive pinecone, barbs sharp and prickly. For a moment, Shadow considered simply tossing it away, before his imagination--something he'd shoved to the back of his mind-- transformed the harmless pinecone into an incredibly dangerous threat.

"Grenade!" Shadow shouted and frantically threw it away.

"Duck!" Sapphire shrieked. Both teenagers flung themselves into the treehouse and covered their heads as the explosion shook the tree. Small creatures streaked through the leaves, hissing and snarling at the teenagers. "Scourgers!" Sapphire cried.

"Squirrels, you mean." Shadow corrected.

"I said what I said!" Sapphire countered. "Scourgers! Nasty little beasts that serve the Dark Master; he's sent them after us! We've got to defend ourselves!" She bolted from the treehouse and jumped to the forest floor, scooping up loose stones and chucking them at the circling enemies.

'Scourgers?' Shadow shook his head incredulously. "How does she come up with-?"

Shadow's thought was interrupted by an angry hiss, and his crimson eyes popped wide at the admittedly hideous creature before him. Large, spiky, and putrid green in color, the Scourger bared jagged fangs at him and snarled, its icy blue eyes narrowed.

"Oh, that's how-." Shadow muttered. The Scourger lunged for him, razor sharp claws extended and shrieking in rage. "Ack!" Shadow and the Scourger toppled out of the treehouse and landed harshly on the grass, the blunt force of impact briefly winding the ebony Hedgehog.

"Shadow!" Sapphire curled into a Spin Dash and plowed into the creature's side, sending it flying and howling. She uncurled and helped Shadow to his feet. "You okay?"

"Fine. Thanks." Shadow nodded, but blanched when multiple Scourgers circled around them, all hissing and clawing at the earth, poised to strike. He dropped into a fighting stance, fists raised, and saw Sapphire twirl a long branch like a baton in challenge. "Bring it, freaks!" Shadow bellowed.

The Scourgers screeched and attacked, lunging, swiping, and biting...hoping to bring an end to the threats to their foul Master's rule, but Sapphire and Shadow stood firm and steady, deflecting and parrying all the Scourgers threw at them. Sapphire spun and swung her makeshift staff, clocking Scourgers left and right, while Shadow was more hands on, utilizing his brute strength and speed to deal devastating blows.

Sapphire glared ferociously at the single remaining Scourger. "This is our kingdom now, and we will never give it up! Consider your Dark Master's evil reign over!" She twirled and caught the Scourger in its ugly face; it soared through the skies, howling all the way back to its Master.

"And stay out!" Shadow yelled after it, turning to grin victoriously at Sapphire...only to realize his friend had disappeared.

Again. Shadow shook his head. "Sapphire?" He called.

"Up here!" Came the answer, and Shadow glanced up to find Sapphire at the very top of a mountainous oak tree. "Come on, you gotta see this!" She exclaimed. Shadow jumped for the lowest branch, and his eyes popped wide as he soared through the air. A grin stretched across his muzzle as he climbed, his ascension resembling short bursts of flight, until he stood at the top of the tree beside her. "Isn't it beautiful?" Sapphire breathed in awe. "And it's all ours."

Shadow frowned. He saw nothing but Seaside Island: Hedgehog Village, Eggman's fortress, and even Meh Burger. "What is it I'm looking for?" Shadow dubiously asked.

"You'll see." Sapphire promised and took his hand. "Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and keep your mind wide open."

Shadow eyed her, but followed Sapphire's instructions when she nodded and squeezed his hand encouragingly. The wind shifted, dancing in his quills and ruffling his fur, and his ears pricked at the whispers the gales contained. 'See us, O King. See your Kingdom.' Shadow opened his eyes and gasped.

Seaside Island was nowhere in sight. In its place was exactly what Sapphire described: a beautiful land rich in evergreen forests, broken into valleys covered with wildflowers at the bases of tall snow-capped mountains. A shining sapphire sea glistened under the golden sun, and Shadow blinked at the sight of mermaids leaping through the waves alongside the dolphins. In the valleys, fairies and elves frolicked and played, and phoenixes and dragons nested in the trees. "Incredible." Shadow murmured. "...What do we call it?"

Sapphire hummed in thought, then smiled. "Terabithia."

Shadow huffed in his seat, chin propped in his palm and his eyes absently watching Eggman pace about the conference room and rant on and on and on about 'that blasted blue rat and his idiotic pack of friends'. Shadow rolled his eyes, his mind drifting in boredom away from this 'staff meeting' and towards something much more interesting...more magical.

More specifically...the magical kingdom he and Sapphire had claimed as their own just the previous day: Terabithia. They hadn't time to truly explore the kingdom beyond their castle yet, but Sapphire was more than eager to. "It's important for a King and Queen to know their kingdom." Sapphire had informed Shadow, who had agreed completely. After the breathtaking view in the treetop, Shadow couldn't wait to see every bit of Terabithia up close. To see the fairies of the Wildflower Vales, or hear the Phoenix song in the Viridian Forests, or swim with the Merfolk in the Sapphire Sea. Surely Sapphire didn't have the same phobia of water as her brother?

"A-HEM!" Shadow startled, blinking rapidly to find everyone glaring at him with varying degrees of irritation...Eggman's the most blazing behind his goggles.

Crap. Shadow shoved all daydreams of Terabithia from his head and straightened in his chair. The last thing he wanted was his cousin/guardian's ire...or worse, his curiosity to why the Ultimate Lifeform was so spacy. "Apologies, Doctor. What was that last bit?" Shadow asked politely.

Eggman glowered and opened his mouth, but whatever berating he had decided to deliver to Shadow was halted by Cubot racing into the room. "Doctor! There's something in the workshop!"

Shadow blinked in surprise at the mess of Eggman's workshop. Gears and wires littered the floor, and several pots of oil and grease had been turned over. Papers were scattered about, and sunshine gleamed through a small hole in the back corner. "Damned nuisances!" Eggman spat. "All my work, nothing but scrap now! This is the last thing I need!"

"Here are the traps you requested, sir." Orbot announced, hoisting a pair of wire cages outfitted with fruit and cheese for inspection.

"And the repair materials, boss!" Cubot chirped in a voice that suspiciously sounded like...a Gogoba? Shadow slapped a hand over his mouth to cover his snort, and hurried to repair the hole when Eggman glared at him.

"These bots are how we best Sonic and his rag-tag idiot team!" The doctor growled, crouched behind Shadow to set up the traps. "The last thing I need is for some stupid animal making a mess of it!"

"It won't. Now that the hole's fixed," Shadow showcased his handiwork: a sheet of netting metal hammered into place over the gap. "It won't be getting back in."

"I should say not!" Eggman shook his head. "But if that rodent gets caught, you let me deal with it, clear? I won't be wasting your abilities on extermination on anything other than Sonic and his friends!"

Shadow paused. "You're going to kill it?" The ebony hedgehog clarified, garnet eyes wide in shock. His stomach rolled at the idea of some hungry animal meeting such a cruel fate...

"Of course." Eggman snorted. "Any rodent that dares ruin my work...or simply annoys me...it'll be the last thing it does! I expect you to follow my orders, Shadow. If that rodent is caught, you let me deal with it. Understood?" Eggman repeated.

Shadow ducked his head. "Can I help you with anything else, Doctor?" He deflected.

Eggman waved him off. "No, that will be all. Find something to amuse yourself while I sort through this mess."

A knot formed in Shadow's throat. Despite his 50 years in cryostasis, Shadow was only 16 years old. Still a teenager, and still felt the sting whenever Eggman...his only remaining family...chose to push him away. Shadow didn't expect much...Chaos knows Gerald Robotnik hadn't been a very affectionate man...but he'd still been a father figure for his creation. He'd never failed to let Shadow know how he'd cared for him...couldn't Eggman at least try? He had no trouble doting on his favorite machines, and Shadow was the Ultimate Lifeform, his grandfather's greatest creation, his cousin!

Shadow shook his head. Of course, Eggman cared about him. He wouldn't keep him around otherwise. It didn't matter much... Shadow wasn't some crybaby, whining because Daddy wasn't paying enough attention to him. "I'm going on a run." Shadow announced, shoved down the familiar sting when Eggman didn't bother to acknowledge him, and raced from the compound.

Shadow paused when he found himself at the creek, staring at the rope that led to Terabithia...as it swung back down towards him. Furrowing his brow, he caught the rope and waited.

As expected, a familiar navy hedgehog hiked out of the ferns and paused briefly to adjust the pack on her back. Curious now, and admittedly with nothing better to do, Shadow climbed on the log and swung over the creek into Terabithia, smirking lightly at the startled flush on Sapphire's cheeks. "Oh, hi Shadow!" She squeaked.

"Hi to you." Shadow cocked his brow and gestured to her backpack. "Going hiking, are you?" He crossed his arms pointedly.

"What? No!" Sapphire shook her head. "No, no, I wasn't. Not without you. We promised to go together, remember?"

"Uh huh. I do. So where are you off to?" Shadow demanded with a frown.

Sapphire flushed. "W-Well, I-er-," She babbled, but when Shadow didn't rescind, she sighed. "It was going to be a surprise." She complained. "I thought Egghead would keep you busy all day, and I thought it was the perfect opportunity."

Shadow cocked his head. "For what?"

Sapphire slid the pack off her shoulder to show Shadow the contents. He blinked, not expecting the clutter inside. There were art tools, a sketchpad, flower pots, seedlings, and... "Are those coffee beans?" He demanded, perplexed.

"You said you liked them, and I thought it would be a good idea to keep some food at the castle...in case we pulled another all day hang out like yesterday." She explained, then bit her lip. "You mad at me?"

Shadow pursed his lips. "Only if you eat my coffee beans."

Sapphire grinned and tossed them to him. "All yours." Shadow popped some in his mouth, humming in delight at the rich taste and falling into step beside her.

"How's none of that getting crushed in there?" Shadow wondered.

"Tails' tech." Sapphire proudly answered. "I'm not sure on the technical mumbo, but it fits all I need with nothing getting damaged!"

"That is one gifted fox." Shadow commented. "What's the art supplies for?"

"It's kinda a hobby of mine. I'm not that great at it, but I was thinking..." Sapphire shrugged one shoulder. "We're gonna need maps and a codex here for when we go exploring, to record our discoveries. And to make plans to defeat the Dark Master and free the Terabithians."

Shadow nodded. "Good idea." He snacked on a few more coffee beans as they walked towards the castle, but cocked his head as a thought struck him. "Faker not keeping you busy?"

"Not when he's busy as Meh Burger's new delivery boy." Sapphire snorted.

"Finally got a job, huh?"

"Not a good one."

"Better than nothing, isn't it?"

"He gets paid in chili dogs."

Shadow snickered. "See? Perfect job for the faker." Sapphire rolled her eyes and playfully nudged him before ascending the ladder into the castle with Shadow right behind her. "Seriously, though, don't you, Faker, and the fox all live together? Won't they notice you going missing, along with all this stuff?"

"Yes, we do." Sapphire carefully began unpacking her backpack and organizing the supplies on the shelves. "But we don't see each other as often as you'd think. I mean, we're all friends and we hang out, but we have our own lives, you know? Tails is almost always in his workshop, Sonic can't go without lapping the Island at least twice a day, and I've got Terabithia with you." She shrugged. "As long as I'm home before sundown, or provide a good excuse why I wouldn't be, nobody bats an eye."

"Hmph." Shadow picked up a couple of flower pots and placed them on the window sill. "And here I thought you all were..."

"What?" She narrowed her eyes.

"So hopelessly devoted to the ✨️power of friendship✨️." Shadow cooed, batting his garnet eyes at her and laughing when she playfully shoved him. Sapphire cocked her head and smiled at him. "What?" Shadow asked.

"You should laugh more." She told him.

"I laugh plenty." Shadow huffed.

Sapphire shook her head. "You snicker, and you smirk. But real smiles, actual laughter? I can count on one hand the amount of times I've seen you do both, and they've all happened in Terabithia."

"So?" Shadow demanded.

Sapphire hesitated for a moment, but reached and took his hand in hers, intertwining their fingers when Shadow froze. "I like it when you smile. I like it when you laugh. Because your smile and your laugh are beautiful, Shadow, and you shouldn't have to hide either." She squeezed his hand and met his stunned garnet eyes with compassionate and caring lavender orbs. "At least, not here. Not in our Kingdom."

Shadow swallowed and opened his mouth to speak, to thank her, to say he liked her smile and laugh, too...

CREEAAKKK....

Sapphire screamed, and Shadow yanked her towards the back wall, eyes wide in horror at the tree that fell towards their castle, stopped in its decent only by the other branches of their oak tree. Their castle shuddered, and a torrent of twigs and leaves rained down, but the castle remained standing.

"It's a giant troll!" Sapphire exclaimed breathlessly, her blue eyes wide and cheeks flushed white with fright.

"No, it's a giant tree that nearly killed us!" Shadow argued.

"Do you believe for even a second that that tree fell on its own?!" Sapphire retorted sharply. Shadow blinked and paled, realizing the truth of her words. Every single tree around their little meadow was firmly rooted in the earth. "Exactly. Come on!" Sapphire ducked out the door and gracefully hopped over the balcony railing to the grass, Shadow following easily on her heels. His eyes widened, and she gasped, taking in the uprooted oak tree that had nearly destroyed their castle, and the lack of disrupted earth around it.

Sapphire, once again, was right. Something--a giant troll of a something--had uprooted a tree and attempted to assassinate them with it. "Come on!" Sapphire commanded and bolted from the meadow, and Shadow wondered how he was always the one following her. "When the Dark Master saw that his Scourgers had failed to get rid of us, he sent a giant troll." Sapphire grimly explained.

"How big do you think?" Shadow wondered.

Sapphire paled, her eyes frozen on something up the path. "Well, that's how big its feet are." Shadow followed her gaze and stilled in stunned fright, then shook himself and jogged to get a closer look at the humongous footprint dug into the earth.

"Twenty feet long, five wide, and two deep." The Ultimate Lifeform muttered, pacing around the print and even poking his skates inside. "Tightly packed, so it's not a skinny troll..." He trailed off and lifted his gaze to the canopy. "That puts it as tall as the trees."

Sapphire bit her lip. "What do we do?"

"We kill it." Shadow shrugged one shoulder.

Sapphire gaped at him in horror. "Shad, we can't just-!"

"I don't like it either. For all we know, this troll could be a prisoner sent to do the Dark Master's bidding." Shadow sighed. "But we don't exactly have a choice. A giant troll on the loose would only mean trouble. We have a responsibility to keep Terabithia safe as King and Queen. We can't just let a giant troll roam free. It could hurt someone else."

A shimmer of something warm glimmered in Sapphire's eyes, even if her expression remained uneasy. "Okay." She agreed.

"Question is, how do we find it?" Shadow frowned.

"If we had a giant troll hunter, we could track its scent and sneak up on it." Sapphire mused. Shadow nodded. Perhaps they could find one while exploring. Surely not all the Terabithians were enslaved to the Dark Master. He was broken out of his musings when Sapphire climbed atop a moss-covered stump and shouted. "We are the King and Queen of Terabithia; it is our place, our kingdom, and for it we will fight and defend!"

Bolstered by Sapphire's words and the answering cheers in the winds, Shadow raised his fist and roared. "We rule Terabithia, and nothing crushes us!"

Later that night, Shadow slept peacefully, curled into a ball in his tiny bunk in Eggman's compound while visions of Terabithia and its Queen danced behind his closed eyes.

Closed eyes that snapped open at the crash that echoed into his barrack. Shadow slowly sat up, ears pricked, and bolted out of bed to follow the distressed chirps.

It seemed Eggman's traps had worked. Hopefully, the doctor would never know.

Shadow skidded to a stop on sock feet in the workshop and flicked on the desk lamp, worried that using the lights would alert Eggman. His ears lowered against his head at the pitiful sight.

A Chao struggled inside the cage under the desk, chirping and whining fearfully enough break Shadow's heart. It was a striking shade of soft ocean blue, brighter than commonplace Chao like the rabbit girl's, but it's eyes, when turned on Shadow, shone with tears in magnificent swirls of sapphire blue.

Shadow bit his lip. He couldn't just release the Chao outside the compound...the little creature would just sneak back in and get caught again, and then Eggman may be the one to check the traps. Shadow shook his head. No. Shadow couldn't let that happen. Whatever Eggman thought, to kill this innocent Chao would be too cruel.

The Chao whimpered in his cage, peering at Shadow with watery sapphire eyes, and Shadow made his decision.

"It's going to be alright." Shadow quietly promised the Chao, who thankfully had calmed once Shadow had left Eggman's headquarters, but still squeaked and chirped in fright if Shadow made too sudden of a move. The Ultimate Lifeform snuck along the shadows, hoping not to alert the caretakers of the Village Chao Garden of his trespassing, or their new ward that would join them tonight.

Once in the center of the garden, beside a tranquil pool that shimmered with moonlight, Shadow deposited the cage on the ground and opened its door.

"Chao chao!" The Chao flew in circles around Shadow's head, chirping in joy and celebration at its freedom, before whizzing into the Ultimate Lifeform's surprised embrace and nuzzling against his soft white chest fluff, where inside, a warmth that Shadow had long forgotten had risen.

"You're welcome." Shadow murmured, patting the little Chao. "Now, off you go. And once you're adopted, no more breaking and entering."

"Chao chao!" The Chao squealed, then flew to the branches of a nearby apple tree and curled up on the bough to sleep. Shadow smiled and quickly snuck out from the Garden, the smile remaining on his face as he skated through the village.

His smile vanished upon entry into the workshop...his plans of returning the empty cage and sneaking back to bed now impossible by Eggman towering over him with a sharp glare burning behind his goggles. "And just where have you been?" The doctor growled, arms crossed over his chest.

"I..I took care of it for you." Shadow stammered, shrinking slightly. "It was a Chao...it was just hungry, but I took him to the village. To the Chao Garden! He won't be sneaking back in, Doctor, I promise!"

"Do you now? And did this hungry Chao promise you that it would stay out of my workshop?" Eggman sneered.

"What?" Shadow's stomach flipped. "No, no, but-,"

"Shadow, that was a wild animal that destroyed months of my hard work, work that would have ended Sonic, and you let it go! I told you I would take care of it, I ordered you to let me take care of it!"

"By killing it, Doctor?!" Shadow exclaimed. "It was just a Chao, it was harmless! And I took care of it so you wouldn't have to waste time-,"

"Silence!" Eggman took a menacing step forward, his mustache curled in a snarl so ferocious that Shadow fought not to flinch back in fright. Even so, his ears were pinned to his head, his garnet eyes wide and pupils shrunk to slits. "You are meant to be the Ultimate Lifeform, yet all that stands before me is a worthless child with his head in the clouds! Contrary what delusions my cousin had polluted that mind of yours with, life is not sunshine and rainbows, Shadow! You are the Ultimate Lifeform, and I refuse to allow you to squander it away on childish nonsense!"

Shadow swallowed thickly and ducked his head shamefully. His fur prickled at the doctor's harsh beration... which was rightly deserved. "Yes, sir." He mumbled.

"Now away with you!" Eggman pointed to the door. "You've done enough damage for one day; stay in your barrack and out of my sight unless you are expressly summoned!"

Shadow fled the workshop as fast as his skates could carry him and slammed the door of his cabin, leaning against it and panting heavily.

What was he to do now? Eggman was right, Shadow knew Eggman was right, and Eggman didn't know how right he was. Shadow had been putting his abilities as the Ultimate Lifeform to waste, putting his world of make-believe with Sapphire before his responsibilities to Eggman... his family.

Shadow trudged to his bed and collapsed on it wearily, not even bothering to kick off his skates. Tears burned his eyes, and he burrowed his face into his pillow. Wind chimes whispered in his ears, and Shadow plugged his ears. He's not a worthless child, he wasn't useless with his head in the clouds, and he would prove it!

Somehow, his resolve to abandon the childish nonsense with Sapphire didn't make him feel any better.

Shadow grunted under his breath and quickly shot to his feet, braced for any incoming attacks. Explosions rocketed through this portion of the forest, and in the distance, he could hear Eggman's cackles while his Badniks battled against Team Sonic. The blue blur launched a Spin Dash and dismantled several crab-bots in one run, and Shadow shook out the dirt from his spines, only to blink in trepidation when he came face to face with Sapphire.

"Hedgehog." He growled. His voice carried the correct amount of venom for his enemy, but his eyes gave away his discomfort at fighting a friend. Could he really harm her after their time in Terabithia?

Shadow shook his head. Terabithia wasn't real. He wasn't a child. He was the Ultimate Lifeform.

Sapphire grinned secretly at him, that same twinkle from Ter-from the woods in her blue orbs as she feigned a strike to Shadow's shoulder, which he aptly dodged. "So should we try tracking the troll this afternoon?" She whispered to him when he snatched her against his chest.

Ignoring the lurch in his stomach and the flutter in his chest, Shadow hissed. "No!"

"Then what? We could explore, if you'd rather." Sapphire hummed thoughtfully, gently elbowing him to get away. She grinned playfully. "King's choice." Shadow snarled and pounced, hating the way her eyes shot wide in shock as he held her down. "Shad?" She whispered, her eyes concerned.

Shadow forced himself to keep the snarl on his face, when all he wanted to do was take her hand and run. "Get your head out of the clouds, Hedgehog, and leave me out of your delusions." He commanded.

"What-?" Sapphire gaped. "What do you mean?"

Shadow nearly faltered. Her eyes--those beautiful teal-blue eyes--bore into his, pleading silently with him not to say such things, and he so desperately wanted to take back the blasphemy he'd already committed. He opened his mouth.

"You are meant to be the Ultimate Lifeform, yet all that stands before me is a worthless child with his head in the clouds!" Eggman's acidic words, his scorching sneer, echoed through Shadow's head. "I refuse to allow you to squander it away on childish nonsense!"

"Life isn't sunshine and rainbows, Hedgehog." Shadow spat. "I refuse to play your childish game a second longer. There is no troll. There is no Dark Master or Terabithia! And I'm not a king!"

Sapphire froze beneath him, her lavender eyes wounded, her muzzle tipped down into a saddened frown. "Best not let the Terabithians hear you. They believe in you... and so do I."

Shadow swallowed, then squawked when Sapphire's knee jabbed into his belly, using the momentum of her attack to flip them both over. For a long moment, both simply stared at one another... until Shadow couldn't bear the disappointment and hurt on her face any longer, but flinched when she bent down to whisper in his ear. "Terabithia will always welcome you, Shadow, should you change your mind. Whatever you decide... you'll always be our King."

Shadow flinched as she raised her fist, but felt only the air whizz by and heard the impact of the grass. "Keep still, keep down, Egghead's coming!" She hissed before her weight vanished. At the sound of the Eggmobile's engines overhead, Shadow made a show of regaining consciousness, groaning and fluttering his eyes before sitting up, just in time to see the Tornado taking off. Shadow watched it for a moment, and caught Sophie's crestfallen teal gaze, before it vanished and she turned to speak to Sonic.

Shadow didn't hear Eggman's angered ranting as he climbed aboard the Eggmobile to ride back to the compound or catch the befuddled glances between Orbot and Cubot. For the first time, Shadow could not make himself care about their defeat at Team Sonic's hands...or what Eggman would do to punish him.

Hours later, after finally being permitted to retire to his cabin after a grueling 'training' session, Shadow slipped off his skates and collapsed on his bunk, but his mind refused to let him alone. Shadow groaned and flung his pillow over his face, but it didn't help...didn't silence the words that had been repeating in his ears since the moment they were said.

"Best not let the Terabithians hear you. They believe in you... and so do I."

"Terabithia will always welcome you, Shadow, should you change your mind. Whatever you decide, you will always be our King."

Shadow closed his eyes and saw crestfallen teal orbs and a wounded expression that didn't belong on such a beautiful face.

"It's so much easier here, where we don't have to pretend at anything other than who we are."

Sapphire had been right. It was easy in Terabithia...such freedom to just be...to laugh and play...to just be himself. Not the Ultimate Lifeform, not a weapon. Just... Shadow.

"I like it when you smile. I like it when you laugh. Because your smile and your laugh are beautiful, Shadow, and you shouldn't have to hide either."

Sapphire had found joy in Shadow's company. She'd delighted in his time with her in Terabithia. Shadow hadn't been desired for his abilities... she'd simply desired him. For his time and companionship.

"They believe in you, and so do I."

Sapphire had faith in him... even after he'd hurt her. Spit in her face and scorned the world they had built together... yet she still refused to give up hope in Shadow...for Shadow to change his mind.

For the Terabithians' King, her King, to return to his throne.

Shadow rolled over and closed his eyes. He would need all the rest he could get for tomorrow, to face whatever consequences came of his choices. Past, and future.

Sunlight streamed through the canopy of trees, and Shadow patiently waited on the border of Terabithia for his Queen's arrival. He'd snuck out of the compound as soon as Eggman dismissed him for the day, and now stood with both an apology and gift chirping curiously against his chest fluff, cradled in his arms. "She'll be here soon, little one." Shadow murmured to the Chao, who blinked up at him with trusting sapphire eyes.

Shadow had been delighted when he saw that the Chao he'd rescued from Eggman's trap hadn't yet been adopted upon his return to the Chao Garden in Hedgehog Village. The Chao had been elated to see Shadow as well if the continuous chirping and nuzzling had been any indication. The caretakers of the Garden had let Shadow adopt the little Chao with no fuss at all.

"Shadow?" Sapphire's gasp drew Shadow's attention across the creek, and he raised a gloved hand to wave her across. A beaming smile brighter than the sun lit her muzzle and shined in her teal eyes. "Shadow!" She cried elatedly and swung across the creek to join him. She raced to his side, arms open to throw around him happily, but paused at the sight of the Chao already in Shadow's grip. "Oh, hello there." She cooed, eagerly snuggling the Chao when Shadow passed him over with a chuckle.

"Chao chao!" The Chao chirped happily, nuzzling Sapphire and causing her to giggle.

"Yes, that's her." Shadow chuckled. "And he, my Queen Sapphire, is your very own certified troll-tracking Chao." He proclaimed.

Her grin dropped wide in shock. "He's for me?!"

Shadow nodded, and his ears flattened against his head. "I...owe you an apology, Sapphire. We built something special here, and all it took was a little pressure for me to cave...to abandon you and everything else."

"Shadow-," Sapphire breathed.

"I just... I want you to know that I'll never betray your trust like that ever again. I'll never abandon you or the Terabithians again. I don't care what anyone else says or does." Shadow vowed, taking her free hand in his. "We rule Terabithia, together, and for it, we will fight and defend."

"Nothing crushes us." Sapphire quoted with a smile.

Shadow grinned back. "Nothing crushes us." He confirmed.

"Chao chao!" The Chao squealed happily. Shadow and Sapphire laughed.

"Hmm," Sapphire mused, happily studying the Chao as he flew circles around them, occasionally looping with musical chirps. "Every kingdom needs a prince." She grinned. "Chao, I name you Prince, in honor of your Kingdom Terabithia."

"Chao chao!" Prince chirped.

"Shadow," Sapphire wrapped her arms around Shadow's neck. "Thank you."

Shadow's heart pounded so fiercely against his chest at her touch, his head swimming at the sweet fragrance of her silky fur... With a rough swallow, Shadow tentatively slipped his arms around her slender waist. "You're welcome." He whispered. Sapphire snuggled into his chest, her nose nudging against his chin and her breaths tickling his neck... but Shadow didn't push her away.

Far from it. Shadow held her tighter and buried his face into her soft quills, inhaling that sweet fragrance of sea and wildflowers and something uniquely Sapphire. She fit so well in his arms, her soft and slender body tucked perfectly against his leanly muscled form...as if she was made to fit there.

"I missed you so much, Shadow." Sapphire murmured softly.

"I'm here." Shadow breathed. Warmth danced along his fur as he lifted her chin with a single finger to meet her damp gaze. He stroked her cheek, and she leaned into his touch. "I'm here, Sapphire." His eyes flickered down to her lips, and Sapphire's eyes fluttered closed as he leaned forward.

"Chao chao!" Prince chirped. Sapphire and Shadow sprang apart, both their muzzles stained ruby red at what nearly happened, but their attention diverted to the Chao flying in urgent swoops around them, chirping insistently.

"He's got a lead on the troll!" Sapphire gasped.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Shadow smirked, and Sophie grinned. "Prince, seek!" He commanded.

"Chao chao!" Prince yowled and darted away through the trees, Shadow and Sapphire racing directly behind him.

"Scree scree!"

"Look out!" A brilliant ruby shield bloomed around Sapphire and easily deflected the talons of hideous quadruple-winged falcons covered in razor-sharp black feathers and glowing scarlet eyes. "You okay?" Shadow demanded, quickly ducking under the shield and taking Sapphire's hands.

"Yeah, thanks to you." She grinned at him, her eyes sparkling with awe. "How did you-?" She breathed in wonder at the impenetrable shield.

"We're the King and Queen of Terabithia, Sapphire." Shadow reminded her. He smirked. "We have power the Dark Master can only dream of." He glowered at the falcons screeching just outside the shield, their talons and beaks useless against it. "Scourgers, shades, giant trolls, and now Darkwings." He grumbled. "We've gotta catch up with Prince. Get ready." He warned. Determination sparkled in Sapphire's eyes, and she nodded. Shadow grinned, and the shield vanished.

Immediately, the Darkwings shot down towards them, screeching with talons extended. "Keep your back to mine." Shadow ordered. "And stay away from their talons."

"Venomous?" Sapphire guessed.

"Very." Shadow's fist gleamed like rubies in the sunlight, scattering feathers across the forest with a single punch to a Darkwing. A crack and screech caught his attention, and he glanced back in time to see the Darkwing soar through the air and vanish from sight, thanks to the glittering violet whip in Sapphire's hand. "Nice." Shadow whistled appreciatively.

She winked at him, and together, they quickly scattered the remaining Darkwings. "Prince! Where are you? Prince!" Sapphire called.

"Chao chao!" Came the reply from the west. Sapphire and Shadow hurried to follow it and found Prince growling ferociously at a tall set of trees. "Chao chao chao!"

"Prince, what-," Sapphire began.

The trees moved. Gigantic eyes swirling with darkness glared while a huge mouth full of jagged teeth curled in a snarl. Monstrously arms creaked and groaned as they were lifted, knarly hands with sharp claws coiled into humongous fists. Taloned toes erupted from the earth at the base of mighty legs, and Sapphire twitched her nose at both the sight and stench.

"RUN!" Shadow howled. The troll's roar thundered behind the Hedgehogs and Chao as they fled, the ground shaking with each of the troll's steps. Shadow dove behind a fallen log to avoid the troll's claws, scrambling back and summoning his shield to protect him when the troll pounded its fist.

"Hey!" Sapphire hollered and cracked her whip over the troll's leg, causing it to howl in pain and rage. "Over here! Come on, troll, come this way!" She challenged it. The troll roared and lunged after Sapphire, but she became a streak of amethyst light, darting between the tree trunks and only pausing to snap her whip at the troll's calves.

Shadow bolted to his feet, and ruby light sparked in his palms, crackling like flames over his knuckles. Shadow thrust his hands forward, and scarlet firecrackers exploded against the troll's chest, knocking it down on its backside and felling two trees.

Sapphire was beside him in a flash, panting but exhilarated. "Together?" She assumed.

"Bind it with your whip. I'll put the poor beast out of its misery." Shadow commanded.

Sapphire frowned at him in concern. "Shad-,"

"It'll be okay, Saph." Shadow promised with a hollow smile.

Sapphire didn't look like she believed him, but she nodded anyway and darted away, hopping back and forth over the troll and between the trees, using her whip as restraits while Shadow leapt into the air to hover above the troll, his body surrounded by brilliant ruby light. The troll struggled against Sapphire's bindings, but it was no use. Shadow swallowed thickly and generated a large sphere of scarlet light... then fashioned it into a long spear. The troll looked up at Shadow.

Shadow froze. The troll growled and snapped its teeth at Shadow, but its eyes... swirling with a darkness so potent, anyone else may have missed it. Missed the redness around its eyes, the desperation beneath the darkness...the plea for help. The spear vanished. "Shadow?" Sapphire called.

Shadow had been right. The troll was a slave of the Dark Master, forced by dark magic to do the Master's bidding. "It's going to be alright. We're here to help." Shadow coaxed the troll as he landed on its chest. "Sapphire, how secure are the binds?"

"Why?" Suspicion laced her tone. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm...thinking about trying to use our magic to free our friend here from the Dark Master's control." Shadow replied hesitantly. "He's a victim of mind control...and he's one of ours. We owe it to him to try."

"Okay. I'm coming up." Sapphire was beside him in a flash of amethyst light, peering uncertainly at the still-growling troll. "Are you sure about this?"

"No." Shadow admitted. "But...if there's a chance, then we should at least try." A tender smile warmed Sapphire's eyes, and Shadow felt it in his chest. "What?" He demanded.

"Tell you later." Sapphire promised. "After we free the big fella." She glanced back down at the troll, and her eyes softened with heartache. "Poor thing." She murmured. "How do we break the Dark Master's hold?"

"Darkness of any form will flee from light. Theoretically, if his mind is ensared with dark magic..." Shadow hedged.

"Then our light magic should make the darkness flee." Sapphire realized. Shadow nodded. "Okay." She offered her hand to Shadow, and Shadow ignored the butterflies in his belly to accept her hand. Ruby and amethyst light swirled until it blended into a brilliant gold aura that swirled out from their outstretched hands towards the troll's blackened eyes.

The troll thrashed and screamed as the golden streams entered his eyes. Black mist exploded out of its mouth and eyes and soared through the air with a sharp whistling sound, and the troll laid still, the only indication of life its stuttering breaths.

Sapphire leaned heavily on Shadow, her blue eyes drooping from exhaustion, and Shadow tucked her against his side and leaned his head atop hers, pulling at the remaining strength he possessed to not topple over. "Did it work?" She mumbled sleepily.

Shadow watched the troll for several moments, then shook his head. "I don't--woah!" He yelped, and Sapphire squealed, both clinging onto each other as the troll abruptly sat up with a gasp.

"Free! Finally free! I'm free!" It exclaimed joyously. "Oh, Your Majesties!" It gasped upon seeing Shadow and Sapphire clinging to a vine on its chest to keep from falling. "It's alright, I've got you!" The troll assured them and lifted them in the palm of its hand to beam at them.

"Yeah, thanks." Sapphire wheezed on her bum while Shadow simply huffed and puffed beside her.

"Oh, my Queen, it's I who should thank you!" The troll gushed with a beaming smile that crinkled the corners of two bright emerald eyes. "You've freed me! Years I spent under that horrible enslavement, years! Lost hope, I did, of ever tasting freedom again, but then you and King Shadow come, and now I'm free! I'm free and...and right exhausted from it, you both are."

"We're...we're fine." Shadow mumbled in an attempt to wave off the troll's concern. "Glad to see...see it worked. Didn't want to...to kill if it was...unnecessary." Sapphire nodded sluggishly in agreement and tried to smile.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty, but I happen to disagree." The troll insisted. "You both used a lot of energy and magic to free me from the Dark Master...and I'd been under that right monster's control for years! It was deep ingrained in me, and you just set me free! Not to say I'm not grateful, I am, but using magic to undo something like that, especially as new to magic as you both are...I'm surprised you're still able to carry a conversation! No, I'll be taking you back to your castle for a good rest tonight, and keeping watch for you in case the Dark Master gets any ideas."

Any other protests from Shadow or Sapphire fell on deaf ears as the troll carried them away from the site of battle towards their castle. Prince flew around the troll, chirping curiously, before zooming into Sophie's arms and snuggling into her chest. "Here we are, Your Majesties." The troll proclaimed and held his palm level with the castle balcony. "Watch your steps now."

Sluggishly, Shadow and Sapphire stumbled from the troll's hand and into the castle, barely blinking at the bed of soft emerald moss and colorful, sweet-smelling wildflowers that awaited them. Prince chirped sleepily and immediately burrowed into the center, and Sapphire nearly tripped over her own feet to join him. Shadow chuckled tiredly. "At least take your boots off, Saph."

"Later." Sapphire grumbled, already closing her eyes.

Shadow snorted but toed off his skates and climbed in beside her. "It's so soft." He murmured, instantly relaxing into the mossy nest. Only a soft mumble answered him, and Shadow smiled softly before surrendering to the pull of sleep and closing his eyes.

Outside the castle, the troll peeked inside the window of the castle and grinned at the sight of his King and Queen peacefully slumbering, their Chao Prince snuggled between their chests and Queen Sapphire's head tucked perfectly in King Shadow's shoulder, his arms gently cradling her as if she were priceless treasure.

Curiosity burned fresh in the troll's emerald eyes as golden sparkles skittered along the nest of flowers, whispering a beautiful melody as it transformed the nest. The troll beamed happily as the magic swirled and sang around the treehouse castle, renovating it into a true palace for the new King and Queen of Terabithia to reign from. The troll giggled to himself. He couldn't wait to see their faces in the morning when they saw their new palace for themselves!

But for now, the King and Queen needed rest, and he had a promise to keep, so the troll settled down on the grass to wait patiently for the morning.

Golden sunlight shimmered through the window, and Shadow groaned and snuggled deeper into his blanket, burying his head deeper into his pillow. He hadn't slept so well in ages...Eggman could wait for whatever stupid things he wanted for another several minutes while Shadow relished in his wonderful night's sleep.

Warm air tickled his neck in rhythmic patterns, and in his back something burrowed between his shoulder spines with sleepy chirps. Frowning confusedly, Shadow opened his eyes...then promptly turned the same color as his stripes.

"Sapphire!" The squeak that came from his mouth only added to the red on his cheeks first brought on by finding his Queen and best friend snuggled into his chest like her personal pillow, her fingers tangled in his chest fluff and her breaths the cause of the rhythmic puffs of air tickling his neck. Shadow craned his neck to look behind him and found...yep, that was Prince curled up between his shoulder spines.

"Er, Sapphire..." Shadow wriggled slightly, but Sapphire let out a soft purr and only tightened her grip on him, shoving her face flush against his neck. Prince was no better, chirping discontentedly at Shadow's movement and stubbornly repositioning himself against his back the traitor. "Sapphire," Shadow tried again.

"F've more minutes." She mumbled.

"I really shouldn't-," Shadow protested, flushing scarlet when she raised her head and pouted at him.

"But you're cozy." She complained. "All warm and fluffy, and I don't wanna get up yet." She concluded her point with a nuzzle under his chin, and Shadow's heart raced, both at her touch and her words. Warmth bloomed in his belly and spread even to his ears and toes. Shadow groaned inwardly in defeat. Why did Sapphire have to have him around her finger? Why was he around her finger?

"Okay." He whispered. Sapphire beamed and snuggled back into him with a happy purr.... and oh that's why. Shadow mirrored her purring with his own deep rumbles when she scratched gently down his back, eliciting more from her when he nuzzled tentatively into her quills. He drew lazy shapes on her back with his fingertips. "This is nice." He confessed in a shy mumble, the tips of his ears glowing pink.

"Told you." Sapphire giggled.

"Speaking of which," Shadow drew his head back to lock eyes with her. "What was it you were going to tell me?"

"Which one?" Sapphire shrugged a shoulder. "I want to tell you lots of things, Shad." She informed him with a bashful smile. "Doesn't always happen."

"How come?" Shadow quirked a brow.

She shrugged again and averted her gaze to play with his chest fur. "Get distracted sometimes, or I forget. Or I just...you know," She trailed off.

"No, I don't." He lifted her chin to meet her gaze. "Or what?"

"Or...I don't want to bother you with my thoughts, or it's not that important." Sapphire confessed, ears flat.

"Sapphire, first of all, your thoughts could never bother me." Shadow tapped the center of her forehead. "Don't forget, it was those thoughts that created Terabithia in the first place. You can tell me anything, and I'll always listen. We may not always agree, but I swear I'll always listen to you."

Sapphire bit her lip. "Always?" She whispered.

Shadow nodded. "Always." He promised.

"Shadow, I...I don't want-," Sapphire swallowed. "I don't want you to go back to Eggman." She breathed. Shadow went still. "You're too good, Shad." She hurried to explain.

"And this is where we disagree." Shadow sighed.

"Well, we shouldn't!" Sapphire protested. "Shadow, when we first went looking for the troll, your first concern was for the Terabithians it could have hurt! When we found it, you were the one to see it was under mind control, and insisted we at least try to free it! You...I...You're too good for Eggman, Shad. Please, don't go back to him, please!"

Shadow stared at her, something clenching in his chest at the distress in her sapphire gaze, the desperation detailing her beautiful face. "Where would I even go?" He questioned in a hollow voice.

"With me." She stated matter-of-factly. Shadow couldn't help it; he snorted. "I'm serious!" She insisted.

"Sapphire, your brother--your entire team hates me!" Shadow shook his head.

"They'll get over it." Sapphire firmly retorted. "Amy especially can't resist a redemption arc."

Shadow sighed and gazed at her with sorrowed eyes. "Sapphire...what if it were Sonic?" He whispered. Sapphire's expression softened. "Eggman...like it or not...he's family. The only family I have left."

"Shadow," Sapphire caressed Shadow's cheek and leaned her forehead against his. "Family's more than blood." She told him. "It...it's a special bond built of love and patience and compassion and trust. Look at me and Team Sonic...sure, they all get on my nerves and I regularly want to beat Sonic over the head with Amy's hammer, but at the end of the day...nothing else matters. They trust me, they support me, and most of all...they love me. And I never have to doubt that, just like they never doubt me. Can...can you honestly say the same about Eggman?" She whispered.

Shadow swallowed thickly, tears threatening to mist his eyes because blast it all she was right. Just like she always was. He knew deep down, even if he didn't want to admit it, that Eggman didn't care for him, never had, and only saw him as a weapon, a means to an end. Just another tool to further the Eggman Empire, to best Sonic...to hurt Sapphire. "No." Shadow choked out. "No, he-he isn't-," A quiet, barely perceptible sob caught in his throat, and would have gone unheard if Sapphire hadn't been so close.

"Oh, Shad," Sapphire murmured and cradled him in her arms, combing tenderly between his quills as he fought back the tears that were slowly overwhelming him. "It's okay, Shad, you're okay, you're safe." She cooed, dropping kiss after kiss on his head when he buried his face in her shoulder and clung on tight. "Come on, Shad, let it out, I've got you. Come on now, love, you're okay, you're safe."

If Shadow hadn't been in such a state of distress from all his bottled emotions, all the hurt and heartache he'd suffered at Eggman's hands, he would have caught and questioned the epithet. Even so, his ear twitched, but so overcome by his emotional tempest, Shadow could do nothing but surrender to the current and just...cry. The tears flowed like flooded rivers, his sobs shook his chest so ferociously his entire body quaked with aftershocks.

But he wasn't left to survive on his own like he had so many times in the past. He wasn't abandoned, wasn't belittled or insulted or scorned for his tears...for the first time since Maria...Shadow was held. He was comforted. Soothed and reassured with soft words and gentle caresses and tender kisses. For a long moment after his weeping quelled, Shadow just laid there, cradled in Sapphire's arms and savoring the feeling of safety...of compassion and trust and love.

Sapphire dropped another kiss on his ear, and chuckled when the appendage flicked. "Feeling better, love?" She hummed softly.

This time, Shadow did catch the epithet, and jerked his head up so quickly that he nearly bashed his forehead into her chin, ruby eyes ruddy but wide with shock and cautious hope. "You love me?" He whispered.

Sapphire smiled, her beautiful blue eyes shining and utterly captivating as she leaned in and gingerly pecked a kiss on his lips, futher stunning him. "I do. I love you, Shadow, so very much." Her smile faltered. "I don't want Eggman to hurt you anymore, Shad, I can't stand it. I know he's the reason you left Terabithia, because he did something to make you doubt your place here, and Shadow...my beloved Shadow, my wonderful King Shadow...I love you too much to-mph!"

Shadow's lips collided with Sapphire's, interrupting her passioned speech...not that she complained. Shadow's kiss was soft and firm, gentle and sweet and so so loving, and Sapphire melted into his embrace, her fingers tangling in his quills while he wrapped her tighter in his arms. "I love you, Sapphire." Shadow breathed, nuzzling their noses together and eliciting a purr from her. "My beautiful Queen Sapphire."

"Does that mean you'll leave Egghead?" She hopefully pressed.

"...I will." Shadow nodded solemnly. "But if the Faker starts something with me, I'm finishing it." He warned.

Sapphire snorted. "I expect nothing less. Feel free to pop him in the nose if he gets to be a pain. Might deflate that big head of his." Shadow snickered. She sighed and sat up, scratching Prince under his chin. "We should get up. Our friendly guard is probably waiting on us."

A few minutes later, Shadow sat on the balcony and munched on a mouthful of coffee beans, at the same time marveling at the transformation their castle had undertaken. "I love magic." Sapphire gushed happily. Shadow grinned.

Once a remodeled treehouse built in the branches of a tall oak tree was now a glorious mansion grown into the tree as if it had sprouted so. One little room had been magnificently expanded into a multiple floor interior with three balconies and a porch with a swing and furniture grown from the tree.

"A gift from Terabithia." The troll had said before leaving to search for his family. "You wouldn't think that our King and Queen could rule from a treehouse, did you?"

Prince floated lazily above their heads, enjoying the juicy apple Sapphire had picked for him, while his owner munched on luscious blueberries and cream. "I don't want to leave." Shadow confessed with a sheepish smile.

Sapphire giggled. "It has been a perfect morning, hasn't it?" She agreed, reaching to intertwine their fingers on the table. "Why don't we stay?" Sapphire suggested, eyes sparkling in the morning sun.

"Stay?" Shadow repeated, ears pricked in interest.

"We've talked about exploring Terabithia, but our friendly Troll delayed our plans." Sapphire reminded him. "And...since you aren't going back to Eggman, and Sonic isn't really expecting me any specific time today...why not?" She proposed with a hopeful grin.

Shadow pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Tempting offer...but," He held up a finger. "What if Sonic needs you at some point today? What if Eggman attacks, and we're here?" He countered. "Not that I don't want to explore our Kingdom with my love and Queen, but we should think of our outside responsibilities, too."

"Spoilsport." Sapphire muttered. Shadow grinned. "Fine." She pouted and tossed the remainder of her apple to Prince, who finished it with a single gulp and happy chirp. Shadow packed away his coffee beans and, with a mischievous smirk, swept Sapphire into his arms. "Shadow!" She squealed and locked her arms around his neck. "What are you doing?!"

"Carrying you over the threshold." Shadow stated matter-of-factly and casually stepped over the edge of the balcony, landing in a perfect crouch on the forest floor below.

"You're insane." Sapphire shook her head.

"Yet you love me." Shadow grinned.

"Mmm, I do." Sapphire beamed and tugged her King into a sweet kiss, her fingers tangling in his quills even as Shadow gently set her on her feet. Shadow curled his hands around her waist, holding her tight to him as he enjoyed her ocean and wildflower scent so close, the sweetness of her lips on his...

"Chao chao!" Prince squeaked, flying in eager circles around the couple.

"Prince, hush." Shadow growled before returning to Sapphire's kiss with an ignited passion that had his Queen gasping and clutching at him eagerly. Shadow lapped at the seam of her lips questioningly yet gently, and Sapphire happily opened for him with a soft noise of approval.

"Chao chao chao!" Wriggling fiercely, Prince forced himself between his owners with urgent chirps. Sapphire giggled breathlessly at the put out expression on Shadow's face.

"You're a nuisance, you know that?" Shadow demanded.

"Chao!" Prince agreed.

Sapphire laughed and playfully booped Shadow's nose. "Don't be mean to our little Prince; he's just ready to see his second home is all." She chided, stepping out of Shadow's arms. Shadow snorted but stepped with her, keeping one arm around her shoulders and bumping his hip affectionately with hers when she flushed pretty pink. "You're very affectionate." She noted.

Shadow flushed but smiled and pressed a kiss to Sapphire quills. "Only for you." He whispered.

Sapphire purred, nuzzling him. "Come along, my King and Prince. Homeward bound."

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