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chrystal-ink · 3 months ago

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Shadow x Fem Reader regency au part 1: Reunion

Content warning: brief mentions of blood and extreme sickness. Also this is very long. This is my first time writing for sonic and friends so hopefully they are in character.

-Enjoy

The first ball of the season was a buzz with lords and lady's alike mingling after a long winter in the countryside. Old friends were sharing gossip that had been brewing since the end of the last season, newly Weds making their first appearance after their honeymoon's, and Yong lady's such as yourself beginning to mingle with eligible young bachelors in hopes of gaining their affection.

You fiddled mindlessly with your dance card as you listened to your dear friend miss Amy Rose gossip about the newest bachelors whom have made their intentions clear for this season. Many of which had not been very promising for finding a good match this season.

" And then there is Sonic Duke of Green Hill, a very noble gentleman indeed, I had the honor of meeting his grace many years ago when he saved me from a wild horse while I was at my family's manor in the country." Amy said, a hint of admiration in her voice. " He is known for his kindness and generosity why a few years ago he took in the newly Orphaned Earl Prower as his ward after his parents passed on"

"oh yes I remember hearing about that a horrible tragedy truly." You responded.

Amy continued singing her praises of the Duke of Green Hill but you were too distracted recalling the events of the past to listen properly to your pink hedgehog friend

The Robotnicks had been family friends of yours for the past two generations. they were one of the first families to welcome Mobians into high society. The Patriarch Gerald being a major advocate for all Mobians after his son adopted a young hedgehog not long after the birth of his daughter Maria raising the two as siblings, bridging the gap between Humans and Mobian alike.

Your early childhood was often spent playing with Maria and Shadow, their family manor being like a second home to you.

Shadow being one of the only other Mobian children around your age, had been one of your best friends. Having a kind heart and caring attitude, he quickly made his way, along with Maria, into a special place inside your heart. Many afternoons were spent in innocent bliss, not knowing the tragic fate that would befall you all in a few short years.

Not long after she turned twelve Maria would contract a terrible illness that left her bedridden for months. Your parents, fearing for your health, forbid you from seeing either Shadow or Maria. The only communication allowed between the three of you was letters. you would write to Shadow and Maria every day. Often giving up your playtime inorder to make the letters as perfect as possible for your best friends, alas letters could not cure your dear friend.

Maria passed away at the age of twelve only three months after her birthday. The entire Ton mourned her passing, Her funeral was the last time you would see Shadow. Both of you much too young to fully understand the concept of grief let alone death. You remember saying your goodbyes after the service ended, being gently pulled away by your mother seeing shadow disappear behind strangers and out of your life forever.

Viscount Gerald Robotic died not long after Maria. his heart not being able to handle the grief, leaving his Title to his eldest son, Maria's father. Shadow was sent away to boarding school where he would receive the best possible education inorder to become the next viscount. And you were left behind your childhood friends becoming distant bittersweet memories.

Many years later Maria and Shadow's eldest cousin Ivo, became jealous of the nobility his grandfather denied him and in a fit of Rage killed many members of the ton including Lord and Lady Prower, Lord rabbit, and finally Shadow and Maria's father, making Shadow the youngest viscount at the ripe age of sixteen.

It had been eight long years since Maria's passing you had wondered what Shadow had been up to in that time. you had written him many times over the years but none of your letters had ever received a response. you had given up hope on ever reuniting with your old friend your new focus was obtaining a true Love match and living out the rest of your days in a life full of love with your husband, your friends, and eventually your children.

"I hear his grace even raises wild Chao in a private garden isn't he just the kindest" Amy continued. "Oh I can only dream of catching his affections, say you'll help me please as one of my dearest friends say you will."

Giggling at your friend's request you agreed. " I'm sure that when the Duke gets to know your kind heart and loving demeanor he will fall head over heals for you."

"Oh thank you! " Amy exclaimed " I will do everything in my power to make it up to you I promise anything you want I'll do it fo-"

Your friend paused something behind you had caught her attention assuming it was the Duke himself you did not bother turning around. That was until you heard the words "Introducing Viscount Shadow Robotnick."

Turning around you saw your old friend descending the grand staircase appearing much more refined and elegant than in his youth. Your heart began to flutter at the sight of him old emotions stirring with new ones. Time had been kind to him he had grown into a very handsome man he looked powerful, and plastered on his face was a look of a serious nature if you hadn't known any better you would say he looked angry but his facial expression often hid his true feelings.

" I had No idea that the Viscount was back in town did you?"

"No, not a clue" you responded distantly

💎

Shadow descend the stairs well aware that all eyes were on him.

These nobles, always looking for some kind of drama, so bored with their own lives that they must make entertainment with the personal lives of others.

This is the first time he's made an appearance in society since his father's passing two and a half years ago, and for good reason his cousin's actions had brought scandal to the Robotnick name and in order to pick up the pieces he had to handle all of his affairs privately.

He preferred it that way honestly he found much of high society tedious with it's rules and restrictions. He found many of the members of the ton odious seeing others not as privileged as beneath them. He was here for one reason and one reason only.

He scanned the room looking for his target not sure what she would look like after so long. His old friend lost in a sea of silk and lace.

Then he saw her shining like a beautiful diamond in the corner.

"Y/n" he whispered to himself

She looked as if she's seen a ghost. Which she wasn't entirely wrong he had been missing from her life for eight years.

Feeling as if he had died with Maria, he shut the world out, Including her. Chosing instead to focus on his studies and become the greatest Viscount he could be. But she never gave up on him sending him letters every six months updating him on her life and sending him words of kindness. He kept every letter she sent him and had most of them memorized.

Still, responding to her had felt like an impossible task. Every time he began a letter he would have flashbacks of his childhood playing with y/n and Maria. It was hard to think about your memories together without the images of Maria flashing into his head.

Maria so frail and weak in her bed coughing up blood and bile and him not being able do anything at all for her until she died. She was as pale as her linen sheets the only color on her face was the beaming red blood she had coughed up. This image would haunt him for the rest of his life and send him into a panic attack.

It was unfair to y/n that she had lost both of her friends at once and yet she had remained kind to him. It had been over a year since she had sent her last letter, and he had felt her absence in spades since. The silence between them had grown deafeningly still and he could bear it no longer. He had read in the paper that your family had planned for you to come out this season, this is where he would make things right.

He figured it would be easier to speak with y/n directly rather than writing a letter. He was concerned about seeing her for the first time in years would cause more memories to flood back over him but this fear had been proven wrong, the moment he laid eyes on her he felt as if he was finally home, he saw the comfort and warmth that he had been missing since Maria had passed.

Hopefully he wasn't too late, hopefully she hadn't hated him. He needed to speak with her to tell her how much he missed her.

He began to make his way over to her when he heard.

"hey Shadow! It has been ages how are you!" ugh, Sonic Duke of Green Hill an old acquaintance from boarding school. Always so eager to greet and befriend everyone he saw, no matter how resident they were to him. He had excellent leadership skills though and he made a powerful ally to any family, still didn't mean he couldn't find him annoying at times.

"you never come to these things, are you here to find a bride?" Sonic inquired.

"No, I'm here to see an old friend." Shadow responded.

"You have a friend? I would like to meet them."

"why would you want to do that?"

"For proof that you have a friend of course."

Shadow didn't have time to argue so he allowed the Duke to come along. Weaving through the crowd, he searched for y/n hoping to find her before her first dance.

💎

You hadn't been paying much attention to the conversation between you and Amy much too distracted by the presence of your old friend to focus on anything else. You felt bad for your pink friend being forced to continue the flow of conversation by herself.

What was he doing here? Why did he only show up now, after all these years? Had he known you would be here? All your questions would soon be answered.

"don't look now but the Duke is coming our way!" Amy quietly exclaimed. "Greetings your grace" she bowed to him.

Instinctively you turned and bowed to the Duke when you arose you were face to face with the Viscount Shadow. Your heart began to race as memories both good and bad flashed through your head, you were not prepared for this.

steeling yourself you bowed to him a quiet " your grace" was all you could muster for the moment.

"Indeed it has" you responded

"Miss L/N it has been awhile" Shadow said his voice much deeper than in his childhood it reminded you of freshly melted butter on toast, comforting and warm but there was a sadness too it as well.

"You know the Viscount?" Asked Amy

"Yes, we were friends as children before we met, our families have been friends for years but we haven't spoken for a great while. Eight almost nine years am I right?" You tried to come off as if you were beyond it however it came out more dejected than you had hoped.

"Yes." Shadow replied "and I regret it every day"

A quiet and somber stare shared between the two of you saying so much but not enough. you two needed to have a conversation a real one but there was no good way for you to have it. If you two were caught alone together it would cause a major scandal one that could only be repaired with a marriage neither of you wanted. The only other option was to dance together however it was improper for a lady to ask a gentleman to dance, and despite your estrangement you knew Shadow did not dance publicly but perhaps he would with good reason.

"Well it would be improper for us to make your acquaintance and not offer you a dance, Lady Rose do you have any dance slots left on your card?" The Duke was much more observant than you had expected, although he did seem rather smitten with your dear friend and perhaps was using the formality as an excuse for a dance. Either way you were thankful for the offer.

Finally the dancing began you had taken your place on the dancefloor with your suitors for the night, many of the conversations fleeting and without much substance, often asking you about your hobbies, what flowers you liked, and how many children you wanted. All pointless to you at the moment, not when you had to think about what you were going to say to the Viscount.

You and Amy had only one slot left on your card a waltz near the end of the ball. You spent the most of the night in the same group discussing the new season and everybody's hopes for it. You couldn't help but smile seeing your pink friend and the blue hedgehog slowly forming a friendship. Friendship was the foundation of a happy marriage your mother would always say, unfortunately the only male friend you currently had was standing next to you and a broken friendship it was at that.

Shadow over the years seemed to have grown quite cold. Often shutting down the duke whenever he would address him as a friend. According to Shadow they were strictly acquaintances. You began to wonder weather or not Shadow had any close friends to begin with.

He had never been the most optimistic child in the world, often needing words of encouragement from Maria or yourself. Perhaps without Maria around his pessimistic attitude had taken over, not seeing the point in things such as friendship. Maybe that was the reason he hadn't responded for all these years. No. It couldn't be, there was no possible way he could ever be so heartless, right?

You would get your answers soon enough, you just had to be patient. You have waited eight long years what's a few hours more?

You stole glances at him through the entire night, he talked to others when he had to but he spent a good amount of time watching you, waiting for his turn, an unreadable stare adorning his face. He wouldn't dance with any other young ladies which surprised you, at this point it had become abundantly clear.

Shadow was here for you and you alone the rest of society be damned.

Finally it was Shadow's turn to dance with you.

You two took your positions you were much more nervous than him, you knew shadow could sense it so when you looked at him he gave you one of his rare smiles for reassurance, all these years later it still made you feel better.

The music began and as you two settled into your movements you prepared for a hard conversation.

"how come you never wrote me" you began, no sense in wasting time on useless pleasantries.

"I wanted to but-"

"No buts you abandoned me when I needed you, when we needed each other. I wrote you all the time and you never responded."

"I didn't know what to say."

"Anything would have done, an acknowledgement that you were there, a sign that you cared even a little."

"is that why you stopped writing, because you thought I didn't care?"

"what else was I supposed to think? I wrote you for seven years and I didn't receive any response. The only information I could get about you was through gossip circles and they are hardly reliable sources. I had to move on, life is moving forward and I couldn't wait around in the past forever. I miss Maria and I think about her every day but she wouldn't want us to put our lives on hold for her. And I couldn't put my life on hold for you either, I'm sorry my lord but I had to let go. The life we had was over as soon as Maria passed you left with her and it hurt too much to hold on to you when you didn't even have the decency to write me to let me know you were alive."

Shadow was silent for a moment, you couldn't tell what he was thinking, Weather or not he felt sorry or if was angry with you for speaking out of turn.

"What I did to you was wrong." He finally spoke "I made you feel as if you weren't important to me when that couldn't be farther from the truth. I pushed you away because I couldn't bear to lose another friend I cared about but in turn I lost you too. I regret treating you the way I did but I cannot change my actions in the past, I can only hope to do better in the future."

"I missed you Shadow"

It wasn't exactly an apology but it was a start. The hedgehog in front of you may not be as you once knew him. but you could still see the kindness he carried in his eyes, you heard the sincerity in his voice when he spoke to you, felt his caring nature in the gentle way he held you as you danced.

The silence once again returned but it was more comfortable than before. Music played as you continued your waltz looking into those crimson eyes for the first time in years the candlelight reflecting off of his black fur wrapping you in it's warmth. An undeniable electricity flowing through the both of you making making your heart flutter. Suddenly it felt as if you were the only two in the ballroom all the nobility and the rest of society gone as the two of you floated throughout the dancefloor even the orchestra players disappeared leaving behind their music for you two. You could stay like this forever.

"I missed you as well Y/N"

There was still much to discuss and you had yet to forgive him, but you were content for now. Seeing that he wasn't heartless and that he had, in fact, been thinking about you all these years brought an odd flutter to your chest.

Unfortunately the song had drawn to it's conclusion and you two bowed to each other signaling the end of your dance. Shadow offered his arm to lead you off the dance floor, and hesitantly you took it.

This was shaping up to be a very interesting season indeed.

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