AWWC Ch 8

Meanwhile, Sonic and Knuckles planned an escape from their fox friend as they are now inside a wired area by one of Tails' machines. They broke their huddle. "Good one, right?" Sonic asked.

"How's this gonna work?" Knuckles asked.

"Over the fence and through the shrub," said Sonic, "Well we got a lot to get this over with, you wanna get started? Amy and Rouge will still be out there"

"Yeah, just give me one second," said Knuckles as he began to get his bones un-stiff, "Can you help me crack here?"

"Oh for crying out loud," Sonic hit Knuckles' back, "You ready now?"

"One moment, I just wanna do my dog facing forward," Knuckles continued stretching.

"Oh, come on!" Sonic snapped, getting impatient.

"Okay," Knuckles is finished.

"And go," Sonic said as he and Knuckles began to race towards the fenced wall... and take a huge leap, making it over and tumbling.

"Wahoo! Try and out-smart that!" The hedgehog cheered.

"Sonic, he could fly over, you know…" Knuckles spoke.

Sonic gave his echidna friend a look, "I know that, but he can't match our running speed. Even when he finds out we're gone."

"You mean IF he finds out we're gone."

"But that's… 'If'… 'If' is good," agreed Sonic.

--

Not far off, Shadow, Cream and Cheese had returned into Station Square by the huge sculpture of ice. Cream and Cheese looked at themselves on the iceberg with funny shapes; they began to goof around with faces as Shadow rolled his eyes but sighed. Unknown to them, Decoe and Bocoe hid behind the large statue of hard ice. They nodded, ran out but stopped because there's no sign of Shadow, Cream and Cheese. They already left.

On the other side, Cream and Cheese began to goof off as Shadow had almost enough.

"Skinny… fat... Skinny… fat…" Cream was giggling as her Chao went down and up behind a block of ice, shaping his body shape.

"Alright, that's the last time I'm letting you two near any ice cream stands for a while," spoke the black Life-form.

"It wasn't Cheese's fault, they had his favorite kind of chocolate on the menu," said Cream, standing up for her pet and friend.

"Chao-chao!" Cheese nodded. Meanwhile (again), Sonic and Knuckles are stretching for a long run-off until Sonic noticed Tails and a young plant girl, Cosmo walking out of Tails' workshop… and Amy and Rouge too! The blue hero gulped in fear, "Knuckles…"

"Go away, I'm working on these legs," said Knuckles.

"Knucklehead…" Sonic said, shaking.

"Go away! If you want to break someone's concentration, break your own," grumbled the Guardian.

"We should start running…right NOW!" Sonic yelled as he ran off.

"I can't, I still have my broken back here," said the echidna, "Stupid hedgehog these days…" As they left, Tails and Cosmo looked up and saw Knuckles. Knuckles saw them as Tails gave him a stern look. The Guardian yelped, "Oh shoot, he's after us!" Knuckles ran off, catching up to his cobalt friend, "Ow-ow! GODDAMN CRAMPS!"

"Knuckles, anyone could hear that!" Sonic shouted from afar.

"Aren't you going after them?" Cosmo asked her genius boyfriend.

"Not yet, just let them wear out before we catch up." Tails smirked.

--

In the meadow, Shadow and Cream, carrying Cheese, continued on their little walk. "Actually, if you wanted to know the truth about my Papa, I was saving this as a secret, but..." said the bunny as Shadow looked at her, "It was really long ago and I don't remember much…"

"Maybe you shouldn't speak about it then," said Shadow.

"Why?" Cream asked.

"Chao-chao?" Cheese agreed.

"If it's that troubling, I understand…" Shadow frowned, concerned.

"Oh, well, I have this other story…" Cream said.

Shadow interrupted her, "Tell you what, how about no talking for a while. Okay?"

"Okay, then we'll sing," said Cream. Cheese nodded, agreeing.

"Oh no," groaned Shadow.

Cream: Tell everybody I'm on my way
New friends and new places to see

"Will you stop singing Cream?" Shadow snapped half-annoyed as he covered Cream's mouth, but she's still singing.

With blue skies ahead yes
I'm on my way

Shadow placed Cream in the log, but she kept singing; Shadow groaned.

And there's nowhere else
That I'd rather be

Shadow and Cream with Cheese walked on as Cream and Cheese looked happy, but Shadow is not. So, Cheese began to act like Shadow, making Cream giggle. Shadow looks annoyed but smiled and ran off as Cream and Cheese followed the suit.

MS: Tell everybody I'm on my way
And I'm loving every step I take
With the sun beating down yes
I'm on my way
And I can't keep this smile off my face

Later, Shadow began to eat some berries. Cheese jumped on Shadow's head and ate the berries. Shadow got Cheese off and drew a line, telling Cheese to stay off of his side. Cheese drew a circle and sat next to Cream and Shadow, smiling. Shadow is getting annoyed. In the forest, Shadow sat there while Cream is telling a story to some animals. Shadow got up and carried Cream and Cheese telling them it's time to go.

'Cause there's nothing like seeing each other again
No matter what the distance between
And the stories that we tell will make you smile
Oh it really lifts my heart

They continued on to the flower field as Cheese flew around having fun. Shadow was all covered by the flowers and sneezed, making the flowers to fly off. That night, Cream and Cheese began to sneak quietly towards Shadow, hoping that he's asleep. This is Cream and Cheese's chance to sleep next to Shadow. But Shadow got up and saw them, but shrugged and fell back asleep.

So tell 'em all I'm on my way
New friends and new places to see
And to sleep under the stars
Who could ask for more?
With the moon keeping watch over me

During the rain, Shadow walked on the muddy ground, leaving tracks as Cream walked on the tracks with Cheese on her head. By the ledge of the hill, Cream walked towards the ledge and felt strong wind. Shadow felt it and joined with Cream and Cheese, until the wind stop.

Not the snow, not the rain
Can change my mind
The sun will come out, wait and see
And the feeling of the wind in your face
Can lift your heart
Oh there's nowhere I would rather be

They tumbled toward the mud. Cream and Cheese got up and laughed at Shadow, which made him look like a rock star. Shadow smirked and made Cream looking silly. Shadow laughed as he ran off as Cream and Cheese followed.

'Cause I'm on my way now-
Well and truly
I'm on my way now

"Hey, hold on!" Sonic called as he and Knuckles ran towards the hedgehog, rabbit and Chao, "How's it going Shad?"

"And… miss Cream and Cheese," Knuckles said looking at Cream and Cheese.

"Wow, I didn't know you were looking after her, that's way past cool," Sonic ruffled Cream's head, "Okay, there's Tails and the girls following us and we were thinking if we can just hang out with you guys. It'll be fun and if the girls and Tails catch up…"

"You can distract them," Knuckles finished.

"Didn't you loose the girls back at Twinkle Park," said Shadow.

"So you don't think they'll follow those?" Sonic asked as he and the others saw fresh tracks, "They are quite nice."

"I've got an idea," said Shadow.

"Okay, this is really weird," said Cream as she and Cheese rode an elephant.

"Get out, I'm driving!" said Sonic, riding on another elephant.

"When can I have a turn?" Knuckles asked.

"It's not as easy as it looks," said Sonic, "Just watch what I'll do."

"Let's get a back seat or something, I look like you hunted me," said Knuckles.

Tell everybody I'm on my way
And I just can't wait to be there
With blue skies ahead yes
I'm on my way
And nothing but good times to share
So tell everybody I'm on my way
And I just can't wait to be home
With the sun beating down yes
I'm on my way
And nothing but good times to show
I'm on my way

Cream: Yes, I'm on my way

Later that night, the elephant looked bored as Cream is telling shadow of what happen, but Shadow covered her mouth, "Do you ever stop talking?"

"Oh, look," Cream said, looking at the lights, "The night rainbow, you can see the spirits from here."

"You know about the great spirits?" Shadow asked.

"Yeah, my Papa is up there… somewhere, I hope," Cream replied, "Mommy says the spirits make all the magical changes in the world. Like how the leaves change color, the moon changes shape or tadpole change into frogs."

"Yeah, I get it," said Shadow, looking upset, "You know for a change, maybe they can just leave things alone."

"What do you mean?" Cream asked.

"My friend's also a spirit," Shadow answered, "If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here."

"You have a friend up there?" Cream asked, "What happen to her?"

"Chao?" Cheese asked.

"She was killed by GUN…" Shadow stopped, not wanting to tell Cream and Cheese of what happen, "…the bastards."

Cream walked towards him, "What's your friend's name?"

"It's Maria," Shadow replied.

Cream looked up at the lights, "Thank you Miss Maria, if it wasn't for you we would have never met Mr. Shadow," Cream snuggled against Shadow's chest, "I always wanted a father." Shadow doesn't mind this time as he looked up at the sky while riding on their elephant.