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CHAPTER 4
(Amy Rose)
            There was a spicy scent in the air and it tickled Amy's nose, prodding her awake, but all she wanted was to return to her dream. Yes, the same dream with the starlit Cheiras. It was a better world there-- so much nicer than the reality she would have to face once she opened her eyes. However, Amy felt gentle caresses along her arms and quills from an unfamiliar hand. It kept bringing up urgent thoughts within her mind and she began to wonder why. She was not at home. Kara had found her....Sonic was kidnapped.....That's right......she was kidnapped by freaks, strangers who came out of nowhere and ambushed her. She was in danger....
            She jumped awake. Falling off the lap of the stranger, Amy landed awkwardly on the marble floor. Her eyes dashed around as she tried to get a bearing on her new surroundings.
            She was in a Throne Hall, a place where common folks were allowed to talk to their ruler about their troubles. It was a fairly large and golden room with a hundred open windows on each side of the walkway from the doors to the throne itself. Besides the delicate carvings on the gleaming gold all around the room, there was nothing else but the throne. No carpets to warm the floor, no paintings to stare out from their frames, and no decorations period. Even the throne was very plain, but the lack of ornaments was made up for by the overly expressive style of the king and his followers.
            "Do you remember me?" the king asked.
            Speechless, Amy shook her head.
            "What about your sisters?" he asked again, gesturing to the two hedgehogs beside him.
            Amy stared at them. It was true that she found them familiar in a way, but she did not recognize them. The tallest had bright yellow quills, sky-blue eyes, and golden skin. Clad in ivory silk and diamonds, she looked like a dew drop of the sun itself. The other hedgehog was a fiercer version of the golden one. She had orange-red quills, golden eyes, and a very tan skin. Everything she wore created an image of some great fire as if she was a phoenix that rose from ashes.
            "Do you remember who you are?" the king finally asked after waiting a few minutes.
            "My name is Amy Rose," Amy replied.
            The king shook his head. "No, you're not."
            Amy felt her essence burn the air around her.
            "I think I know who I am. The question is, who are you?" she spat.
            "I am the Great Aurin! The King of the Morning Realm!" he announced to the world.
            Amy took a step back in shock. She was in the Morning Realm?! How? When? Why?!?!
            "What do you want with me?" Amy demanded.
            "What do I want with you? You belong here, Armistice. I want you back home." King Aurin replied. "This is your place. You are a part of Day. Do you not remember anything?"
            "M-My name isn't Armistice," Amy answered. Her voice was shaking and she hated herself for it. She hated the way he was making her feel-- as if she did not know herself.
            "Do you really not remember, Armistice?" the golden hedgehog spoke up in her majestic voice. It trembled as if she was on the verge of tears. "Have you forgotten Sera? Have you forgotten me? I'm your sister, Armi. I'm Gladis."
            When Amy would not reply, Gladis collapsed in tears. Amy felt terrible and wanted to cheer her up, but she couldn't. Her name was Amy Rose--not Armistice. She looked up into the blue eyes of King Aurin. What was going on?

(Shadow)
            Shadow's hands tossed the chaos emerald back and forth restlessly. He had travelled all night, but he didn't feel himself getting any closer to Amy. He would Chaos Control to her, but he couldn't just randomly do that. He had to have an image of the place he wanted to go to in order to use the chaos emerald and this "Morning Realm" was a place he had never been to. His body ached to just give up and take a nap for a moment. Even the Ultimate Lifeform needed a break every once in a while.
            No. He couldn't rest. Amy could be dying as he slept. So Shadow continued to trudge on under the blazing sun. He had to save Amy. What was it that Lucerne told him again? Something about Armistice and Amy being the same person. That Armistice had pretended to be Lucerne's older sister so that Lucerne would not be sacrificed to some God. That if Shadow kept Amy alive, he would eventually find out the truth. But what truth? He needed to know...
            "Excuse me, sir."
            Shadow snapped out of his thoughts and looked up to regard the fox who had called out to him. The fox stared down at Shadow from his place in a guard tower. As Shadow quickly looked around, he found himself in front of a long bridge, connecting the mountain he was on to the one in the distance. It was one of those mossy, wooden bridges that swung according to the wind and that seemed ready to collapse any minute.
            "Sir, if you want to go into the Morning Realm, then you must show me your passport." the fox said.
            "This is the path into the Morning Realm?" Shadow asked.
            "Yes sir."
            Shadow smirked. "My passport is right here."
            Shadow shot the fox with a chaos spear, knocking the fox unconscious. Feeling pretty proud to have found it without anyone's help, Shadow raced onwards to Amy.
            "Almost there Amy. Just hang on......"

(Amy Rose)
            Amy Rose was dressed in an elegant gown of lilac cotton, lightweight and airy, but she had to stop and catch her breath every now and then, because the garnets and topaz she was decorated with were heavier than a knight's armor. She had only been in the Morning Realm for less than a day and she already felt as if she was home. Everyone here were always telling her about Armistice. According to them, Armistice was a beautiful, kind, and compassionate Lady of the Dawn. She and her two sisters, Sera and Gladis, were the Daughters of the Sun.
            They were part of the Legend. The Legend states that in the Beginning, earth, water, and air came together and with their unity, the World was created. With the creation of the World came the creation of the sky and the creatures on the earth. As years past, the sky split into Night and Day. From Daylight came the Three Daughters of the Sun: Armistice, Seramin, and Gladista. While the Daughters of the Sun ruled the Morning Realm together, the Night Realm believed in ranking. Eventually, one rose to the top as Night God and the others fell into place under him. With the sky split, the creatures on earth split, too.
            At this point, whoever Amy was talking to would break down and start crying. Sera and King Aurin were the only ones who didn't, so when Sera came up to talk to Amy, she was glad for the company.
            "So Amy," Sera said. "Have you remembered anything yet?"
            "I don't think there is anything to remember," Amy replied.
            Sera nodded in understanding. "I totally get what you're saying, but don't you have any memories as Armistice?"
            "Like what?"
            "Well, I don't know...."
            "Come on, Sera," Amy said, smiling playfully. "Tell me."
            "Have you forgotten Shadow?!" Sera blurted.
            Amy's smile wiped away and her entire body froze. Shadow. It was his name-- the mysterious stranger in her dreams-- the gentle hedgehog with red wine eyes-- the same hedgehog she was with in the field of starlit Cherias. For some reason, hearing it from Sera's mouth made her remember. But how could he have the same name as Shadow the Hedgehog, the Ultimate Lifeform whose heart was only for Maria? Could it be the same Shadow? Suddenly, Amy felt her consciousness slip away from her. It was all too much. Memories long forgotten came rushing back.
            She remember listening to an old hedgehog's pleas to save her daughter, running away from the Morning Realm, pretending to be Lucerne's older sister, and being sacrificed to Shadow. That was when they first met. Of course, she hated him at first. Why wouldn't she? She was the Dawn and he was the Night. Yes, she was Armistice, the Lady of the Dawn, a Daughter of the Sun. And she was in love with Shadow.
            "Shadow....." Amy whispered.
            "Amy?"
            Amy whipped around as Sera gasped in surprise. On the window sill with his quills blocking out the setting sun was none other than Shadow the Hedgehog.
            "Shadow!" Amy cried. "How did you get here?"
            "Not easily," he replied coldly, but she knew better.
            Amy rushed up and hugged Shadow. Overwhelmed by this sudden attack, Shadow froze. Amy nuzzled into his chest fur and sighed contently, happily drinking in his presence. After a few minutes, Shadow relaxed and hugged Amy back, letting her scent engulf him. He closed his eyes in relief, but opened them again to stare at Sera who was frozen in shock and embarrassment.
            "Um, Amy?" Shadow asked. "Who is she?"
            Amy glanced behind her at Sera. She couldn't decide what to tell him. Should she just introduce Shadow to Sera? But that idea seemed to come with many strings attached and she was not ready to tell him everything just yet. However, Sera chose for Amy.
            "Guards! Guards!" Sera cried.
            "Sera!" Amy hissed. "What are you doing?"
            "What am I doing? I'm saving you!" Sera shouted. "Guards!"
            Amy opened her mouth to say something else, but Shadow was already leading her out of the window.
            "Come on," he said. "Let's get out of here!"
            Amy blushed as Shadow scooped her up and jumped down into an alley. The entire area was already starting to swarm with guards. Shadow raced along roads and paths, twisting and jumping over fences, but the guards were pretty fast, too. Amy started wondering if Shadow knew where he was going. After running for a while, Shadow began to pant.
            "Are you okay Shadow?" Amy asked worriedly.
            "I'm fine," Shadow grunted.
            "Put me down, Shadow," Amy sighed. "I know I'm heavy right now."
            "No," Shadow growled. "I won't let you slip away from me again."
            Amy's jaw dropped. Did he remember who he was?
            Shadow let his hands skim the jewels adorning Amy. "It's because of these jewels right?"
            "What?"
            Without another word, Shadow ripped off the gems from Amy, scattering priceless diamonds and topaz all over the rugged stone path around them. The rough treatment left faint red marks on Amy's skin. Shadow took her hand and licked the insides of her wrists.
            "Sorry," Shadow whispered in between licks. Amy blushed.
            Their little break was interrupted when a guard spotted them.
            "There they are!"
            Shadow picked up Amy once again and ran off. With the extra weight lifted, Shadow could run faster and easier. Eventually, they came across an untrustworthy bridge.
            "Shadow--" Amy began.
            "Trust me," Shadow said.
            They raced onto the bridge, but just as they reached the middle, the bridge snapped. Amy's heart flew to her throat, her stomach flipped, and she buried her face in Shadow. Fear put her mind in a panic. The air rushed in their ears and as they dropped, so did the sun. The moment they were about to hit the ground, the sky turned dark and the Soldiers of the Morning Realm were left with the ringing sound of Shadow's voice. The two hedgehogs had vanished with the light.

(Shadow)
            Adrenaline still rushed through his veins and his heart continued to pound as he lay in the field of Cheiras with Amy trembling in his arms. They had just barely escaped death. Shadow was relieved he was still alive, but more importantly, he was glad that she was safe. Amy was finally here in his arms. She was alive and she was safe. He leaned down and kissed her head softly.
            "It's okay, now," Shadow whispered. "We're safe."
            Amy looked up and Shadow forgot to breathe. With her eyes sparkled with the remnants of her tears, Amy's emerald eyes were a sea of spring-- a stormy cloud of endless trust. Her face was flushed a delicate pink from the excitement and Shadow could feel her hot breath on his throat. Her fingers were knotted in his chest fur, her body pressed against his, and her scent was mingling with the Cheiras. He slowly leaned down again and kissed her. The taste was sweet and soft and everything it should be. He wrapped his arms around her waist affectionately. Amy kissed him back and soon, they were wrestling for dominance.
            The sky was filled with stars and the full moon was such a deep shade of blue that it seemed to melt into the black universe. Shadow was intoxicated. And he didn't mind it one bit.
            --Unfortunately, as the two hedgehogs fell into love's grasps, a war was brewing. The Morning Realm and the Night Realm had finally declared war on each other.

Description

CHAPTER 4
(Amy Rose)
            There was a spicy scent in the air and it tickled Amy's nose, prodding her awake, but all she wanted was to return to her dream. Yes, the same dream with the starlit Cheiras. It was a better world there-- so much nicer than the reality she would have to face once she opened her eyes. However, Amy felt gentle caresses along her arms and quills from an unfamiliar hand. It kept bringing up urgent thoughts within her mind and she began to wonder why. She was not at home. Kara had found her....Sonic was kidnapped.....That's right......she was kidnapped by freaks, strangers who came out of nowhere and ambushed her. She was in danger....
            She jumped awake. Falling off the lap of the stranger, Amy landed awkwardly on the marble floor. Her eyes dashed around as she tried to get a bearing on her new surroundings.
            She was in a Throne Hall, a place where common folks were allowed to talk to their ruler about their troubles. It was a fairly large and golden room with a hundred open windows on each side of the walkway from the doors to the throne itself. Besides the delicate carvings on the gleaming gold all around the room, there was nothing else but the throne. No carpets to warm the floor, no paintings to stare out from their frames, and no decorations period. Even the throne was very plain, but the lack of ornaments was made up for by the overly expressive style of the king and his followers.
            "Do you remember me?" the king asked.
            Speechless, Amy shook her head.
            "What about your sisters?" he asked again, gesturing to the two hedgehogs beside him.
            Amy stared at them. It was true that she found them familiar in a way, but she did not recognize them. The tallest had bright yellow quills, sky-blue eyes, and golden skin. Clad in ivory silk and diamonds, she looked like a dew drop of the sun itself. The other hedgehog was a fiercer version of the golden one. She had orange-red quills, golden eyes, and a very tan skin. Everything she wore created an image of some great fire as if she was a phoenix that rose from ashes.
            "Do you remember who you are?" the king finally asked after waiting a few minutes.
            "My name is Amy Rose," Amy replied.
            The king shook his head. "No, you're not."
            Amy felt her essence burn the air around her.
            "I think I know who I am. The question is, who are you?" she spat.
            "I am the Great Aurin! The King of the Morning Realm!" he announced to the world.
            Amy took a step back in shock. She was in the Morning Realm?! How? When? Why?!?!
            "What do you want with me?" Amy demanded.
            "What do I want with you? You belong here, Armistice. I want you back home." King Aurin replied. "This is your place. You are a part of Day. Do you not remember anything?"
            "M-My name isn't Armistice," Amy answered. Her voice was shaking and she hated herself for it. She hated the way he was making her feel-- as if she did not know herself.
            "Do you really not remember, Armistice?" the golden hedgehog spoke up in her majestic voice. It trembled as if she was on the verge of tears. "Have you forgotten Sera? Have you forgotten me? I'm your sister, Armi. I'm Gladis."
            When Amy would not reply, Gladis collapsed in tears. Amy felt terrible and wanted to cheer her up, but she couldn't. Her name was Amy Rose--not Armistice. She looked up into the blue eyes of King Aurin. What was going on?

(Shadow)
            Shadow's hands tossed the chaos emerald back and forth restlessly. He had travelled all night, but he didn't feel himself getting any closer to Amy. He would Chaos Control to her, but he couldn't just randomly do that. He had to have an image of the place he wanted to go to in order to use the chaos emerald and this "Morning Realm" was a place he had never been to. His body ached to just give up and take a nap for a moment. Even the Ultimate Lifeform needed a break every once in a while.
            No. He couldn't rest. Amy could be dying as he slept. So Shadow continued to trudge on under the blazing sun. He had to save Amy. What was it that Lucerne told him again? Something about Armistice and Amy being the same person. That Armistice had pretended to be Lucerne's older sister so that Lucerne would not be sacrificed to some God. That if Shadow kept Amy alive, he would eventually find out the truth. But what truth? He needed to know...
            "Excuse me, sir."
            Shadow snapped out of his thoughts and looked up to regard the fox who had called out to him. The fox stared down at Shadow from his place in a guard tower. As Shadow quickly looked around, he found himself in front of a long bridge, connecting the mountain he was on to the one in the distance. It was one of those mossy, wooden bridges that swung according to the wind and that seemed ready to collapse any minute.
            "Sir, if you want to go into the Morning Realm, then you must show me your passport." the fox said.
            "This is the path into the Morning Realm?" Shadow asked.
            "Yes sir."
            Shadow smirked. "My passport is right here."
            Shadow shot the fox with a chaos spear, knocking the fox unconscious. Feeling pretty proud to have found it without anyone's help, Shadow raced onwards to Amy.
            "Almost there Amy. Just hang on......"

(Amy Rose)
            Amy Rose was dressed in an elegant gown of lilac cotton, lightweight and airy, but she had to stop and catch her breath every now and then, because the garnets and topaz she was decorated with were heavier than a knight's armor. She had only been in the Morning Realm for less than a day and she already felt as if she was home. Everyone here were always telling her about Armistice. According to them, Armistice was a beautiful, kind, and compassionate Lady of the Dawn. She and her two sisters, Sera and Gladis, were the Daughters of the Sun.
            They were part of the Legend. The Legend states that in the Beginning, earth, water, and air came together and with their unity, the World was created. With the creation of the World came the creation of the sky and the creatures on the earth. As years past, the sky split into Night and Day. From Daylight came the Three Daughters of the Sun: Armistice, Seramin, and Gladista. While the Daughters of the Sun ruled the Morning Realm together, the Night Realm believed in ranking. Eventually, one rose to the top as Night God and the others fell into place under him. With the sky split, the creatures on earth split, too.
            At this point, whoever Amy was talking to would break down and start crying. Sera and King Aurin were the only ones who didn't, so when Sera came up to talk to Amy, she was glad for the company.
            "So Amy," Sera said. "Have you remembered anything yet?"
            "I don't think there is anything to remember," Amy replied.
            Sera nodded in understanding. "I totally get what you're saying, but don't you have any memories as Armistice?"
            "Like what?"
            "Well, I don't know...."
            "Come on, Sera," Amy said, smiling playfully. "Tell me."
            "Have you forgotten Shadow?!" Sera blurted.
            Amy's smile wiped away and her entire body froze. Shadow. It was his name-- the mysterious stranger in her dreams-- the gentle hedgehog with red wine eyes-- the same hedgehog she was with in the field of starlit Cherias. For some reason, hearing it from Sera's mouth made her remember. But how could he have the same name as Shadow the Hedgehog, the Ultimate Lifeform whose heart was only for Maria? Could it be the same Shadow? Suddenly, Amy felt her consciousness slip away from her. It was all too much. Memories long forgotten came rushing back.
            She remember listening to an old hedgehog's pleas to save her daughter, running away from the Morning Realm, pretending to be Lucerne's older sister, and being sacrificed to Shadow. That was when they first met. Of course, she hated him at first. Why wouldn't she? She was the Dawn and he was the Night. Yes, she was Armistice, the Lady of the Dawn, a Daughter of the Sun. And she was in love with Shadow.
            "Shadow....." Amy whispered.
            "Amy?"
            Amy whipped around as Sera gasped in surprise. On the window sill with his quills blocking out the setting sun was none other than Shadow the Hedgehog.
            "Shadow!" Amy cried. "How did you get here?"
            "Not easily," he replied coldly, but she knew better.
            Amy rushed up and hugged Shadow. Overwhelmed by this sudden attack, Shadow froze. Amy nuzzled into his chest fur and sighed contently, happily drinking in his presence. After a few minutes, Shadow relaxed and hugged Amy back, letting her scent engulf him. He closed his eyes in relief, but opened them again to stare at Sera who was frozen in shock and embarrassment.
            "Um, Amy?" Shadow asked. "Who is she?"
            Amy glanced behind her at Sera. She couldn't decide what to tell him. Should she just introduce Shadow to Sera? But that idea seemed to come with many strings attached and she was not ready to tell him everything just yet. However, Sera chose for Amy.
            "Guards! Guards!" Sera cried.
            "Sera!" Amy hissed. "What are you doing?"
            "What am I doing? I'm saving you!" Sera shouted. "Guards!"
            Amy opened her mouth to say something else, but Shadow was already leading her out of the window.
            "Come on," he said. "Let's get out of here!"
            Amy blushed as Shadow scooped her up and jumped down into an alley. The entire area was already starting to swarm with guards. Shadow raced along roads and paths, twisting and jumping over fences, but the guards were pretty fast, too. Amy started wondering if Shadow knew where he was going. After running for a while, Shadow began to pant.
            "Are you okay Shadow?" Amy asked worriedly.
            "I'm fine," Shadow grunted.
            "Put me down, Shadow," Amy sighed. "I know I'm heavy right now."
            "No," Shadow growled. "I won't let you slip away from me again."
            Amy's jaw dropped. Did he remember who he was?
            Shadow let his hands skim the jewels adorning Amy. "It's because of these jewels right?"
            "What?"
            Without another word, Shadow ripped off the gems from Amy, scattering priceless diamonds and topaz all over the rugged stone path around them. The rough treatment left faint red marks on Amy's skin. Shadow took her hand and licked the insides of her wrists.
            "Sorry," Shadow whispered in between licks. Amy blushed.
            Their little break was interrupted when a guard spotted them.
            "There they are!"
            Shadow picked up Amy once again and ran off. With the extra weight lifted, Shadow could run faster and easier. Eventually, they came across an untrustworthy bridge.
            "Shadow--" Amy began.
            "Trust me," Shadow said.
            They raced onto the bridge, but just as they reached the middle, the bridge snapped. Amy's heart flew to her throat, her stomach flipped, and she buried her face in Shadow. Fear put her mind in a panic. The air rushed in their ears and as they dropped, so did the sun. The moment they were about to hit the ground, the sky turned dark and the Soldiers of the Morning Realm were left with the ringing sound of Shadow's voice. The two hedgehogs had vanished with the light.

(Shadow)
            Adrenaline still rushed through his veins and his heart continued to pound as he lay in the field of Cheiras with Amy trembling in his arms. They had just barely escaped death. Shadow was relieved he was still alive, but more importantly, he was glad that she was safe. Amy was finally here in his arms. She was alive and she was safe. He leaned down and kissed her head softly.
            "It's okay, now," Shadow whispered. "We're safe."
            Amy looked up and Shadow forgot to breathe. With her eyes sparkled with the remnants of her tears, Amy's emerald eyes were a sea of spring-- a stormy cloud of endless trust. Her face was flushed a delicate pink from the excitement and Shadow could feel her hot breath on his throat. Her fingers were knotted in his chest fur, her body pressed against his, and her scent was mingling with the Cheiras. He slowly leaned down again and kissed her. The taste was sweet and soft and everything it should be. He wrapped his arms around her waist affectionately. Amy kissed him back and soon, they were wrestling for dominance.
            The sky was filled with stars and the full moon was such a deep shade of blue that it seemed to melt into the black universe. Shadow was intoxicated. And he didn't mind it one bit.
            --Unfortunately, as the two hedgehogs fell into love's grasps, a war was brewing. The Morning Realm and the Night Realm had finally declared war on each other.