I Don't Want To Go To The Ball Ch5

I Don’t Want To Go To the Ball

Chapter 5: Saturday, the Twelfth

Deathy: Seriously, you guys have no clue how this going to pan out. Shadow has a bruised ego and that is the main focus of this chapter. Thank you everyone who reviewed! But now it’s time to answer some questions that were asked!

Mewfatima: I’m so happy you like it. I actually really hate that cliché were Sonic and Sally are mean to Amy. It’s out of character for them and it makes reading some fanfics difficult when they have that cliché. As for where Amy was for the last 3 days, Amy’s powers do come into play. That’s all I’m saying. As for Other M, no. I haven’t read it. I’m not even sure if I know what that is. If there’s a place where I can read it, I’d love to read it. I’m really glad you love Rob and Jon. Never be sorry for review. Never. It lets me know if I’m doing a good job or not. Thank you so much for your questions and comments sweetie!

Disclaimer: How is everyone? I don’t have a witty comment today.

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He ran until his lungs were sore, begging for air. He looked up at the sky and grimaced. The sun was already rising in the East. It had to be around 6 o’clock. He had spent his whole night running in circles. His mind racing as he went over the events from yesterday. It was driving him up a wall.

“Plus, Shadow is much too proud to admit when he likes something.”

The sentence was haunting him. It kept repeating in his head. It made his blood boil for reasons he could explain yet. He let out a yell as he punched a tree. The tree cracked as a chaos spear spilt through it. The top half toppled over and crashed into another tree, but the other tree didn’t budge. He glared at the sight, breathing heavy.

He couldn’t get Rob’s face out of his head. It had went from pleasant, calm face to a condescending one. Shadow was used to people sneering at him. Looking down on him because he was created in a lab. But King Rob’s condescending look was different. It was almost mocking him for being prideful. It practically laughed, “You silly little boy.”

Shadow hated it! How dare he look down upon him for being prideful? He wanted to punch that Shakespearean accent king in the face. Shadow growled as he chaos speared the broken tree. Pieces broke off and fell to the ground. Shadow zipped off.

Shadow glared at the target as he pulled the trigger. The human shaped target flapped as the bullets ripped through the plastic before it fell to the ground. He was steaming with rage and everyone could feel it. Shadow didn’t care if he was surrounded by a dark red aura promising a Chaos Blast to whoever got in his way. Everyone gave him a wide birth and he was left alone to destroy as many targets as he wished.

That was until, Rouge came into the shooting rage. She sat on one of the desk and watched. She sat in her usual seductive manner as she watched him shoot several targets to the point of overkill.

Shadow pulled the gun back when it ran out of bullets. He turned to refill the rifle, only to come face to face with Rouge’s face. It was a mix between concern and curiosity. Shadow glared as he put the gun on the desk beside, careful to make sure the barrel wasn’t facing her.

“So…” Rouge hummed, “What’s up?”

“Hmph,” came the swift reply.

Rouge nodded. “How did your race with Sonic go?”

Shadow glared at her. “It was okay. Faker won. I’ll beat him next time.”

Rouge nodded. She knew it wasn’t like Shadow to be upset over losing one race to Sonic. Surely there was something else bothering him. She just had to figure it out. Rouge pursed her lips. “Have you and Amy discussed matching your tie with her dressed?”

Shadow slammed the pack of bullets on table. His breathing became hitched as he ground his teeth together.

Rouge arched an eyebrow. So he was having trouble with Amy? At least it was something she was great out. Rouge leaned forward to look at him. “Shadow, what happened between you and Amy?”

“I’m not too proud!” Shadow banged his fist on the metal table.

Rouge pulled back and stared at him in shock. It wasn’t like Shadow to have melt downs like this. She arched an eyebrow at him. “Why don’t you come to my place for some tea?”

Shadow took several deep breathes. “There’s no way out of it, is there?”

Rouge shook her head.

“Would you like some sugar for your tea?” Rouge held up a small dish.

“No.” Shadow shook his head as he stirred the tea bag in the cup.

Rouge resigned as she sat down at the stool behind the bar. They were the only two in Club Rouge. Rouge had made tea in the kitchen area in the club instead of her upstairs apartment since it was quickest. She also knew that it was easiest to get Shadow to talk about whatever was bothering him on a bar stool then in a overstuff chair upstairs. She stirred in a spoonful of honey and took a sip.

“So, what did happen between you and Amy yesterday?” Rouge asked calmly.

Shadow grumbled as he down his cup of tea.

“Want scotch instead?” Rouge cocked an eyebrow.

“No.” Shadow shook his head.

“Okay.” Rouge nodded, “Earlier you said something about being too proud.” Shadow glared. “I can tell Amy has something to do with it. Don’t deny it. Just spill your guts so we can talk about it.”

Shadow slumped over. He hated to admit it, but Rouge was right. For some weird reason, he knew he could talk to Rouge about his problems and Rouge would play shrink and help him find a solution. Only problem was, Shadow didn’t like admitting he had a problem, much less share them. He shot a glance up at the white bat. She was waiting patiently, drinking her tea as she waited for him to talk. She refilled his cup and moved the tea bag some. Shadow sat up, “I met the King of Mercia yesterday.”

“King Rob, right? His wife is Mari-An?” Rouge asked curiously.

“Yes. I see you’ve been doing your research.” Shadow nodded. “You’re not planning to take any royal treasures, are you?”

Rouge gasped, putting her hand on her chest. The offense was obviously fake. “Why Shadow, I would never. Besides, they didn’t bring anything I want to steal.”

Shadow smirked as he shook his head.

“So you met King Rob. What happened?” Rouge took a sip of her tea. “Did he ask you eccentric questions? I’ve heard he likes to do that.”

“He asked if I liked it here on Mobius.”

Rouge made a hiss sound. She could see how that wouldn’t have gone well.

“Sonic made the same sound. I was trying to figure out an answer that wouldn’t offend him in case he could get me in trouble with the commander and then,” Shadow took a breath, “Rose got in the way.” Shadow clenched his fist as he stared at the floor. “She said I was too proud to admit when I like something. Then offered to show them around while Sonic and I raced. It was horrible!”

Rouge nodded. “So you’re upset because Amy tried to save you from answering a question?”

“No!” Shadow shook his head as he made eye contact with Rouge. “It was King Rob’s face! He gave me this pitiful, condescending look like I was some ignorant child. It was horrible. And before I could process it, Sonic dragged me off.”

Rouge took a sip. “So…” she thought about her question, “What exactly are you feeling?”

Shadow clenched his fist. He wasn’t good at expressing his emotions. He could analyze them on his own. He just wasn’t sure how to explain them without feeling weak. He breathed through his nose. Rouge was his ally. He could trust her. “I feel insulted. But at the same time, I feel… like Rose’s statement is true. Rose is normally too nice to reveal someone’s flaws. But she was just trying to help. I don’t want it to be true, but I can find no instance where I wasn’t too proud to admit that I liked something.”

Rouge nodded. She knew it was true. Shadow had slowly been opening up to everyone, but he wasn’t comfortable enough to share when he liked something. He wasn’t much of a sharer by nature. She needed to think of a way to fix Shadow’s mood.

“Why don’t you prove them wrong?” Rouge suggested.

“What?” Shadow looked up from his tea cup.

“Prove them wrong. Prove to Rob that he shouldn’t give you such a condescending look and prove to Amy that you’re not too prideful to admit when you like something.” Rouge shrugged as if it were obviously. “You’ve done it before. Everyone said you were going to destroy the world when you came back from the ARK, but you didn’t. You joined G.U.N. and you’ve walked the line ever since. Whenever anyone has their doubts about you, you prove them wrong.”

“That’s true.” Shadow nodded. “But that was a lot easier than this.”

“Come take a walk with me.” She softly spoke as she waved her hand. The little girl followed her mother into the garden. It was large garden with many flowers and a lake with a bridge. The hedges of the garden formed a large maze with many sitting areas hidden inside of it. The music from the ball was a soft whisper out here, which is what the woman wanted for this talk. She turned to smile at her daughter. “Why do you not dance, my child?”

The girl looked up at her. She was dressed in a fluffy dressed with cute white tap shoes. Her tiara was thin silver with only three jewels inside. She walked onto the bridge her mother was standing on and swung her arms at her side. “I do not want to dance, mother.”

“Why not?” She smiled as she leaned on the railing of the bridge. She crossed her ankles as she glanced at the lake. It was clear today and she could see the koi fish swimming about. “You dance all the time.”

“I know.” She nodded. “But I don’t dance that well. If I dance in front of all those people, they’ll laugh at me.”

Her mother made a tsking sound as she shook her head. “So fear of embarrassment stops you. Is my daughter so weak that the mere idea of embarrassment stops her? I would’ve thought I had given birth to a daughter who would be a great brave woman. Have I and your father failed to make you brave?”

“No mother.” The girl shook her head. “I am very brave. I have no problem tending to wounded soldiers and sewing their wounds. I have trouble of dealing with lions, tigers, or bears. I am very brave indeed.”

“These facts are true.” Her mother nodded. “You’re only 5 and all you’ve ever known in your short life is war. Yet you remain kind. You work to heal the injured and help those in need. You have fallen many times in front of others. Some have laughed at you and others have applauded you for your effort. So why does dancing cause you to fear embarrassment?”

The little girl pouted as she pondered this. Why was she afraid to dance in front of others?

“Amy!” Bunnie shook the pink hedgehog.

Amy’s green eyes flickered as the vision she been having faded away. She could hear several voices swirling around her, but she couldn’t quite make them all out. She found Bunnie’s voice and focused on it. Bunnie’s accent was soothing, but also concerned.

“Ah mah stars! Amy-suga, please, snap out of it!” Bunnie called.

Amy took her gaze away from the trees that she been staring at. She turned her head and regretted it. Her vision blurred and she cringed from the pounding headache it gave her. “Bunnie?” She crocked as she looked a yellowish blur in front of her. “What’s wrong?”

“How many fingers am I holding up, sug?” She demanded.

Amy tilted her head. She couldn’t see any fingers. She smirked, Bunnie must’ve been playing with her. “Two?” She guessed.

Bunnie shook her head. She grabbed a hold of Amy’s shoulder. “No.” She answered, “I was holding up four.” She put Amy’s arm over her shoulders. “Come on, we’re taking you to the doctor.”

“What for? I only have a little headache. I feel fine.” Amy mumbled.

“Amy, you’re not fine.” Mari-An pulled up her other side. “Ye are far from it. Thou needeth a doct’r anon.”

Amy leaned her head on Mari-An. She was warm. Amy liked that. She didn’t understand why everyone was freaking out though. She took a deep breath and winced. Something felt wrong. Amy removed her arm from Mari-An shoulder and touched her stomach. It hurt when she touched and felt wet. “Did I fall in a mud puddle?” She murmured as she brought her hand up, expecting to see mud. She stared at the blood on her hand. She brought it to her nose to smell it. It had that strange metallic smell. She couldn’t say it was paint. She numbly forced herself to stand up straight. She still felt woozy, but at least now, she knew why. “The doctor is a good idea. Which way?”

Amy looked around. They were in the Great Forest by the looks of it. A few minutes away from the city if she took that path to the right. Amy walked down that that path.

“Amy? Where are you going?” Bunnie shouted as she raced to catch up with her.

“To the doctor. I must’ve fallen on something.” Amy shrugged as she grabbed some leaves to use as a temporary bandage. “Strange, I don’t remember getting kidnapped by Eggman today.”

“What doeth thou remembereth, Amy?” Mari-An helped her form the bandage and press it to her stomach as they walked. She saw no point in trying to force Amy to sit down. If she could walk, then there was hope that she would be just fine.

“I remember eating breakfast with you and the boys.” Amy began. “We went to visit Cream. She wanted to plant some flowers and a tree or two here since Eggman burnt a lot of them down again. All of us girls came out here to do that. I was planting a lily, I think. Then I had that vision. The next thing I knew I heard Bunnie calling for me.”

“Vision?” Bunnie murmured. “What vision?”

Amy shrugged. “It was a vision. I must’ve zoned out because of it and gotten hurt.” Amy pushed down on the leaf bandage and felt the wound. She cringed. It wasn’t very big, but it hurt. “Did I fall on a shovel?”

“Not quite, I’m afraid.” Mari-An rubbed Amy’s shoulder. “Haply we shouldst break with it aft’r thou’ve seen the doct’r?”

Amy sat in the hospital bed. Sonic had let it slip that Amy had been missing for 3 days and couldn’t remember were she’d been in front of Rob. The teal hedgehog had dragged Sonic, Sally, and Dr. Quack aside. His face was burgundy from anger. Amy just hoped Rob wouldn’t stay mad long.

“I brought you some Jell-O.” Jon smiled as he came into the room.

“Hey Lil’ Jon.” Amy took the Jell-O and opened it. “How is everything?”

“Father is still freaking out. He’s very worried about you.” Jon stated. “Mother is calming him down so he doesn’t say anything to upset you when he comes in.”

“What could Rob possibly say to upset me?” Amy laughed. “I’m feeling fine now. I promise. I’ll be more careful.”

“Father is questioning rather it is a good idea for you to go to the ball.” Jon crawled onto the small bed and curled up next to her.

“But I really want to go.” Amy pouted.

“I know. Mother is telling him that you’re going.” Jon gave a snide grin. “Rather he wants you to or not. Rather you back out or not. Mother says she’ll make you go. Even if Mister Shadow can not make it to escort you. You will go to the ball.”

The two laughed. Mari-An was a very serious woman when she made up her mind about something. Rob rarely disagreed with her. If anyone was going to talk Rob out of telling Amy not to go to the ball, it would Mari-An.

“Want some jell-o?” Amy held the spoon up to his mouth.

Jon ate it. “Orange jello is yummy.”

“Yep!” Amy smiled. “So what do you want for dinner?” Amy hugged him close as she looked at the clock.

Jon looked up at her with a sad face. “The doctor is talking about keeping you over night.”

“Pssh!” Amy rolled her eyes. “I’m feeling fine. And antsy.” She shifted her legs under the blankets. “I’m going home for dinner. Besides, this bed isn’t made for sleeping.”

“No they are not.” Jon nodded.

Shadow came back to Club Rouge after his run. Rouge was sitting at the bar, drinking water and skimming a magazine. She smiled as Shadow walked up to the counter.

“Want some-“

“How do I prove them wrong?” He blurted out.

Rouge arched an eyebrow at him.

“I’ve been trying to think about how. I mean, I know I can prove King Rob wrong about giving me that pitiful look. But how do I convince Rose?”

Rouge sighed. She hated to say it, but sometimes Shadow had a one track mind. Unfortunately it wasn’t racing or food. Rouge folded her magazine and tossed it on a table behind her. “Isn’t it obvious?”

Shadow glared at the bat.

“Admit to liking something in front of her.”

“Everyone knows I like shooting things and crashing cars though.” Shadow leaned on the counter.

Rouge shook her head. “What about other things you like?”

Shadow gave her the classic ‘What-you-talking-about?’ look.

“Okay.” Rouge pinched the bridge of her nose. “What else do you like aside from guns and your bike?”

Shadow stared at her dumbly.

Rouge sighed through her nose. “How about this, do you like Amy’s cooking?”

“Of course! Who doesn’t like Rose’s cooking?” Shadow straighten. “She’s a wonderful cook.”

Rouge smiled. “Have you ever told Amy you like her cooking? Or that she’s a wonderful cook?”

“No.” Shadow shook his head. “She hears that all the time.”

“True. But if you tell her you like her cooking next time, that’ll prove to her that she was wrong about you.”

“Is there anything else that you like about Amy?” Rouge crossed her legs.

Shadow thought about it. “She’s always nice to everyone. She’s caring.” Shadow slowly began to make a list on his fingers. “She can always look on the bright side of everything. And make you believe it sometimes.” Shadow listed several other things before he stopped. “Why am I doing this?”

Rouge looked up at him stun. She hadn’t expected him to list over 5 things. “I now have a better understanding of you and I’m digesting it.”

“What are you talking about?” Shadow arched an eyebrow.

Rouge opened her mouth, but closed it again. She didn’t want him in denial. “Why don’t you tell Amy some of those things that you like about her next time you see her? That’ll prove to her that you’re not too proud.”

Shadow nodded. It seemed easy. He began to walk towards the door.

“But Shadow, be careful how you say it.” Rouge’s voice caused Shadow to turn around and face her.

“Why?”

“Because if you just list all that those things to her at once, people might get the wrong idea and think you like Amy. Amy might even think that too. Though she’ll most likely be oblivious until someone tells her.” Rouge stated.

Shadow tilted his head. “But I-“

“I’m talking about a different like, Shadow. I’m talking about having a crush like.” Rouge informed him.

Shadow shut his mouth closed like a steel trap.

“Glad you understand. Start with a simple thing, like, ‘I like your cooking.’ Then sprinkle the other compliments around elsewhere. Though you might want to add in other things you like so it isn’t just Rose.” Rouge stated.

“Then why did you have me list things that I like about Rose?” Shadow waved his hands in the air.

Rouge shrugged. “She’s the one you need to prove long. Frankly I’m still amazed about all the things you like about her.”

“What do you mean? There’s a lot to like about Rose. You said so yourself.”

“You like her smile Shadow.” Rouge sighed.

“Doesn’t everyone?” Shadow shrugged.

Rouge dropped her head onto the bar. Sometimes she could swear that Shadow as dense as a sack of rocks. She pulled herself off the counter and fell upstairs. “Stay here, I’ll be back.”

Rouge came back moments later with a book. She put it in Shadow’s hands. “Give this a quick skim sometime.”

Shadow nodded.

“Bye Shadow.” Rouge waved as she went back upstairs. She needed a bubble bath. “Lock the door on your way out.”

“Bye Rouge.” Shadow turned the lock on the door before stepping out into the street. He looked up at the sky. It was evening. Almost dinner time. He ran to his apartment was there in seconds. He guess he should eat something before finding Rose. She was probably eating dinner by now anyway. Shadow looked through his kitchen. There wasn’t much. He had chicken he needed to cook though. He wondered how he should cook it as he went looking for the cook book he had borrowed from Amy several weeks ago.

He plucked the book off the shelf and skimmed through it. Amy had made several scribbles in the margins with tips to make the food taste better. Shadow flipped through several chicken recipes before picking one.

After he ate dinner, he picked up the book Rouge had given him. He had never heard of it before. He opened up the first page and began reading.

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Deathy: I am so sorry this is taking forever. I just want to give ya’ll a good story. Which means long chapters, but longer wait times. I’ve also started working on a book that I’m hoping to publish when I get it done and edited. I’ve also started doing let’s plays on my YouTube channel. I’m currently playing Pokémon Blue, but I’m going to do other games afterwards.