PoV: Shadow

  I watched as Sonic talked with the others. It only took a few minutes for them to turn back into the group of happy go lucky kids they usually were.

  It was noisy until everyone went home. Sonic disappeared for a bit, but I could still sense him around me. He reappeared about five minutes before there was another ring at the door.

"Who are you?" I opened the door to someone in a cloak.

"So, you're the one Sonic chose to haunt. I am a Sear. I've been the one creating the potions for him," they let themselves in, "Where is he?"

"I'm here Mr. Sear. Is there another potion you're making?" Sonic trusted him, but it wasn't like he was risking his life.

"No. I need to speak with you both," he sat down and actually managed to pull Sonic over. This guy wasn't someone to mess with, "I had a vision, as you know very well Sonic, those visions become the future."

"Who is he?" I pulled Sonic away from him.

"He was the Sear who told me about how I would defeat Robotnik. I trust him, he isn't dangerous," Sonic held my hand, I had no other options than to believe Sonic.

"Sonic, from now on I do not want you to leave Shadow's side," he new my name without me saying so. This guy was creepy.

"Why not?" Sonic leaned against me.

"I had a vision, you two were forced apart, and Sonic's soul vanished for good. If Sonic's soul vanishes he cannot be returned to his body. And the hero this worlds needs will cease to exist."

"I thought that would only happen of one of the flowers got me," Sonic was gripping my hand. His body was more fridged than before.

"What flowers, what is going on?" I had had enough of this mystery, I wanted everything clear and to the point.

"Soul eaters. White flowers that feed off the wondering souls of the dead. They are the only threat to Sonic, that and if any harm should fall to his body," the Sear was holding a bottle, he placed it on the table, "This potion will allow you to see the Soul Eaters when they are near bye. It is your only way to find him when their vines get a hold of him. You alone won't be able to kill them, so you will need to use this crystal. Use it when you must."

"What did you mean by the vision? What happened to me?" Sonic went on with questions and the Sear gave annoying answers.

"You vanished. Someone stole the blue chaos emerald and you. When they did, your soul vanished. Can you recall how you died yet?" The cloaked guy sure seemed to talk a lot for someone who didn't make a lot of sense.

"No, I still can't, I just remeber it hurt a lot," Sonic's hand had practically frozen mine by now. I had to make him let go so it could warm up again.

"I was there. When the blue chaos emerald shattered, your body vanished. I'm not sure why, but afterwards, the emerald was whole again-"

"The emerald shattered..." I was interrupted by the Sear. The look of shock on his face, he knew something, "Where is it? I must examine it immediately."

"Not a chance, how do we know you aren't just after the emerald," I kept Sonic behind me.

"If the emerald truly shattered it would need a way to repair itself. In which case it would need something with enough natural chaos energy to repair it. The only living thing with that amount of chaos energy would be Sonic. His body could be sealed inside and if that emeralds' power is used then the energy in Sonic's body will be used up and he really will die!"

"What do you mean by really will die? He's already dead!" I wasn't going to let this guy get the emerald.

"I need the emerald to determine that. If it has a heartbeat, then Sonic is still alive and can be released from the emerald! There's a chance that he was only sealed away and not sacrificed," he stood, "If I must threaten you then I will. I understand you do not trust me, I'll will even preform the test in front of you, but do you really want to deprive Sonic of returning to the mortal plain of existence- Sonic?"

"Sonic? Sonic!" He was gone. Sonic had left! I couldn't feel him near by he had vanished!

"I'll be taking my leave," the Sear left and I was alone.

"Damn it!"
   
   
PoV: Sonic

  I went all the way to Tails' place. I found him studying the emerald.

"Tails wait, I need the emerald," I took it from him, "I think Shadow should guard it."

"Why, what's going on?" Tails wasn't afraid of me randomly appearing, it felt nice that he wasn't scared.

"Because his body is trapped inside," The Sear had followed me.

"His body?" Tails looked down at the emerald in my hands. I hadn't noticed until now but this emerald, it felt so warm in my hands.

"Sonic, if you will," the Sear held out his hand and I handed him the emerald.

"Control! Tails get away from him-"

  We could all hear it. A heartbeat...

"Is that..." I reached for the emerald and the Sear handed it back to me.

"That is you're heartbeat. Your body is alive, sealed away but alive," The Sear turned to Shadow, "Believe me now?"

"Sonic come here," Shadow pulled me down and took the emerald from my hands.

"You should protect that emerald with your life. If the energy is used up or if it should shatter again Sonic will die and his soul will be lost. Until the emerald has repaired itself, Sonic will remain as he is," The Sear handed Tails another potion, "I shall be on my way. I had work to attend to."

  He left and vanished like he always did. It was hard to believe it, but Sonic was alive... his body was in my hands.

"Shadow," I hugged him, "You hear that? I'm not dead! I can come back!"

"I heard. Tails, don't use this emerald in any of your experiments," Shadow tucked the emerald away in his quills.

"I understand. So, we just have to wait until the emerald is better. Then Sonic can come back. I can't wait. I'll go tell the others," he ran off.

"Shadow, you're worried," I could hear his thoughts of concern.

"I can't trust anyone with the emerald. I don't want you to leave my side from now on okay?" He held my hand, "You'll stay in the same room as me."

"The bathroom too?" I didn't like the sound of being near by when Shadow did his business.

"Well figure that one out later. Let's head back. I've got a headache from all of this," he started walking back and I followed close behind him.

  I'm alive... I can't believe it... I hope Shadow takes good care of my body.

  After all, I want to come back and give him a real hug.

~~~