Shadow opened his eyes, ears twitching to the quiet conversation going on around him. He calmly sat up, feeling no pain. His healing ability must've finally done it's job.

And that's when he realized he couldn't see out of his right eye.

"What the....?" He turned his head to see Tails and Knuckles staring at him in shock.

"Shadow!" Knuckles hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go.

"Come on, Knuckles. We have to give him some space." Tails advised. Knuckles reluctantly nodded and backed away from the confused hedgehog.

"What's going on?" Shadow questioned, holding his head slightly. "We were fighting Mephiles and then...."

"Knuckles took care of him." Tails said.

"Yeah, he's not gonna bother you anymore." Knuckles smiled happily.

Shadow simply nodded before standing up and holding a hand close to his right eye. "How long was I out, and... why can't I see?"

"Uh, well, you've been out for about a weak, and...." Tails scratched the back of his head. "I'm not so sure why. You were hurt pretty badly there, but it healed well with your abilities plus the added effects of the Master Emerald. I guess you're, uh, p-permanently blind in that eye...."

Shadow stared at Tails in shock, letting the information sink in a bit. "Permanently blind...? But I'm supposed to heal any wounds. I was created so that wouldn't happen...."

"My guess it that it had something to do with Mephiles." Tails said. "He seemed to have somewhat of a hold on your chaos abilities, which is why you didn't immediately heal. It might be why this happened."

Even with that explanation, Shadow still couldn't believe it. He could no longer see out of his right eye, which would make so many things tough, fighting especially.

Knuckles noticed his boyfriend's feelings on the subject and simply laid a hand on his left shoulder comfortingly. "But, hey, it's okay! We can help you through this."

Shadow looked up to Knuckles and couldn't help but smile. There really was no more denying it now; he loved that kind, red echidna. And he was prepared to show it.

He hugged the other tightly. "Thank you so much... for everything...."

Knuckles smiled and returned the hug, gently petting the shorter one. "I'd do anything for you, Shadow."

"I love you."

Knuckles smile only brightened as he bent down and secured the other's lips in a kiss. It was their first one since Knuckles confessed, and it felt just as special to the echidna as it did then.

Shadow's muzzle flared red, quills puffing out in surprise. Nonetheless, he kissed back because he wanted to. It felt so wonderfully right to him, and he didn't know why he avoided kissing the other before. They pulled away, both blushing furiously. Tails coughed a bit awkwardly, alerting the two to his presence and causing them to blush even more.

"C-Can we get out of this room?" Shadow stuttered out embarrassingly. The other two nodded and they walked out.

Shadow followed the two out to the beach, having difficulty with his depth perception, often running into things on accident. Knuckles held his hand in hopes to steer him around objects, which was helpful, but he still found himself tripping over things. After a bit of that, Knuckles decided to just carry him, much to the shorter's annoyance.

"I have to learn to walk myself!"

"Maybe another time. For now, I'll be your legs!" Knuckles chuckled to the pouting hedgehog.

They arrived at the front of Sonic's house, Amy and Sticks playing volleyball, and Sonic laying back in a chair. His wrists and ankles were more bandaged than usual, and Shadow assumed that he was still healing. The three noticed them and waved, Sticks and Amy ending their game to walk to them.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" Amy smiled sincerely to Shadow, and Shadow returned it.

"How's your eye?" Sonic asked.

"It's going to be difficult learning to live with half my vision gone, but I'm sure I'll figure it out." He replied while Knuckles put him down. "How're your wrists and ankles?"

"Eh, it hurts to do basically everything I love, but it all should be healed soon." Sonic shrugged.

"They would've been healed already if you stopped running." Amy scolded, her hands on her hips. Sonic only replied with a weak chuckle and a shrug.

"The good thing is that everyone's safe and alive and nobody died in any fiery explosions." Knuckles smiled, wrapping an arm around Shadow.

"Except for those aliens that took Shadow." Sticks said, looking to the ocean.

They all went silent for a moment.

"Sticks, those were- nevermind." Sonic sighed.

"So what exactly happened after I passed out?" Shadow asked, ignoring the last two lines of dialogue.

"Knuckles sealed Mephiles into some kind of ancient scepter. It sorta disappeared after that, but Knuckles said that it's safe." Tails said.

"Tikal took care of it. I don't know where it is, but he's not gonna bother us again." Knuckles added.

"And the emerald?" Shadow asked, looking to his boyfriend.

"It's back at the alter you, Sonic, and Tails found." He replied. "It started to make the island float, but after some confused shouting by everyone, we all just accepted it."

"Just be careful." Amy advised. "If you go too far into the water, you could fall off the island."

"Good to know." Shadow nodded.

"Besides that, you didn't miss anything too big." Sonic said. "Eggman's island isn't here though, so I have no idea what's going on with him."

__________________

The doctor in question was coming up with new plans, but none seemed to meet his evil standards.

"If I'm going to be in this story, then I need the best robot I could ever make!"

"It seems that you're too late. This is the last chapter." Orbot informed.

"What!?" Eggman looked shocked before stomping his foot on the ground. "That's no fair! I'm petitioning for a sequel with me in it!"

"I don't think that's gonna happen." Cubot said. "The author has other things to do, such as her more popular books."

"Yes, I'm sure people want to read the one with the elements more." Orbot nodded.

"Or the one with the voices inside Sonic's head!" Cubot said.

Eggman grumbled disappointedly to his couch.

_____________________

"Eh, I'm sure it's a whole lot of nothing." Sonic shrugged.

"Did anyone else hear a crack?" Sticks questioned. The other's just shrugged.

"So, Shadow," Knuckles smiled to him, "Now that you're not evil, I bet you'd wanna join Team Knuckles!"

Sonic opened his mouth to say something about the team name, but just ended up shaking his head and sighing.

Shadow smiled and took Knuckles' hand in his. "Yes, I think I would."

And the rest of the day was spent with the team together and Eggman disappointingly looking for something to binge watch on TV.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Lava]

Aaaaaaaand it's finished!

Thank you all so much for reading and commenting and voting! This was a really fun story to write, and I'm glad that it's finished!

I'll see you all in my other stories!

Love you all!!!! <3