Episode 19 Sunlight On The Shadows

Ten minutes earlier on the roof, Luc, Loki and Paz had been smoking what Paz called 'Pot Luck' for about two hours. Despite his innocent act, most of Paz's roll-ups contained more than enough weed to severely mess up anyone who wasn't used to it. Both Loki and Luc lacked the one thing really necessary when dealing with Paz for the first time, which was previous experience in dealing with him. They had been talking; mainly the philosophy of the stoned, but now a recurrent sentence came up again.

"Ame's gonna kill us if he finds out," Paz grinned.

"Naw," Loki disagreed, "Luc can talk to him."

"Pah!" Luc snorted, "Barely get to see him anymore."

"He always has to be doing summit," Paz agreed.

"Wonder if he's worth it sometimes."

"Least you can understand him," Paz nodded to himself, "Cus your both guys. Try dating a girl sometime. I don't know I Scarlette wants me or not."

"Relationships. We don't need 'em! All we need is more of these!" Luc smiled waving his roll-up.

"Got any more?" Loki asked.

"Yup, back in my room. I'll go get 'em," Paz said, standing unsteadily, and staggering over to the elevator.

Luc took another drag, then handed it to Loki.

"What about you? You've got the worst of both worlds."

"Huh?" Loki said before inhaling deeply.

"Dating both girls, who're impossible to understand, and guys, who are never really focused on just you."

"Actually I'm doin' great. Tikal an' me are gettin' really solid."

"Well glad to hear it. Just wish things were all roses for me too."

"You haven't even had an argument," Loki laughed.

"No. That's the problem," Luc said taking back the cigarette, "I'm sure he's cheated on me, and it never used to bother me, but..."

Loki patted Luc on the shoulder.

"Sorry to hear that."

"It was his old boyfriend. It hurt. I've cheated on him, and he probably knows, but I never hurt him like that. And now, I kinda wish I could."

"Hey, you're bigger than that, and you love him. Those are two of the things I really admire about you."

"Thanks," Luc said, placing a hand on Loki's cheek, "I really appreciate that."

"Any... time..." Loki said, his lips meeting Luc's. Absently they heard the elevator doors open, and maybe they heard Ame saying,

"Luc, sorry about today, I'll ...What the hell is going on here!!"


Tails hadn't wanted to go home after school. He knew Shadow would be there, and the newcomer always made him feel nervous. When Klonoa was around it wasn’t so bad, but tonight he had a family thing, so the boys had separated, leaving Tails wondering what to do. Everyone else had gone to, Rouge with Knuckles, Amy with Heero, Tikal just went, and Sonic wanted some alone time.

"Library?" Tails said to himself, "No, closed. Museum? Exhibit change tomorrow, I'll go then. Beach? Not dressed for it, and if I go home to change, Ame'll probably insist I take Shadow along."

He turned a corner, not really paying attention and continued to walk. Eventually he looked around, and found himself in an unfamiliar street. Shops spilled out of buildings, ending only when the road started, and mixing into each other, so it was hard to tell where one ended, and the next began. Strange smelling smoke spilled from a few, and in most, he saw nothing he recognised. Being of a curious nature, Tails continued down the street, occasionally picking up a few items, and replacing them with care. Ahead of him was a bookshop, and feeling on firmer ground took shelter inside, and almost wished he hadn't. Strange sinister looking books lined the shelves, and such titles as 'Feery's Notes On The Necronomicron' and 'Chaat Aquaingan' seemed to loom over him.

He swallowed hard, and backed out slowly, before turning and finding himself in another shop. Various bric-a-brac lined the shelves this time, and Tails guessed

"A second hand shop," while fingering several strange statues, and walking further inside. A door stood half open at the back f the shop, and since no one was watching the shop, Tails went inside. The storeroom held paintings by Chandler, rare eggs, stuffed animals, both plushies and mounted, and the orange Chaos Emerald, with a price tag attached to it.


Sonic had decided that his alone time was getting boring, so had taken his board down to the sea, and was watching the waves. Not for the first time he looked around the beach, and noticed the guys. Most were shirtless and tanned, some were posing for a group of girls, while others just worked on getting a better tan. His eye was caught by a guy about his own age, who was just sitting, watching the beach, like Sonic. At that moment, he turned, and noticed Sonic looking at him, and smiled. Sonic felt a little embarrassed about being caught, so smiled back.

The hedgehog boy sat watching as the guy removed his shirt, picked up a bottle of oil, squirted a small amount on his hand, and began to rub it over his chest, his hand working the fluid in, moving lower to his stomach, the just under the ban of his shorts. He stopped for a moment before doing his arms and legs to look back at Sonic, who realised that he had been staring throughout, and had gotten pretty hard at the show that he was pretty sure was for him.

"Need to cool off," Sonic said grabbing his board, and running into the sea. The surf was quite good, and Sonic soon fell into his time-honed routine , swimming some, surfing for a while, and then practising a few moves, without wiping out ,for once.

He let a wave carry him back to shore, and walked over to his towel smiling to himself. He hadn't done so well for months. Getting back to his things, he saw he guy from earlier, and he had moved, right next to Sonic's towel.

"Saw you out there, you're goood."

"Thanks, you surf?"

"Sometimes. Bet you're tired after that workout."

"No, just thirsty."

"Shame I can't offer you a drink. Hell, I'm pretty thirsty too."

"Got some sodas back at mine," Sonic said, indicating the beach hut he used.

"Sounds goood. Jay" He said, extending a hand.

"Sonic," Sonic replied, helping him up. They walked back to Sonic's shack, Jay getting there first, and going in. As Sonic shut the door, he felt his shorts being pulled down, and smiled.


Tikal had gone back to the Mystic Ruins dig, and was looking around. Last tome she was here, she felt a connection with the place, and this time it was stronger.

"I need to get further in," Tikal told herself, "But how?" Security guards and archaeologists were everywhere, and she couldn't get close to anything that would be important. Sighing, she turned around, and went o the train station, to catch the next one home.

It arrived on time, but before Tikal could get on, D and Mina stepped off.

"Hey Tikal," D smiled, "What you doing here?"

"Wanted another look around," Tikal told them, "But I couldn't get close."

"Not surprising. A tomb was just found, and I mean it was just found one morning, and everyone is really on edge about it." Mina told her, sending a pointed look at D, who brushed her nose nervously

"Yeah, how could we miss something like that?" D laughed, " Hey I know, you can come in with us!"

"Am I allowed?" Tikal asked, hope in her voice.

"Sure!" D said grabbing her by the hand, and almost dragging her through the entrance, the deeper into the ruined city.

As they walked through, Tikal felt her connection with the area grow, and found herself looking for buildings that had crumbled, or knowing the purpose for yet unidentified structures. Finally they reached the main building, and Mina said,

"We think this was the centre of the whole city, a main temple, dedicated to all the gods, where sacrifices were made."

"No," Tikal shook her head, "This was a great hall, where the gods met before the fall, and it was home to Tempi"

"I think we know a little more about this than you," Mina snorted.

"Actually she could be right," D said, running into a tent. Tikal and Mina followed her, and she was saying, "For 'sacrifice' read 'meeting' and for 'temple' read 'home’. It works, and it makes more sense. How did you know that?"

"I'm not sure."

"We have to tell someone!" D grabbed Tikal's hand again, and dragged her to the supervisor.


When Loki and Luc looked up at Ame, he wasn't shocked any more, he wasn't even angry. He just stood, head hung, eyes closed, and said,

"How could you do this to me?"

"I'm sorry-" Luc began.

"Not you! Loki, how could you?"

"It just happened. I was trying not to let it happen again, but you forced my hand," Loki was utterly calm, "Luc was so needy, and it's your fault."

"Is that true?"

"Yes. It's like you don't have time for me, you have so much going on."

"I do, did need you, but now I can't trust you. I know you've been less than totally faithful, and I've been the same, but why one of my friends? From now on every time I see either one of you, I'll be reminded of this moment, and it'll kill me a little each time," Ame wiped his eyes, "And I'm not going to do that to myself."

He ran towards them, and jumped over the side of the roof.

"No!" Luc shouted, but he was to late as Ame had disappeared over the side. A metal clang sounded, followed by the sound of running. Rushing to the edge, they saw Ame running down the fire escape. He glanced up at them, then fired a bolt of purple energy at the fire escape, wrecking to top tier.

"I don't think it's a good idea to follow him," Loki said, "Let him cool off for a while."

"But he sounded like he was gonna do something final."


Rouge, Scarlette and Knuckles were just getting to Chao Tower as Ame was making his exit. He ran past them, knocking Knuckles over.

"Screw you too!" Rouge shouted giving him the finger.

"Rouge you shouldn't act to fast, that was Ame rushing past." Scarlette said, watching as he rounded a corner.

"So? He still shouldn't have knocked me on my ass," Knuckles said, standing. They made their way upstairs, and found Loki and Luc coming down.

"Hey guys," Loki waved.

"Hi," Rouge half smiled, "What's up with Ame?"

"No idea," Luc lied.

"Well its best he's not here. We need to talk about Shadow," Knuckles told them.

"My apartment then," Loki said unlocking the door, "We can wait for everyone there."

"Right, make sure you keep an ear open for them," Rouge nodded.

Tikal and Amy walked in within minutes of each other, both noticing the serious looks on their friend’s faces. Sonic knocked on Ame's door, but Loki quickly grabbed him into the opposite apartment, leaving Shadow to open the door to an empty corridor. Tails had gotten a little lost, so was the last home. He carried his schoolbag close to his chest, and when Amy opened the door behind him he jumped.

"Hey Tails, why so nervy?" she asked.

"N-no reason."

"Well we're holding an emergency meeting in here."

"Can I just dump my stuff?" Tails asked, calmer now.

"Sure, just be quick." He opened the door, and walked straight to his bedroom. Shadow gave him a wave, which he ignored, and threw his bag on to his bed, cursing silently that his room didn't have a lock, before going across the hall again.

"Bye then," Shadow said to himself as the door closed.


Horatio was exhausted. He had tried hundreds of experiments, but no matter what he did, the Chaos Emerald wouldn't react to him. His scans told him it was more active while he was around, but nothing more. He remembered his father's recorded message, and cursed him under his breath. The old fool had always thought he was one of the good guys, that under his rule the world would be a better place, and had created Horatio in an attempt at world domination. That had been his undoing, but he was right. Celestus would do nothing for either of them.

He sighed heavily,

"Damn you father, why do have to keep on annoying me even after you're dead? The deceased should stay out of the way and let the living get on with life."

"Horatio," Fenrir said, "Maybe you should take a break. You haven't eaten anything all day, and you obviously need sleep. Take a small rest, and come back refreshed."

"I can't sleep. If I do, I risk running into that girl again. I run into her, I think of all the things I don't know, and I think of Loki. I think of Loki for too long, and I lose all focus," Horatio rubbed his eyes, "Although a break would be good."

"You have a public appearance that would definitely boost your approval rating," Fenrir said, checking his clipboard, "If you take a bath now, you should have time for a quick meal, and then a support rally for the current mayor."

"Is that the one who was under my father's thumb?" Horatio asked, standing.

"Yes, and you've yet to respond in person to any of his calls, but don't worry, I'm sure I can arrange a private meeting with him for you during the rally..."

Neither noticed that as they left the room, turning out the light, Celestus was glowing faintly, and that this glow faded, not when Horatio was out, but Fenrir. After all, the cat boy had been by Horatio's side throughout he testing.

With Klonoa and Ame the only ones missing, the guys began to discuss the Shadow issue.

"I don't trust him," Rouge began.

"He's not....." Amy paused for a second, "Nice."

"I say he's only after the Emeralds," Loki put in, "Luckily he doesn't know about ours, just Ame's, and he always carries his with him."

"Damn good job he doesn't know we have, what four of them between us." Knuckles agreed with Loki.

"I don't trust him either," Sonic said, calmly, "But I do trust Ame. He hasn't made any seriously wrong choices about any other of his friends, has he?"

There was a general mummer of no, with Luc and Loki just shaking their heads.

"Well then. We should let Shadow stay under Ame's watchful gaze. Just because Shadow fell in with the wrong crowd doesn't make him a bad guy. Everyone needs a chance to be who they really are, and everyone needs somebody they can trust," Sonic echoed Ame's words, hoping they'd have the same effect, "And if he falls, we'll be there to catch him."

Everyone went quiet for a minute, so Sonic stood, and said,

"Well? No one's in charge here. If you guys think Shadow should go, then I'm outvoted" he looked from face to face, and one by one they either nodded, or agreed with what he had said.

"We give him a trial run," Tikal smiled.

"First sign that he's a bad guy, he's out," Amy nodded to herself. This also got a mummer of agreement.


Shadow knew he was being excluded from something, and was pretty sure it was about him. He couldn't focus on the T.V. so looked around the room, trying to find something to occupy his mind. Eventually he was staring at the doors to the bedrooms.

"If I was something interesting, I'd be in there," he said to himself before walking over to Ame's door. It opened in his hand, and he hit the light and walked over to the closet. "I can just say I was looking through my stuff," he said smiling. Inside was split into three unequal sections, Shadow having the smallest part, Luc next, and Ame's clothes taking up half of the total space. Very few of Ame's clothes weren't purple, and Shadow lifted out a heavily ripped shirt. Each rip was re-hemmed, so he figured it must have been done on purpose. He tried it on, and it hung over his hands, and to far down, and it smelt of Dewberry, Ame's second favourite scent.

Putting the shirt on the bed, Shadow pulled out, and tried on a few more items, including the 'If you want straight...' t-shirt [hee hee ruler], laughing at the motif. Finally he reached in and felt a small door at the back. He pushed it open, thinking he'd found where Ame hid Koukan. Reaching inside, he found he outfit Ame had intended for Luc, but worn for Sonic. He put it back carefully, along with all the other clothes he tried on.

"Wonder what Tails has," Shadow said, smiling to himself.

In Tails' closet he found lots of school clothes, , a few shirts, some shorts, and the dress that Amy had bought him. It was too much for Shadow, who burst out laughing, and fell over onto he bed, landing next to the school bag, his arm falling across it. It had a strange shape, and when he emptied it, Helios fell out.

"Well well well," Shadow smiled, "Super Sonic may have been right. Wonder how many they have." He picked up the stone, and headed out, back to the warehouse where Super Sonic and Metalix would be waiting.


Horatio had been bored out of his mind at the rally, but overall it was a very profitable evening. He now had control of the mayor, and through him the entire city, and it had cost him nothing. Of course, he would still give voluntarily at certain events, but nothing along the lines of what his father had to 'donate to he mayor's re-election fund'. He smiled at Fenrir. The cat boy knew the ins and out of politics so well it was surprising. He also knew more about Kintobor Industries than Horatio, and if needed, could run the company with him, having the knowledge, contacts and authority, all given to him by Horatio himself. In fact, for the past few days he had been running the company, without leaving Horatio's side, and rarely disturbing him, and he had been doing a better job than Horatio did.

He looked back at Fenrir and saw a puzzled look on his face.

"What's wrong?" Horatio smiled.

"Oh, sorry, but you just seem so happy. It's quite refreshing to see. I was wondering why."

"Just thinking that no matter what I go through, no matter what goes wrong, I've got someone to make it right. I have you." Fenrir smiled shyly as Horatio reached over and kissed him. A small light began to flash, accompanied by a beeping, that interrupted them

Horatio turned to a screen, and the smile returned to his face, he turned to the driver and said,

"Take the next left."

"What is it?" Fenrir asked.

"A Chaos Emerald," Horatio smiled.


Super Sonic and Metalix had been waiting for Shadow, and were surprised to see him so soon.

"You got it?" Metalix asked.

"Nope," Shadow smiled.

"Then why are you so happy?"

"Chaos Emerald! You do! You do!" Super Sonic shouted.

"This is why," he said producing Helios.

"You said-" Metalix began.

"I said I didn't have Koukan, the purple one. I do have this one though."

"Give it! Give it!" Super Sonic said jumping up and down.

"I agree. Let us use it to get the rest."

"No," Shadow stood his ground.

"What what!"

"Why?"

"Because I was thinking. If they have Koukan and Helios, and if our demented friend is right, who knows how many more they have?"

"Then we use it to take them from them." Metalix was almost growling.

"And suppose they have three or four more? We'll be killed. Hear me out."

"Go on." Metalix gave in.

"I find out how may more they have, steal them, which leaves us with at least two, and we use them to break in to the Kintobor building, and get Celestus, so we have one each at the minimum."

"That may work."

"Gooood idea!" Super Sonic grinned.

"Which means I'm gonna have to get this back to Tails [at this point my pen died, and since I was in Spain, I had to buy a new one] before he notices it's gone." He turned to leave, until Metalix said,

"I don't trust you Shadow, however it seems I must for now. But be warned, betray us, and even if it takes my last ounce of power, I will destroy you."


Ame had been sitting in the street, crying. The anger had returned, as he knew it would, so he was glad he ran, otherwise he might have done something stupid. He made a mental note to get the fire escape repaired, then as the anger had passed, the tears had come. He had meant what he said, and now every time he thought of either Luc or Loki, that one image was all that appeared. He couldn't face either of them, not yet. He began walking again, to station garden, but stopped. Too many Luc memories. Turning he started walking towards Tophat And Broomstick, as he knew the owner, and could go to talk to someone, but again he stopped, he'd have to pass Neko-chat.

"I can't escape them," he sighed, "They'll always be around, even when I'm not with either of them, as long as I stay in Station Square."

He sat again, thinking briefly about how the weather was rarely right. It should be raining, it always rains on the unloved, but the night was clear, and stars shone down, each promising a better life if would just follow them. A half moon stared blindly down too.

"At least the moon's got it right. Half Moon, the time for change." He stood, stretched and walked again, with o direction, but heard tyres screeching ahead of him, and saw a car hurtling towards someone crossing the road.

Without thinking, Ame ran out and erected a shield around himself and the pedestrian, and braced himself. The car hit, the front end crumpling slightly as it was stopped by the wall. Ame turned to the person beside him and asked,

"You okay?"

"Fine," Horatio said as he made eye contact, "Come with me, I have a job for you."


The meeting had ended, and everyone had broken for home, except Luc, who had work, and Sonic. Tails had been a little nervous, as if Ame had returned, he would have knocked on Amy's door to find out where everyone was.

"I'm still a little jumpy around Shadow," he told Sonic, "Could you stay for a bit?"

"Sure," Sonic said, ruffling Tails' fur, "I'll wait until Ame gets back." Tails smiled and opened the door, glancing around at the empty apartment.

"Funny, Shadow was here when I dropped off my bag," Tails suddenly gasped, "Oh no," before running to his bedroom, and opening the door. His schoolbag was open, the contents spilled, and there was no sign of Helios.

"S'up Tails?" Sonic asked.

"I think that.." he began, before noticing the Chaos Emerald on the floor. He quickly went inside and pushed it under his bed, not ready to say that he had one of the gems.

"What is that?" Sonic asked, walking into the room.

"What?" ?Tails asked, thinking he had been found out.

"This!" Sonic pulled the dress out of the closet, "You a drag queen at the weekends?"

Tails flushed crimson.

"Amy got it for me, when she was doing the makeover," Tails smiled nervously, "I tried it on once, but never got around to giving it away."

"You tried it on?" Sonic laughed, "I would've loved to see that. I bet it was the cutest thing since Klonoa in a sailor suit."

"Klonoa has a sailor suit?" Tails giggled.

"Amy again," Sonic explained, "Don't know if he still has it."

"So where's Shadow," Tails asked, trying to be serious. Behind them the bathroom door opened, and Shadow walked out, totally naked, drying his quills with a towel. Sonic's jaw dropped, and Tails gasped, as Shadow had a very impressive physique.

"Huh?" Shadow said, seeing them, "Sorry, didn't know anyone was around," he said throwing the towel over his shoulder and walking into Ame's room.

A knock sounded at the door, snapping both of them back to reality, and D and Mina burst in.

"Is Tikal around?" Mina asked.

"She's in her own apartment," Tails told them.

"She needs to see this," D said, clutching a laptop to her chest. They ran across the hall, and Loki opened the door for them.

"What's wrong?" Tikal asked as they rushed in.

"This!" D said, setting up her computer. It displayed Tikal's birth certificate, "It's fake. And there's a file behind it, but I can't access it."

"Give," Loki said taking the computer. His hands danced over the keys, and soon the certificate vanished, to be replaced by a tall thin man in a lab coat.

"Hello," He said, "I am professor Kintobor. Whoever sees this must want the truth about both Tikal, and Knuckles.


well? strangeness to come including an evil Ame
Ame [lolh]

E-mail Ame.

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