Here we are...THE FINAL CHAPTER! I would just like to say, thank you, all you people who read this. I never anticipated the story would become this popular!Now, to all you loyal readers, the final chapter!
Rouge flew as fast as she could to the area Shadow was being operated at. Below her, Ciel, Sonic and Knuckles were bashing badniks below, but more were coming. Eggman was still hacking into the computer, and Ebony was nowhere to be seen. Rouge hoped that he had been massacured by some robots as she landed in front of the forcefield Gemini had put up.
"Let me in Gemini," Rouge said. "I need to get to Shadow."
"Vanilla and Blaze are still working on him," Gemini said, glancing at the bat. "I know you're worried, but he'll be fine."
"I don't care," Rouge said, grabbing Gemini by his jacket. "I need to get to my husband now. You are going to let me in so I can make sure he's alright."
"But the girls don't need any distractions while they work," Gemini managed to say, even though Rouge was practically choking him. Rouge growled.
"If they can deal with Shadow screaming, they can deal with me being there," Rouge said, tightening her grip to emphasize the point. "Are we clear about that?"
"Fine then," Gemini said, lowering the forcefield. "But if you cause something bad, you're in for it."
"Cut the small talk buddy," Rouge said, dropping him before walking over to her husband. Vanilla and Blaze were busy performing the operation, and Shadow was screaming in pain. His fur was matted down by sweat and blood. Blaze noticed Rouge's arrival.
"He's lost a lot of blood," Blaze said. "And we also found out he isn't having a child."
"What?" Rouge screamed.
"Not a child," Blaze said, "but two. He was pregnant with twins."
"Oh my god," Rouge muttered. Before this, she had thought she'd never have kids. Now she would have two of her own. Shadow screamed again, hurting Rouge's sensitive ears. She crouched down next to Shadow, holding his hand.
"It's alright Shadow, I'm here." Rouge was hoping everything would be alright, but for now, there was nothing to do except wait.
Shadow's POV
Oh god, this hurts. What's going on? I thought they said it wouldn't take so long. What are the saying? Complications. Somethings wrong. Is it me, or the kid? Please let it be me. I don't want the kid to die, not after all that's happened. But it hurts, hurts so bad. Did Maria feel this bad when she died? Am I...dieing?
Wait a minute...someone's holding my hand. Maria? No, it can't be. I'm not dead yet. Rouge? Is that you? Rouge, please make it stop, it hurts...
"It's alright Shadow, I'm here."
Yes, I know that now. We promised each other that we would always be together, until death do us apart. I was stupid to believe that rabbit, you would never use me like that.
Make the pain stop, I can't take it...Rouge, everything's going black...
Shadow awoke what seemed like hours later. His body was still sore from the pain he had received. The first thing he noticed was Rouge, who was still holding on to his hand. She smiled, happy he was awake. He quickly remembered where he was, and looked at his stomach. There was no longer a bulge, and stiches where he had been cut open.
"Rouge, is the kid okay?" Shadow asked, looking at Rouge. She nodded.
"Both of them," she said, smiling broadly at Shadow's confused look. "You had twins."
"Where are they?" Shadow asked, looking around.
"Vanilla is making sure they're healthy," Rouge said. "It took them a long time to finish the operation. We almost thought you weren't going to make it."
"I'm not the Ultimate Lifeform for nothing," Shadow said. He heard footsteps, and turned to see Vanilla entering the room, two babies in her arms.
"I see you're awake," Vanilla said cheerfully. "Your children are perfectly healthy. Would you like to hold them?"
"What if I drop them?" Shadow asked nervously. Vanilla chuckled.
"Almost every parent asks that," Vanilla said. "Don't worry, it's not hard. Here, would it be better if Rouge held one, and you held the other?"
"A lot," Shadow said. Rouge nodded in approval. Vanilla handed one to Rouge. She walked over to Shadow, but before she could hand it to him, the child was whisked out of her hands.
"What the-" Everyone turned to see Ebony, child in one hand, dagger in the other.
"Told you I had one more trick up my sleeve," Ebony said. "If anyone moves, the kid gets it. If I can't have Rouge back, I can at least make you and your husband's lives miserable. Say goodbye to your kid." Ebony raised the dagger, thrusting it downward.
"CHAOS CONTROL!" Shadow yelled, not knowing what else to do. The child was teleprted from Ebony's grasp to Shadow's before Ebony could stop the dagger. The blade, having no child to hit, was thrust into his heart. Blood began to cascade out of the wound as Ebony collapsed to the floor. Everyone was frozen to the spot as the rabbit died.
"Fools!" Ebony said between breaths. "Even if I can't come after you, others will! Mark my words, they-"
"Shut up already," Eggman said, as he shot the dieing rabbit. "If there's one thing I can't stand, it's fools who say they'll come back when they won't. At least when I say it, I mean it!"
"So, did you get control of your robots?" Rouge asked. Eggman nodded.
"You're lucky I'm not in the mood to kill you two at the moment, since you just had your kids."
"Whatever," Shadow said. He was tired, especially after using Chaos Control on such short notice. He looked down at the child in his arms. It was a snow-white hedgehog, with bright red highlights. It was a girl, who was looking up at him with turquoise eyes. In Rouge's hands was the boy, a black bat that also had red highlights and turquoise eyes. Their own children.
"You're finally a mother, Rouge," Shadow said.
"Couldn't of been possible without you," Rouge replied. "Any idea what to name these kids?"
"We can figure that out later," Shadow said. "We have plenty of time. But first, let's get out of here." Shadow and Rouge got up (Shadow needing a bit of help due to his weakness) and left the base, leaving Eggman to deal with Ebony's dead body.
Soon, everyone left the base, Shadow and Rouge with children in their arms. It didn't matter what would happen tomorrow, or when Eggman would attack next. All that mattered was that moment, just them and their children, which would eventually be saving the world alongside their parents.
"Think they'll be as good as us?" Shadow asked.
"You never know, Shadow," Rouge said calmly. "After what's happened these past months, I say anything is possible."
Finished!I hope that Ebony's death was satisfying enough. I didn't want to do anything too gory (unlike some people...)For those of you who are wondering, the girl is named Yume, and the boy is named Akumu, which are japanese for dream and nightmare. Until next time, chao for now!