In Cosmo's Shadow

By Kellie Fay

Sequel to "A Seedrian Grows on Mobius" and "Moving on" Everyone needs time to adjust when Shadow moves into the neighborhood. Especially Shadow.

Disclaimer: Sonic, Shadow, Tails, Cosmo, and the others all belong to SEGA, Team Sonic, 4 Kids and other people not me.

Please Read ""A Seedrian Grows on Mobius", and "Moving on", before beginning this story. Otherwise you won't know why Cosmo is alive, and how Shadow ended up on Mobius."

Chapter 1

The small village made up mostly of Sonic's friends shone out a single bare spot within the dark forest. Sonic sniffed, and could smell the dinner Amy promised him in preparation. "Most of the area is unclaimed except in the villages," He said from the cliff feeling his quills bristling at a cool breeze. He turned to look at his dark reflection staring out into the virgin wilderness. He didn't look like he was listening, but Sonic knew that underestimating Shadow was always a mistake.

"Amy, Cream, and Tails live in the village just north of the waterfall. If you want to gather food in the forest there is no rule stopping you, but you can trade favors for food too. Amy and Cream's mom have gardens just outside the village. I just usually trade errands for food."

"So where do you live?" Shadow asked absently.

Sonic wondered why Shadow would want to know that. He pointed west of the tiny village below them. "I have a place a mile that way. I want to be nearby if I'm needed, but I like my space. Most of the time I'm not even there, I like to go wherever the wind takes me."

"And I can build in any unclaimed part of the forest?" Shadow asked

"Yep!" Sonic answered cheerfully. What do you have in mind, Shadow?"

He watched Shadow take careful note of where Sonic's home, was, and where the village was. He pointed deep into the forest on the opposite side of the village from Sonic's house. "That way," He said simply.

Translated, as far away from you as feasible, Sonic thought with a chuckle. "Whatever you want," he said grinning broadly.

Building a house went easier than Shadow thought. Once Tails knew he didn't plan on living in the village supplies materialized almost by magic. Shadow decided that living away from the village had been the correct decision. No one seemed to want him around anyway.

Sonic checked on him twice a day. Shadow suspected that; one, the hedgehog wanted him to feel welcome, two, Sonic was definitely keeping an eye on him, and three, Sonic, for some reason, chose to act as a buffer between him and everyone else.

Every morning Sonic stopped by in the middle of his morning run, and asked Shadow if he needed help, or just anything. Every morning Shadow politely said no. In the afternoon Sonic always dropped by with a basket of sandwiches and fruit, and always another offer to help build his home. Always Shadow said no."

Shadow built himself a simple little house. He only had two rooms. One room contained a bed a chair, a table, and a few places for storage. Sonic couldn't help but be impressed that Shadow put together this nice tidy little home in less than three weeks.

"Nice place," Rouge said when she looked around. "It could use a woman's touch though."

Shadow simply glared at her. Sonic couldn't help but grin. Shadow's home was sparse. Sonic didn't expect anything else. Shadow believed things needed to be functional only. He made a mental note to make sure if Amy decided to visit that she didn't push her designs on him.

"What's in that room?" Rouge asked. She moved to open the door only to have Shadow beat her to the door blocking her entry.

"It's not for you," Shadow said curtly. Sonic looked at the pair surprised at the mild warning, but Shadow's expression, however told a different story.

Rouge, drop it right now and forget the room, or Shadow is going to be very unhappy, Sonic thought hoping Rouge could hear him. He asked to when he first noticed Shadow built a small extra room attached to his home. Shadow either ignored the question or right out ordered Sonic not to talk about it. Sonic didn't know what to think, but his impression of Shadow told him that the hedgehog was a very private person, and didn't share any information readily. Only subtle and persistent coxing would get the strange powerful hedgehog to open up to anyone.

Rouge gave Sonic a puzzled frown, but she dropped asking about the room. Just then a knock was heard at the front door. Eager to change the subject Rouge said, "This is turning into a real housewarming party."

To keep Shadow from opening the door, and snapping "what," like he did when Sonic showed up, Sonic zipped over and opened the door himself. To his surprise Cream and Cheese were there with a big basket covered by a blue dish towel.

"Hi!" Cream said brightly moving past Sonic up to Shadow and handing him the basket. Sonic's nose could detect fresh muffins and fruits. "Vector told mother that you were almost done with your home, and I thought I'd bring you a housewarming gift!"

Sonic tried not to laugh watching an embarrassed blush creep up Shadow's cheeks. "Thank you," he said. Shadow always seemed to feel uncomfortable with Cream's positive cheerful personality.

"So you gonna share Shadow?" Sonic asked. With his metabolism, he'd take whatever eats he could.

Shadow glared at Sonic then at Rouge. "Does he ever stop eating?" He asked.

"The blue bottomless pit?" Rouge asked, "not that I've seen."

Now Sonic blushed. It was no secret that he could and would eat almost anytime anywhere.

"Mother put some sandwiches and muffins in there, but please Sonic don't eat any of the star fruits. I could only get four of them, and Mr. Shadow hasn't tried any yet." Cream said.

"Four? That's a lot of star fruits," Rouge observed."

Sonic sighed, but grabbed a sandwich, and left the four small yellow green fruits within the basket. Cosmo, just recently began producing wonderful sweet red and pink flowers that had the most intoxicating scents. It was the Seedrian's gift to them. If left alone the flowers would produce a small yellow green plum-like fruit that tasted almost like the flowers. Since Tails still didn't know that Cosmo's spirit resided in the little tree grown from her seed, the others agreed to simply call Cosmo a Star Tree. Naturally the fruits were called star fruits, and Sonic and the others guarded the fruits, and its producer. Right now only Cosmo's tree produced the fruits. Within the fruits would be a small white seed. The others began planting these seeds also, but it would be years before these trees could bear fruit. Right now they decided the rare delicious fruits would only be distributed by Cosmo herself. You simply visited Cosmo, and if she chose to she would drop the ripe fruit into your hands.

"That's what I got," Cream said. "The Star Tree had lots of pretty flowers and fruit right now."

"Star Tree?" Shadow asked puzzled.

Sonic thought fast and came up with an abridged version of what they knew. "After you punched me I came to, and saw something white flying by me. I grabbed it, and saw it was a white seed. I didn't see any sign of Cosmo anywhere, so I gave the seed to Tails. He's been growing it. A year ago, we transplanted it outside. A few months ago it began to produce flowers and fruits.

Shadow picked up one of the palm sized fruits in his hand. He couldn't resist breathing in the sweet scent from the fruit. He gently bit through the skin of the fruit intending only to nibble at the flesh. Sonic watched Shadow's eyes widen, and finish the fruit in three bites.

Sonic couldn't help but laugh now. Shadow glared at him, but chose not to threaten him. "I've never tasted anything like it." He admitted.

"Enjoy it while you can pal," Sonic said. "Right now that tree is the only one producing that fruit. We've been planting the seeds, but basically we ration the fruit."

"I see," Shadow said looking wistfully at the remaining three fruits. He spit the seed into his palm. "I suppose you want this then."

"Amy thinks we should just toss the seeds into the forest where they can grow," Cream said happily. That way in the future we'll have lots of star fruits."

"Very well," Shadow said. He handed Cream the seed. "If you wish to, you may plant the seed on the north side of my home.

The little rabbit smiled broadly. "Oh I will Shadow! I will!" With that both Cream and her chao raced out the door.

Both Sonic and Rouge chuckled "Welcome to the neighborhood," Rouge said.

Coming Soon Chapter 2

The Darkness Within

"NO!" Shadow bolted up in the bed. Something dark and hedgehog shaped drew closer. Desperate to keep that evil version of himself from destroying everyone he attacked. Nothing mattered but killing that thing that used to be him.