Disclaimer: All Sonic Characters and Maps used in this story belongs to SEGA and Archie but the story and the creativity behind it are mine.

A/N: Anything in italics means the individual is thinking to him/herself.

Chapter 1: The uninvited guest.

"So cold...so very cold..."

Thought the saddened pink flower.

It was partially snowing during the night, deep within the woods outskirt of the Mystic Ruins.

Seventeen year old Amy Rose the Hedgehog walked through the icy cold winter-storm, carrying her worn-out brown suitcase. Her current winter attire; a pair of black jeans, trademark red headband, thick green turtle neck, heavy purple jacket, brown snow boots and, a brown scarf wrapped around her neck.

Too bad she had no ear muffs.

Walking for hours, Amy displayed a pitiful sour-face while struggling through the blizzard with one arm wrapped around herself, not exactly proud at the kind of predicament she's in. "I can't believe something like this happened to me." She thought, squeezing her eyes shut and grimacing a smile of sarcasm. "And its all thanks to my dastardly landlord. That Low-life!" The pink flower ranted, cracking an eye open.

And due to her dastardly landlord, Amy was forced out of her apartment because she was unable to keep up with this months rent back where she used to live near Windy Valley. It's not like the pink flower was behind all the time. Matter of fact, she never missed a payment. But since her apartment manager wanted to be greedy and raise up unit fees higher than what Amy could afford, then the pink flower didn't have much saying when she was immediately evicted.

Not to mention her career as a Hostess wasn't as rewarding but either way, it was enough to get her around.

Up until now.

As Amy kept walking, she stumbled upon a tree root sticking out from the snowy surface and fell face flat on the ground. Frustrated, she got up and snatched her suitcase right next to her, sputtering snow from out her face as she felt downright miserable. "Dammit, what am I going to do?" She threw a tantrum, shaking the rest of the snow off her body. "This has got to be the shittiest day of my LIFE!" She hollered, again.

Because of her hollering, the trees trembled and some of the snow that hung from its branches fell on top of the pink flower, covering her body from top to bottom. With a burst of energy, Amy got out and clung to herself dearly, shivering to the point that she was loosing too much body heat.

Suddenly, a harsh cold wind blew towards Amy's direction as she can tell a snow-storm was approaching. She stood still for a second, teeth chattering and violently trembling. "I can't stay out here much longer." Her once verde eyes that naturally sparkled with brilliance now shone dullness and was almost in tears. "Where do I go? Who do I go to?" The depressed pink hedgehog closed her eyes, knowing she had to think of something fast in terms of getting out of this weather or be a frozen by morning.

Then, her eyes snapped open.

"Ugh…I have no choice!" She complained, in bitterness. "I'm cold, I'm homeless and, I haven't eaten since I left Windy Valley. I need a place out of this weather NOW or I'll freeze to death." The pink flower heaved a sigh, still trembling from the blazing cold.

Amy pondered for a second and tried to think of some of her closest friends who can probably accommodate her as far as getting out from this weather.

Better yet,

Maybe a temporary place to stay until she found a place of her own in the future.

"I could go to Tails home and maybe crash in his workshop but Cream is already living with him so, wouldn't want to impose. I know Rouge wouldn't mind if I live with her but Knuckles always visit her and I know how that goes...UGH! I'm sure Sonic would let me stay with him for the time being but, his cousin Scourge gives me the creeps." She groaned, scrunching up a face in disgust.

The pink flower knew her options were getting slim but continued brainstorming. "Plus everyone lives pretty far from where I stand so, I probably won't make-Wait!" Her mind stammered as she displayed a face of uncertainty. "Who lives around this area again?" Thinking, Amy came up one guy-err hedgehog she can think of.

The VERY last hedgehog on her mind at a time like this.

The one hedgehog that'd preferred living in solitary and refused to let anyone in his life.

Was she serious? Would he even let her stay for a few days till she's back on her feet?

...

Amy had to face-palmed for even allowing this idea to form in her head. "I got to be kidding myself. Chances of that violent-No, scratch that! REALLY violent and easily angry, emo hedgehog actually helping me out is really low." She shook her head into her palm, snorting air through her nose. "But it's either that or die in this weather." She said, aloud to herself, removing her head from out of her palm. "Plus, he's the closest I can get to right now." She gave in, much to her small dismay.

The snowfall has gotten heavier and the wind were pushing against Amy's little body. Not having much time left, she tightly held on to her suitcase and struggle to run through the snow storm hoping to make it to her destination twenty minutes from where she was. "I have a feeling that the minute Shadow looks at me...he's going to shut the door in my face..." She lastly thought as she continued running, hoping she make it out the winter-storm in one piece.

Within the hazardous snow-storm, a one-story house stood with lights on with smoke coming out from the chimney.

Inside the beautiful beige color house was a very solemn black handsome hedgehog with crimson streaks on his quills with eyes that was the color of blood. Shadow the Hedgehog merely looked out the window noticing how heavy the snow storm has gotten.

"This snow-storm just came out of nowhere." Shadow murmured, pulling back from the window with a grim smirk. "Teh, I feel sorry for any fool who was unable to make it out." The black hedgehog thought, mocking whomever stranded in that unfortunate weather.

Shadow then started going from room to room, turning off all light switches in his warm home. Getting ready to call it a night as he was set himself to head towards his own room until…

Knock Knock Knock

"What the hell?"

The black hedgehog slowly closed his eyes and made an annoyed sigh. As he reopened scarlet spheres, turned back around where the sofa was located next to the door and walked towards it, wanting to check the time as he bent forward and reached for his IPhone 4.

Looking, it was a quarter past 9:00 p.m.

Knock Knock Knock

"I'M COMING!" Irritated, Shadow grumbled inappropriately while walking towards his front door. "I wasn't expecting any damn company at this hour." He rolled his eyes and stopped in front of his front door, wondering who in Mobius could that be.

As Shadow unlocked the latch, he grabbed the handle and pulled the door open. There, he see a pitiful looking pink hedgehog covered in snow and started blankly while she shivered uncontrollably. He cocked an eyebrow as he was very familiar with this small being that stood right in front of him.

It was Amy Rose herself.

Her face hung down towards the ground and the pink flowers red headband was missing. Probably due the snow-storm when it had gotten worse on her way over here. Amy's quills were messy and some strands had some icicles forming at the tip. Slowly, Amy rose her head up and forced a smile to greet the stern looking hedgehog who opened the door for her.

Shadow can clearly see that this petite flower has been through enough shit as it was.

But did he care?

No.

"What in Chaos is she doing here at this hour?" Shadow wondered, glowering his dark eye-lids then eyed to his left. "Hold on a damn minute," He rose both brows. "Is that a suitcase she's holding?" He questioned and immediately made a low growl, knowing where this was going.

"Hey Shadow," Amy tried to hold her smile. "I was hop-"

Shadow rudely shut the door.

...

The hell?

Looking at the rectangular wooden material wide-eyed, next thing Amy heard was a 'click', indicating that the black hedgehog just locked the knob from the other side. "Chaos, please tell me Shadow didn't just do that." Still staring in shock in the deathly cold weather, Amy half-lidded her eyes and groan. "Well, I did mention he might pull something like this not too long ago, did I?" She rolled her eyes and shook her head, in disappointment.