Shadow the Hedgehog

Hope picked up her PDA and walked over to Shadow. "I should probably get this over to the lab for safe keeping," she said. Shadow nodded and took hold of her hand. Just as he was about to chaos control out of there, Rouge grabbed hold of his other arm. "You're not leaving me here," she said as the trio disappeared.

Shadow smiled to himself. Mina wouldn't be causing any problems. "And you've already met Rouge," he said.

"Hello Anna," said Shadow, as he tentatively reached out his hand. Hr wasn't too sure she had really changed.

Hope had been focusing on the schematic, still rather vexed. "Hi Anna," she said, still concentrating. "Hello. Er, pleasure to meet you," said Crowley, slightly bewildered

Rouge walked over and opened the door. "Hello Mina. Come in."

"One death? Do you know how many humans that have been roboticised or worse? And let's not forget the Mobians. There is far more to this world than one floating island."

"Thanks for the offer, but I think we'd kinda encroach on it Melody." Hope looked annoyed at Locke. "They've cost you echidnas? No, they've cost the whole world. Don't act like you're their sole victims, or that they've never contributed anything worthwhile."

"We're not leaving right now or anything. But we are only here for the week, and we need something to occupy ourselves with while you all go do 'family' stuff. Of course I'll keep in touch." Hope nodded in response to Melody's reminder. "I haven't forgotten," she whispered back.

"Indeed." "It is a real doughnut. And I understand. We'll probably be heading back anyway. Have to get back into the usual routine unfortunately."

"Well to see one's fans diminish to nothing is quite disheartening, regardless of whether they futilely propel themselves at you or not. And I do see your point. It appears old habits do indeed die hard." "Would a doughnut incentivise you to participate?" asked Hope,

"That may be so. But I'm all the way in the UF, and she's up here. Besides, maybe her softness will mean she has no attraction to me anymore. Suddenly my fandom will shrink by 100%. A rather depressing statistic." "Haha. Care to be the first customer?" asked Hope.

"I don't think it's going to go away. So you best get used to it. Ah the luxury of owning my own home," said a smug Crowley. "Melody, I would never dream of doing such a thing," innocently replied Hope.

"You've really done a number on her it seems. Though I'd say I feel a lot happier with soft Mina around than the one I first met on Moebius." "A fail safe most likely. Practically speaking it's a good idea. Though from a ethical standpoint..." Hope gave a nervous laugh.

"Unfortunately she's the only one who'll know. Though I agree just asking her up front would be disastrous. A more subtle approach is necessary. But that can wait for the moment," replied Shadow. "Yes. A much easier exit, And I think this brain scrambler feature needs to go as well."

"Miles," replied Shadow. "Sure am. Hopefully I can build it pretty soon. With a few adjustments of course," said Hope.

"It's all ended fine, so no harm no foul. It'll be nice to not have to worry and finally be able to relax. Well, Shadow won't be. He's already planning his one man manhunt," said Rouge. Hope span around in her chair. "Hi Melody. Glad to hear you're paradox free."

"We already know. Shadow and Crowley were just discussing it. I'm glad to see you two are ok, all things considered," replied Rouge, motioning for them to come up.

"We're up here Melody," yelled Rouge as she stuck her head out of the door.

"The only obstacle is finding him. He could be anywhere. Mina would know, but I doubt she'll be cooperative in giving him up."

Crowley came out of his room to find Shadow's group. "I have some interesting news for you. Skye has protected him and Melody, as well as myself, from paradoxes. And Locke has 'adopted' Mina," he said. Shadow raised an eywbrow. "I see. If only he'd done it sooner. Well you won't have to deal with Mina's advances anymore. Wait... Miles is still here. And with the paradoxes gone I can take care of him once and for all. How convenient," replied Shadow with a grin. "Indeed. It seems things are working out rather nicely for us."

"I think it's time to take my leave. The best of luck to you all," said Crowley before he teleported back to the hotel.

"No thank you Red. I couldn't stand to live here. And I enjoy my career very much."

Crowley smirked to himself at the notion. "Unorthodox problems call for unorthodox solutions I suppose."

"You didn't build it Shadow. You just enslaved the world and the peasants built it for me," said Rouge, still smiling. "Of course I did. Well unfortunately in the real world I won't be doing much enslaving. My apologies for the inconvenience."