Girl vs. mysterious being

Some time passes, Geraldine realises that she recognises the being from somewhere... a dream she once had. But she can never remember the name it was given. The only thing she can remember is its two weaknesses: light and subtlety. Or at least that's what she thinks. As for Shadow, he notices his left-hand gauntlet sparkling the same as what Geraldine's bracelet did. He puts it on and sees Geraldine (known as Sapphire in his world).

"Sapphire, can you hear me?" Shadow asks

"Hey, there. How are you talking to me?" Geraldine greets and asks

"My left-hand gauntlet. No time to explain. The enemy you're facing…"

"Yeah, the one from a previous dream. Why, what's different about it?"

"The weaknesses it had before, will be its strengths. You'll need to find the midpoint of the old weaknesses to find the new ones."

"You mean, the middle of light and dark… and the middle of obvious and subtle."

"Yes, if those are the weaknesses it had."

"I think I know what they are. Thank you, Shadow."

"It's all good. Now, hurry! Before your current location gets destroyed."

"Okay, goodbye for now."

"Goodbye, good luck!"

The moving images stop from both sides, and Geraldine realises that one midpoint is going to be a challenge to find, light and dark. Of which is an umbra.

'The light and dark midpoint must be lighting related. I need to find a way to get the lighting in the middle of light and dark, somehow.' Geraldine thinks to herself

Hours pass, and the first weakness is working... not knowing. The second weakness has been found but isn't a physical condition; of which Geraldine comes to realise.

'This isn't a physical thing. It must be a psychological thing.' Geraldine thinks out loud

As the surroundings get louder, Geraldine's ears are temporarily deactivated. Until her father speaks.

"Geraldine! Click your fingers!" Geraldine's father shouts

Geraldine clicks her fingers and a piece of paper appears. It reads: 'The mind of this beast is a stubborn, but fragile kind. Use these words to activate its defeating umbra: Light and dark have come together, do the bidding, and destroy thou. Remember to look this monster in the eyes when saying this chant.'

'Well, that's new. I didn't know it had eyes.' Geraldine thinks to herself

The monster soon looks Geraldine in the eyes. Geraldine soon takes her opportunity to destroy this monster.

"Okay, three… two… one… Light and dark have come together, do the bidding and destroy thou." Geraldine says her words

After the chant, the midpoint that was missing joins forces with the other weakness and defeats the monster as it tries to evade the attack. Soon, Geraldine's magic is made stronger.

'Wait, do these chants contain some form of magical power?' Geraldine asks herself, in bewilderment

Geraldine soon realises that she needs to return to her home.

"Geraldine, get out of the city... and fast!" Geraldine's father instructs

Geraldine is already on her way before her father said his words. She gets near her homeland.

"Right, now to change back. My duty is done, and my time has come to leave. Return me back, to my new state of body and mind." Geraldine says her words

Geraldine soon returns to her Sapphire self. Now Sapphire, she returns home unaware of her latest physical changes. Shadow sees Sapphire. Night has fallen, and the others are asleep.

"Hey, there Shadow." Sapphire greets

"Hello, Sapphire. How was it out there?" Shadow greets and asks

"Intense, for a first. What are you looking at?"

Shadow points to his head, as to say, 'feel your hair'. Sapphire touches her head, to notice two differences, where her ears are and her hair. Of which is no longer the keratin softness that she's used to. Instead, spines take its place.

"Okay, I know this isn't you. But what is happening?" Sapphire says and asks

"I've no idea. But keep it down." Shadow answers and instructs

"Oh, they're sleeping. Should've guessed that. Sorry about that."

"Nonetheless, you need sleep. That's one thing I can't lie about."

"You're right. Let's head back to where we both belong."

The pair reach the remote part in the homeland.

"Do you want to stay with me tonight?" Shadow asks

"Are you sure?" Sapphire asks, in bewilderment and uncertainty

"Yes, I'm certain."

Shadow, standing in front of Sapphire, puts out his hand as to say, 'take hold, come with me'. Sapphire takes hold of Shadow's hand and he pulls her forward to get her to keep up. The pair go to Shadow's place and spend the night there. Oblivious, to the fact that a pink hedgehog, who goes by the name Amy, was watching and listening to their whole encounter. Up until when they held hands.

'This is gonna make great gossip tomorrow.' Amy thinks to herself, holding in her excitement

Morning comes, and Shadow is the first to awaken. He soon hears his name in Amy's part in the conversation

'Wait, was my name said just then?' Shadow asks himself

Shadow soon decides to go out and listen, leaving Sapphire alone, asleep. Shadow, fed up with hiding, decides to join the others. Soon after he joins them, bickering starts.

"What's going on?" Shadow asks, starting to become paranoid

"Nothing, just talking. Why are you here?" Tails asks

"I heard my name. That's all."

Soon, something slips out of one of the inhabitant's mouths, prompting Shadow's anger and paranoia to expose themselves. As for Sapphire, she wakes up in all the noise and goes to see what's going on. Shadow is soon storming off to his home.

"Shadow, what's happened?" Sapphire asks

"Someone's been watching us last night. The one who's been doing that has been exposed." Shadow answers

"I had a feeling that someone was watching us. Who was it?"

"You see that pink hedgehog over there? She's Amy, the one that's been watching us last night."

"Let me take care of this. That hedgehog will get my mind in a fist form!"

Sapphire soon storms towards Amy, with Shadow trying to keep up; attempting to protect his lover.

"Sapphire, wait! Think about this. This isn't you!" Shadow warns, with Sapphire not listening

"Hey, Amy!" Sapphire shouts, angered at the hedgehog that's pink

'Sapphire looks different to before. But, how?' Tails thinks to himself

"You've got explaining to do!" Sapphire shouts

Sapphire approaches Amy. Angered, she pins her down on the ground.

"Now, I had a feeling that someone was watching Shadow and I last night. To know it was you, is one thing. Now, let me say this. Don't put your nose, eyes, or ears into business where you're not wanted. Is that understood?" Sapphire says

Sapphire soon comes to her senses and realises that she's never usually like this. She lets Amy out of her grasp, unaware of Amy's anger from being pinned down. Sapphire and Amy angrily gaze into each other's eyes. Shadow and a blue hedgehog, known as Sonic, both know where this is going to lead. Soon, a fight breaks out and the two hedgehogs join forces to break the two girls up. Shadow pulls Sapphire away from Amy, and Sonic pulls Amy away from Sapphire. For some time shouting and pulling away, the two hedgehogs' teamwork pays off, leaving them exhausted. Soon, a cat, known as Blaze, intervenes.

"You two girls need to go your separate ways. Sapphire, go to your place. Amy, head on back to where you belong. Do it, both of you!" Blaze says and instructs

After this, Amy and Sapphire go their separate ways. Sapphire storms off to Shadow's home. Shadow, being exhausted, is slow to catch up. Sapphire reaches Shadow's home. Angered and not feeling like herself, she makes a mess of Shadow's belongings, screaming.

She soon sits in a clear spot, nearest the furthest wall in the home. Her magic soon gets her to click her fingers. A piece of paper appears. This one reads: 'When out of control and feeling insane, use these words to form a protective barrier from the outer world 'Light, dark, and powers of favour, protect mine own fragile soul'

"Light, dark, and powers of favour, protect mine own fragile soul? What does this do, and what language am I even speaking?" Sapphire says and asks

As for Shadow and Sonic, they shake hands before Shadow decides to go back to his home.

"It's good to see you again." Shadow says

"Same to you, Shadow. You'd better get back to your place. I've just heard something." Sonic agrees and informs

"Thank you. Goodbye, for now."

"See you later, Shadow."

Shadow goes back home, to notice that it's a mess. As for Sapphire, a force field has shown up around her.

"Sapphire, what's going on?" Shadow asks, with growing concern

"That's unknown, is all I can say. All I know is, my fingers clicked, a piece of paper with a chant showed up, I said the words and this thing shows up. The mess, I'll explain later." Sapphire says, trying to lower her panic, with no avail

Shadow goes about touching the field, getting pushed back as a result.

"Is there a way to bring this thing down?" Shadow asks

'Sapphire, click your fingers. That's the only way to find out' A father-sounding voice says, psychologically

Sapphire clicks her fingers; another piece of paper appears. It reads: 'When the feelings are gone, and things are neutral, say these words to bring the barrier down 'The soul o' how fine, bring down your barrier with powers of thou oath'

"Say the words, like you did the last one." Shadow instructs

Sapphire breathes, to calm down her composure.

"The soul o' how fine, bring down your barrier with powers of thou oath." Sapphire says her words

With the words of the chant, the field comes down. Shadow still has his growing concerns.

"Sapphire, explain the mess. This isn't like you." Shadow says, keeping calm

"I was angry, not thinking before I went and messed up your things. My apologies." Sapphire says, trying to hide her regret, failing terribly

"I'll come to you; or try to, given the mess around."

Shadow, after going over item upon item, manages to reach Sapphire, and gets down to her level. Shadow notices the regret in Sapphire's face.

"Hey, Sapphire. What's going on?" Shadow greets and asks, taking care to not raise Sapphire's regret any further

"I don't know what's come over me. All I know is, that I've probably already lost a friend, before I've even had a conversation with them." Sapphire answers, very soon becoming silent

"Who is…?"

"A two-tailed fox. That's all I remember, their attributes. We were close to being friends when we talked briefly before. I doubt he'll want to be friends now, given that altercation."

"Hold on, I know who you mean. Wait there, I'll be back."

Shadow soon leaves to find Tails, or as Sapphire referred to him as, 'two-tailed fox'. He finds Tails and goes to him. As for Sapphire, with partial regret, she begins to clean up her mess... and soon stops, as she hears footsteps. She is soon frozen in one spot, noticing Shadow with Tails; the being that she referred to.

"Is this the one you're referring to?" Shadow asks, pointing to Tails

"Yes, he's the one. How did you guess?" Sapphire asks Shadow

"Two-tailed fox. There's only one of those, that's me. I remember you, Sapphire, the girl from months ago. Do you remember me?" Tails answers in Shadow's place and asks

"I remember your physical attributes. That's all I remember. I can't really bring a name to mind, or voice."

"You referred to Tails. That's who you were talking about, and who I went out to find. Of whom, is the one I'm stood next to." Shadow says, remembering Sapphire's amnesia from when she didn't sleep

"Tails? Oh, yeah. I remember you. You said you helped Shadow out when I passed out that one time, when I first arrived here. Thank you for that; even if I couldn't say it before."

"It's good. That's what friends are for, after all."

"Wait, we're friends; after that fight?"

"Yeah, I don't see why not. Amy's always getting her tail into where it's not wanted. So, her ideas backfire and her tail's the one that gets pulled."

"In my instance, she got angered after I pinned her down. I wasn't thinking in all of it either, to be honest." Sapphire makes her admission

"I don't think anyone of the three of you were. Referring to you, Shadow and Amy here."

"I'll admit, I definitely wasn't when I walked away from the scene." Shadow admits

"But after that, you came to your senses and stopped. Then, you got involved when you did."

Sapphire soon remembers everything before the most recent events. From living in the city and moving to her new home, to finding Shadow. Overwhelmed by her sudden regain of memory, she leaves Shadow's home; to find somewhere more remote and quiet. Shadow stays put, noticing how overwhelmed Sapphire is... for what reason, he finds unclear.

"Hey, Shadow. Is everything alright with Sapphire?" Tails asks

"I don't know. She did seem overwhelmed when she left. Like she's remembered something. But how can I tell?" Shadow answers and asks

"You're Sapphire's boyfriend and know her better than I do. After all, she seems to tell you everything, not leaving out a detail. I'm not gonna dive too deep. I don't know what you two get up to, and it's not my place to get involved."

"Thank you, for not getting involved. It helps us both out."

"It's alright. Where is she from?"

"Sapphire came from the city, seeking somewhere new to live; of what it seemed when she arrived."

"When she first came here, all those months ago?"

"Yes, that's the admission that I'm going to make."

As for Sapphire, she's sat near a quieter edge of her homeland; trying to work out how she remembered everything so suddenly.

'How did I manage to do that? My life before and after the city… those memories, that pain. But, just how?' Sapphire asks herself, confused

Sapphire's magic soon gets her to click her fingers. Two pieces of paper appear. One reads: 'When in battle, and help is needed use these words; with your other half, to get what's needed 'The battle rages, the sounds are loud, these words o' great strength, do thou bidding'. The second reads: 'When the enemy attacks, and you only have minutes to spare, use these words, also with your other half to bring up protection, for justice 'Powers o' great and majestic, the attacks so fierce protect our souls from the harm'

'Wait, what are these even needed for? Oh, does this mean that Shadow is needed for something? I can only wait at this point.' Sapphire thinks out loud

Sapphire soon gets a very painful, pounding headache, like the chants are being injected into her brain. As for Shadow, he soon gets the same headache. Sapphire soon returns to Shadow's home.

"Tails, could you get back to the others?" Sapphire asks

"Sure thing. I'll see you both around." Tails says his goodbye

"Goodbye for now, Tails." Shadow says

Tails leaves to join the others. Sapphire and Shadow are soon stood in front of one another.

"Sapphire, what's going on? I've just had this headache, as if something were being forced into my brain." Shadow asks and explains, stressed

"I don't know. I clicked my fingers, two pieces of paper came up, I read the words in my head and then this pounding headache came along. I felt the same as you but didn't expect you to be affected." Sapphire admits, trying to calm her nerves

"All I can work out; is these chants I've got in my head are attacks of some form. But, why do I need them?"

"It said on the pieces of paper that I've got to say the words with my other half. I'm guessing it's referring to you."

"But, why do I need them and what are they?"

"I don't know. That's what I'm trying to find out."

Oblivious to what the turn of events will be, Sapphire and Shadow decide to go out and join the others; for a while, at most. After some hours with the others, the pair go home and turn in.