New world, same... friends?

The story starts in village square, where Sapphire and Team-Sonic-Knuckles-whichever-one are hanging out. Having not seen Shadow in a while, Sapphire is constantly hiding away whenever she gets a chance. Everyone, excluding Amy Rose, thinks nothing of it. Sapphire soon teleports back to the cave she stays in for solitude, somewhere the others are unaware of.

Then, a spread-out spiral of magic flies around Sapphire and takes her to Shadow's location. Sapphire is quickly trying to return home, for Shadow to notice her.

"Hey, are you alright?" Shadow asks

"I don't know. It's Sonic and his friends. Well, excluding Amy. It feels as though they don't care." Sapphire answers, lowering her ears

"Wait, what makes Amy different?"

"She's always been there, through thick and thin. Unlike the rest, Amy's always been loyal and concerned about how I'm feeling, why I keep hiding away… stuff like that."

"Babe, that's a real friend."

Sapphire then goes into Shadow's open arms, nuzzling into his chest fur.

"I know, bae. I don't know about the others, though..."

"Just wait and find out. You'll know if they're real friends when a disaster comes around." Shadow then adds, "I've a question."

"Go ahead."

"Why won't you tell your friends about me?"

"You're their rival; if they found out, they'd freak out."

"Back to the point of real friends, a real friend won't freak out or judge who their friends choose to date."

Soon, Amy appears behind Sapphire. Shadow notices.

"Sapph, behind you."

Sapphire turns around, noticing Amy and lowering her ears.

"Oh, hey Ames..." Sapphire greets, nervously

"Hey, bestie. Are you dating Shadow?" Amy greets, asking

"Umm... yeah, that's right."

"Look, I'm perfectly fine with it. But Sonic and Co. will freak out."

"I know that."

"Is that why you've been hiding away?"

"Yes, it is, sorry Ames."

Amy then hugs Sapphire, rubbing her back.

"Sapphie listen, I won't say a word and I'd never use that as a reason to betray you. From what I can see, Shadow's treating you right and that's what you need."

Shadow then approaches Amy, putting his hand out.

"Nice to meet you again, Amy Rose." Shadow greets

Amy gets out of the hug and shakes Shadow's hand.

"Same to you, Shadow." Amy responds

As for Sonic, Sticks, Tails and Knuckles, they're at Sonic's shack as they notice Amy missing.

"Hey, where's Ames?" Tails asks

"Dunno, probably with that loser named Sapphire." Sonic answers, seemingly not caring

"Hey, that's not nice! I'm gonna go and find the girls."

Tails then teleports to Amy's location, to notice Sapphire with Shadow. Amy notices Tails.

"Hey, Tails. What're you doing here?" Amy greets, asking

"I came looking for you and Sapphire. Sonic, Sticks and Knuckles aren't really bothered about where you both are. Wait, isn't this Shadow's home?" Tails responds, asking

"Yes, it is..." Sapphire answers

"Can you explain what's going on?"

"I'm Shadow's girlfriend and have been hiding it for the past two years. I didn't wanna say anything 'cos we were with Sonic all the time."

Tails then pieces things together, coming to terms with the situation.

"How come you didn't tell me?"

"I thought you'd freak out, like Sonic and the other two."

"No way, Sapphire. I've always wanted to be your friend, like you are with Amy. I don't care who you date, as long as you're happy."

"Really?"

"Yeah, the other three couldn't care less about where you are. As long as Amy is safe."

"The fact that they don't care about Sapphire and her welfare, is damaging and concerning in itself." Shadow responds

"Nonetheless, just please don't say anything to those three." Sapphire pleads, lowering her ears

"We won't, you have our word." Amy and Tails say in unison, giving a small salute

"Thanks, I think it's time we all headed home."

"I'll see you soon, babe." Shadow says

Sapphire quickly kisses Shadow, hugging him simultaneously. The two then part.

"See you later, Shads."

Sapphire, Amy, and Tails teleport back home, to notice Sonic, Sticks and Knuckles staring at them, unimpressed.

"Where were you?" Sonic asks, aiming at Amy and Tails

"Out, comforting Sapphire, like true friends should." Amy responds, getting pissed off

"Sapphire has been really upset lately. All she wants is someone to be friends with and talk to." Tails adds on

'You're both forgetting something...' Sapphire thinks

"There's more to this." Sonic says

Sapphire is silent. Then…

"Yes, there is! I don't feel like a part of this group, the only ones you three seem to care about are Amy, Tails, and yourselves. Also, anytime I say something, none of you tend to listen. You're not acting like friends; real friends don't do this!" Sapphire admits, losing all composure

The group is quickly silenced as Sapphire teleports back to her house on the other side of town, locking the front door and going to sleep on her couch. As for Shadow, he senses something wrong with Sapphire and teleports to her. He notices Sapphire fast asleep and moves her to her bed. After placing Sapphire on her bed, Shadow sits next to the bed and falls asleep.

After a few hours, Sapphire awakens and hears gentle snoring. She looks beside her bed, to see Shadow fast asleep. Sapphire goes down to Shadow's level, admiring him as he sleeps. Sapphire then goes into her walk-in closet, picks a dress, and uses magic to change into it. She then puts on a pair of matching flats, walks out of the closet and to the upstairs hallway. Looking around, she walks around and then goes downstairs.

As for Amy, she's in a bitter argument with Sonic and Knuckles, with Tails sitting on the side-lines.

"Why are we arguing about Sapphire again?!" Sonic asks, pissed off

"When will you get it into your head that you, Knucks and Sticks are hurting her?! Until you do, I won't stop!" Amy shouts back, also pissed off

"Amy's right, Sonic. I never wanted to join you, I only ever wanted to impress you. I don't have to do that with Sapphire. Your actions are rubbing off onto the others." Tails points out, reading his book

"For the past two years, Sapphire has been loyal, caring, considerate, accepting. All you three are doing, is throwing it back in her face and dismissing her good actions. I don't even know how you could do something like that." Amy then adds "Like they say, treat a woman right, she won't complain. You three are doing the complete opposite."

"That's to do with relationships, Amy Rose! Wait, what are you implying?"

"I don't know, what're you inferring?"

"That Sapphire's seeing someone and is scared to tell us." Knuckles responds

"Ding, ding! Look who's right, for once. Also, that applies to friendships too. So, think about that. I'm going to see Sapphire. I'll see you later."

Amy then storms out to Sapphire's house. As for Sapphire, she's downstairs with Shadow hugging her from behind.

"You look beautiful, baby." Shadow compliments

"Thanks, Shads. I'd say the same about you." Sapphire responds

Shadow then kisses Sapphire's cheek, making her blush. Then, the front door knocks. Sapphire answers the door, noticing Amy and invites her inside. Amy then sees Shadow and the two lock eyes, one pissed off and about to cry (Amy) the other, concerned about how sudden they've come over (Shadow). Sapphire approaches them, confused at what's going on.

"Amy, are you okay?" Sapphire asks

Amy turns to Sapphire, racing to hug her.

"What's happened?"

"Sonic, the three that are dismissing you. Argh!" Amy responds, getting pissed off again

"What did Sonic say?" Shadow asks

"It was his lack of a reaction when I pointed out what he, Knuckles and Sticks are doing to your girlfriend."

"Doesn't he know how to treat a woman?"

"It doesn't look it. Guess what's worse? His actions are rubbing off onto Knucks and Sticks!"

"All I know is, I don't need this again." Sapphire responds

"What do you mean again?" Amy asks, suddenly calming down

Sapphire freezes for a moment. Then...

"I was mistreated by my mother when I was small. Because of me being a hybrid."

"So, getting mistreated by the others is reminding you of how your mother treated you, right?"

"Yeah, that's right. What happened when I was small, developed trust issues within me over time. It took me a year and a half to ask Shadow out; in secret, may I add."

As this is said, Sapphire lowers her ears. Amy looks at Shadow, both thinking the same thing; Sapphire deserves better than what she's getting. Sapphire then breaks away from the group and teleports upstairs.

"What can be done?" Amy asks

"If you and Tails want, you could live with me. I'll bring Sapphire too." Shadow offers

"I'm the only one they care about, along with Tails. They'll go out and look for us. All three of us are caught in this, with no way out."

Shadow quickly realises the difficult situation that Sapphire, Amy and Tails are in. As for Tails, he's still with Sonic as the said hedgehog has been pacing around ever since Amy left.

"How could she say that?!" Sonic asks, pissed off

"What Amy's said is right, every single word. From what I can work out, Sapphire's been through a hard time and doesn't want history repeating itself. I know that if I was in her position, I wouldn't want that either." Tails responds

Soon after, Sticks comes in, rushing around with Knuckles close behind.

"Quick, Eggman's attackin' the village!" Sticks shouts, then... "Where's Amy?"

"She's gone to Sapphire's house, because of someone's egomania." Tails answers

"Wait, she lives on the other side of town!" Sonic responds

"Well, you should've thought about your words before opening your mouth, blue pincushion!"

Sonic and Tails then evilly glare at each other. Then...

"With Amy or not, we gotta fight Eggman!"

Sonic, Sticks, Knuckles and Tails race, to find Eggman destroying the village for some reason. Without any knowledge, one of Eggman's camera bots is recording Sonic's movements.

"What are you doing here, Egghead?" Sonic asks, unimpressed

"Well, if it isn't Sonic the Hedgehog. Where's that snivelling girlfriend of yours?" Eggman taunts

"She's not my girlfriend! Back to why you're here."

"Why are you here, Eggman?" A voice asks

Everyone turns to see Sapphire, walking towards Eggman with Amy's hammer. Sonic then storms towards Sapphire, in a fit of rage.

"Where's Amy?!" Sonic asks, angry

"One, that's none of your concern; two, she's an independent woman who can care for herself. Now, get back to your friends and stay away from me." Sapphire responds

As for Shadow and Amy, they're upstairs in Sapphire's house as they notice silence downstairs. Looking at each other and concerned, they go downstairs and notice both Sapphire, and Amy's hammer missing. Amy lowers her ears, quickly working out where Sapphire's gone.

"Sapphire's in the village square." Amy says, bluntly

"We need to find her." Shadow responds

"Not a good idea, you'll end up in a fight with Sonic and Sapphire will try breaking you both up."

"I'll keep an eye on things here; you head to the village square."

"It'll take me too long to get there. Transport me to my house and I'll find her from there."

Shadow nods and takes hold of Amy, teleporting to Amy's house.

"Thank you, I'll see you later."

Shadow blinks as acknowledgement and teleports back to Sapphire's house as Amy goes out, noticing Sonic and Sapphire in the middle of fighting each other.

"Why would I get away from you?! You took Amy!" Sonic shouts

"No, I didn't; I invited her into my residence, there is a huge difference, you blue pincushion!" Sapphire reacts back

Sapphire then whacks the hammer on the ground, the impact moving Sonic a fair distance away from her.

"How did you do that?!"

"Please, I've seen Amy use it enough times."

"You're always in hiding, navy blue freak!"

"Excuse me?! What did you just call me?!"

"You heard me, Hawthorne!"

Sapphire then swings the hammer, screaming a battle cry and hitting Sonic's arm. Sonic holds his arm, giving in.

"Never ever call me a freak again. Got that?"

Sonic nods, getting back to the others. Tails shakes his head at the said hedgehog.

"You should've seen that coming, Sonic." Tails scolds

"Yeah, I don't need an earful from an eight-year-old." Sonic responds, defeated and throwing shade

Sapphire then hands Amy her hammer back and teleports back home. Furious, Sapphire storms upstairs to her bedroom, for Shadow to notice. Cautiously, Shadow goes to Sapphire's bedroom, to see the door closed and listens closely; hearing something break against the door, making him jump slightly. He then opens the door, seeing Sapphire across the room and cautiously approaches her.

As for Sonic and the others, they're fighting Eggman. After battling and hitting Eggman into the horizon, the group disband and go to their respective homes. Oblivious to the future, everyone waits things out.