She had nothing to worry about, as she found him dispatching the last remnants of the black creatures into dust. He dusted his arms and arms a little bit, surveying the area before spotting the pink hedgehog from afar. "Did you get the others to safety already?"

"For something as simple as that? Hmph. It's not a big deal. Nothing to amount for gratitude." His tone remained lower, but there was no hint of aggression or annoyance like he'd usually be with the blue hedgehog. "But whatever floats your boat, blue hedgehog."

"Isn't that always the case?" Despite some differences, he could see some traits that the blue hedgehog never fails to lose. A hint of a huff comes out of the darker hedgehog's lips, followed by a raise of his eyebrow. "Why are you thanking me for?"

He's not sure what drives the blue hedgehog to do more of these, let alone alongside someone like him. The only thing these two hedgehogs would do is compete with one another or team up to take down a worldly threat. This is quite different. A sigh would escape his lips. "Do what you want."

"Hmph. It depends on how you do it." So there's a possibility it won't be that negative from the darker hedgehog's perspective. At least he's now scowling as much like the usual.

"You really do give off a strange vibe to yourself, Sonic." Not that it was a bad thing, but something unexpected. The dark hedgehog remains stoic as opposed to the smiling blue hedgehog. "I'll think about it."

He responds first with numerous blinking with his eyelids, before speaking. "You're starting to sound like your merry friends." A short raise of his eyebrow at him, this Sonic variant proves to be a lot different when it comes to his personality.

For a while he took numerous sips, as if he was ignoring the blue hedgehog's words, but he eventually sets his mug down. Without gazing towards the blue hedgehog, he starts speaking. "Sightseeing? Why that?"

♜ rook ♜ I'd like to know what happened too. I was busy for a while. Came back to see their account gone.

Another one lost. ... He couldn't explain what happened. Her existence just snapped out of thin air. It's happening again. ... Dammit.

"Brush your hair...if what I did last time was fine, then I'll do it." He still hasn't really learned much on how to groom one's hair, let alone a human's. Hopefully his hands won't be too rough on messing up her hair.

Always thankful. Always grateful. Even from another world, it always amazed him how that trait of hers always stays the same. It definitely made sense how anyone would fight for her sake. Even the likes of someone as cold as he was. "...Of course. Anything for you."

With her words, he went out of the room to get her breakfast. In a few minutes, the dark hedgehog emerged into the room, with two sandwiches unto a tray he was holding. Motioning towards the bed, he placed the tray just in front of Maria. The scent of the eggs wafting into the air within the --

There was no time to idle, within the dark hedgehog's perspective. These alien creatures. He has seen them before. They have this odd DNA that he has extracted before. They have relations to him. He starts moving and taking most of them down, allowing more of the townsfolk to head over to a --

"I don't want to make it worse, so I'll just bring the food here. Don't worry I can stay here as you eat, unless you want otherwise." He didn't want to move her too much, afraid it'll make her condition worse, but if she desires it, he'll go along with it. After all, her happiness is worth it.

"...Something?" Now he wasn't really hungry, but in a way if he's going to try and keep up with trying to find a cure for her, he'll have to keep up some strength to keep going. So in a sense, he'd eventually accept it slowly, for Maria's sake. "...If you insist..."

"Then you should have thought about my words earlier. You were reckless. This is what happens when the timeline goes unbalanced." This disaster could have been prevented, but it's here now and there's no use to even giving her any more reminders of her faults. "The threats are still lurking --

He wasn't sure how much to react, so he continued to give that blank expression, though it felt really odd when she does that. But with how she is, maybe it made sense. She couldn't see his face with her eyesight getting worse right? He can't keep idling a lot here. There's not much time. --

The dark hedgehog was already standing next to her, seemingly to be the savior for her. It almost replicated a certain blue hedgehog, except there was no sassy remark, just pure concentrated will to do his job. "...Now isn't the time to be thinking about that. Check on more survivors. I didn't --

Normally he'd find this interaction to be weird if anyone else does it to him, being appalled. But when it's Maria, he seems to stay still, not feeling any sort of disgust from it. "...I'm doing just fine...I should be asking you that. How are you feeling...?"

He never tried to cook in his life before, this was probably the only time he was practicing the culinary arts, because he has to make sure Maria is well fed. "...Alright?" He approached the blonde girl, sitting by the edge of the bed next to her.

It was starting to dawn on her what kind of threats could already endanger her. Shadow did warn her so many times, but she never really thought about it. Perhaps this could be the sign for her to think about Shadow's words carefully? Everything was in flames, her peaceful word going into --

He didn't want to explain it further, not wanting Maria to be concerned, she should just focus on herself. "Just the egg sandwiches." It was easy to do, and he didn't feel like doing the soup one yet, but he should learn it, it would be healthy for her.

"...A lot of it links to the so called "Ultimate Lifeform." He always words it that way, never liking the wording at all. Maybe it's the fact he never really spoke to the professor about it. "I need to go deeper into that project. What it's about. It apparently is the key to your cure."

Shadow was busy getting some food ready, normally Maria does it herself, but her illness was getting worse. So now he has to at least make her something. He'd peer over to the room to see her rising up from the bed. "Oh. You're awake. I got something for you so give me a few more minutes."

And the concept that the blue hedgehog doesn't try to force anything unto him. Way too relaxed, not as annoying as the one he remembers. It'll take time for him to process that all in. Shadow doesn't say much as their drinks were served, before taking his mug of coffee first, silently sipping.

"....." That just made him feel bad for her even more, though a determined expression took over the concern on his face. "I will fulfill that promise, you'll get better..." He'd raise his hand and pats her right on the head. "I'll be back soon..." With her confirmation, he wastes no time. --

He really should keep a better eye on him. Just to be sure.

"...Hmph. Those better be true. I'm still keeping my eye on you." He barely even knows who he was, what his intentions are, but they seem to be just genuine friendliness, still it kept him still on guard. It was just how the dark hedgehog was. Crimson orbs continue to glow in a glaring fashion. --

He was so confused as the blonde girl was just gently caressing the features of his face. Once she was done, he's just left with a puzzled expression. "...What were you doing...?"

In the distance, the fire was spreading, townsfolk were evacuating the burning buildings. The dark hedgehog heads over to see a bunch of creatures terrorizing the lands. He wastes no time heading for that direction, halting the progress of whatever invasion this is.

"...Are you sure?" He had to confirm, he could still remember her being unconscious outside, of course she wouldn't be able to walk but still, it just gives him more anxiety. "...Holding my hand? Sure..." He motioned his hand slowly towards her, allowing her to take grasp of it.

As they pass, there were lots of folks running off. Fire was spreading throughout. Some were leaving their houses and buildings to escape the onslaught. What was attacking them? It was yet to be revealed, but Shadow didn't waste time idling by. This was one of those situations that needed --

He slowly placed the guitar back next to her on the bed, before gazing towards Maria. "...Will you be alright by yourself for a bit? I won't be gone for too long." He knows he has to find the cure, but he also had to make sure that she was okay at the same time. It was a struggle to mix both.

"...Idiot. Don't inhale the smoke." He pulled a cloth from his person and tossed it to her side, most probably to use it and cover her mouth and nose to prevent. "If you wanted to save them, then you wouldn't be telling yourself to head back to the otherworld. Now come on!" --

That really felt weird, but not in a bad way. To think he still had the skills to even play the old thing. It's like it never left him, despite how long it's been ago. For a while he could only stare at the blonde girl, in silence. She was encouraging him to keep playing. "....." --

It took a him a few seconds to process it a little bit, before he puts his mug by the desk, and moves over to pick up the guitar, setting it on his lap. The feeling as soon as he gets his hands upon the guitar felt like...nostalgia. Almost as if he was taken back by a millennia ago. He took a --

To think he'd be trying it out again, after who knows how long it's been? However maybe the music might put her at ease too. He turns around to look at the worn old guitar perched on the corner of the room. "...If you insist, I could give it a try once more."

Maybe one day he'll find something that he'd enjoy consuming aside from the coffee beverage. "...Yes. It was a long time ago though." That explains its old age. He was holding unto something like that for quite a while. "Something like that." It definitely explains why he had it, but not why --

"...I doubt there's something out there that I'd like besides coffee..." He doesn't feel that ashamed that this was the only drink he likes, or anything that he consumes. Does he even eat food? There was a brief pause from him when she asked him that question. "...I bought it."

"...I told you, you'd dislike it." That was to be expected, not everyone likes the strong bitter taste of plain black coffee, he continued to take a sip from his mug before continuing. "I did. It was completely disgusting." At least for him, as his eyebrows furrowed in disgust.