..."is...this the way things must be ...?"
I thought to myself as the doctor looked at me.

"... It's simple really.... All I need you to do, is help me dispose of that pesky little hedgehog, bring this city to it's knees, and help me with a new..... Project..."
The doctor explained as he rubbed his hands together with an evil grin.

".... My incentive...?"
I inquired, wanting to know what he could possibly offer me in return for such high demands.

".. Well, you wouldn't remember anything, much like last time.."
He said as he crossed his arms.

"..ngh ...again...? ... What are you talking about....?"
I asked, as I was now curious of what he could possibly mean.

" Exactly! You don't even remember from when I wiped your memory before. You became unstable, having "visions" from your past... So, I assisted you in forgetting them... And then you disappeared"
He explained.

      As the doctor was explaining more and more of what he meant, things began to... Make sense... The voices... The dreams... The headaches.... Chaos... They weren't just an active imagination ... They were memories... Memories from a distant past.

" ... unstable...tch... unstable or useless to you if I remembered my past..?..."
I asked sternly as I glared up at him

" Now now, Shadow.. Don't make such hasty accusations, ehh-heh..."
He said as he clearly became nervous.

" you chose to take the pill after all. All I did was make it for you"
He said, almost as if he was pleading his innocence.

"...a pill.....that could erase memory.....?"
I mumbled to myself.

"...how could I choose to forget everything...?....why would I...?"
I asked myself in my mind.

     The more I began to think about it, the more things....seemed..to make sense. As I tried searching my mind for anything that could give me clues, a headache gradually came to be. I soon found myself shutting my eyes, and pinching the skin between them.

"...how much of my memory is suppressed by the effects of this ..pill... He has created...."
I thought.

"You came to me, looking for an answer on how to...erase it all...and in a sense, "reset" your memory."
The doctor explained with a twisted smile.

        I fought through the headache, and glared up towards the doctor as to focus and..attempt, to understand my supposed past choices.. The more he explained, the more confused I became. Why would I have chosen to become a hollow body and forget...her.....chosen to forget how she saved me.... Chosen to forget ... everything. Nothing made sense... I looked away to the side and allowed my mind to wander yet again, and once more that annoying blue hedgehog entered my mind... Not his person....merely those eyes...and his damn smirk... The mere image of this, caused my fur to slightly stand on end, and my muzzle to...ch-chaos....

"Shadow...shadow! Are you even listening?"
I heard the doctor ask.

    As my ears perked to his question, I shook my head slightly in an attempt to clear it as I rubbed my forehead and turned away from the doctor. Of course I heard his annoying voice... How could I not..? Even if I did choose to forget...it ...wouldn't change what happened between faker and I... Nothing ever will....chaos what would happen if more knew of what took place.... Yet...trusting the doctor...tch... There was no trusting him.... especially with the habitual lies that earned him his reputation... Yet, part of me already wanted to forget...forget it all that I might have a moment of peace. Something to take away this darkness inside...

"....leave me, doctor... "
I said as I began walking, deciding that I needed a moment to...think things over.

"B-but..shadow! You can't remember! "
He said, sounding somewhat panicked.

     I scoffed and continued to walk away.

"...tch....figures...he simply can not afford to have me remember...."
I said to myself as the distance between the doctor and I grew larger and eventually great enough he was gone.

     As I entered a field, the grass that swayed in the breeze came up to my knees. I kept my head somewhat down towards the grass, my eyes watching my feet as I walked. I took this moment to weigh my options, one choice would give me answers... Some that may lead to.... Further encounters with my cobalt counterpart.... The other, would silence it all...and leave me keeping it locked away in the darkest part of me...

"...what do I do...Maria..?"
I asked softly and looked up towards the now star-lit sky.

    As silence continued to surround me, I asked the sky as if I was hoping to hear an answer. Her words ..her lessons... All from what I could remember about her... She told me that one day I would be strong...that I would find someone that would give me what she once did... Someone who....could love me...

"... ch-chaos...."
I mumbled as I felt myself torn in two.

        Forever lost in time...that is what would happen if I chose to forget... Yet if I remember, it becomes the dark of me... She knew that this would happen...she knew I would save this selfish world...she knew I would find someone that would give me what she wanted to. I..I let her die..  why didn't I help her...

     The more I dreamed this same dream of that day...the more I became enraged with myself. I could have broken out...why didn't I even try...? Is...is this what I will feel if I choose to remember..? How long will I play this game and let it burn... Burn deep within me to remember the broken promise that I would protect her... What...what if I let it just...burn down..? Let these memories fade and burn...perhaps I wouldn't feel my heart being ripped from my chest, and my attempts to fill the void would cease... Or do I deserve to live with it due to my failures... To remember..and to watch everything I care for, fade away... helpless to stop it....

"...what ...what if I choose to forget...forget you....forget faker...forget it all...."
I asked the sky once more before lowering my ears and head towards the grass, getting down on my hands and knees as I began to feel fatigued greatly.

      " You need to remember, shad..."
A familiar voice said behind me that caused my ears to perk, heart to skip a beat...and my body to freeze....