shadamyheadcanons

[shadamyheadcanons]

Total Recall

For the 2025 Shadamy week prompt: Forgotten. Kindly beta’d by the lovely @shadowsfascination.

Shadow wakes up in an unfamiliar bed with amnesia and finds that a vaguely familiar pink hedgehog took him in, promising to take care of him until he remembers everything. He keeps a journal while he’s there so he can at least remember some things over time. 5.8K words.

Cross-posted on AO3.

Day 1

I woke up this morning with a splitting headache, a bump on my head, and not a single memory of how it happened...or who I was. Who anyone was. I must’ve grunted in pain, because a pink hedgehog dashed into the room to check on me. She was fretting and worrying over me, but I couldn’t really focus.

She introduced herself as Amy and said we were friends, but I don’t know. She feels more important than that, somehow. She must mean something else to me. Whatever it is, it must be positive, because I instantly felt better once I saw her. Safer.

Amy promised she’d take care of me until I got my memories back, and she gave me this journal so I could write things down as I remembered them. When I asked her why she’s helping me, she said she’s always there when a friend needs her. She also mentioned she felt guilty, but she wouldn’t tell me why.

Day 2

The stabbing pain in my head this morning was just as bad as yesterday, maybe worse. I couldn’t even leave bed, so she fed me soup and pet my head for a while. It felt...nice. I kind of want to fib and tell her I need to stay in bed more often, but the idea of lying to her makes me feel sick for some reason.

Day 3

I tried walking around the house today, but I was too dizzy to make it far. Luckily, Amy was there to help guide me to a seat in her kitchen, and she talked to me while we ate lunch, telling stories about all our friends. A couple of names sounded vaguely familiar, but the details escaped me. She didn’t seem to mind.

When I asked if looking after me was a nuisance, Amy instantly denied it, saying it’s nice to have someone else around for a change. Apparently, she used to live with her friend Cream, but then Cream moved back in with her mother, leaving Amy by herself.

It looked like she was trying really hard not to look sad. I wonder if she’s lonely. Maybe I’m lonely, too.

I told her I liked being with her here so far, and she looked really happy. I think I’ll mention that more often.

Day 5

I remembered something today. She was playing music while she made us breakfast. I recognized the chords, the words, the tone...I spoke some of the words, then sang a few lines as the lyrics came to me.

Amy was thrilled. She instantly perked up and started talking a mile a minute about the band—Hot Honey, she called them—and how she’d brought me to a concert with her, how much fun we’d had together, how much I liked it. She played song after song of theirs, excitedly chattering away.

But I didn’t understand. I told her that although I recognized the songs, I didn’t like them.

I wish I hadn’t done that. She went quiet and looked really sad.

I wanted to make her feel better, so I admitted that although I didn’t really like the songs, they felt meaningful. Important. She smiled a little.

She hasn’t played Hot Honey since then.

It was grating. It was sappy.

But I kind of miss it anyway.

Day 6

Not too much happened today. My head’s been feeling better and I can walk now, so Amy said we can go out tomorrow.

I noticed she had blankets and a pillow set up in another room, so I asked if she always slept there. She said it was just temporary, that she usually sleeps in the bed I’m using. She told me she was fine sleeping there and it wasn’t a problem, but I don’t know. It looks uncomfortable to me. I told her there was probably enough room for both of us in the bed if we slept close enough, but her face went bright red, and she got all flustered and said no.

Not sure what that’s about, but I kind of want to see her do it again.

Day 7

I’m apparently a fan of flowers, so she took me out to a public garden today. She must be right, because I remembered all of their names—lilacs, azaleas, rhododendrons, magnolias. It’s weird what my brain hangs onto; little facts are fine, but whenever I try to think of details about people or my past, it’s like there’s this weird bubble in the back of my head stopping me. If I try to push it, I get this sense of wrongness, like I’m snooping somewhere I shouldn’t be.

But flowers are easy. I even told her scraps I remembered about their supposed “symbolism,” whatever that means, and she looked happier and happier the more I shared. Memories came back in bits and pieces: times when I’d seen each flower for the first time, the books I’ve scoured to learn more, the feeling of soil passing through my fingers, and the joy of raising my own flowers and watching them bloom. Upon remembering I had a garden myself, I immediately stopped and asked Amy about it. Luckily, she’d asked a friend of hers, Silver, to look after it while I was under the weather. She really does think of everything.

Halfway through, she spotted some bright yellow daffodils and gasped. She brightened up and told me I gave her a bouquet of them once to cheer her up. I can’t remember doing that, but the smile on her face was warm and familiar. If she always looks that way when she gets flowers, I’ll have to get them for her more often.

At the end, she lamented that it was too early in the year for lavender, saying those were my favorites. But I don’t think they actually are. They aren’t right now, at least. I pointed to a patch of roses we’d already passed and said those were my favorites, especially the red ones. She looked confused, but then she smiled again and told me she loved them, too, and that “Rose” is her last name.

It suits her.

On a whim, I asked if I could call her that, and her eyes widened. She smiled shyly and agreed. Her cheeks were pink.

Rosy, even.

Day 9

Today, Rose introduced me to two of her friends, a fox with two tails and an...echidna? I think that’s what he’s called...named Tails and Knuckles.

Two people named after body parts. Not exactly creative, but it does make me wonder where my name came from. What am I a shadow of? I tried to think back, but all it gave me was an unsettling sensation in the back of my mind: a gentle voice, followed by a stabbing pain.

I decided the answer could wait.

I’m not sure why Knuckles was there. It seems like Rose doesn’t always have a reason for bringing people over, she just does it. He mostly lounged around and pestered me about what I did and didn’t remember and seemed disappointed with how little I knew. But when I called Rose by her last name, he lit up and started hounding me about her instead—how “close” we were, how much I liked her, how long I was staying with her—smirking obnoxiously the whole way through. Rose eventually got him to back off.

Tails asked about my headaches. How frequent they are, what triggers them, that kind of thing. He talked to me about amnesia, too, saying this kind usually only persists for a couple weeks in Mobians and my memories will probably be back soon. The others seemed relieved, but I’m not sure how to feel about it.

After checking on my health, Tails showed that he’d brought a two-wheeled vehicle with him, saying he’d been in the process of tuning it up when my...incident happened. He encouraged me to take a seat and start it up, explaining that I’d been built with what he calls “vehicular intuition,” so I’d know how to ride it even without my memories. He’s awfully smart for a kid. Smarter than Knuckles, at least.

At first, I didn’t recognize it. The striking jet black and sharp angles called out to me faintly, but it wasn’t until I sat down on the seat and started up the engine that it clicked.

Powerful sensations and images flashed behind my eyes—wind whipping through my quills, scenery blurring past, the growl of the bike beneath me, the simple joy and freedom of it all—and my heart pounded.

My bike. Mine.

I almost shed a tear. I’ve missed it that much. Luckily, I regained focus in time to blink it back. I think I’d be okay if Rose saw me cry, but the other two? Not a chance.

After they left, Rose begged me to take her on a ride with me, and I immediately said yes. She’s a difficult person to say no to.

The familiar thrill of racing returned to me, but the feeling of someone clinging to me was fresh. I don’t think I’ve ever given Rose a ride before. I’ve been missing out. The way she held me made my chest feel warm and light, and whenever I sped up or turned a tight corner, she’d let out a cute little squeak.

I kept driving her around until the sun set. Once I brought her home, she finally explained why she’s been feeling guilty about my amnesia. She said I was helping her build a new addition on her house and she accidentally knocked me on the head with a hammer. Said she felt awful, should have been more careful, all of that. I didn’t like seeing her so unhappy, so I hugged her and told her it was alright, and she calmed down.

To be honest, I bet there’s more to the story than that. Tails mentioned I’m supposed to be some kind of “Ultimate Life Form,” so I highly doubt a sweet, silly, petite girl could knock me out with a hammer, especially by accident. She’s probably being too hard on herself for something. She does that a lot.

But she does have a hammer she keeps by the door, this giant yellow and red thing. Just looking at it does make my head hurt.

Day 11

Rose invited over an obnoxious blue hedgehog this afternoon—Sonic, I think? He wouldn’t shut up and kept sprinting around making dumb jokes, saying he ‘would race me if I were feeling better.’

As if I’d need to be at full power to beat that buffoon in a race.

Rose seems...fond of him. She has terrible taste. I didn’t tell her that.

She asked me if I remembered anything about him, and I told her that she must have hit me pretty hard if I managed to forget someone that annoying. I thought she’d be upset, but she laughed instead and said that some things never change.

Day 14

Today

Day 15

Yesterday I

Day 16

Rose and I went to a city two days ago called Westport Westopolis to run a few errands. While we were there, we ran into a man in a military uniform with two differently colored eyes. He started to snap at me about my “extended vacation.” Rose got mad and stepped between us, maybe to defend me, but I couldn’t hear what she said to him because I caught sight of a weird logo on his chest that spelled out “G.U.N.”

It felt like my head was splitting in two.

Unsettling, terrifying noises ricocheted in my mind—panicked voices, pleading, screams—ending with a deafening bang.

I don’t know what that sound was, but it made my stomach turn.

After the bang, my vision went black, and my legs gave out. I don’t remember hitting the floor, though. Maybe Rose caught me. She did say she carried me home, and I’ve never caught her in a lie. She must be stronger than she looks. I couldn’t even leave bed until today, so I’m sure I was no help.

I think something bad happened to me, and I’m scared of finding out what it was. Is it possible to just bring back the good memories? Am I wrong to want that?

I hope I never run into G.U.N. again.

Day 17

Rose thought we could use a nice day off after what happened, so she brought me to the city park with some food and a blanket so we could eat outside on the grass. She said it’s called a “picnic.” The word wasn’t familiar, not even a little. Rose got really sad when I said so. She thinks I’d probably never been on one, even before I lost my memories. She immediately turned determined, scrounged up some food—bread, strawberry jam, peanut butter, chips–and brought me to the city park.

I don’t think this will help me regain any memories, but I don’t mind. She’s cute when she gets all determined like this. Are all female hedgehogs as pretty as she is? I asked her, but she told me to stop embarrassing her. She was as red as the strawberry jam.

I figured Rose would find us a table somewhere, but instead, she spread out the blanket right on the grass. We were halfway through our meal when Rose’s friend Cream hopped over to us with a small blue creature in tow who she calls “Cheese.” She let me hold him. He has an odd texture, warm and soft but jiggly. Not sure what to make of that, but it’s comforting somehow. A few other Chao stopped by, too. They’re clingy, but I like them.

The afternoon passed with no discussion of who I used to be; Rose, Cream, Cheese...all they cared about was who I am now. The temperature and breeze were relaxing, and it was nice to see them laughing and enjoying the comfortable weather. Their voices and the natural sounds of the park were gentle. I would’ve gladly spent all day there.

Rose once told me I’d promised her years ago that I’d keep everyone safe, that I’d made it my life’s mission to protect the Earth and everyone on it. I think I’m starting to understand why.

Day 20

We went grocery shopping in some square today—Station Square, I think it’s called. She had a pretty long list. She’s going to teach me how to make cupcakes. It’s another one of those things I know I’ve never done before. Is she still avoiding my past because of what happened with the commander, or is she just as reluctant to dredge up my memories as I am?

Taking a look at the list, I recognized enough items that I’m sure I could have dashed around the store and cut the time in half; I’ve experimented with my strength and speed here and there, and they’re both returning to me. Even as I thought of it, though, I lost all desire to rush. If I ran, I wouldn’t get to walk by her side. I’d miss the cute way her nose wrinkles when she’s comparing prices. I wouldn’t have gotten to reach the cake mix she was too short for and enjoy the smile it earned me.

Maybe you don’t need a reason to spend time with someone. Maybe the right person is worth it all on their own.

Day 25

Today, Rouge and Omega stopped by. I don’t remember everything about them, but their names are the only ones I’ve known right off the bat so far, and I felt better having them here.

Before they came in, Rose poked her head out the door and whispered something to them about not mentioning “assignments” around me right now, and every so often, she or Rouge would steer the topic away from something. Omega didn’t like that very much. They cut him off when he started mentioning something about target practice, and his internal motors made this disgruntled rumbling noise.

I get the feeling Rouge and Omega—and me, by extension—don’t visit Rose. Rouge didn’t know where the bathroom was, and Omega was analyzing the house’s structural integrity like he’s never been here. I can apparently teleport when I’m at full strength, so distance isn’t an issue, and she clearly needs the company, so why don’t we visit her?

Rouge apologized for not checking up on me sooner, saying they’d been really busy. Whichever “assignments” they’re being sent on must be stressful; Omega was grumpy, and there were bags under Rouge’s eyes. I told them to look out for themselves.

When Rose stepped out to bring in the cupcakes we’d made together, Rouge asked me about her—whether I felt comfortable here, if I wanted to stay somewhere else, all that. I told her I was happy here with her. When I called her “Rose,” though, Rouge stopped. She didn’t respond like Knuckles had. She and Omega exchanged a nervous glance. I asked what was wrong, but they both stalled out. Rouge just said that I was welcome to come back to live with them anytime, especially if I “needed some distance” after I got my memories back. Rose came back with the cupcakes before I could ask what she meant.

Distance from what? From Rose? Why? I like her. I like her smile. I like her cooking. I like how she laughs, even if I don’t always understand why. I like the warm feeling I get when she holds my hand to lead me places. I like hearing her hum when we’re doing chores around her house. I like how she says my name. She puts an extra...something into it that no one else does.

What miserable version of me would want to avoid her? What was I afraid of?

Day 31

It’s been a month now, and I think I need to talk to Rose.

The longer this goes on, the less and less I want to know about whatever darkness is lurking in my past. Every time I think back, all I feel is pain and dread, and I can’t help but wonder if I was ever as happy as I am now. I like the world I live in. I’m not sure I always did.

It feels like almost everyone wants to pull me backwards, but I’m tired of looking back. Why can’t I move forwards instead? Why can’t this be me?

Rose has put in so much time, so much effort into helping me regain my memories, but if anyone will accept my decision, it’ll be her.

I’ll tell her tomorrow.

Day 32

I did it. I told her...and she accepts me!

She said she’d noticed how nervous I was about it, and she understood why. She even told me she loved me—every version of me—memories or not, and that she’d be happy to let me stay here no matter what I choose to do about my amnesia!

But...something odd happened. I can’t explain it, but she said this one phrase that echoed in my mind, and my brain...lurched, as if something was settling into place. She said, “I don’t care what you choose, Shadow. I want to give you a chance to be happy!”

My head’s been spinning ever since. Hopefully I’ll feel better in the morning.

I don’t know how I’ll break the news to everyone else, but with Rose by my side, I’m sure I can do it.

This is who I am.

Shadow sat on the edge of his bed—Amy’s bed—feeling his muscles shake. His jaw clenched harder with each cheesy, embarrassing, lovestruck journal entry his ignorant self had written over the past month.

The immense weight of his agonizing past had lifted for scarcely a moment, allowing him just enough room to drop his guard...and let her in.

And by the time he’d awoken that morning, the entire world had crashed down on his head once more. Raw and honest and unforgiving, leaving him broken like a neglectful Atlas.

His fingers tightened, wrinkling the pages, and his chest clenched. All the years I spent keeping my distance, and she breaks it all down in an instant. And as if that weren’t enough...

Vivid images of the massacre flashed behind his eyes, the gruesome tragedy that had taken everything from him.

Shadow’s heart pounded in his chest, and his breathing grew rough and unstable. His eyes went wide and his expression strained as he stared at nothing, but no tears dared fall.

Energetic footsteps, heavier than expected for a silly, petite hedgehog, bounded around the corner. Amy poked her head in. “Shadow, do you want—”

Shadow choked and threw the journal aside, feeling his face shift into that of a cornered animal. “A-Amy—!”

At the mention of her first name, Amy gasped, and her brow wrinkled in concern. “Shadow? Are you...”

He tore his gaze away.

Shadow heard Amy’s footsteps grow closer, and the bed sank next to him. Her hand hovered for a moment, then rested on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

Her light reached out to him. He panted and tried to pull away as he always had, only to fall even further.

The ARK.

Gerald.

MARIA.

Amy wrapped her arms around his shoulders, desperate yet reassuring. “Shadow, it’s okay! You’ll be alright! I’m here.”

Shadow clenched his jaw until it hurt, and he grasped the sheets on either side of him. He could see Amy’s expression pinch out of the corner of his eye, and she rubbed his back. “Is there anything I can do?”

He met her gaze. Try as he might, Shadow couldn’t lock out her warmth, not the way he could just a month ago. He stared for a long moment at the woman he loved—the one he could never have because she was so enamored with someone else—and he sighed. Shadow looked down and shut his eyes. “Take out your hammer.”

A baffled noise escaped Amy’s throat, but she summoned it. “Um...okay...?”

Shadow took the hammer from her hands and held it to his forehead. “Right here. Just...”

After a moment of silent confusion, Amy gasped and ripped the hammer from his hands, throwing it aside. “SHADOW! That’s not funny!” There was a pause, and then her vitriol faded. “Shadow...?”

He felt the tears hit his knees before he even knew he was crying. “Take it back,” he croaked, voice cracking. “Take it all back.”

“Oh, Shadow.” Pain was evident in Amy’s voice, too, and she wrapped her arms around him fully, gentler this time. “I know it’s hard. You’ll be okay.”

“I was h-happy...for once...” he managed through shuddering breaths.

“Shh...it’s alright.”

Shadow turned in Amy’s hold and clung to her, letting himself break down in the arms of the only person left who was allowed to see his tears. He wept for Maria. He wept for Gerald, flawed though he was. He wept for the Shadow of yesterday who’d never known pain or loss or inhibitions, and he wept for the innocence he’d lost yet again.

Brainwashing, amnesia, time travel, and now I almost forgot all over again...only to remember every time. How many times will I be forced to lose them?

Shadow wasn’t sure how long he stayed there, mourning pain both old and new. Amy didn’t falter, not even after his breathing slowed and his muscles stilled.

At last, he lifted his head, vision bleary and head aching. Amy was gazing up at him, eyes watery with tears she’d shed on his behalf. “I’m so sorry!”

Shadow pulled back, baffled, but he held onto one of her hands. “Why?”

“Because I’m the reason you got amnesia in the first place!” she insisted. “I feel awful.”

Shadow was shaking his head even before she finished. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Amy glanced back at the hammer she’d left on the ground, then shot him an incredulous look.

“...Not on purpose,” Shadow added.

Amy groaned and hid her face. “You told me to use a regular hammer, but I got impatient and used mine!”

“In your defense, it was faster.”

“But you told me to be careful!”

“I got in the way,” he fibbed.

Amy yanked at her quills and scrunched her eyes shut. “I should’ve just done the job myself! If only I’d—”

“Amy.”

She peeked her eyes open a crack. Shadow threaded his fingers with hers and pulled them away from her quills. “Stop trying to make me blame you. It’s not going to work.”

Amy stared up at him and sniffled, but she remained silent.

“You’ve been taking care of me. Feeding me. Housing me. Helping me. Making me happy. And it worked.”

As he said that, though, he felt his face fall. It worked...just not forever.

Amy squeezed his hand. “I don’t know everything you’ve been through, and I know it can’t be easy, but you have good memories, too,” she insisted. “Whenever I hear you talk about Maria, it never sounds like you regret meeting her.”

“Of course I don’t!”

Amy jumped, so he averted his gaze and quieted down. “I would never regret meeting her. I couldn’t. Not for a second.”

Amy nodded, encouraged. “And think of all the adventures you’ve been on! Think of your friends! What about Rouge and Omega?”

Shadow’s chest warmed, then instantly tightened. “They’ve been covering for me. All this time. That’s why they were so exhausted.”

“Huh?”

“They’ve been keeping Team Dark going without me this entire time. How much longer would they have kept doing that? A month? Two months? Forever?” All so I could keep playing house with you, happy and ignorant?

I nearly threw away everything we’ve been through together.

The thought repulsed him.

“Because you would have done the same for them,” Amy countered, learning forward to get a better look at his face. “You’re kind. You’re dedicated. And if this had happened to either one of them, you wouldn’t have hesitated for a second.”

There was silence for a moment. Shadow just stared, sensing she had more to say.

Amy’s lower lip trembled. She held on for a few moments before blurting out, “You shouldn’t have been here in the first place!”

“What?!”

“No, no!” Amy spluttered, holding her hands up defensively. “I mean you shouldn’t have been there the day I...” She glanced back at her hammer and cringed.

Shadow rolled his eyes. “You were putting another wing on your house, and no one else would help. Of course I showed up.”

Amy scratched the back of her head and looked down at her feet. “Ah...not quite.”

Shadow’s ears perked up.

Amy bit her lip. “See, I actually...didn’t ask anyone else,” she murmured. “I had it handled. I could have called Tails if I needed help with construction, and I could have asked Knuckles if I needed more strength...but I didn’t. I can do all that by myself.”

With anyone else, Shadow would have snapped in irritation. He kept his tone gentle. “Why did you ask me?”

Amy looked up at him, fidgeting with her fingers. “Promise you won’t get mad at me, okay?”

Shadow nodded. I don’t think I could if I tried.

She paused, then let her head drop, resigned. “Because I wanted to get to know you better.”

Shadow’s heart pounded. “Really?”

Amy nodded, peeking up at him shyly out of the corner of her eye. “I’ve wanted to get to know you since we talked on the ARK, but you’ve always kept your distance. I could never get close.”

Shadow’s heart ached. I never meant to hurt you. He opened his mouth, but the words died in his throat.

Amy twiddled her thumbs in her lap. “But I knew one thing that would work. No matter how busy you are, you’ve always found time to help me. Every single time I’ve asked you for help, you’ve been there.”

Memories of Amy’s voice drifted into his head.

“Thank you so much for coming with me to this concert, Shadow. I never could have gone alone. It’s so much better with you here!”

“Ah, Shadow, I’m so glad you’re here! Cream went into this weird-looking castle, and she hasn’t come back out! Will you go in there with me to look for her?”

“Shadow, please help us! Give them a chance to be happy!”

She’s right. I really will do anything for her.

“Shadow!”

He didn’t know he was grasping at his chest until Amy threaded her fingers with his. Her voice pulled him out of his stupor. “I’m sorry! I know it was wrong. It’s just...you’re so sweet, and brave, and kind...and you don’t hear that often enough. I wanted to know more. I—”

Shadow stalled out as she rambled, at a loss for words. His heart fluttered.

Does she...?

Every word died in his throat. Instead, he grasped her hand with both of his and held it to his chest, letting her feel his racing heartbeat. Her ranting immediately stopped, and one solitary tear faltered, nearly falling from her eye. A voice from fifty years ago, quieter than Amy’s but clear, floated in from the back of Shadow’s mind.

“You have a big heart! It may be difficult for you to express it, but I know that deep down you really do care. About me. About everyone! What you do is what defines you. I know you’re having a hard time finding answers, but I’m certain you will one day. Then, you’ll find even more people you can trust.”

Shadow found his voice at last. “I really wish you could have met her.”

Amy’s confusion lasted for only a moment before melting away, but she remained silent.

He brushed away the tear she’d almost shed, breathed in deeply, and let it out. “She would have loved you almost as much as I do.”

Amy’s eyes bugged out. Shadow slid his hand onto her cheek, making his intentions clear. He waited for a few terrifying seconds that felt like years, praying he hadn’t misinterpreted.

Finally, Amy glanced at his lips...and leaned in to meet him.

Her lips were warm and soft, and Shadow’s eyes fell shut at the pleasant sensation. His motions were tentative from nerves and inexperience, just as hers were, and he lingered for only a few seconds before pulling back. Amy leaned in to follow him, apparently just as reluctant to end the contact, and he pressed their foreheads together to stay close. Her breath tickled his lips, and a shy smile spread across her face. He couldn’t hold back a small grin of his own.

“So does this mean you’ll forgive me?” Amy asked, hesitant but hopeful.

Shadow scoffed and rolled his eyes playfully. “The girl I’ve had a soft spot for since the beginning resorted to subterfuge to spend more time with me, then pampered me for a month? I’ll live.”

Any last trace of hesitation vanished from Amy’s face, leaving behind cheeks dusted pink. Shadow tilted her head down and pressed a kiss to her forehead before aiming a smile her way. “Thank you, Amy.”

“Ah—”

She snapped her mouth shut. He raised a brow. “Hm?”

Amy pursed her lips, deliberating, and then her expression turned sheepish. “You know...you can keep calling me ‘Rose,’ if you want...” Her eyes shot open. “I mean—you don’t have to, but...”

Shadow perked up. “I can?”

Her smile was small and secretive. “It’s...nice. No one else calls me that, so...it feels special when you do.”

Shadow smirked roguishly. “No problem. ‘Rose’ it is.”

A happy little noise escaped Amy’s throat, and he knew even before looking that her tail was wagging. As he kept looking around her room, though, Shadow’s stomach churned with nerves once more. “So...I know I’ve recovered by now, but...is your offer from last night still valid?”

She cocked her head. “What do you mean?”

Shadow tugged absently at the blanket underneath him. “I know you’re lonely, and I’ve found a lot of happiness here. More than anywhere else.” He squeezed his eyes shut, ignored the way his stomach flipped, and met her eyes. “I don’t want to leave.”

Amy’s face barely had time to light up before he was pulled into an enthusiastic embrace. “Of course I want you to stay!”

Shadow choked from her strong hug, then laughed and quieted down when she loosened up. He listened patiently, happy just to hear her rant excitedly about all the new ideas she had for the house.

At last, she retreated, showing the exhilarated, post-rant expression he knew most were never patient enough to see.

Their loss.

Shadow ruffled her quills. “In that case, you’d better have supplies ready when I get back.”

Amy frowned. “What do you mean?”

Shadow stood up and adjusted his gloves. “I really do need to talk to Rouge and Omega, but if I’m moving in, then you’ll need that extra wing on your house more than ever.” He smirked down at Amy. “And it’s been established that you can’t handle that yourself, right?”

Amy leapt to her feet and gave a grumpy pout, cheeks puffing out in irritation. “That wasn’t—! Oh, you—!” He chuckled, and she crossed her arms. A few seconds later, though, she stood up straight and snickered. “Are you sure about that? You’re not just going to ask me to sleep in the same bed with you again~?”

Amy giggled, clearly expecting him to get flustered just as she had. Shadow raised a brow.

There’s nothing you can say that’s more embarrassing than that journal.

Shadow snaked an arm around her waist and cradled the back of her head, showing his own smirk when her eyes shot open. He pulled her close, closer than before, and pressed their lips together. He lingered longer this time, deepening the kiss and feeding more passion into it. He tilted his head and lightly scratched her scalp. Inexperience be damned, he kept going even as her fingers dug into his biceps, only pulling back when she whined quietly against his lips.

Shadow broke contact, unable to hold back a smug smile at her wide eyes and flushed cheeks. He leaned up to whisper in her ear.

“Not yet.”

Amy squeaked quietly. He released her and stepped back, unable to hold back a lighthearted laugh. She briefly stumbled, face even redder than before, and he felt his smile turn more genuine.

“I’ll see you later, Rose.”

She held a hand to try and hide her face, but her bashful smile showed through. “O-okay.”

He took a moment to enjoy the sight before teleporting away.

I never want to forget this day.

[shadamyheadcanons]

Headcanon #315

Inspired, inversely, by this adorable fanart.

--

Amy tried to tickle Shadow’s sides one day while hanging out with him, but all she got was a confused stare. After some prodding, he said he’d never even heard of tickling before. He didn’t get up close and personal with others very often, and the scientists had gone out of their way to iron out every weak point they could from his body–both through genetic engineering and targeted overstimulation–so he didn’t have soft spots in the way that others did. As vital as it was in combat, he admitted that his impervious physicality made him feel like less of a person sometimes, just one more thing that separated him from others.

After talking Shadow through it, Amy vowed to find the weak link in his armor and make him laugh anyway. She grew more affectionate in her search–hugging him, scratching behind his ears, running her fingers through his quills, etc. It didn’t affect him at first, but as her plucky determination and cuteness won him over, he felt his heart start to race in a way it didn’t for anyone else: Rouge sometimes got physical when she flirted with people, but it never felt more charged than a handshake to Shadow. Maria used to hug him and cup his cheek, but while it was comforting, he’d never have called it exciting. It got worse over time, too; the closer he and Amy got, the more his heart fluttered.

When Shadow shared his concerns with Rouge, she facepalmed and told him he does have a weakness like everyone else; it’s just a who, not a where.

Amy stopped by the next day to hang out, and she continued her investigation as usual, still stubbornly looking for a ticklish spot that didn’t exist. Shadow considered admitting he’d already figured out what his weak point was, but as she sat half in his lap, brightening his day while she ran her fingers through his chest fur, he kept quiet.

Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to let her keep trying.

--

((About two months later:

Edited from IDW issue 2 and a panel from Archie...somewhere. Saw it out of context in a collection of Archie Shadow smirks & smiles. If anyone knows which issue this is, please let me know!

My soft spot is devious!Shadow teasing Amy. It’s about time someone flirted with her back. Let me see my flustered pink hedgehog!))

[shadamyheadcanons]

Which member of Sonic would support ShadAmy first? I think Sonic, if he realized he couldn’t be the romantic partner Amy needed. Otherwise, Knuckles because Rouge has him whipped and he wants what’s best for Amy.

–

I’d say Tails. In a recent ask, I pointed out that although I think it’s most likely that Sonic and Knuckles would trust her judgment and be happy for her, they might be cautious with Shadow in particular because they haven’t seen the soft spot he has for her. I have a headcanon specifically for Knuckles that breaks this down. The idea of a character being “whipped” rubs me the wrong way, but Rouge would definitely stand up for her best friend. She wants the best for Shadow and knows he’s safe, especially with Amy, and she’d get through to Knuckles if he showed resistance. He wouldn’t just support shadamy because she said so, he’d support it because she’s right.

Tails strikes me as the one who’s been the most consistently sympathetic to Amy’s affections. He teases Sonic by suggesting she’s his girlfriend in Sonic Mega Drive, and it’s clear he wants to spend more time with her, even when Sonic hesitates:

In TMOSTH, he jokes with her and Shadow in a way that I can only interpret as teasing, just like he did with Sonic:

Tails wants Amy to be happy in a relationship, and I think he’d feel that way regardless of who she chooses. I agree with Colleen’s wholesome portrayal in this (non-canon) interview where he supports shadamy.

But they’d all come around before long. Amy’s not a child anymore. Knuckles could be protective because she’s younger, but he ultimately knows she has a good head on her shoulders. Sonic’s fought Shadow to the death multiple times and knows he’s potentially very dangerous, but he respects that Amy can defend herself. And by now, they’re well aware that if anyone can reform someone like Shadow, it’s Amy.

[shadamyheadcanons]

Hello! I have a question regarding how fights between the two would break out and how they would be mended.

Amy is emotional and Shadow can be quite harsh with words. How do they see eye to eye when the situation is not nice?

Full answer is right here!

Short answer: Shadow’s stubborn, but he has a soft spot for Amy and listens to her more than anyone else. Amy has a temper, but she’s always made an effort to understand him. They’re uniquely compatible together. With some trial and error, they’d inevitably be fine. They both care way too much not to work things out.

(I’m working on answering other questions, too, but I’m a bit low on mental bandwidth. This was nice and quick, and I wanted to get something out.)

[shadamyheadcanons]

💗 anon here, sorry! got excited

If you're open to writing it the sick fic one please!

💗: Amy has been running around all December hoping to make this Christmas memorable all while trying to navigate her newfound feelings for Shadow. Only this backfires when she wakes up with the stomach flu and a killer migraine. She hasn't been able to keep anything down for a couple days but she had promised Rouge she'd go Christmas shopping with her and the others though so she quickly freshens up and heads out.

From the moment they're all together Amy's heart skips a beat (or maybe that's the fever?) and her stomach is in knots (could also be the nausea) because Shadow is just so...well, beautiful. As they go around the shops, Amy is surprised at Shadow's presence by her side throughout the evening and the hands that guide her when she slips up a bit. Even without her noticing, his body language is protective of her.

Her hopes of him not noticing her condition are squashed when while sitting at a cafe and faced with her favorite cake, Amy can barely stand the smell. Her stomach rolls and she quickly excuses herself where she ends up sick in the bathroom, feeling utterly miserable. Rouge is the one to come in and guide her outside where Shadow is quick to gather her up and chaos control them home where he takes care of her and they talk openly before settling in

–

((In reference to this post. Formatting it this way so anon gets the notification.

I like this a lot! Amy would definitely try to tough it out, and I always love it when Shadow’s the one to put his foot down for her well-being, whether he’s standing up to others or confronting Amy herself.

I’m not sure whether this was intended as a prompt or a submission. It’s detailed enough that I don’t think I need to add much tbh. I wrote partner headcanons, 213 and 214, that have a similar concept if you want to read my take on the topic.

Thanks for writing in!))

[shadamyheadcanons]

Hi! Thank you for your detailed answer to my last question, I really enjoyed your answer!

I always liked the idea that Shadow must enjoy a more classic/sober form of fashion for women - you know, like in the 50's - and Amy likes to dress thus too. The red dresses, polka dots, heart shaped glasses, vintage-cut swimsuits... and everytime she dresses formally, it's the long elegant dresses! I also like that she is not too too much with her aesthetic - except when she is dressed as a lolita, which looks amazing on her! She dresses in simple color schemes and cuts.

I wonder what Shadow thinks of the different style she wears. 80's to 00's japanese fashion suits her so well (duh, the franchise was born there). Would Amy enjoy a good leather jacket? She wears black so well too, huhu. She has so much fun with her looks, that's amazing!

What are your headcanons about that?

That’s pretty much what Headcanon #309 is about. Shadow doesn’t think about women’s fashion...until it’s something Amy’s putting on. He didn’t know he had a soft spot for the classic look...until Amy started wearing it.

Or at least that’s how it started, but Amy tries out new fashions, new cuts, and new aesthetics all the time, and he eventually has to accept that he doesn’t have a thing for all of those, he just has a thing for Amy. Like she puts on a punk outfit that makes her look tough one day, and Rouge expects him to trip over himself because she assumes it’d be right up his alley, but he acts the same way as he always does. It’s not that he isn’t smitten, because he is. He’s just always smitten, and the fact that she switches styles so frequently means he never really has time to recover. It’d be perfect for her because he’d even love how she looks sloppy, straight out of bed, etc, at times when she doesn’t feel she looks her best.

I like to put Amy in Shadow’s leather jacket specifically. It’s a cutesy couple thing to do, and she canonically gets cold easily. I have a bunch of posts about it. This platonic headcanon and this romantic Halloween one are the standouts.

[shadamyheadcanons]

GOOD MORNING, SHADAMY NATION!

126 people responded to our user-submitted prompts poll, and now, we have the results for #ShadowxAmyWeek2025 ! This graphic was made with the amazing work of @salami-dono, who also made a larger piece for you that will be shared come the 1st of June!

See you then!

[shadamyheadcanons]

Headcanon #314

Amy knew early on that she wanted to be a parent, but Shadow was apprehensive. Without a responsible parental figure of his own, he wasn’t sure whether he was cut out to be a father. Raising two happy, well-behaved Chao with Amy helped, but he still spent years worrying about fatherhood...until his daughter was born.

In the same way marrying Amy had given him love and stability, becoming a dad provided Shadow with an anchor. He’d fought for so long in his youth that even when Eggman was out of the picture and peace became the norm in his world, he couldn’t rest. Without a threat to focus on, he was lost. Having a child gave him a role to fill: providing guidance for someone who needed it, the kind of guidance that would have meant the world to him. Seeing her grow up in the safe world he and Amy had worked so hard to cultivate made him appreciate it in a way he hadn’t before.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say Shadow’s family saved him. He and Amy had never been happier. Naturally, they didn’t stop at just one.

The last daughter may or may not have been the result of them not being careful enough, but she didn’t have to know that.

By the time they had five girls, a few nosy acquaintances somehow felt it was appropriate to ask the two of them—mostly Shadow—if they were just “trying for a boy” at that point. Shadow was livid that anyone would suggest there was something incomplete about the family he and his wife had built together. Amy deftly steered the topic away whenever she sensed that question was coming. It made her furious, too, and she suspected Shadow would have resorted to violence if he hadn’t vowed to set a good example for their kids.

[shadamyheadcanons]

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR!

If you are interested in participating in ShadowxAmy Week this year, please take a moment to fill out this form and select your favorite user-submitted prompts.

Results, and dates, will be shared in a week's time (1st of April.)

[shadamyheadcanons]

Amy Rose Hair Survey

So over on Bluesky I posted this:

And in the course of the conversation in the comment section, it was noted that certain ships tend to circulate specific ideas about how Amy Rose's quills should be best styled. Seems the spirit of the discussion is also here, as @lexo-is-pesto posted this excellent visual that honestly made me laugh out loud:

I had casually joked that I wanted to do a data spread to see if such an assumption was actually the case, and, well, I'm not joking anymore.

This is the Amy Rose Hair Survey.

This survey is intended to analyze participant-supplied data in order to investigate a potential correlation between certain Amy Rose ships and preferred adult Amy quill styles.

Please fill it out and reblog so as to create a wider data pool.

[shadamyheadcanons]

random headcanon: amy gets very flustered when she is given affection even though she gives lots of affection to everyone around her. So shadow takes the opportunity to give her as much as possible to see her cute reactions

aka Shadow doing the bridal carry, stroking Amy quills, kiss on her forehead, hugging her and a little French kiss the list could go on and on. But if they to enter into that kind of relationship, I would like to imagine that to their dynamic

You’re on the right blog! I’ve always seen them that way, too; I wrote partner headcanons, 130 and 131, about that exact topic. You’d probably like my clingy tag, which is for them being affectionate, and I also have an entire tag called upLIFTing dedicated just to them carrying each other. It’s mostly him carrying her, as I’ve always headcanoned that she gained a permanent weakness for being carried after Sonic saved her in CD, something that Sonic Mega Drive canonized:

And you can’t just put bangs on a 2’11” character and expect us to believe her devoted, serious, 3’3” boyfriend wouldn’t brush them aside to kiss her on the forehead. It’s her fault for being the perfect height and having bangs, really.

They’re both touch-starved, and I love the idea of Shadow starting to do things that make her embarrassed because he thinks it’s cute, and before long, he’s head-over-heels for her because of that. He’s so used to having to fight and make opponents fear him that I think he’d get a lot out of his actions making someone giggly and happy instead.

Come to think of it, that’s kind of what happened in headcanon #186.

So, uh...yeah! You came to the right place.

[shadamyheadcanons]

PSA - I just got this ask related to the post I just made about Shadow and Amy’s Blossom skin. While I’m glad people want to engage with the blog, this is from someone who’s already sent me an ask I haven’t gotten around to yet. As I said recently, I’d appreciate it if people didn’t send me a second ask if I haven’t answered their first one yet. I want everyone to have a chance to get a response, and I have trouble keeping up with my inbox as is. I’m not upset with anyone and I really am flattered, but I won’t be accepting multiple messages like this.

Thanks for understanding!

[shadamyheadcanons]

This took way too long

So you know that Blossom Amy skin SEGA HARDlight made for the mobile games recently? The one where she’s matching Shadow’s eye markings and warrior outfit?

Apparently Hardlight’s made a million Amy skins and hardly any for some of the other characters, so some fans are understandably a little tired of it and said so in the announcement post. So, uh...I did something very silly and very, VERY time-consuming.

There are MANY of these. 10-15% of the replies on that post are people (correctly) pointing out how unfair it is, and I’ve decided Shadow’s taken it upon himself to demolish every single one. I don’t think I can make a headcanon out of “Shadow routinely breaks the fourth wall to needlessly defend Amy’s honor online,” but I made 13 of these and it took absolutely forever, so here we are ᕕ-ᐛ-ᕗ

I like to imagine the folks at HARDlight just adore Amy and are thrilled to dress her up in these cute little outfits, like she’s a Barbie doll and they can’t wait to make her match Shadow for the fourth time.

Fun fact: I wasn’t originally going to make custom names and handles, but “Wave” was originally a Shadow impersonator and Shadow the Hedgehog Would Not Say That. So of course I had to make new ones for EVERYONE. Thanks, Wave 🙃

Shadow’s learned to write threats without setting off the censors. Omega’s still working on that.

...and finally...

[shadamyheadcanons]

Submission #111

((Submitted by chillinpanda1787 in case tumblr removes credit.

Minor spoilers up through issue #76 of IDW under the cut. Nothing too plot-relevant, though.))

--

So I'm not very good at head canons but I came up with this recently. Do you remember when you said Shadow eats nothing but junk food? Well in the IDW comics he's seen with something healthy. An apple! He's holding it with the intention of eating it but ends up throwing it to the chao that followed Sonic into the woods. This is probably the only healthy food Shadow has been seen with.

(He's so handsome!)

Anyway guess who's crazy about apples? Silver!

He decides to plant an apple orchard in IDW issue 76. And guess who loves the idea? Amy!

What if they plant an apple orchard and keep it in the family for generations or something?! That could be something that can be a part of them that can bring them together! Just an idea!

--

((Shadow’s diet in canon is comically abysmal. Headcanon #239 is about that, and it links to a compilation of everything Shadow had ever eaten by that point. It doesn’t include the apple or his preference for chocolate cake in TMOSTH because those hadn’t happened yet, but it’s impressively thorough. A+

I adore your idea! As if these panels weren’t adorable enough already:

[IDW issue 36]

The apple orchard idea works on so many different levels because all three of them would have their own reasons for loving it. Silver is fascinated with plant life from the current time and especially loves growing fruits and vegetables. This isn’t even the first time he’s been shown to love apples specifically:

[Sonic Channel sidestory art from August 26th, 2022. I can’t read it, but I believe it’s implying that the common Japanese apple rabbit slicing style resembles his quills.]

Shadow grew up on a space station, so I think he’d be fascinated by nature. Amy loves to bake, so she’d be able to make sweets for them to share the fruits (heh) of their labor: apple pies, apple fritters, etc. And the orchard could draw in more Chao, especially the one mentioned above; I’m still choosing to believe that Shadow adopted that Chao and has been raising it in secret.

I wonder how long it would take Silver to put the pieces together. I imagine he’d be thrilled to see the apple orchard still going strong when he returned to the future, and he’d pop back to the past every now and then to take care of it alongside Shadow, who’s immortal and could explain that he and Amy made it a family tradition to take care of it. After enough generations, Silver might see the family look more and more like his parents until it would hit him and he’d realize he’d been inadvertently keeping the family tree (heh heh) going all this time, even well into the future. Even better, Shadow could finally talk to him about their lineage without having to worry about breaking the timeline.

The evidence for Silver and Amy in particular being related has been piling up more and more lately. I’m sure it’s not on purpose, but...c’mon. Tell me this isn’t the same power:

[Silver’s levitation in Sonic Forces, Amy’s card float in Sonic Frontiers. I don’t like how much they replaced her hammer with the cards in that game, but it does have its...silver linings (heh heh heh).]

That’s just psychokinesis. Change my mind. Cards or not, it’s her psychic power that’s doing it. I’ve always felt Amy’s powers were hers and hers alone and the cards are just placebos. She thinks she needs them because she doesn’t know her own strength. Heck, maybe Silver could be the one to prove it to her. He’s blunt enough to insist it’s the truth, and who would know better than him?

IDW’s been adding to the descendant theory, too. Remember when Silver flipped out from one (1) hug back in 06? He’s starting his own group hugs now:

[IDW issue 76]

Amy’s the only one who could be rubbing off on him like this, right?

[IDW 2022 annual, IDW issue 76]

She’s the first and only one who’s ever hugged him in the games as far as I know, and I’ve always theorized that she’d be the best candidate for getting him used to affection. Seems like she’s already started.

Shadamy-Descendant-Silver used to rely on 90% Shadow hints and 10% “Amy’s the only logical partner,” given that he’s not close to the other female characters and Rouge doesn’t want kids:

[Sonic Battle. Lol, Sonic gets it.]

If it weren’t for the Shadow half and my preference for shadamy, I probably wouldn’t have connected her with Silver back in the day, but now? If Sega weren’t so obviously gung-ho about s0namy, I’d swear they were doing it on purpose. She’s such a mom for him specifically, and it’s adorable. I love seeing this side of both of them.

You’re not giving yourself enough credit. This is a great headcanon!))

[shadamyheadcanons]

Submission #110

While Shadow loves doing kind things and standing up for people who are less fortunate than him, there are times when he gets burned out because he feels like he can save everyone but himself. Amy has reminded him that it’s OK to take a step back and relax, and will also comfort him through little things, such as making baked goods for him, watching his favorite TV shows and movies with him or even just snuggling under a warm blanket with him. Naturally, he returns the favor.

–

((The tendency of powerful characters to feel powerless is always very interesting to me. Shadow is a character who’s very prone to guilt. I think every kind, giving person has some of that. In particular, I always theorized that he felt guilty for not being the cure-all he was supposed to be for Maria, and the final installment of Shadow Dark Beginnings canonized it:

(This episode also confirmed that Maria likes watching auroras from space, an idea I wrote years ago for In a Pinch. I love it when my headcanons are confirmed like this. Makes me feel like I really do get these characters.)

So far, though, we’ve mostly seen this guilt in the context of not being able to help those around him. It’d be nice if he was able to value himself on that level, too. A therapist could help with that; I’ve written that Rouge and Amy could work together to set him up with one. Friends are great, but there are times when professional help is needed.

Like when you have a boatload of trauma and you’re so worried about your promises to others that you never consider yourself.

This is the same guy who was willing to sacrifice his life to save the Earth in SA2 and help the humans who’d lock him up forever in Sonic 06, after all. He needs to hear that he matters, too, that no matter what he does for those around him, his mental health is a priority.

Amy would be there with him every step of the way and vice-versa. All it takes is one look at Frontiers to see it. Every second she’s on screen, she makes it about everyone but herself. “Sonic, are you okay?” “Get going so you can make sure Tails is alright!” “Of course I’m worried about the Kokos! Help them!” As if she’s not half-gone herself.

That can be a coping mechanism. When you’re not okay and you can’t fix that, you can feel more in control if you focus on helping everyone else.

[Archie issue 235]

Both of these characters could stand to think of themselves a lot more. Plus therapy, sweets, and cuddles. They deserve it.))

Submitted by @bearfoottruck​ in case tumblr removes credit.

[shadamyheadcanons]

You've said once that you think Sonic movie 2 did Knuckles justice. What about Shadow in Sonic Movie 3? Do you think it did him justice?

I wouldn’t know. I haven’t watched it yet. Paramount and I aren’t simpatico right now.

[shadamyheadcanons]

Headcanon #313

For her whole life, Amy always made a point of telling people she cared about that she loved them—not just with sweet gestures and gifts, but out loud with a big, bold “I love you.” In public or not, often with a hug, but always a full “I love you” for every greeting, farewell, or heartfelt moment. Friends would often shrug it off with a simple “you too,” maybe with a casual, often awkward side-hug thrown in for good measure. Their texts were signed with thumbs-ups emojis, “same to you,” or a simple goodnight. One time in person, Sonic even jokingly replied with “cool beans” and a pair of finger guns. Amy wasn’t amused. He smiled apologetically and added a sheepish, “love you too” before she could reach for her hammer.

She knew Sonic cared. It shouldn’t have mattered.

Even with close friends like Cream, Amy was always the one who said “I love you” first.

She knew Cream cared. It shouldn’t have mattered.

Romantic partners often opted for the shortened “love you” or merely signed their texts with hearts. She was the first in a relationship to say “I love you” without fail, and no one ever said it as often as she did. Some partners even said it more quietly in public, as if they were ashamed.

It shouldn’t have mattered.

Amy knew she shouldn’t care.

But...

By the time Shadow asked her out, Amy was practically starving for love and affirmation. She didn’t hold out hope that Shadow would be any different than the others given how reticent and formal he was, but she’d always admired him for his quiet heroism and devotion, so she decided it was worth a shot.

But it was that formal demeanor that made him a perfect match for her.

In his own way, Shadow was just as dramatic and intense as she was. His direct manner of speaking didn’t allow for casual, blasé phrasing. Every time he expressed his feelings for her, it was with a full, serious “I love you.” He said the words first, too; he’d harbored strong feelings for her from the start, even before they’d turned romantic, and he didn’t hesitate tell her so.

Amy gushed about how much his blunt affection meant to her one day. To her surprise, he admitted that he wasn’t as open and blunt around anyone else. With her sincerity and big feelings, he could be as intense as he wanted because he knew she’d never shy away.

She started to say “I love you” in response, and she couldn’t help but laugh when he beat her to it.