Memory Lane (Shadow and Holly)

"I...I..." Shadow started.

"What?" Holly said softly, now satisfied that they were in no immediate danger.

"I... I killed him..." Shadow said.

Holly let this sink in, mouth open.
"Wow...." she said, "H....how?"

"I... I went demonic..." Shadow whispered.

"Oh." Holly said, "You swear to me your Shad and not Meran being evil....?"
She held out her little finger tentively, knowing the the real Shadow would know exactly what to do.

Shadow tentativly linked fingers with Holly.

Holly was reassured, and said softly, "But....he's gone....he cant hurt you anymore...its worth going demonic to get rid of him right....?"

"But I killed him Holly." Shadow said.

"Yeah...." Holly said, "But....we're okay now. We dont have to run from him anymore..."

"But, doesn't killing him make me as bad as him?" Shadow said.

"No!" Holly said, "Hes evil and he doesnt have to be.... you're just ... a Shadow who lost control once...."
She shrugged sadly.

Shadow looked like she was about to cry.

"Hey....dont think about it..." Holly said putting her hand on Shadow's shoulder awkwardly.

Shadow nodded slowly.

"Im sorry I left you...." Holly said,

"I told you to go so that I could do something." Shadow said.

"But still.....I didnt know that." Holly said. After a pause she added. "So you could do what?"

"I didn't want you to be around Holly. You could have been hurt." Shadow said.

"You're always the noble one, aren't you?" Holly said, sighing lightly, "What about you? I think you've been hurt more than all of us...."

"I can handle it Hol. I'm stronger." Shadow lied.

"Are you?" Holly asked seriously.

Shadow avoided the question by walking out of the tent.

Holly waited for moment, leaning against the tent with a mixture of happiness, sadness and pity.
And then she followed.

Shadow was heading back up to the castle, and she took flight once she reached the edge of the trees.