#Sonic Cyber Revolution Analyzer

[tenebraevesper]

Knuckles (My Thoughts)

So, I have watched Knuckles, the 2024 show that basically came out yesterday, and before watching it, I have heard a lot of mixed opinions, ranging from ''the show is great'' to ''the show is awful, I hate it''. I had figured I might as well add my thoughts to the fray.

There will be spoilers in this review, so if you haven't watched the show, you had your warning.

So, for starters... this show is absolutely bonkers, and I definitely enjoyed watching it! X3

Honestly, I feel like there was a pretty good mix of comedy and action, and while there is some over the top acting, it didn't really take away from my enjoyment. It was a pretty wild ride from start to finish, and I kinda want to know what the writers were smoking during some scenes, because there were moments where things just get a bit surreal.

The show is also peppered with a lot of emotional moments, but I'll get to that bit in a moment. So far, I think people were right when they called this Sonic the Hedgehog, but it's Knuckles and Wade instead of Sonic and Tom.

The main crux of the show is that Knuckles has a bit of a crisis. He has found the Master Emerald, he has found friends in Sonic and Tails... and the only reason he's on Earth is because of that promise to them, as he clearly doesn't feel like he is at home... yet. So, how does he deal with that struggle?

Well, Pachacamac tells him what to do. Not gonna lie, even though I had expected him to appear, I was still baffled, because Pachacamac in this show is basically Oogway, Mufasa and Mr. Miyagi rolled into one. Clearly, Knuckles still holds great admiration for him, but let's remember that this was the guy who hunted down Sonic and Longclaw, leading to the mutual massacre. And now, he's a ghost that Knuckles can talk to, a lá Tikal. Kinda weird, but I think this is also the moment the show doesn't give a damn about being grounded.

Pachacamac suggests Knuckles that he should continue the legacy of the Echidnas, with Wade Whipple becoming his new protégé. Knuckles knows Wade is a loser, but he accepts, especially given Wade's determination to show everyone and their mother that he isn't some kind of loser and will become the bowling champion at the tournament in Reno, Nevada. So, he and Knuckles go on a road trip there while also being hunted down by two rogue G.U.N. agents, who want to deliver Knuckles to The Buyer, a guy who formerly worked for Robotnik and wants to use his quills to power his weapons.

Now, I will first start with the negative stuff that I noticed during the plot. Yes, people were correct, the second half of the show does focus a lot on Wade and his family rather than on Knuckles. Should it focus more on the titular character? Absolutely! Am I disappointed with what we got? Ehh... not really. Not gonna lie, I was actually quite invested in Wade's family drama.

Honestly, I can't really think of any complaint aside from the lack of Knuckles' screentime. Maybe it would've been better if the show focused on Knuckles bonding with Sonic and Tails, but it was always advertised as a Knuckles and Wade road trip, so I can't say I was lied to (not to mention, we had a whole movie of Sonic, Tails and Knuckles bonding). I suppose that another thing to add to it is the abrupt ending, although we do get a post-credits scene with Knuckles and Wade going to their next adventure, and the fact that they just don't address some plot points (like we don't know how the Wachowski family reacted to Knuckles' absence).

Well, that's my negative thoughts on the show, what's the positive stuff?

First of all, Knuckles himself - he is absolutely awesome every moment he gets! His character is on point, and he gets a lot of goofy, but also very wholesome moments. He also works very well with Wade, their personalities bouncing off each other and their interactions can turn from hilarious to absolutely heartwarming, especially when bonding over their respective lives.

I think that's a really strong point of this show - Knuckles helping Wade, in his own way, to overcome his insecurities, while just being his Echidna Warrior self. At the same time, he also learns about simple things in life, like ''what his jam is'' (to no one's surprise, it's the show's theme song, The Warrior by Scandal) or about Wade's family's traditions, as well as finally accepting that Earth is his home.

Also, Knuckles and Wade's mother beating up the bounty hunters was one of the best scenes in the show, hands down.

As I said previously, I also got quite interested in Wade's family life. I really like his mother, but his sister is a bitch, even if she stands by Wade's side. His father, not gonna lie, Pistol Pete gets the same amount of hate from me as Locke... Huh, maybe they did base Wade's father on one of the most hated characters from the Sonic Archie comics? After all, both abandoned their sons for a ''greater purpose''. In any case, it was satisfying seeing Wade beating his father in the bowling tournament and use what he learned during his journey.

Furthermore, this show is peppered with many lore bits, but the most jaw-dropping is this one:

So, if you guys don't know, this is Iblis, one of the Big Bosses of Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), alongside Mephiles, and basically the main reason Silver the Hedgehog and Blaze the Cat went back to the past to save the future, with Silver fighting Sonic due to the belief that he was responsible for the apocalyptic wasteland that is Silver's future. Both Iblis and Mephiles are halves of the sun god Solaris, who was defeated by Super Sonic, Super Shadow and Super Silver.

So, in this show, in this story told to us via a rock opera arranged by Pachacamac and starring an... unconscious (dead?) Wade? *shrugs* So, yeah, in this story, apparently, Knuckles defeated Iblis with the Flames of Disaster, aka beating him up with flaming fists.

Not gonna lie, that's metal.

Also, another lore bit that is dropped is how a different alien visited Reno for a bowling tournament in 1974, which tells me either two things:

One possibility is that it was Shadow who appeared at the bowling tournament, which is but funny and pretty awesome, and now I have an image of Shadow, Maria and Gerald Robotnik wearing those bowling T-shirts.

The other possibility is that Black Doom dropped after making his deal with Gerald and decided to sign up the Black Arms for a tournament, which is just plain hilarious.

So, yeah, overall, I liked the show. Is it the best? Not really, but it is something I'd rewatch if I want something fun and wholesome.

#Sonic Cyber Revolution (Masterlist)

[tenebraevesper]

Sonadow Moments in Sonic Cyber Revolution (The Final Haunt Arc)

[...]

''Got it!'' Amy nodded, with Sonic curling up into a ball and hit him with her hammer. Sonic flew above the Buzz Bombers, right towards the Egg Hornet. However, Eggman saw this, pressing another button that unleashed another homing missle, hitting Sonic mid-air and knocking him out.

''Sonic!'' Lucas shouted as the cobalt hedgehog fell, dazed from the explosion, while Eggman laughed gleefully that he got the last hit on his nemesis.

There was a sudden flash of light blue light, with a dark figure catching Sonic mid-air, followed by another flash of light, with both the dark figure and Sonic landing on the ground safely. Sonic groaned in pain, feeling dazed and his vision clearing as he looked up at the person who saved him and was currently carrying him bridal style.

''Shadow?'' Sonic was stunned to see his rival.

''You can't go one day without running into trouble, do you?'' Shadow responded. Sonic's eyes narrowed.

''I don't think you're the one to talk about avoiding trouble,'' he responded.

Shadow avoided his gaze, clearly feeling troubled, but then added in an irked tone, ''Do you want me to drop you, Faker?''

''Nah, I'm good. Feels nice being carried around,'' Sonic responded, smirking. Shadow just rolled his eyes and dropped him regardless, with Sonic hitting the ground with a hard 'thud'.

[...]

''I suppose this brings us to what I had experienced,'' Rouge said, sitting on the table, her legs crossed. ''I can verify that your friends had indeed been abducted by Mephiles and his partner, but I don't really know what exactly had happened before I had arrived.'' Her eyes narrowed as she added in a more serious tone, ''Whatever they had done to your friends, it broke Touka. The last I saw her, she seemed to have suffered from some kind of mental breakdown. She just… shut down.''

''I guess that explains why Shadow left so soon,'' Sonic commented, his tone solemn.

[...]

''Honestly, I think it would be a good idea to give them some time and space to process what had happened,'' Makoto suggested. ''We can talk to them once they're ready.''

''I think that's a good idea,'' Lucas replied, glancing at Sonic. The latter had his head lowered, clearly thinking about his teammates. Lucas knew his partner well enough to be aware that Sonic wouldn't let this be so easily.

xXx

Three days… Three days of complete radio silence from both Touka and Shadow. Lucas had sent Touka a message to ask her how she's doing, but there was no reply. She didn't even read it.

''We should go check on them.''

''I'm not sure. You know that neither Touka and Shadow have a tendency to check their messages. Maybe we should leave them alone for the time being.''

''I don't think so. What if they never answer?''

''…''

Sonic frowned as he sped through the streets of Neos City, the conversation he had with Lucas still echoing in his head. He knew that Lucas was worried about Touka and Shadow, but unlike his partner, he felt that they should actually confront the two rather to leave them on their own. Still, he agreed to wait. Fortunately, he didn't have to worry about Eggman, as the Doctor didn't show up after the attack three days ago. He and the rest of the gang had figured that he was occupied with something else, with Rouge having admitted that she did mess with the computer at the Egg Base, so he would remain busy with that.

So, in the meantime, Sonic decided to occupy himself with testing out his new ability, which he referred to as the ''Boost''. He had figured out that, in order to trigger it, he would have to remain focused and steady while he increased his speed in small bursts. It did drain him of his own energy, but it was something he could use without using Chaos Surge, so he felt it was worth it. While his stamina was finite, he had more than enough of it for the training sessions. As a matter of fact, he actually wanted to show off his new ability to Shadow, maybe challenge him to a race. However, given the current circumstances, he wondered whether that was even possible.

What I didn't tell Lucas was that I also sent a few messages to Shadow, asking him how he's doing. Sonic sweatdropped as he pondered about the ebony hedgehog's reactions to his messages, figuring that his rival was probably annoyed by them. At least he could see that he was reading them, so that was a good thing. I still don't think that's a good idea, leaving them alone without even knowing whether they'll be fine or not. Sonic hummed. Maybe I should pay them a little visit, just in case.

Grinding to a halt, he turned around on his heel and sped right towards the Kageura residence.

xXx

''…''

Touka was lying in her bed, having pulled the blanket over her head and staring at the wall, her back turned towards Shadow. The ebony hedgehog was sitting on the swivel chair, just staring at her in silence as he thought about how things have been like this the past three days. After he had warped both of them home, Touka went to the bathroom, closing it right behind her and didn't come out of it for hours. When she did, Shadow noted how she had washed off Sakamoto's blood, having thrown Tomoe's light blue dress into the trash, and how her eyes were dark and red, having clearly spent a good amount of time crying her heart out. She barely spoke as she walked into her room, her only words being:

''I don't want to talk to anyone. I want to be left alone.''

That was the last 'conversation' they had before Touka once again completely shut down emotionally, barely even acknowledging him.

Shadow felt an overwhelming sense of guilt while watching her like this, just wasting away, but there was nothing he could do. There were times when he wanted to talk to Touka, but what was he supposed to say? How was he supposed to comfort her? He knew what was on her mind, but at the same time, he felt like she was a complete stranger to him. This was not the Touka he knew; she wasn't the determined, mischievous and protective older sister who took comforted him when he was at his lowest, who was defiant to the point of going against anyone who had authority or control over them and making them listen to her. She was always so strong, something Shadow deeply admired, but now? Now she was broken, a former shell of herself.

Shadow blamed himself for this, even though he knew that this was not his fault whatsoever. He wished that he could've done more to protect her, to shield her from the unfortunate truth. They both wanted to learn more about their past and they dug to deep, eventually getting buried in it. And when he didn't feel guilt, he was overwhelmed by the sensation of rage, the same kind he felt when he woke up after years of believing his beloved sister had died at his hand. The voice in the back of his mind returned, convinced him to find someone, anyone, and take his anger out on them, to punish them for what they had done to Touka. The first person who came to his mind was Sakamoto… and that's when the voice turned cold and the memory of his death replayed in his mind over and over again, like a broken tape. Shadow felt not pity for the man after what he had done to them, but the sudden brutality of his death did make his stomach squirm.

Shadow's ears twitched at the sound of voices coming from downstairs. He glanced at the hatch, unable to make out anything specific with his sensitive hearing, but he was sure that there was someone else in the downstairs besides Kisaki. He glanced at Touka, who hadn't moved from her position, having refused to leave her room unless absolutely necessary. He wanted to be there for her, and yet he couldn't.

He felt like a failure.

Sighing, Shadow got up and opened the hatch, leaping down into the hallway and walking to the stairs, the voices becoming louder. He stopped in the middle of the stairs, where he wouldn't be seen by anyone but still hear the ongoing conversation in the living room. Just as he had assumed, one of the voices was Kisaki's, but the other…

Sonic. Shadow frowned harder, clenching his fist as he listened in.

''Thanks once again for letting me in, Kisaki,'' Sonic said as Kisaki brought him a coaster and a glass of orange juice. ''I guess Shadow and Touka are at home as well, right?''

''Yeah, they are,'' Kisaki replied, as she sat down on the couch, sighing heavily. ''Unfortunately, neither of them is in the mood to talk. Touka has basically locked herself up in her room and Shadow refuses to say anything. I only see him whenever he comes down to get food for Touka.'' She pressed her fingers against her temple. ''I don't know what is going on with the two. Just a few days ago, they were both fine, if a little brooding, but now…''

Kisaki trailed off, clearly deeply concerned by the whole situation. Sonic's ears were pinned back as he thought about whether he should tell her what he knew. He wasn't that familiar with the relationship Touka and Shadow had from Kisaki, aside from the fact that Kisaki was Touka's adoptive mother on paper only and Touka never considered her a parental figure. However, seeing just how worried Kisaki was about her adoptive daughter, he decided that it would be the right thing to say something.

''I've heard that the two had been through a really traumatizing event. I don't know the details, though,'' Sonic responded. It wasn't a complete lie – he really didn't know all the details besides what Rouge had told them about witnessing Sakamoto's death, but he figured that Kisaki was better off without knowing that part. He reached for the orange juice, taking a sip out of the glass.

''I see… Thanks for telling me,'' Kisaki muttered, noting how Sonic was glancing at the stairs after putting the glass back on the coaster and fidgeting anxiously. ''If you want to talk to them, you can try, but I doubt you'll suceed.''

''I know you said that Touka and Shadow refuse to talk to you, but I'm persistent. Maybe I could get them…'' Sonic trailed off when Kisaki shook her head.

''It's not just that,'' she said, taking a deep breath. ''Listen, I know Touka and Shadow for a long time now, and when it comes to Touka, her being this closed off is not normal. I have never seen her behave like this, and I fear that, whatever had happened, it may have broken her mind. However, before you even get to talk to her, you would have to deal with Shadow.''

''Don't worry, I already know how to handle him,'' Sonic replied confidently, only to be met with Kisaki shaking her head again.

''I'm sure that you're well aware of just how protective Shadow is of Touka,'' Kisaki started, with Sonic nodding, having witnessed it first-hand. ''This kind of loyalty runs quite deep, and when put in the right mindset, Shadow will refuse to listen to anyone but Touka. This is one of those situations.'' Kisaki glanced at the stairs. ''I had tried to go to talk to Touka, but Shadow refuses to let me inside the room. He had told me that Touka wants to be left alone, and he's enforcing her will with an iron fist. So, unless you want to get caught up in a fight, I doubt you'll get through any of them.''

''So, Touka willingly put herself into isolation and Shadow's supporting her decision,'' Sonic voiced his thoughts, a little astounded. He knew that these two weren't particularly social, but he felt that this was going too far. He then gave Kisaki a confident grin. ''Well, I'm not afraid to get into a fight if necessary. I already know how Shadow is like.''

''There is one more thing I need to tell you,'' Kisaki added, feeling a tiny spark of hope when she saw just how confident Sonic was. She had to wonder if the blue hedgehog would be able to get drag the two out of their self-imposed isolation. ''I don't think Shadow wants this either.''

''You mean, isolating himself and Touka?'' Sonic asked, giving her a curious look. Kisaki nodded.

''Shadow may not be someone who is open with his emotions, but I could tell that he's frustrated with the whole situation and himself, and he doesn't know how to fix it. He knows Touka is hurt and he's doing everything in his power to prevent anyone from hurting her further, even if it means to keep her isolated.''

''That's even more reason for me to confront him,'' Sonic responded, grinning confidently. ''Just leave it all to me. I'm sure I'll be able to fix this.''

Shadow, who was listening to this, scowled, and walked back upstairs into his and Touka's bedroom, not wanting to listen to anything anymore. To his surprise, he saw Touka on her feet, all dressed up. She still had that solemn look on her expression, but she wasn't anymore hiding under the bedcovers.

''Touka, are you-?''

''I wanted to go outside. Are you coming with me?'' Touka asked, extending her arm. Shadow nodded, taking it and he could feel through his glove that her hand was cold and clammy. She was clearly not feeling well, but he figured that this was still better than nothing. There was a flash of blue light, and a moment later, they vanished.

A few minutes passed, with Sonic opening the hatch to the room, surprised to see that it was empty. ''Hey, they're gone!''

''What? But, we didn't see them leave!'' Kisaki shouted back from downstairs. Sonic ran up to her.

''They probably warped away. Don't worry, I'll find them and talk some sense into them,'' he said. Kisaki just put her hand over her mouth, supporting her elbow with her other hand as the hedgehog dashed off, hoping that he was right.

[...]

''I… I wasn't supposed to be like this…'' she said, shaking. ''I'm… I don't deserve any of this. I-I stole another person's life. I'm living a lie.'' Touka bit her lip, feeling as if someone was outright choking her. She couldn't breathe. ''I… Sometimes, I wish I was never created at all.''

Shadow felt like he was thrown into icy cold water, any breath he had vanishing and his eyes wide as he stared at his older sister. He knew that the situation was bad, but he had no idea it was this grim.

''Touka, don't say things like that!'' he suddenly shouted at her, only to immediately regret it.

''Shadow, please, just leave…'' Touka turned to him, her tone suddenly firm. Her eyes were still hazy from the tears, but there was an unmistakable look of determination in them. ''I don't want you to be around me anymore,… for your sake. You've done enough for me. More than enough.''

Shadow stared at her silently, unable to come up with a response. He wanted to respect her wish, but at the same time, he feared what would happened if he did. Sighing, Shadow got up and stepped in front of Touka.

''If I leave now and return later, will you still be here?'' he asked, his ruby eyes narrowing as he stared straight at her. Touka didn't respond. ''Touka, promise me that you will be here when I return.''

''Shadow, I…''

''Promise!''

Touka was caught off guard when Shadow suddenly snapped at her, staring at him for a moment, before slowly nodding.

''I promise,'' she whispered. Shadow just nodded in response and turned around, walking away. He hated the idea of leaving her alone, but if that was what she wanted, he wanted to respect it. He knew that while he was away, he'd be clutching onto this promise with his dear life, his only hope that Touka wouldn't do something to endanger herself.

Besides, he still had something else he needed to take care of. He walked onto the street and, just as he predicted, saw a blue streak of light zooming towards him. Sonic was relieved to have found Shadow, having searched the whole city for him and Touka.

''Hey, Shads, I was just-!''

POW!

Before Sonic could even finish his sentence, he was sent flying by Shadow, who punched him straight in the face. Sonic landed on the ground, shaking his head and rubbing his cheek, which was burning to the touch. He stared at Shadow, who was glaring daggers at him as he approached him, hands balled into fists, baring his fangs, completely livid.

''What makes you think that you have the right to stick your nose into my personal matters?!''

Shadow took another step as Sonic quickly got up. ''Shads, I know that you're angry, but I just want to help you.''

''I don't want your help!''

Shadow grabbed Sonic by his neck, lifting him up as they vanished in a flash of blue light. Sonic then felt a sharp pain in his back as Shadow slammed him against a wall. He realized that the wall was actually the underpass where they had one of their previous battles, not too far from the park they were previously at.

''I have enough of your self-righteousness! Only because you get to play hero, you think you can now be everyone's savior!'' Shadow growled furiously. ''Let me make something clear, Sonic! You can't fix everything! You can't fix me and you can't fix Touka! So stop trying!''

Shadow suddenly stumbled back as Sonic managed to kick him in the stomach, forcing him to let go of his rival. Sonic rubbed his neck, taking a deep breath. ''Okay, I get it. You're frustrated that things are falling apart. I understand. However, if you just talked to me about what happened, then…''

''There is nothing to talk about,'' Shadow cut him off, his tone harsh and cold. He was done with Sonic's antics. Sonic, on the other hand, sighed.

''Okay, then. I guess we'll have to do it the hard way,'' he said, stretching his arms above his head before getting into a battle stance and smirking. ''You know, I was actually looking forward to this, Faker.''

''I'll make you regret ever approaching me in the first place,'' Shadow responded.

The two hedgehogs then rushed forward into another clash.

[...]

Sonic dodged a punch from Shadow, which was followed by another punch, then a kick. Sonic just kept up avoiding the blows until he could find a good opening, but Shadow was relentless. Sure, Sonic fought him before a couple of times, but he had never seen him this furious. Although, he'd take furious Shadow over Shadow who had nothing left to fight for any day. Sonic briefly glanced back, noting the wall behind him, and he managed to dodge another sweeping kick to his head, stepping back and using the wall to bounce and tackle Shadow to the ground, trying to pin him down.

''Do you have enough?'' Sonic asked, grinning as he pressed Shadow's shoulders down. Shadow's response was to kick him with his knee, leaving Sonic reeling from the pain and then punching him again in the chest.

''Hmph, I've seen better from you,'' Shadow responded, staring at Sonic coldly as the latter recovered from the hit.

''Yeah… You did,'' Sonic responded, suddenly dashing forward.

Shadow braced himself for an attack, but Sonic zoomed past him, circling around him in a zig-zag manner to confuse him. Shadow kept calm, though, having understood what Sonic was planning to do, and when Sonic vanished from his sight, Shadow turned around, expecting a sneak attack from behind. However, instead, Sonic performed a homing attack from above, hitting Shadow and knocking him down. Sonic leapt back with a smirk on his expression as Shadow slowly got back up, knowing well his rival wouldn't just go down from one attack.

Admittedly, Sonic's plan wasn't to defeat Shadow. He just wanted the latter to vent his aggression through a battle and calm down so they could have a proper conversation. It was a simple stalling tactic, at least on paper, but Shadow was everything but simple. Sonic just hoped that he'd have enough stamina for this battle.

''Chaos Spear!''

''Yikes!'' Sonic managed to side-step the energy spear, letting it fly past him, feeling a little alarmed. If Shadow was willing to use his Chaos Powers, then things just got more complicated.

Another Chaos Spear formed in Shadow's hands, but instead of throwing it, Shadow used more like a weapon, swiping at Sonic. The cobalt hedgehog curled up, doing a spin attack at Shadow, who used the Chaos Spear to block the latter, energy sparking all around them. As the Chaos Spear dissipated, Sonic bounced back, uncurling, with a faint scent of burnt fur filling his nostrils. Before he could do anything about it, Shadow suddenly charged it for another punch, but to both of their surprise, Sonic blocked this one by grabbing Shadow's arm.

''You know, if you already want to fight me, then at least we can also talk!'' Sonic told him, sweep kicking Shadow, who leapt back, dodging the attack.

''There is nothing to talk about!'' Shadow growled. However, Sonic persisted, avoiding another punch and kicking Shadow in the chest.

''I understand that you're angry at me. I probably shouldn't have sent you so many messages either…''

''You spammed me 50 messages per day!''

POW!

Shadow managed to punch Sonic in the face, sending him flying. Sonic landed on the ground, shaking his head. ''Ughhh… I guess I deserved that one.'' He quickly got up, having to use his super speed to dodge another punch form Shadow as the latter warped right in front of him. ''However, I still think you should've just gone out and talked to someone than isolating yourself!''

''I don't want your advice!''

Sonic rushed down the street, forced to dodge Shadow's attempts at punching and kicking him as he warped around him. He saw a street lamp, rushed towards it and used it to circle around, kicking Shadow right in the gut as he warped in front of Sonic. Shadow fell on one knee, glaring at his rival as he clutched his stomach.

''I'm not saying that you have to take my advice. I just want to understand what is going through your head. I know that you're traumatized-'' Sonic replied when, suddenly, Shadow tackled him, warping both right back to the underpass and pinning Sonic below him.

''What do you know about trauma?!'' Shadow snarled furiously, glaring daggers at Sonic. ''What do you know about losing the most important person in your life?! What do you know how it feels when the whole world is against you?!''

''I… don't…'' Sonic responded in a defeated tone. Shadow stared at him, still angry, but noticeably calmer after hearing Sonic's response. He furrowed a brow when Sonic then looked back at him with a determined gaze. ''However, I know that you're feeling really lonely, as if everyone had abandoned you, and that you're carrying a huge responsibility on your shoulders. I want you to help with that burden, because I understand that feeling of loneliness. I told you before, and I'm telling you now, even if this is the path you have chosen, I won't give up. I will continue to fight for my friends, for Neos City, and especially for you, Shadow. So, stop being so stubborn!''

To Shadow's surprise, Sonic managed to kick him off him, causing him to stumble backwards, with Sonic getting ip on his feet. He expected Shadow to attack him again, but instead, the latter just stared at him with a steely gaze.

''Why?'' Shadow asked, suddenly walking towards Sonic, who quickly stepped back, feeling a little nervous, only to feel the wall behind him once again, with Shadow slamming his palm next to Sonic's head, keeping Sonic pinned against the wall once again. Shadow stepped even closer, with Sonic catching a faint scent of lavender coming from him. ''Why are you so determined to be so close to me?''

''Because I think you're an interesting person and I like hanging out with you. It's simple as that,'' Sonic responded in a chipper tone, giving Shadow a smug grin. Shadow's expression fell, avoiding eye-contact with Sonic.

''Right… It's simple as that,'' Shadow muttered, stepping back, his ears drooping as he stared at the ground, fists clenched. Sonic exhaled, feeling relieved that Shadow had finally calmed down. Shadow then looked back, his glare sending shivers down Sonic's spine, making him wonder if Shadow found another reason to be angry at him. ''You're still insisting on that, despite me showing no interest in being your friend like the others do. I agreed to being your ally and rival, but nothing beyond that.''

''Well, regardless of what you think, I still consider you my friend,'' Sonic replied happily, much to Shadow's chagrin. ''So, what happened to you and Touka? If you don't want to talk about it, could you at least give me a hint or something?'' Sonic noted the glare Shadow shoot at him, his ears drooping. ''Okay, I know I'm not really the best person when it comes to talking things out, especially emotional stuff. Amy's way better at this, so if you're more comfortable with that, we could go to talk to her. Or if you prefer a more blunt approach over a compassionate one, we could also talk to Minami.''

Shadow remained silent, giving Sonic a steely gaze, then lowered his head, staring somberly at the ground, arms folded across his chest. He closed his eyes when he felt a hand on his shoulder, followed by a surprisingly gentle tone coming from Sonic, ''Shads, I'm serious. You're not alone. If you still believe that, then I'll be always here to remind you that you have a friend by your side.''

''You're really a thorn in my side,'' Shadow responded, with Sonic feeling a little concerned, only to see Shadow's expression change to a more vulnerable one. He sighed, showing a pained look as he continued, ''I-I feel like I'm losing Touka again.''

''Shadow…''

''What we learned at that place, the truth… It completely broke her. I never saw her like this before; it's like she has turned into an empty shell of the person she used to be,'' Shadow explained, his hands falling by his side and clenched his fist, shaking. ''I hate seeing her like this and it frustrates me that there is absolutely nothing I can do to help her. I want to protect her, but how do you protect someone who is hurting themselves? I feel like a failure.''

''Shadow, I don't think you have failed,'' Sonic said, stepping up, with Shadow giving him a look of genuine surprise, only for it to change to a frown when Sonic placed his arm around his shoulder. ''I see this as a setback. Yeah, things were going great before, but you tripped and now you don't know how to continue. All you can do now is get up and keep going.''

''I'll consider your advice… Would you take your arm off my shoulder?'' Shadow growled.

''Sorry,'' Sonic quickly stepped back, grinning sheepishly. ''Also, next time you feel like venting your frustrations through a battle, just ask. I'm always up for a sparring match.''

''I'll keep that in mind,'' Shadow responded. Sonic just smiled at him happily, with Shadow still feeling a little irked by his positive outlook, but at the same time, the weight he felt on his shoulders wasn't as heavy as before. He was too used to act and fight on his own, with only Touka by his side, and he felt like there wasn't anyone beside her he could trust. Sure, there was also Kisaki, who would watch over them, but even then, they would exclude her from many things. During their life at the Codex Research Facility, they had developed an ''us against the world'' mentality and it was hard to shake it off. He hated the fact that he had just cracked under the pressure, but at the same time, he knew that he had to accept outside help to find a solution to this problem. It was quite frustrating for him, but at the same time, he felt a sense of relief.

''Now, let's go pick up Touka and…'' Sonic was about to walk away when, suddenly, a bunch of crystals shoot out of the ground, stopping him in his tracks. ''Whoa- What was that?!''

Both suddenly heard a cold chuckle coming from somewhere above. They ran out of the underpass, spotting a shadow-like figure hovering on the top of it. Shadow frowned, growling, ''Mephiles!''

''It was quite amusing watching you fight and struggle, but having you heal from your emotional trauma is certainly not part of the plan,'' Mephiles told him. Sonic glanced at Shadow, then back at Mephiles, realizing that this was the ARNav Rouge had told them about.

''Dude, what are you talking about?'' Sonic asked the Dark, while Shadow understood immediately.

''You didn't bring us to that place just to meet Prof. Sakamoto. His death was planned from the start,'' he said, with Sonic giving him a confused look. Mephiles gazed at him, at first not answering to his accusation, but then relented.

''I see that you put quite some thought into what had happened,'' Mephiles started. ''You're correct in your assumption though. The reason Toshiro and I brought you to meet Prof. Sakamoto is because we hoped that you would eventually succumb to your prior programming as a weapon after learning the truth and go on a rampage. The additional trauma you and Touka had experienced was just the cherry on the top and I sincerely enjoyed seeing you at your lowest. Touka's breakdown was especially amusing. Is it true that she has actually become suicidal?''

''You-'' Shadow gritted his teeth, baring his fangs. ''You'll pay for what you've done to Touka!''

''Hmph, I'd like to see you try!'' Mephiles rose up his arm, with flames suddenly bursting from the crystals that had sprouted from the ground, going right after Shadow. Sonic quickly tackled his rival, getting both of them away from the fire.

''This guy looks like real trouble,'' Sonic said, with Shadow glancing at him, noting the determined look on Sonic's expression. Sonic winked confidently, ''How about we take him down together?''

''How about we make it a competition and see who gets the most hits?'' Shadow responded, with Sonic grinning widely, looking excited.

''Now you're talking!''

Both nodded and then turned towards Mephiles, who just frowned in return. This was not the kind of reaction he wanted to see.

[...]

Both Sonic and Shadow dodged a wall of flames Mephiles sent towards them. Sonic then used his super speed to rush towards the Dark, only to be surprised by a barrage of sharp crystals growing out of the ground. Fortunately for him, Shadow fired a Chaos Spear, shattering the crystals and clearing the path for Sonic, who launched into a spin attack towards Mephiles. However, instead of hitting the Dark, he spun right into the flames that Mephiles had conjured.

''Sonic!'' Shadow shouted as he saw a ball of fire emerge from the flames, spinning and hitting a nearby wall. He uncurled, clearly dazed and singed. Shadow then turned to Mephiles, who fired a whirl of flames towards him. Shadow warped around them, about to punch Mephiles, only to pass through him, with the shadow-like copy disappearing and Mephiles appearing right behind him.

''You're so predictable,'' Mephiles hissed, with Shadow turning around in an attempt to roundhouse kick him in one swift motion, but the Dark already merged with the hedgehog's shadow, avoiding the attack. Shadow looked down, only to for crystals to sprout from the ground, enveloping the dark hedgehog completely.

''Shadow!'' Sonic screamed, holding onto his hurt arm, his eyes wide as he saw the ghastly crystallic structure with Shadow in the middle of it, trapped. Mephiles emerged from the shadows on the ground, looking at his little masterpiece in interest.

''I expected you to put more of a fight,'' he said. ''But, I suppose I should've expected this from someone so weak-minded and easy to manipulate.'' Mephiles then turned to Sonic, who tried to ignore the pain in his arm and took a battle stance. ''I suggest you to back down unless you want to end up the same as this idiot. My business is with Shadow.'' Mephiles' gaze then changed for a moment. ''Although, I wouldn't mind taking you down as well.''

''I know that you hurt Shadow and Touka, and I will make sure that you- huh?'' Sonic cut himself off as he saw a glowing red light behind Mephiles. The Dark too turned around, realizing that the red glow was coming from Shadow, his whole body enveloped in crimson light.

''Chaos BLAST!''

The crystallic prison exploded due to the blast of red energy, with Shadow falling down on his knee, breathing heavily, the glow in his eyes fading. Unfortunately, he had to use up a lot of energy just to free himself from Mephiles' trap and he was winded from the attack. Still, he got up, glaring at his opponent. Mephiles' eyes narrowed as he stared back. He had to admit, Shadow was stubborn. Nevertheless, he was the one standing on the top. The so-called Ultimate Lifeform and his equal were clearly unable to make a scratch on him.

''I had fun playing, but-'' Before Mephiles could even end his sentence, he suddenly felt something wrap around his chest, pulling him backwards. A string? Before he could even respond in any way, whoever was holding onto the string swung him into the wall of the underpass, causing him to hit it hard and fall over.

''You're being really mean.''

''Big?!'' Sonic and Shadow's eyes widened in complete surprise when Big emerged, holding a fishing pole, with Froggy on his shoulder. He was glaring at Mephiles, who cut through the string with his claws and glared back at Big. Rest assured, he clearly didn't expect for him to appear in join the fight.

''Why you-?!'' Mephiles felt a sense of rage overwhelming him. He made it clear that no one was going to even put a scratch on him and if this purple cat wanted to participate in this battle, he would make him pay. However, before he could do that, Shadow suddenly rushed forwards, using the moment of distraction to launch an attack at Mephiles. Unfortunately for him, Mephiles turned back, creating once again a wall of fire to stopped Shadow in his tracks. ''Tch, you can't defeat me!''

''Leave my brother alone!''

Too distracted by what was going on in front of him, Mephiles didn't even register Touka sneaking up behind him, holding a pipe in her hand and whacking him over the head with it. She glared at him as he fell over, seething with rage. Shadow was shocked to see her here, only to get elbowed by Sonic.

''Hey, Shads, remind me to never make Touka angry,'' he said, a soft grin on his lips. Shadow couldn't help but grin in response, as this was the Touka he was familiar with. The teenager dropped the pipe and then ran past Mephiles and towards the hedgehogs, Big and Froggy.

''Are you guys okay?'' she asked, a look of concern on her expression.

''It's nothing that we can't walk off,'' Sonic responded in a casual tone. Shadow gave her a worried look.

''What about you?'' he asked. Touka shook her head, responding with a look of guilt.

''I'm so sorry for making you all worried about me,'' she replied. Shadow was about to respond, but Sonic interrupted the two.

''You know, we can talk about this once we're done with Mephiles,'' he said, pointing at the Dark, who got up. Despite the glare he shoot at them, there was clearly a slight hint of alarm in his gaze, especially since Touka was clearly more than willing to aid the group in the battle rather than be consumed by her depression and trauma. Shadow noticed that, stepping out.

''Care to prove your status as The Ultimate Weapon against the Chaos Surge-boosted Ultimate Lifeform?'' he asked. Mephiles frowned, backing away into the shadows. He knew that without Toshiro's aid, he would have a hard time against Shadow powered up by Chaos Surge.

''This won't be the last time we see each other!''

The group watched him disappear, before collectively sighing in relief. Sonic then put his arms behind his head, adding in a causal tone, ''Well, that was fun.'' He smiled sheepishly when he saw the exasperated look Shadow gave him, turning towards Big and Froggy. ''Thanks for the help, guys!''

''You're welcome,'' Big responded happily, glancing at Touka, who had a smile on her lips, despite her clear look of discomfort.

''I… I suppose there's a lot to explain,'' she started. Shadow raised an eyebrow, surprised to see that she was actually willing to come clean about what had happened, with Touka catching on his non-verbal question. ''I had talked to Big, and I think it would be a good idea for the rest of Team Neos to learn the truth.''

''Are you sure?'' Shadow questioned her. Touka gave a firm nod, with Sonic and Shadow exchanging glances. While Shadow was still uncertain, Sonic just gave him an encouraging grin and a thumbs up.

''I'll call Lucas and the rest of the team, then.''

[...]

''You're already familiar with Mephiles, right? He also has a partner named Toshiro Miwa, and just like Touka, Toshiro is an artificial creation, albeit for a different purpose,'' Shadow explained.

''They're the ones who will destroy the future,'' Silver said in a grim tone, drawing everyone's attention as he approached Shadow. ''The kind of fire powers Mephiles has is identical to that of Ignis Infernalis, and considering how I was sent from the future to the exact moment of the past from which the fire originates, I'm certain that it's him who will be the catalyst for this disaster.''

''Then we will stop at nothing to make sure to prevent that,'' Shadow said in a firm tone. He and Silver were suddenly startled by a blue blur, with Sonic appearing right between them, placing his arms over their shoulders and pulling them closer.

''Shadow's right! Be it past, present or future, nothing can stop us from making the world a better place!'' Sonic said cheerfully, with Silver smiling back at him, while Shadow shoot him a glare, clearly still not liking the idea of being touched.

Links:

#Sonadow Moments in Sonic Cyber Revolution (The Enter The E.G.G.M.A.N. Arc & The Babylon Rogues Arc)

#Sonadow Moments in Sonic Cyber Revolution (The Starfall Arc)

#Sonic Cyber Revolution (Masterlist)

[tenebraevesper]

So, according to Ian Flynn on the Bumblekast, SEGA put Shadow under lock and key during the Sonic Boom era, which means that he literally has no (known) backstory and, as Ian suggested, he might as well be some random guy who has Chaos powers and a habit of antagonizing Sonic for no reason, and he definitely has some history with Sonic going by their interactions.

Point is, I'm intrigued and I definitely want to do an analysis on Boom!Shadow with the little information I've got... which now I realize is gonna be less of an analysis and more me speculating and creating my own headcanons, but hey, that's all you can do in this situation.

I would love to hear other people's opinions on Boom!Shadow before I share my own ideas, tho.

[tenebraevesper]

Shatter Me, Entry 0: Fight Together

''Let's leave before the dawn shows. Let's go meet a tomorrow we haven't seen yet. There's no regret about this decision. (Oh I know what I'm supposed to do). What kind of trial awaits ahead? My heart just can't stop beating fast. The place I want to reach is just one. (Fly to the light!) The bonds I got at the end of the fight, I won't let anyone break them. If I just open the fists I grasped, I find my strength lying there.''

– Fight Together by One Piece

xXxXxXx

''Goodbye, Roses…''

Shadow's ears flicked as he heard Sonic's weakened voice, bidding goodbye to his friends who came to escort him to Green Hill. Unfortunately, with the ship being too damaged, it was up to Shadow to help Sonic in the last stretch of their journey through The Void.

Having placed Sonic's arm over his shoulder, Shadow held onto his waist with his other hand, the two leaping from one crystal to another. Sonic was in a very bad condition, his body fading fast. Shadow sneaked a glance at his rival, the sense of concern only growing when he saw that, while he still could hold onto Sonic, he was becoming more and more transparent, like a ghost.

''Agh!''

Sonic gasped in pain as he felt another jolt coursing through his body, his shape distorting for a brief moment. He fell on his knees, with Shadow still holding onto him. A sense of dread and panic set in, with Shadow taking a quick glance at the gate that led to Green Hill, estimating the distance. Then, he quickly scooped Sonic up in his arms, placing his hands under his legs and back as he carried him towards Green Hill, towards safety. He was speeding across the crystal they had landed on, aware that Sonic had little time left. He needed to get him to Green Hill as fast as possible, not wanting to think about what would happen if he failed.

''I never knew you were a hugger.''

Shadow felt his heart leap when he heard Sonic again, glancing down at him. The once azure hedgehog had a cheeky smile on his fawn lips, only to get interrupted by another jolt of pain. Clearly, even at death's door he had to get at least one more quip in. Shadow couldn't help but respond in a snarky tone.

''Do you want me to save you or not?''

Shadow saw Sonic flashing another grin, clearly amused that Shadow decided to continue the banter, only for another jolt of pain to pass through his body. Shadow's eyes widened in horror, and he almost felt his heart stopping as Sonic suddenly fainted, his limp arm swaying.

This was bad. This was really bad. Shadow picked up the pace, skating faster and faster. He leapt from the crystal onto another, aware that Sonic's life depended on him. If he failed to get Sonic to Green Hill… No, did not want to think about that. But still, the gateway seemed to be still too far away.

Gritting his teeth, Shadow focused all of his energy into this one jump, flying through The Void like a shooting star, followed by several sonic booms. His heart was now beating rapidly as his gaze fixated on the Green Hill gateway, the light coming closer and closer.

''HANG ON SONIC!''

He could feel Sonic's limp body almost fading out of his hands, and he tightened his grip. He refused to lose him to The Void. He refused to let go of him. Nothing else mattered aside from this one moment. Shadow narrowed his eyes as the bright light of the gateway illuminated them. He had to make it! He simply had to!

Then, he passed through it… and everything went white.

xXx

Shadow opened his eyes, feeling a sense of dizziness. His arms were light, too light for his comfort, and he realized that the reason for this was because he wasn't carrying Sonic anymore.

''No, no, no… Sonic! Sonic!'' Shadow shouted as he looked around for the azure hedgehog, the dread and panic swirling inside him like a storm. He refused to believe that Sonic was gone. He had to be somewhere here… in Green Hill.

Shadow stopped for a moment, breathing heavily as he finally took a good look at his surroundings. He was back at Green Hill, and everything looked like it used to be before. Green Hill was back to its lush and vibrant colours instead of looking like a shell of its former self. They had managed to restore their home.

Shadow's gaze then turned towards the mountain where the Paradox Prism cave was, and he quickly leapt, rushing towards it. He sped past Big, skating towards the mouth of the cave, only to be washed over by an overwhelming wave of relief. Sonic was there, and he was still alive, sticking close to his friends as they defended the Paradox Prism from Dr. Eggman.

While Shadow did not completely understand the situation fully, he did realize that by entering Green Hill, he and Sonic were brought back to the moment right before the shattering of the Paradox Prism. However, the previous time Shadow arrived at the cave, he was too late to stop Sonic from shattering it. Now, it was clear that Sonic actually listened to his friends, keeping close to them, with this one change preventing their reality from shattering once again.

Shadow had to wonder whether Sonic remembered the events, only to get a confirmation a moment later when Dr. Eggman approached Sonic and his friends. Sonic looked up, gazing past the doctor, his jaw dropping when he saw Shadow at the entrance to the cave.

Their exchange was wordless, with Shadow swiping his hand across the air, revealing the green Chaos Emerald, that had miraculously returned back from the decaying space of The Void, and Sonic nodded in response, agreeing with his plan.

Both knew in that moment that their memories of the Shatterverse were still there, but for now, they had more pressing matters to deal with. Even if Sonic didn't shatter the Paradox Prism this time, they still needed to deal with Dr. Eggman before he could use the Prism for his nefarious plans.

''This world is mine!'' Dr. Eggman exclaimed, only for him and Sonic's friends to be surprised when Shadow appeared seemingly out of nowhere on top of the Paradox Prism. ''Huh? Shadow? What the heck are you doing here?!''

''I am the Ultimate Lifeform,'' Shadow declared in a firm tone, holding the Chaos Emerald tightly in his hand. ''I go wherever I want.''

''Wh-huh?''

Dr. Eggman was left as confused as the rest of Sonic's team, while Shadow held up the Chaos Emerald.

''CHAOS CONTROL!''

Shadow and the Paradox Prism then vanished, leaving Tails, Knuckles, Amy and Rouge immensely confused and with a lot of questions on their mind, as Shadow was the last person they had expected to appear and help them.

''NOOOOOO! What have you DONE?!'' Dr. Eggman screamed, punching the mech in frustration.

Sonic, in turn, felt elated about the turn of events, leaping onto the empty rock where the Paradox Prism once was and turning back to the mad doctor with a wide smile on his expression. He knew that he would have to seek out Shadow later on to thank him for everything he had done, but now, it was time for some heroic last words in the wake of Eggman's defeat.

''Sorry, Eggman, but when you've got a crew like mine, there is nothing that can stop you.''

Links:

#Current Chapter

#Next Chapter

#Sonic Cyber Revolution (Masterlist)

[tenebraevesper]

Shatter Me, Entry 3: Vandalize My Heart

''Sound the alarm.. Shatter me like glass. Covered in scars, but roses are coming through the cracks. Time that you killed, you promised to help me rebuild! It caught me off guard, sound the alarm... Said you'd keep me safe, now you're tearin' me down! Am I laid to waste now that you're not around? Come and leave your mark! Vandalize my heart! Fight the pain away, my head is in ruins! Need you in my veins, don't know how you do it! Come and leave your mark (Come and leave your mark)! Vandalize my heart!''

– Vandalize by Sonic Frontiers

xXxXxXx

Sonic shifted, feeling the warm sunrays on his cobalt fur, but kept his eyes closed. His senses were surprisingly slow, as he still wanted to sleep, but his internal clock told him to wake up as he had once again fallen asleep at a random place, leaned against something soft. He wanted for it to last a bit longer, feeling quite arm and content, but then he felt a flick against his nose, followed by a familiar voice.

''Wake up, Sonic.''

''Uh, huh,… Shadow?''

Sonic blinked, blinking the sleep away as he lifted his head, realizing that he was leaning against Shadow. A faint shade of red spread across his fawn muzzle as he frantically tried to recall what had happened last night, but his memories were still in the process of loading like the slowest computer in the world. It also didn't help that he had noticed Shadow's arm around his waist, leaving him feeling awkward. What had happened?!

Shadow, in turn, furrowed a brow as he saw Sonic's flustered expression, wondering why he acted like this when last night, he was quite comfortable sleeping in Shadow's arms. The sense of confusion was then replaced with a sense of temptation, as he realized that he might as well take advantage of the situation and tease him a little. ''What's the matter Sonic? Why do you look so flustered?''

''M-Me? Flustered? Why would I be flustered? I'm not flustered!'' Sonic quickly responded in a panicked tone, his quills bristled as he tried to remembered what had happened. ''Where did you even get that idea?''

''I guess I misunderstood your response then. After all, you were quite shameless last night.'' Shadow let out a soft sigh, as if reminiscing about what had happened.

''Wh-What do you mean?'' Sonic's muzzle was now as red as Shadow's stripes and his mind was wandering aimlessly as several improper ideas of what he and Shadow had been doing appeared, and he tried to frantically dismiss them, feeling embarrassed. It was only then that his memories had slowly started to return, albeit still fuzzy and unfocused.

Shadow hummed in interest. ''Well, you were the one who cuddled up to me and wouldn't let go of me.''

''Wha- Oh…'' Sonic's memories finally snapped back into place and he realized that nothing had happened, aside from them talking and, as Shadow put it, cuddling. His eyes narrowed and he shot his rival a glare. ''You're the worst, Shads!''

Shadow smirked. ''What did you even think had happened?''

''Nothing,'' Sonic quickly responded, finally taking note of the fact that he and Shadow were holding hands. When did this happen?! He took a deep breath, rubbing his eyes with his free hand. ''What time is it anyways?''

''I suppose it's a couple of hours after sunrise,'' Shadow replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

''Really? Why didn't you wake me up?'' Sonic asked, raising an eyebrow.

Because you looked quite peaceful while asleep, was what Shadow wanted to say, but instead he responded with, ''I thought that you would wake up on your own. My mistake.''

''So, you let me cuddle up to you and use you as a pillow, and you really had no issues with it? None at all?'' Sonic asked, quirking a brow. A smirk graced his lips when Shadow frowned, giving him the typical 'Don't push it' look. However, Sonic felt quite bold now and wanted to press further. He wanted to know just how far he could get with his antics and what Shadow's limits were. ''Huh, so you wouldn't mind if I-''

He nuzzled into Shadow's chest fur, still fascinated by how soft it was, tightening his grip on Shadow's hand. Shadow just rolled his eyes at that, being patient enough to give Sonic a chance to actually stop with that. ''Don't you have places to be?''

''Right,'' Sonic groaned, his head still in Shadow's chest, before looking up. ''Tails is probably worried about me, and I also have to return the picnic basket I had borrowed to Amy.'' He then stood up, letting go of Shadow's hand and already missing the warmth it provided. He stretched his arms, having to admit that it had been quite nice overall. He then glanced at Shadow, who had already gotten up and grabbed the blanket, giving it to Sonic. Sonic took it, giving Shadow a sheepish smile. ''Thanks for keeping me company.''

Shadow simply nodded in response, waiting for Sonic to continue. However, for once, Sonic wasn't sure what to say. While he was genuinely happy that he and Shadow had grown so close to deeply trust each other with their fears and vulnerabilities, he wasn't sure what the next step in their relationship was. Obviously, they were still rivals, but they also became friends… but it also felt that there was something more in their relationship that neither of them wanted to explore, or at least, neither of them wanted to acknowledge.

''If you ever want a challenge, just give me a call,'' Sonic finally said, giving Shadow a thumbs up. Shadow nodded again, with Sonic waving at him, having picked up the picnic basket and then speeding off.

Shadow leaned against the entrance to the alcove, feeling the warm sunrays against his black fur, and took a deep breath. His mind was filled with memories of what had happened last night, and he was baffled with himself that he let Sonic get so close to him. He simply let his rival tear apart any walls he had built, showing a side of him that he wanted to hide, and he didn't care at at all about the fact that it went against his core principles. Sure, he made it clear that he trusted Sonic, but he still wanted to keep some kind of distance between them. Yet, that was all thrown out of the window the moment Sonic decided to constantly stay by his side. Once again, his rival was the source of all of his troubles, and he couldn't even be mad at him.

He pressed his hand against his chest, feeling his own heartbeat, which was slightly faster than usual as he kept thinking about his relationship with Sonic. He had felt magnetically drawn to his rival, and it was in equal parts frustrating and exhilarating. His mind was in a bit of a haze, partially wishing that he could've chalked this up to a dream, but he shook his head at that thought. He knew that it was too late to go back to how things were before considering what had just happened.

Shadow took a deep breath, taking out the green Chaos Emerald. Knowing that he needed some time on his own to process everything, he vanished in a flash of light.

xXx

''Hey, Tails! I'm back- Amy?''

''Hi, Sonic! We've been wondering where you were,'' Amy said. ''Last night's storm was really bad, and we were worried that you got caught in it.''

''Well, I kinda did…'' Sonic started, rubbing the back of his head as he gave Amy the picnic basket back and reached for the blanket. ''But, Shadow had managed to find a shelter for both of us so we stayed there to wait for the storm to pass.''

Sonic then went to place the picnic blanket back on the shelf, with Tails and Amy exchanging strange looks. It was as if they dared each other to ask Sonic the question that was constantly burning in their mind ever since Sonic told them about the picnic with Shadow, as both were really curious about their relationship. They knew that it wasn't that unusual for Sonic to just befriend every person he came across, especially if that person previous kicked his ass, but Shadow was a bit of a special case. He was aloof and reclusive, not exactly the type of person who would want to socialize with anyone out of his own free will, let alone Sonic… that is, unless it involved a fight between them. However, going by Sonic's lack of bruises, it was obvious that they didn't have one of their usual race battles either. Not to mention, this development in their relationship was quite sudden, and both suspected that there was more to it.

''So, how was it?'' Amy decided to ask, with Sonic giving her a confused look. ''I mean, the picnic.''

''Oh, it was great! By the way, thanks again for letting me borrow your picnic basket,'' Sonic replied happily. Tails and Amy exchanged glances again.

''Really? Did nothing happen? Shadow didn't say or do anything weird?'' Tails asked. Sonic paused for a moment, thinking back to the night and what had happened.

In regards to their relationship, he knew that he had been crossing any boundaries placed between them over and over again, and he enjoyed it quite a lot, especially considering how receptive Shadow was. If other people saw them like that, Sonic knew that they would consider it weird, but in his personal opinion, he didn't feel like there was anything weird between them. Or rather, he didn't care whether there was anything weird between them. This was a dynamic he genuinely enjoyed, although he still needed to figure out what this strange sensation was, always forming in his chest whenever he met Shadow's gaze. He could still remember the wave of warmth when Shadow had comforted him, followed by the sudden desire to pull him into an embrace and never let him go as he met those crimson eyes, usually sharp and fiery, but now soft and compassionate, full of understanding and… love?

''Nope! No! Nothing weird happened!'' Sonic responded, suddenly snapping out of his thoughts. He realized that he really needed to figure out what was going on with him and Shadow, because while their usual dynamic was still there, it seemed that there was really something more going on. ''All we did was talk and eat chili dogs, and just kinda mess with each other. The usual stuff. Why are you asking me that?''

''We've just been curious,'' Tails replied, the talk he had with Rouge still being on his mind. He had told Amy about it when she visited him, and Amy too noted how she was surprised to hear that Sonic wanted to hang out with Shadow and Shadow seemed to have responded positively to that. That was why they had decided to confront Sonic together whenever he decided to drop by. ''So, Sonic… Do you like Shadow?''

''Of course I do,'' Sonic replied, being a bit puzzled by the question. After all, he had made it clear to his friends that there was no animosity between him and Shadow, no matter into how many arguments or fights they got, as both deeply respected and cared for each other.

''Does Shadow like you?'' Tails asked, confusing Sonic even further.

''Well, I guess he does,'' he said, once again recalling their conversations and interactions. He then grinned contently. ''As a matter of fact, I think that we're now closer that we were ever before.''

Tails and Amy seemed to be a bit surprised by the answer, but at the same time, they also looked as if they had expected it. Sonic wondered what was going on with those two, with Tails and Amy then giving him a look of approval.

''I see… I mean, I didn't expect you to fall in love with Shadow, but hey, I support you all the way,'' Tails said, giving Sonic a thumbs up.

''At least I know now why you never were interested in me romantically, and while it does sting a bit, I can assure you, I support you just as much as Tails does. As a matter of, if you need a wingman, you can ask me for help,'' Amy replied, smiling back.

Sonic just stared at them for a moment, his green eyes wide and his mouth slightly open as he tried to process what they had just told him. ''Wait, what?!''

xXx

Shadow had found himself standing on top of the Loop-de-Loop, his arms folded across his chest, having taken upon himself to check whether there had been any damage from the rainstorm. Fortunately, it appeared that there wasn't anything, leaving him with nothing to do. Not really knowing what his next move should be, he resigned himself to just find an isolated spot where no one could find him or reach him, and just be alone with his thoughts.

Unfortunately for him, whenever he left his mind to wander, an image of a grinning Sonic popped into it. He tried to shake it off, but thoughts of Sonic just kept invading his mind, leaving him quite irritated, but also making him realize that he wanted to see his rival again. He sighed, well aware that he needed to finally confront his feelings on this matter rather than avoiding them.

Shadow's eyes narrowed as he suddenly heard a flapping of wings coming from the side, his eyes briefly darting towards the source before gazing ahead once again. ''What do you want, Rouge?''

''You know, a simple 'Hello' would've been enough,'' Rouge said, placing her hand on her hip as she hovered next to Shadow, who didn't respond. She rose an eyebrow, with a sly smile creeping up on her lips. ''So, how was your date with Sonic?''

To Rouge's surprise, and annoyance, Shadow's expression remained impassive, stating in his usual matter-of-fact tone, ''That was a picnic.''

''Huh, really? I thought it was just a way for you two to get to know each other better,'' Rouge teased, standing on the edge of the platform.

''It was merely a victory celebration, the same kind you had already attended,'' Shadow responded in a firm tone. ''Since I wasn't there for the first time, Sonic insisted on making up for that.''

''That's really nice of Blue,'' Rouge commented with an innocent smile on her lips. ''Nevertheless, going out of your way to hang out with Sonic this way is really unlike you, Shadow. One would almost think that there is something-''

''I thought you'd be interrogating me about the location of the Paradox Prism, not my relationship with Sonic,'' Shadow suddenly interrupted her, casting a glare at her. Rouge was a bit startled by the interruption, but her demeanor suddenly changed, a greedy look appearing on her expression.

''Well, I wouldn't mind discussing it. I'm certain that you had found a good hiding spot for it,'' she said, giving Shadow a look the dark hedgehog knew quite well.

''I'm not telling you anything,'' he stated in a firm tone. His ears flicked as he heard Rouge groan in annoyance, and he smirked slightly.

''Of course you wouldn't,'' Rouge muttered, only to get startled when Shadow suddenly moved, leaping off the platform, and rushing off. She then simply sighed, shaking her head. ''I swear, it is harder to get any information out of Shadow than stealing the Master Emerald from Knuckles.''

Rouge took note of her own history with Shadow, reminding herself that, while the dark hedgehog saw them as allies, he still didn't let anyone get too close to him. She didn't mind it much, though, well aware that what Shadow had experienced would always be a reminder of why he was always so on guard. Nevertheless, she had to wonder whether his rivalry with Sonic was a sign of a possible change.

As for Shadow, he knew that he needed to get away as soon as possible, feeling his heart beat at a rapid pace. This sensation was unlike any other, filling him with a rush of anxiety and the need to just keep on skating through Green Hill Zone, to go faster than his own heartbeat, to give into the adrenaline and push himself to his limits. He could understand Sonic's desire to keep moving, as this was the only thing that allowed him to clear his own mind in his current state.

All because Rouge suggested Sonic and I went on a date.

Shadow closed his eyes briefly, gritting his teeth as he thought about that bold statement. So, what if it seemed that if he and Sonic went on a picnic date?! He didn't really trust Sonic to think the same. No matter how affectionate the azure hedgehog got, he knew that Sonic ever saw them as rivals and even friends, despite Shadow's aloof attitude. That's how their relationship always was, and both took it for granted.

Nevertheless, it was clear that Sonic left a mark on him. His rival always found new ways to madden Shadow with his reckless actions, but also amazed and astounded Shadow with his determination and unwavering desire to protect and befriend even those who hurt him. Sonic was someone who inspired people to do better, a light in the darkness and a hope for all of those who seek freedom of their own.

Shadow slowed down, eventually coming to a halt as he pressed his hand against his chest, trying to calm himself down, his mind now clearer, even if that feeling of anxiety was still lingering. A shadow fell over his expression as he realized that he needed to accept the inevitable. He thought that he was safe, only to to be torn down again. However, this time, he knew that he would be fighting back.

If these feelings were true, then he would confront Sonic, and no matter what happened next, Shadow would make him pay for vandalizing his heart.

xXx

''W-Wait! I'm not-'' Sonic could feel a wave of heat spreading through his body, followed by a fluttering sensation in his stomach as a blush bloomed across his fawn muzzle. ''We're not- I-'' Despite usually having no problem talking, he was now stuttering and feeling more and more embarrassed with each word he fumbled. Finally, his mouth caught up with his scrambled thoughts, and he asked, ''Wh-Why would you think that?''

Tails and Amy gave him a puzzled look, clearly caught off guard by his flustered reaction, with Amy responding, ''Well, you've been talking about Shadow a lot lately, and both of you went to a picnic together, and you just told us that you and Shadow were closer than ever. The natural conclusion would be that there is something going on between you.''

''Especially since this change had happened in a matter of days,'' Tails added, raising an eyebrow. ''As a matter of fact, you have changed a lot lately.''

''H-Have I?'' Sonic replied nervously, rubbing the back of his head. ''I didn't really notice.''

Amy huffed, placing her hands on her hips, realizing that they weren't going to get any answer out of her former crush this way, deciding to take a more direct approach. ''Be honest, Sonic! What is going on with you? Why are you acting like this? What's the deal between you and Shadow?''

She took a step forward with each question, forcing Sonic to step back, his hands up in defense, as he was suddenly reminded of Amy's temper, knowing well that, despite her compassion and kindness, there was a reason he didn't dare to mess with her. Nevertheless, this didn't make things easier for him, as he wasn't the best with expressing his own feelings. What was he even supposed to say?

''I-I'm not really sure,'' he started, trying to finally make sense of the swirl of thoughts and emotions coursing through his mind. ''I mean, we went on this adventure, and afterwards Shadow had told me that he trusts me and considers me his friend, and then there was this picnic where we talked about stuff and we-'' He stopped himself from revealing that they ended up cuddling, figuring that, at least for Shadow's sake, Tails and Amy didn't need to know this detail. ''We fell asleep and the next morning, we parted ways. Nothing really happened… Well, at least I think so.''

''There has to be more to it. You were really flustered earlier,'' Amy pointed out. Sonic still had no idea how to respond, as he was also in the process of trying to understand whether he really had any deeper feelings for Shadow or not. He always saw their relationship in the context of their rivalry and, while he was honored to have earned Shadow's trust and friendship, he still wasn't sure whether there really was more to it. He then snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Amy asking him another question, ''Have you two even flirted with each other?''

Sonic paused for a moment, trying to remember whether there was a moment like that, but from what he could remember, most of their conversations was just the usual banter and teasing. ''Does telling Shadow 'I heart you too' count after he saved me from getting blasted into pieces?''

Tails just stared at Sonic in disbelief, while Amy just groaned, facepalming in response. ''Sonic, that's practically a love confession, especially when it comes to you.''

''How did Shadow react?'' Tails asked.

''He just rolled his eyes and moved on. I mean, it was just the usual banter between us…'' Sonic trailed off when he saw Amy's frowning at him.

''It sounds to be like a lot of that banter can be easily misinterpreted for flirting,'' she said, raising an eyebrow. ''Do you even have any feelings for Shadow?''

Sonic didn't respond, falling silent. ''That's what I'm trying to figure out.''

Tails and Amy gazed at Sonic, feeling a bit disheartened. This was a situation neither of them ever expected to happen, least of all Sonic, and all they could do now was to try and help him navigate through it, especially since this was unknown territory for the azure hedgehog.

''Sonic?''

Sonic almost felt his heart leap out of his chest when he heard Shadow calling out for him. The three turned to the entrance to the workshop, finding Shadow standing there. Sonic stared at him, and despite all the perplexing revelations, he couldn't help but smile. He knew that, every time Shadow appeared, things would get quite interesting and he lived for the thrill of the adventure.

''Shadow, what are you doing here?'' Sonic asked, walking up to his rival.

''I'm here to take you up on your offer,'' Shadow responded in a matter-of-fact tone.

''What offer?'' Tails chimed in, him and Amy giving Sonic pointed looks. Shadow briefly glanced at them, before turning to Sonic.

''You had told me that I can call you anytime I want a challenge. That is why I'm here,'' he explained. Sonic quickly perked up, walking over to Shadow with a smirk on his expression.

''Heh, and I thought that I was the impatient one,'' he said in a teasing tone. ''You simply couldn't wait to challenge me again.''

''Tch, as if. Knowing you, I'm surprised that you didn't return immediately. I was already getting worried,'' Shadow responded, folding his arms across his chest. ''You have no clue what kind of battle awaits you.''

''Oh, I think I know, and I can't wait for it,'' Sonic replied, taking note of the smirk on Shadow's expression. Both felt the same spark of excitement, restless as they anticipated each other's next move. To Shadow's surprise, Sonic held up his hand, raising a finger. ''I do have one condition. The loser has to do whatever the winner tells him to do.''

''I accept. It should be more interesting now that there are stakes involved. Although, I hope you know what you're doing, for your own sake,'' Shadow replied.

''I don't mind taking any risks, Shads,'' Sonic responded, giving Shadow a confident look. ''Let's go!''

Both of them quickly left, much to the surprise of Tails and Amy. Both exchanged glances, wondering what had just happened.

''These two…''

''Seriously…''

Both then sighed in exasperation, realizing that they may have misinterpreted things. They were genuinely stunned to see that Shadow actually went out of his way to seek out Sonic, even more when Sonic's mood almost immediately flipped a switch the moment he realized what Shadow wanted. The way the two looked at each other was as if they forgot for a moment that the rest of the world existed, and knowing how easily distracted Sonic could get, he probably did. It was completely different from how Sonic acted earlier, any nervousness immediately vanishing and him clearly being quite comfortable in Shadow's presence. If Tails and Amy haven't had the conversation with Sonic earlier, they wouldn't have noticed that there was any change in their relationship, at least on Sonic's side.

Nevertheless, whatever these two rivals had going on, it was still an enigma to them.

xXx

Sonic went for a slide tackle, trying to knock Shadow off his feet, but the latter managed to dodge it. He then charged at Sonic, who just smirked confidently, suddenly stepping behind a palm tree, with Shadow splintering the bark as he punched it. Sonic then peeked around it, giving him a taunting grin.

''I thought I was your target. What did the poor palm tree ever do to you?'' he asked, only to duck when Shadow went for another punch and kick, only for Sonic to go into the offensive and block it. He was startled by the sudden spark of Chaos Energy emitting from Shadow, realizing that his rival was on the edge of actually going all out by using his Chaos-based attacks, and this made him even more excited. ''What's up? You can't take me down so you go for a Chaos Spear?''

''Tch, you wish,'' Shadow replied, an amused smirk on his lips, only for Sonic's eyes to widen when Shadow grabbed his arm and threw him over the shoulder, causing him to hit the ground hard. Sonic felt a numbing pain in his back, but knew he had to move, trying to get back on his feet and create some distance, only to be taken off guard by a flash of light, with Shadow having used Chaos Control to appear right on top of him, straddling him and pinning down his arms. Sonic squirmed beneath him, trying to break free, only to realize that Shadow kept a tight grip on him. Both stared at each other, Sonic's eyes narrowing as he was met by Shadow's smug gaze, with both realizing that this fight was indeed over and Shadow was the winner this time.

Sonic then sighed, rolling his eyes. ''Okay, you win. You can start gloating now about how superior you are, Mr. Ultimate Lifeform.''

''I don't have to. It is enough for me to hear you admitting that I'm superior,'' Shadow told him, clearly enjoying himself, still grinning at Sonic's peril. Sonic let out a huff, realizing that he kind of walked into that.

''Let me guess, you want me to continue praise you; all hail Shadow and all that stuff,'' Sonic replied in a deadpan tone. ''Could you at least let me go so I can get up?''

Shadow tilted his head, giving him an appraising look. ''Honestly, being on the ground like this suits you way more.''

''Next time, you'll be the one in this position,'' Sonic replied, feeling an odd sense of thrill, but not registering it fully.

''Is that a promise?'' Shadow's voice was just as taunting as ever, but there was an underlying tone of expectation.

''You bet it is,'' Sonic said, giving him a confident smirk. Even if he did admit defeat in this fight, he wasn't someone who was going to give up easily.

Shadow nodded in response, letting go of Sonic and just sat down next to him while the latter sat up, leaning against the palm tree behind him. Both took a moment to catch their breath after this exhilarating battle, remaining silent, but content with how things were. Sonic had already moved on from his loss, as he knew that there would be more battles in the future and he was looking forward to it. What he did not look forward to was the bet they had, sighing as he dreaded what Shadow would want from him.

''Hey, Shads...''

''Mhmm?''

''Remember the bet? Since you won, you get to order me around... but only for one thing!'' Sonic quickly added, not wanting to inflate Shadow's ego even more by making him think that he could do whatever he wanted. Shadow was silent, clearly thinking about how to formulate his demand.

''I want to know what you, Tails and Amy were talking about.''

Sonic was taken aback by Shadow's demand, having not expected this to come up. He felt flustered, a faint tint of red spreading across his fawn muzzle, with his next immediate thought being the question of whether Shadow had somehow overheard their conversation or not. This was a topic he did not want to touch, especially not in the presence of the person he had a crush on.

Yeah, I crossed that bridge…

Sonic sighed internally, having finally acknowledged that, no matter how much he waved off his own feelings, played it cool or just ignored them, he understood now that his emotions towards Shadow were way stronger than them just being rivals or even friends. There was an internal warmth, or rather a flame burning with passion inside him, and it was growing stronger and stronger whenever he was in Shadow's presence. Every word they exchanged and every touch they shared had only fueled it, and Sonic did not want it to go out. Therefore, he decided to finally go ahead with it.

''Tails and Amy were wondering what we've been doing, and actually thought that we went on a date,'' Sonic said, ripping off the band-aid and awaiting Shadow's response anxiously. The ebony hedgehog hummed in interest, his expression impassive.

''Rouge had also asked me the same thing. I had told her that she was mistaken and that it was just a picnic,'' Shadow replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

''Yeah, right... It was just a picnic,'' Sonic muttered, his brows furrowed as his gaze fell. He wondered what was even going on with him now, because on one hand, he was relieved that Shadow didn't make a big deal out of it. On the other hand, he was disappointed that Shadow didn't make a big deal out of it. This made him wonder whether he misunderstood the things that were said and done between them and whether what he felt for Shadow was even mutual. What if this all was just a huge mistake?

''Indeed. Because, if it was a date, I believe that either of us would've specified it first,'' Shadow continued, leaving Sonic baffled as he gave Shadow a stunned look.

''Uhhh, does this mean that you wanted it to be a date?'' Sonic asked, raising an eyebrow.

''Did you want it to be a date?'' Shadow countered, giving him a curious look. Sonic stared at him for a moment, only to finally catch on the implication and laugh, feeling a sense of relief washing over him.

''I'm really awful at this, aren't I?'' he said, taking note of Shadow's raised eyebrow. ''I'd take fighting you over confessing my feelings any day, because throwing a punch is at least less complicated than all of this mushy stuff.''

''Sonic, you are aware of whom you're talking to, right?'' Shadow asked, furrowing a brow, although there was a tone of amusement in his voice. Sonic took a moment as he processed that, yeah, between them, Shadow was definitely the one who would have more trouble expressing his feelings regardless of what it was.

''Fine, point taken,'' Sonic replied, only to start to lament, ''I still think I'm worse than you at it. At least you got us to this point, even though I have no clue how we ended up here.''

''Since when did we start to compete at who is worse at confessing their feelings?'' Shadow asked in a deadpan tone.

''Since I realized that I want to be with you,'' Sonic said, placing his hand over Shadow's and quickly leaning in, feeling now bold enough to plant a kiss on his cheek. However, this didn't go as planned, as Shadow turned his head, and due to the sudden movement, Sonic caught the corner of his mouth.

Both were taken aback for a moment, their cheeks flushed red, staring at each other. Sonic wondered for a moment if he went too fast, which was kind of ironic given who he was, only to be surprised when Shadow started to laugh. Sonic gazed at him, mesmerized by the fact that he actually managed to make Shadow genuinely laugh and quickly deciding that this was the most wonderful sound he had ever heard.

''What was that kiss? That was pathetic,'' Shadow told him, causing Sonic to frown.

''Pathetic? Dude, that's the first time I ever kissed anyone!'' Sonic protested. ''I'm completely clueless about this whole romance thing, so I thought that I might as well give it a shot and see how things turn out.''

''Then, maybe you should start practicing how to kiss properly,'' Shadow suggested. Sonic's emerald eyes widened at the suggestion, his lips parting slightly as he stared at the ebony hedgehog. Even though Shadow's gaze had softened, Sonic could still see the passion and fire in his crimson eyes, recognizing that it was the same look he would give him whenever they had dared each other to a race or a battle. Sonic smirked, having gotten the message. This wasn't an invitation.

This was a challenge.

''Oh, so you know better? Do you have any way to confirm it?'' Sonic asked mischievously. Despite the fact that this was what both of them wanted, he wasn't going to give in so easily, and Shadow knew it.

''Doubtful, are we? Well, let me prove it to you then,'' Shadow said, but before he could do anything, Sonic was back on his feet, having taken several steps back to create a proper distance between them, his body language showing that he was ready for another fight. Shadow got up, taking a fighting stance as well, knowing that this would be different than all of their previous battles. This time, their true feelings were on full display and both knew what was at stake, aware that neither of them was going to hold back anymore.

If Shadow wanted Sonic, he would have to catch his rival first.

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[tenebraevesper]

Shatter Me, Entry 1: Ambivalent

''Always, you are fearless, like a cat absorbed in what it loves. The reason you feel dazzling is surely because I was looking at you. A circuit of stimulating thought, it draws me in. Blue, blue, I'm still not reflected in those eyes, you are the same as always today. Swaying, swaying, these feelings remain somewhere, now I'm just looking at your profile here.''

– Ambivalent by The Apothecary Diaries

xXxXxXx

Sonic ran across Green Hill, simply taking in and enjoying the lush scenery and the familiarity of his home. Sure, going on adventures, exploring new places and meeting new people was something he absolutely loved to do, but after his experience in the Shatterverse, he wanted to enjoy the comfort of the place he called his home just a little bit longer. Besides, Dr. Eggman had just attacked them once again the other day, so he and his friends needed to deal with that. Fortunately, they beat the mad doctor once again and decided to take a well-deserved break.

However, Sonic felt a little restless. He still hadn't told his friends about the Shatterverse, thanks to Dr. Eggman's attack literally interrupting him just as he started his story, and when things had calmed down, he forgot about it. But now that it was on his mind, he wondered whether he should come clean in regards to accidentally shattering the Paradox Prism, the whole adventure through New Yoke City, Boscage Maze, No Place, The Grim, Ghost Hill and The Void, and how he had managed to fix reality and save the world once again.

''Admittedly, I didn't save it by myself. I had help,'' Sonic said to himself as he ran through Hedgehog's Pass. He still remembered how all of the Shatterverse Variants of his friends and even the Chaos Council united to help him to get to the Paradox Prism, their own homes being slowly destroyed by the rifts in reality. However, there was one person Sonic had to give credit to, as without him, he didn't believe that he would ever make it home. He skidded to a halt, looking around and then leaning against a nearby palm tree. ''Speaking of which, where is Shadow?''

Sonic hadn't seen his rival since the battle at the cave that contained the Paradox Prism. He was genuinely happy to see him, having understood Shadow's plan of using the Chaos Emerald to keep the Paradox Prism safe. However, after the battle was over, Sonic actually wanted to invite Shadow to the picnic on the beach, but he couldn't find him. Admittedly, that wasn't unusual, since Shadow usually kept to himself unless the world was in danger, but Sonic had hoped that he would at least stay around for a little bit longer.

''I wonder where he is,'' Sonic said aloud, talking to himself, then chuckled. ''Maybe he decided to pull a Knuckles and become the Guardian of the Paradox Prism.''

''Who are you talking to?''

Sonic's head snapped towards the origin of the voice, his heart leaping when he saw a familiar figure standing on the elevated bridge-like road of Hedgehog's Pass. Shadow the Hedgehog was staring back at Sonic, his arms folded across his chest, his black and red quills fluttering lightly in the breeze.

''Shadow!''

Sonic suddenly rushed up to Shadow, a wide smile spreading across his lips as he pulled the ebony hedgehog into a tight embrace, nuzzling his cheek. Shadow's crimson eyes widened for a moment, having been caught off guard by Sonic's sudden and unexpected action. However, he didn't step away, just standing awkwardly as he let Sonic hug him and hoping that the azure hedgehog wouldn't hear just how loudly his own heart was beating as it picked up the pace. Finally, Sonic let go of him, instead placing his hands on Shadow's shoulders, still having that wide grin on his expression.

''Dude, where were you? I wanted to invite you to our victory lunch at the beach!'' Sonic asked, stepping back to give Shadow some space.

''I've been busy with finding a proper hiding place for the Paradox Prism, so it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands again,'' Shadow explained.

''Figures,'' Sonic muttered, only to give him a curious look. ''So, where did you leave it? In a cave? A shrine? Oh, I know! In your basement!'' Shadow furrowed a brow, rolling his eyes at all the guesses. Sonic pouted. ''Aw, com'n, at least you could tell me…''

''Have you forgotten that you were the one who shattered it?'' Shadow responded, feeling a sense of satisfaction when he saw Sonic frowning at that reminder.

''Hey, it's not like I'm going to shatter it again-'' he protested, only to shut up when Shadow rose an eyebrow, giving him a non-verbal 'Really?' look. ''You know, I did learn my lesson about listening to others. I promise that me shattering another magical crystal won't happen ever again.''

''I'm not telling you anything,'' Shadow responded in a firm tone. Sonic deflated, giving Shadow a pointed look.

''Right, trust issues.''

Shadow narrowed his eyes, glancing aside as he lowered his gaze. Sonic was a bit surprised by his reaction, tilting his head and clasping his hands on his back as he bowed over to meet Shadow's gaze. The ebony hedgehog seemed to be bothered by something, but as usual, it appeared that he wasn't going to share what was on his mind, choosing to keep it to himself. Sonic faltered, realizing that Shadow wasn't going to respond in the usual manner.

''Hey, you know that I didn't mean to hurt you… Shads?''

Shadow just sighed in response, giving Sonic a rather indifferent look, as if to say that it didn't matter. ''I'm fine.''

''Thanks for saving my life back there. I wouldn't have survived without you.''

Shadow gave Sonic a surprised look, having not expected the azure hedgehog to thank him for saving his life. ''I was simply settling a debt. You have saved me from The Void.''

''Riiiiight, but you gotta admit that would be really boring for you if I wasn't around anymore.'' Sonic smiled cheekily. Shadow narrowed his eyes, staring at him for a moment.

''Hmph, I suppose I wouldn't have you constantly bothering me,'' he replied, feeling a slight sense of amusement when he saw Sonic giving him a displeased look. ''Or cleaning up the mess you create.''

''Yeah, yeah… I get it,'' Sonic replied, although he had to admit that he was glad to hear Shadow bantering with him. ''Hey, how about we go for a race? Maybe have a sparring match? I'm kinda bored.''

''So, you want me to beat you up again?'' Shadow asked in a snarky tone.

''Again? I recall winning our last battle,'' Sonic boasted, not really caring whether his statement was true or not. He was issuing a challenge to Shadow here and he hoped that his rival would accept it.

''Maybe I should remind who the real winner was,'' Shadow said, now taking a step towards Sonic, who felt quite excited.

''Sure,… but you first have to catch me!'' Sonic responded, before quickly dashing down the road. Shadow immediately followed him, taking note of the smile Sonic had flashed at him, followed by a laugh, showing that the azure hedgehog was having a lot of fun.

As for Shadow, while he wouldn't admit it out loud, he did enjoy a good challenge, and chasing Sonic fit the bill. He still had the green Chaos Emerald on his person, making that he could easily warp ahead to get as close as possible to Sonic, but he wanted to test his own limits first before going all out.

Sonic was still ahead of Shadow, but he did notice that the rival was getting closer and closer, so he leapt from the road and onto the soft grass below, deciding to speed between the palm trees to shake Shadow off. Unfortunately for him, his ears picked up the familiar sound of Shadow warping through space and time, having used to the Chaos Emerald to get in front of him, only for Sonic to dodge him, managing to keep the momentum.

''I don't recall agreeing to using the Chaos Emerald, but I guess this makes things even more exciting- Woah!''

Sonic's eyes widened when he glanced back, having to bow to dodge Shadow almost kicking him in the head. He skidded to a halt in a tri-point stance as they entered a clearing, and turned back to his rival, grinning. He dodged another punch from Shadow, then did a sweeping kick, trying to knock the latter of his feet, but Shadow did a backflip, before leaping back at Sonic, trying to punch him in the gut. However, Sonic managed to catch his fist, and attempted to kick Shadow, only for the latter to catch Sonic's leg and swing him around, throwing him towards a nearby palm tree. Sonic felt a painful sensation in his back, but he smirked as he saw Shadow getting closer, getting on his feet and landing a punch in Shadow's gut. Shadow backed away, but a smile spread on his tan lips as he saw Sonic giving him a taunting look, only to quickly speed away.

The chase resumed, with Sonic narrowing his eyes in thought. He knew that Shadow was a difficult opponent, especially with him being a better strategist and more focused on his task. Nevertheless, Sonic was quite creative in battles, trying to think outside the box… and then he realized what he could do. He glanced back at Shadow as he warped closer. ''You gotta do better than that, Shads! You'll never be able to catch up to me otherwise!''

This seemed to have struck a nerve with Shadow, furrowing a brow as he suddenly sped up, but Sonic was actually glad to see Shadow putting more effort into the chase. The azure hedgehog then turned his attention to the mountain above them, the one once hid the Paradox Prism deep within its cave. He wondered if Shadow had also noticed where he led him, but figured that Shadow already knew. Therefore, he had to make sure that Shadow won't realize what Sonic's true plan was.

As for Shadow, he was a bit puzzled when he realized where Sonic was going, but he still followed his rival, as he knew that, even if they get into the cave, Sonic wouldn't be able to escape him. It was a scenario where he could win easily. Once again, Sonic, you're not paying attention. Huh?

A cloud of dust was kicked up when Sonic sped into the cave, with Shadow quickly getting inside, squinting and placing his arm over his eyes to adjust to the sudden lack of vision. ''You have nowhere to go, Sonic! You might as well give up now!''

Suddenly, there was a flash of blue, with Shadow feeling a grip on the arm that held onto the Chaos Emerald, and in the next second, he found himself pinned against the wall of the cave. His gaze turned towards Sonic, who used his elbow to keep Shadow pinned against the wall, while holding the green Chaos Emerald in his other hand, grinning widely.

''I wouldn't think so, Shads. I got you cornered,'' Sonic replied. However, instead of feeling frustrated to have lost to such an easy trick, Shadow just smirked back in response.

''So, you actually are thinking things through this time,'' he replied, with Sonic stepping back. He still kept the Chaos Emerald out of Shadow's reach, throwing it and catching it with one hand, before balancing the tip on his finger.

''I'll take that as a compliment,'' he responded, only too look around the empty cave. ''Man, this place really is something.'' He then fell silent for a moment. ''I wonder how Nine and everyone else are doing…''

The smirk on Shadow's expression vanished, and his gaze fell. It was clear to him that, even if Sonic had moved on to his next adventure, he still thought back to what had happened within the Shatterverse. It was no surprise though, as those events were still fresh on his mind, and given how he had to leave in a hurry, he never got the chance to make sure that all of his Shatterverse friends would be fine. It was no surprise that he would still be worried about them.

Unfortunately, Shadow couldn't share the sentiment, as he had his own thoughts of what happened to the Shatterverse and the Shatterverse Variants, but he still could understand how Sonic felt. These were the people he bonded and fought with to restore their homes, and he would never see them again.

''Do you want to take a break?''

Sonic was surprised to hear this suggestion from Shadow, but then nodded in agreement. Both walked outside the cave and sat side by side on the cliff outside, observing Green Hill below them.

''You know, even though visiting the Shatterverse was an interesting experience, nothing beats being at home surrounded by your friends… at least until the next adventure,'' Sonic said. Shadow just raised an eyebrow, glancing at Sonic.

''So, you're claiming that destroying our universe and sacrificing your life to restore it is an 'interesting experience'?'' Shadow asked in a deadpan tone, with Sonic giving him a sheepish smile. ''Of course you do. I suppose I forgot to whom I was talking to for a moment.''

Sonic just chuckled in response. ''Nice joke, Shads!''

''That wasn't a joke. That's literally what had happened,'' Shadow replied in the same deadpan tone. Sonic just kept smiling, with Shadow taking note that, even if their Shatterverse adventure wasn't anything to smile about, he still understood why Sonic saw it as something he had thought about fondly. Nevertheless, it didn't make him feel less puzzled. Just when he thought that he understood Sonic, the hedgehog found new ways to surprise him.

''Yeah, that's true… and I'm glad that you could tag along for the adventure,'' Sonic replied, his tone still light, but also a bit more thoughtful. ''I guess I really needed you back there to…''

''I needed you too.''

Sonic trailed off, his ears flicking and his heart skipping a beat when he heard Shadow's response, his green eyes darting towards the dark hedgehog. Shadow was just staring ahead at the lush greenery below and the blue sky above them, showing no reaction to what he had just said. Sonic could feel his heart beat loudly in his chest, but chalked it up to the residual adrenaline from their fight. A sly grin spreading a cross his lips, he scooted closer to Shadow, almost leaning against him.

''So, when did you finally decide to admit that you need me?'' he asked. Shadow didn't dignify this question with a response, trying to ignore it. His expression did change in a subtle manner, and it was obvious that he was already regretting telling Sonic that, because the azure hedgehog now refused to stop pestering his rival about it until he got a reaction from him. ''Com'n, Shads, you can talk to me about it. I promise I won't tell anyone.''

''You won't leave me alone until you get the answer you want, will you?'' Shadow asked, arms folded across his chest in the typical fashion. To his grief, he was met by an eager look bordering on puppy-dog eyes from Sonic. Shadow then sighed, well aware that he could just stop this conversation then and there, but for some reason, he didn't want to leave. Despite his reservations, he actually felt comfortable in Sonic's presence. ''I thought that it was obvious.''

''Obvious?'' Sonic blinked in surprise.

''You were the key to restoring the Paradox Prism. Obviously, I'd have to rely on you to save our home,'' Shadow replied. Sonic let out an amused huff, aware that it wouldn't be so easy to get Shadow to admit anything in a direct manner. Shadow then fell silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he clearly thought about something important. He then turned to Sonic, giving him a resolute look. ''One thing is certain. I won't let you tease me anymore about my friendless background or lack of trust in people.''

Sonic was genuinely surprised by this sudden response, wondering what was going through Shadow's head. He then smiled joyfully as he realized the implications. ''Wait, so you actually started to trust someone? That's great! Who is it? Do I know them?''

''It's you.''

Sonic felt a strange sense of warmth spreading through his chest, a sense of happiness and pride bubbling inside him, but there was also something else, something he couldn't quite understand. He wanted to respond, but for once, the words couldn't escape his mouth. He didn't even know how to respond to this confession.

Shadow, in turn, felt weird for admitting this secret to Sonic. Over the course of their adventure, he found himself drawn closer and closer to his rival, having found himself becoming very protective of Sonic, especially after finding out about Nine's scheme and the fate that awaited him if he relinquished the Prism Energy. Any anger the had initially felt after being warped into The Void had completely vanished, and instead was replaced by a strong desire to not only save the universe, but to make sure that Sonic would return back home in one piece. Despite his immature and careless behavior, he had learned, or rather, re-learned, that Sonic was someone he could rely on no matter how dire the situation was. Therefore, Shadow decided to affirm this trust to Sonic, even if it left him with a strange warm sensation that made him wonder if was getting sick or something. But, he was the Ultimate Lifeform; he couldn't get sick now, could he?

''I heart you too, Shadow.''

Shadow's attention snapped back to Sonic, who finally decided to respond with a wide smile and a heart shape he formed with his fingers. It wasn't the first time he heard this response, having heard it during their banter in the middle of a battle against the Chaos Council, but unlike last time, where he just let it pass, he felt that he could no longer ignore it this time. Well, at least he could try to pretend to ignore it for the time being until he fully understood why he suddenly felt like this.

''Hmph.''

Sonic gave Shadow a curious look when the dark hedgehog suddenly turned away from him, wondering if he had said something wrong. Fearing that he somehow offended his rival, he decided to drop the topic for now. ''Hey, do you want to go for a sea dog? I had figured out the recipe from when I was with Captain Dread's crew and I can guarantee that it is 100% the most delicious thing you'll ever try.''

''I guess that's fine,'' Shadow replied, turning his attention back to Sonic only to catch the green Chaos Emerald that was thrown into his lap.

''Great! I'll meet you at the beach for a picnic, since you couldn't be there the first time!'' Sonic replied, waving at him before rushing down the mountain.

Once Sonic was gone, Shadow let out a deep breath, pressing his hand against his forehead, sincerely hoping that Sonic did not notice the initial shade of red that had spread across his tan muzzle, as well as trying to calm down his rapidly-beating heart.

''Why… Why do I feel like this?''

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Shatter Me, Entry 2: The Reason I'm Here

''Shiny the recog! The story we continued to draw, shine light now! Wandering through time, a place where absurdity swirls. I had a blue and sad dream, the figure that was temporarily hidden. The meaning of this world is intertwined. I run through, hoping to meet up sometime, a view of the far, far future. Shiny the recog! When I wake up, the story that continues tomorrow! Grab it with these hands, the strength to believe will become a miracle! If it's the despair that resides in you, I'll cut through everything in my sight. The reason I'm here is because I want you to smile.''

– Recognize by MegaMan X DiVE

xXxXxXx

''Hey, Tails! Have you seen where the picnic blanket it?''

Tails looked up from the device he was working on, a bit surprised to see Sonic holding a picnic basket. ''Uh, sure… It's on the shelf, over there.''

''Thanks, little bro,'' Sonic replied, going over to the shelf and grabbing the blanket.

''You're going out for a picnic?'' Tails asked curiously.

''Yeah, with Shadow. I finally managed to find him and convince him to have a victory lunch since he had helped us save the Paradox Prism,'' Sonic replied, placing the blanket into the basket.

''I'm surprised that he agreed to it,'' Tails said.

''Well, what can I say? I'm quite persuasive when I want to be,'' Sonic replied, walking out of the workshop. ''Once again, thanks for the help Tails! You're the best!''

''Uh, huh, thanks, but…'' Tails sighed when he saw Sonic already speeding off. He hummed in thought, wondering what had happened to Sonic. Ever since they had saved the Paradox Prism, Sonic started to act weird… Well, perhaps ''weird'' wasn't the right word. Instead, he actually became more attentive, paying close attention to what others said before giving his own input. Not only that, but when it came to Tails, Sonic had started to praise him even for the most mundane stuff, reminding him how he would always be there for his little brother and to ask him if he ever felt bothered by something. While Sonic being a supportive big brother was welcome, Tails didn't understand what had triggered this change.

To add to it, Sonic would also keep running off to find Shadow, noting how he needs to thank him properly for his help and talking about how he was glad to have Shadow around. While Tails agreed that it was good that Shadow helped them to save the Paradox Prism, he wasn't really sure why Sonic made such a big deal out of it. He tried to ask Sonic about it, but the azure hedgehog had already ran off to his next adventure.

''I guess I'll ask him next time he stops by,'' Tails muttered, only to turn to his computer, surprised to see a change in the weather pattern. ''This is not good. I hope Sonic won't get caught in the approaching rainstorm.''

xXx

As per their agreement, Shadow was already waiting at the beach, observing the waves crashing against the sand and staring ahead at the sky. He took note of the thick dark grey clouds approaching Green Hill, feeling concerned about a possible storm. His ears flicked when he heard the familiar sound of Sonic running up to him, skidding to a halt as he held the picnic basket tightly in his arms.

''Sorry for being late, but it took me a bit to get all the spices right… Uh, is something wrong?'' Sonic followed Shadow's gaze, now seeing the drearily dull sight before him. ''Aw, com'n! I thought we'd have nice weather today!''

''It seems like we would have to postpone the beach picnic,'' Shadow said, glancing at Sonic. The azure hedgehog's ears drooped as he stared at the oncoming clouds in disappointment, with the wind picking up. He was looking forward to this so much, only for all of his effort being for nothing. Shadow then turned back to the horizon in thought, already feeling the rain droplets on his fur. He did feel bad for Sonic and him wasting his time and energy to arrange this only for the weather to ruin it.

''I guess we should go home then…''

''Wait.''

A dispirited Sonic, who had already turned on his heel to leave, was caught off guard when Shadow grabbed him by the hand and revealing the green Chaos Emerald in the other. ''I know a place where we can take shelter from the storm. Do you want to come along?''

''Of course!'' Sonic perked up, feeling Shadow tightening his grip on his hand as he held up the Chaos Emerald. There was a flash of light and both disappeared from the beach, just as the rain had started.

This was followed by a flash of light in what appeared to me some kind of alcove close to Hedgehog's Pass. It wasn't too shallow, but not too deep either to even be considered a cave, providing the two hedgehogs with enough space to shelter them from the wind and rain, but also keeping them close to each other. Shadow turned to Sonic, still holding his hand. ''I suppose we could have the picnic here instead on the beach, if you're fine with it.''

However, before Shadow could even finish his sentence, Sonic had already let go of him and grabbed the blanket out of the basket, setting it down on the ground and took out the sea dogs, offering Shadow one, having a wide smile on his expression.

''You never miss a beat, do you?'' Shadow couldn't help but smile at Sonic's optimism, taking the sea dog and sitting down next to Sonic.

''Heh, I'm just glad that we could have a picnic, no matter the place,'' Sonic replied, before taking a huge bite out of his sea dog. ''Nothing beats a good meal, especially when you're sharing it with your friend.''

''Friend?''

Sonic almost chocked on his sea dog when he heard Shadow's tone. It was strangely serene and inquisitive, as if Shadow was questioning the very nature of their relationship without even asking anything. Sonic wasn't sure why, but something about it struck a nerve and he was suddenly worried that maybe he said something that might've offended Shadow, so he decided to quickly elaborate on it.

''Well, yeah… I mean, at this point, being rivals and friends is practically the same,'' Sonic said, remembering all those times people beat him up before becoming his friends. Somehow, this way of making friends was becoming more and more common, much to his amusement and exasperation.

''If it's the same thing, why did you get so nervous?''

Sonic gave him a blank look, only to take note of the slightest of smirks Shadow gave him as he ate the sea dog. It took a moment for his brain to process that Shadow was just teasing him. Shadow couldn't help but snort in amusement when Sonic pouted in annoyance, reaching for the basket for another sea dog, a faint tint of pink spreading on his fawn muzzle. He ate it in silence, trying to figure out how to quip back to Shadow's comment, but all that came to his mind was a rush of adrenaline and fear when a memory flashed in his mind. He tried to shake it off, sighing instead as he continued to eat.

Shadow raised an eyebrow at Sonic's sudden silence. Usually, he appreciated it when Sonic actually shut up for once, but for some reason, he felt a little concerned about the lack of response. He felt an urge to reach out for him, even lifting his hand on instinct, but stopped himself, resuming to eat in silence and watching the downpour outside.

xXx

''I hope that Sonic is fine…'' Tails muttered as he observed the downpour outside from his workshop. The weather really took a turn for the worse and it was fortunate that it didn't turn into a full-blown thunderstorm. While Tails had figured that Sonic would be able to find shelter, it didn't make him feel less worried about his older brother. Suddenly, he heard a knock on his window, surprised to see Rouge flying outside, gesturing at the closed entrance to his workshop. He quickly walked over and opened it, letting the bat inside. Rouge flapped her wings, shaking off the rain droplets. Tails then walked over with a towel in his hands, tossing it towards Rouge. She used the towel to dry herself off, placing it over her shoulders.

''Ugh, the weather outside is horrible! Good thing I was close to your workshop,'' she said, looking around. ''Isn't Sonic with you?''

''No, he went out for a picnic with Shadow,'' Tails replied. Rouge's eyes widened in surprise.

''Really? I'd never expected for Shadow to actually agree to socialize with anyone, let alone Sonic,'' Rouge said. Tails shrugged.

''That's what Sonic had told me,'' he replied. ''As a matter of fact, he had been talking a lot about Shadow lately.''

Rouge tilted her head, humming in interest. ''Yeah, I had also noticed a change in Blue's attitude… Well, I hope their date didn't get ruined by the rainstorm.''

''D-Date?'' Tails stared at Rouge in surprise. She just gave him a nonchalant look.

''I mean, what else would you call these two going alone on a picnic,'' she said, a sly grin spreading on her lips. Tails was still baffled by Rouge's take on the situation, wondering if she was being genuine or just messing with him. Rouge didn't seem to be interested in giving him an answer, instead just starting to walk around the workshop and looking at the tools and devices on the shelves and desks. ''In any case, thanks for letting me stay here until the storm stops.''

''You're welcome, but please, don't touch anything,'' Tails replied in a deadpan tone, well aware of Rouge's treasure hunting reputation.

''Do you have any gems here?'' Rouge asked, with Tails shaking his head. She then gave him an assuring smile. ''Then you have nothing to worry about.''

Tails just sighed, walking back to the device he was working on, but it was hard for him to focus, as his mind was still replaying the conversation he had with Rouge in regards to Sonic and him supposedly being on a date with Shadow. He tried to shake it off as Rouge just making a wild assumption, but for some reason, the thought just wouldn't leave his mind.

Sonic, you really have some explaining to do.

xXx

''Man, I haven't seen a rainstorm this bad in a while now,'' Sonic commented, leaning against the wall of the alcove. He and Shadow have just finished their meal and were watching the constant downpour of rain that somehow had gotten stronger. ''It feels like someone is just dumping buckets of water all over the place. I just hope there won't be any flooding.''

''Once the rain stops, we can go and make sure that there isn't any,'' Shadow said, sitting next to Sonic, with one elbow propped on his knee. Sonic just nodded.

''I hope there won't be, because the last thing I need is to fall into water… again. I don't even have the kicks I had in No Place to keep me afloat,'' Sonic replied, wiggling his feet as he stared at the sneakers. ''Those really came in handy. I wish I had them when we fought Chaos.'' Sonic shuddered at the memory of Station Square being flooded. ''Man, I know everything went well… but that guy was made out of water! I was lucky I didn't drown.''

''Chaos?''

Sonic turned his gaze towards Shadow, who gave him a genuinely confused look. Sonic stared at him, wondering why the dark hedgehog looked so puzzled, until he realized it. ''Oh, right! You weren't there when we fought Chaos and Eggman. Sorry, my bad!''

''What did the Doctor do this time?'' Shadow asked, furrowing a brow when Sonic namedropped Eggman.

''Well, he unleashed this water deity named Chaos after shattering the Master Emerald, and Chaos went on to just destroy everything in his way because he was really angry and hurt because of what Knuckles' ancestors did to him in the past. You'd have to ask Knuckles for more details about this though, he knows this stuff better than I do,'' Sonic explained. ''Fortunately, we managed to calm him down and he left with Tikal.''

''Should I even ask you who Tikal is?'' Shadow asked in a dry tone, having gotten used to Sonic just namedropping people in a context that only made sense to him. ''Or should I ask Knuckles for an explanation?''

''Eh, heh…'' Sonic smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. He then leaned over, holding up his finger and thumb as he got an idea. ''You know, if you want me to, I could tell you all about my past adventures so you can get up to speed. What do you say?'' His ears then drooped as his eyes flickered to the side, adding, ''I mean, I know you're not exactly into small talk, but we're kind of stuck here… But you also have the Chaos Emerald, so you can just leave…''

''I'll listen to you talk,'' Shadow said, his eyes closed as he let out a soft sigh, his arms folded across his chest. He understood Sonic's desire to spend time with him, especially when there really wasn't any emergency to attend to. While he typically avoided small talk in favor of keeping things concise and to the point, he figured that he could humor Sonic for the time being.

''Really?! That's great!'' Shadow's attention snapped back to Sonic, being caught slightly off guard by just how happy Sonic looked, his emerald green eyes almost sparkling. Shadow couldn't help but stare into his eyes, feeling once again that weird sense of warmth spreading through his body. This strange sensation was both scary due to its unfamiliarity, and captivating, and Shadow felt a desire to lean into it.

Sonic then started to talk, telling him tales about his adventures, which were mostly exploits against Dr. Eggman, usually in the company of his friends. Shadow listened intently, taking note of just how animated and excited Sonic got as he talked about what had happened, going into details about the events and battles he had been through, showing pride in his heroism and assurance that, no matter how bad things got, he always found a way out. It was quite a fascinating experience, as the stories were detailed enough for Shadow to be able to imagine them in his head, and the only times he interrupted Sonic to ask him questions about something particular. He took notice of Sonic's mannerism whenever he asked a question, with the azure hedgehog being always eager to explain things and basking in the attention he got from Shadow. It was as if the world around them had slowly faded away and it was just the two of them remaining.

''…never told you about it, but I'm really glad that I met you,'' Sonic said, only to suddenly pause, his expression changing to a more somber one. Shadow could see the lack of focus in his green eyes, now dull as he seemed to have been reminded of an experience he wanted to forget.

''Sonic?'' Shadow grew concerned, well aware that if Sonic ever went silent, it was obvious that things were bad. He lifted his hand instinctively, although he didn't make any further moves due to his own hesitance. Even though he had found himself feeling genuine worry for Sonic, going so far to comfort him, he could never make that crucial final step, no matter how much he tried.

''You know, when I saw you falling into The Void, it reminded me of…'' Sonic trailed off, guilt being reflected in his eyes. Shadow's ears drooped and his eyes widened when he realized what Sonic was referring to. Sonic took a deep breath, trying to continue the conversation, despite feeling as if someone placed a boulder on his chest, pressing him down, ''I thought I would lose you again. I couldn't save you when you fell to Earth, no matter how hard I tried, and I refused to let it happen again. I couldn't let it happen again, especially not when I had already lost so much because of my own mistakes.''

Sonic lowered his gaze, clearly still haunted by the memories of the past. He actually felt guilty for being unable to save Shadow after he had lost his Super Form and fell down to Earth, seemingly dying, and it was a burden he carried with himself for a while, even though he tried to push it out of his mind. He was glad that Shadow turned out to be alive, but this was something that still lingered on his mind, to the point that he had a full-blown panic-inducing flashback when he saw an unconscious Shadow falling into the darkest depths of The Void. Sonic placed his hand on his chest, his breath fast and shallow at the memory played out once again, and he could feel his heart beating rapidly. He could still hear his own desperate screams echoing in his head.

''No! No no no no! Shadow! SHADOW!''

''Sonic!''

Sonic gasped as he snapped back to reality, feeling as if he had been running for miles, his heartbeat as fast as back then. He registered a sense of weight on his shoulder and turned to Shadow, realizing that the dark hedgehog had placed his hand on his shoulder, trying to get his attention and break him out of his memory.

''I… I'm sorry…'' Sonic said, holding his breath as he tried to calm down, and forced a smile. ''I-I'm just glad that I had managed to save you this time. Heh.''

''Sonic, you're not fine,'' Shadow stated, his eyes narrowed in concern. He too remembered the moment he had tried to enter the gateway in the mistaken belief that the tech he stole from Sonic would grant him entrance to the Shatterspaces, and while he couldn't remember what happened after he fell unconscious, he did recall being in Sonic's arms, at least before the inevitable collision with one of the crystals. Even back then, Sonic tried to just blow it off as nothing, but it was clear now that this was something that weighted heavily on him.

''No, really, it's nothing…'' Sonic tried to assure him, but Shadow shook his head, giving him a firm look.

''I know what you're trying to do, and it's not working,'' he stated. Sonic's forced smile disappeared and he lowered his gaze.

''I guess that messed me up more than I thought,'' Sonic muttered.

''Even though my fall after the battle with Finalhazard was none of your fault,'' Shadow added. Sonic looked up back at Shadow, his eyes wide.

''No, I was trying to reach out for you. I was trying to save you! If I had only-'' Sonic protested, only to get cut off by Shadow.

''Sonic, I still remember that moment when you reached out to save me before I fell to Earth from the ARK, but it seems that what you have forgotten is that I had waved you away,'' Shadow told him. Sonic stared at him, speechless, trying to recall the moment as well. ''If I hadn't done that, you would have fallen with me. I appreciate your determination, even if you frustrate me to no end, but this was not your fault. I had chosen to let go, especially after all of the trouble I had caused because of my own mistaken beliefs.''

''Shadow…''

''I promised to myself that I would never forget that. Until I did,'' Shadow added, placing his hand against his temple, gritting his teeth and letting out a frustrated groan at his own issues with his memory. There was so much that was wrong with him, no matter how hard he tried. There was so much he tried to understand, but he felt like he'd always find himself at a dead end, always taking the wrong path. It felt so incredibly infuriating, despite all of his attempts to do the right thing. He then lowered his hand, sighing. ''So, as I said, don't ever think that any-''

Before Shadow could even finish the sentence, Sonic threw himself against him, burying his muzzle into Shadow's shoulder and wrapping his hands around torso, hugging him tightly. Shadow remained stunned and speechless at this move, unable to process what had just happened. His eyes darted towards Sonic as he tried to formulate a coherent thought, but nothing except a warm sensation of comfort filled his mind.

''Then, how about we avoid such scenarios in the future,'' Sonic said, still feeling the weight pressing against his chest. In that one moment, he couldn't think of anything else but to reach for Shadow and keep him close to himself, fearing that, if he let go, he would lose him again. What he didn't expect was that Shadow would wrap his hands around his back, pulling him closer.

''Yeah… The same goes for you,'' Shadow muttered, with Sonic lifting his head, still in Shadow's arms and meeting his stern gaze, crimson eyes observing emerald eyes intently. ''Your stunt with the Prism Energy, while necessary, was still idiotic beyond belief. You were lucky I was there to get you home before you vanished into nothingness.''

''Heh, so you were worried about me,'' Sonic said, cracking a soft smile. He tried to tease Shadow, but it was clear that the emotions between them were so raw that even acting as if what had happened wasn't a big deal was impossible. They had simply reached a point where any barrier they had built up between them was completely shattered. Any emotional vulnerability they wanted to hide from each other was now laid out for the other to see and it seemed to have sparked something inside them, something they still needed to process fully.

''Yeah, I was…'' Shadow said, his gaze fixed on Sonic. He still didn't understand why he allowed himself to show this side of him, the side that craved for someone he could trust, someone who could comfort him, but he knew that it was too late to back down. All the walls he had put between himself and Sonic were torn down, and he couldn't care less. Sonic was the reason he was still here, and he would be forever grateful for that.

Shadow's ears then flicked when Sonic snorted, giving Shadow a mischievous look. ''I always knew that you were a hugger.''

Shadow narrowed his eyes, feeling the familiar rush of frustration coursing through his body. He closed his eyes, speaking through his gritted teeth (with Sonic imagining an anime-like cross-popping vein appearing on his forehead), ''If you tell this to anyone, I swear I will kick your ass and throw you off the ARK with my own hands.''

''Yeah, you would,'' Sonic said casually, causing Shadow to look at him, only to notice a sly smirk on Sonic's lips. ''But, you would also catch me afterwards.''

Shadow just sighed, not wanting to answer that, as he and Sonic knew that this was the truth. It amazed and frustrated him to no end just how easily he lost his composure in Sonic's presence, becoming more and more open with his emotions. His rival really had knack for driving him up the wall with his constant antics and, to make it worse, Sonic was fully aware of it. Nevertheless, that was part of the charm of their rivalry and Shadow knew that things would not be the same without that aspect of their relationship.

He then snapped out of his thoughts when Sonic just pressed his head against the white fur on his chest, nuzzling it. ''Dude, you never told me that you had a cloud for chest fur. It's so soft!''

''You're really bold for someone who is about to get punched in the face,'' Shadow said in an irked tone. Sonic lifted his head, a sly smile appearing on his fawn lips.

''Oh, really? Then, why are you still holding me like you're afraid that I'm about to fade away?'' Sonic asked in a teasing tone, drawing attention to the fact that they still held each other in a tight embrace, with Shadow's hands being placed just under Sonic's back quills.

''Shut up,'' Shadow growled, clearly irritated by Sonic's smugness, but nevertheless, he pulled him even closer, digging his muzzle into Sonic's collarbone and enjoying the warmth that kept him comfort. Sonic was still smiling, although his expression became more soft as he understood that, despite everything that just transpired, Shadow still had trouble being honest about his emotions, putting up that intimidating look that kept most people away. Fortunately, Sonic wasn't like most people and he knew what kind of buttons to push to get a reaction from Shadow. He simply leaned into it, taking in the faint scent of lavender he came to associate with Shadow and listening to the faint sound of rain outside.

It seemed that the storm had finally lessened.

xXx

Shadow squinted, slowly blinking before opening his eyes. He was still in a daze, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. The first thing he took note of was the scent of freshness in the air, the kind that appears after rain. He gazed outside, realizing that the rainstorm had stopped and that the sky was dotted with stars. It was probably late in the night.

Shadow then turned his attention to the weight on his shoulder, realizing that it was Sonic. The azure hedgehog was still fast asleep, his head leaning against Shadow's collarbone, with Shadow having placed his arm around his waist to keep him in place. The dark hedgehog sighed, realizing that they had somehow fallen asleep like this, leaned against the wall. Shadow didn't feel too uncomfortable about this position, but he did wish he had been leaning against a pillow or something similar. Sonic, obviously, was quite comfortable using Shadow as a pillow.

How did we end up like this?

Only a few days ago, Shadow was furious at Sonic for his lack of awareness and reckless behavior in the face of danger, reprimanding him for not listening to anyone in a critical moment, which led to their reality fracturing. He never expected that their forced teamwork would lead up to them starting to understand each other better, to the point of being comfortable enough in each other's presence to open up to each other. He understood that their relationship was way more than just a simple rivalry and that there was a level of deep understanding between them, a rare relationship that can enter one's heart.

Shadow knew that this was a relationship that he couldn't let go of.

He took a look down at his lap, having just realized that Sonic had placed his own hand on top of his, his gloved fingers curled slightly over Shadow's knuckles. Shadow couldn't help but smile softly, shifting his hand so he could intertwine with fingers with Sonic's and leaned his head against Sonic's forehead. He then closed his eyes, drifting off to a peaceful sleep while holding Sonic's hand in his own.

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Sonadow Moments in Sonic Cyber Revolution (The Ultimate Lifeform Arc)

[...]

Shadow was standing on the top of the arch-like structure over Cosmo Bridge, arms folded on his chest, the roadway below him being littered with the beaten and flickering bodies of the Irregular Hunters that had found him, most of them near deletion and unable to call for back-up. It was surprising just how fast and easy it was to take all of them out, which spoke a lot about Shadow's power… or the Irregular Hunters' incompetence. Admittedly, Shadow didn't even know that there were ARNavs who were hunting down the Irregulars. Not that it mattered in the long run.

I will get my revenge.

His eyes narrowed when he saw a blue streak of light appearing on the bridge and skidding to a halt, revealing itself to be a blue hedgehog ARNav. The two hedgehogs locked eyes with each other for a moment, with the blue one calling someone before turning back to Shadow.

''So, you're the one who beat up the Hunters, you fake hedgehog,'' Sonic said, clenching his fist. Shadow leapt off the structure he was standing on, doing a frontflip and using his air shoes to cushion his fall as he landed in front of Sonic, his arms folded on his chest. Sonic rolled his eyes, looking unimpressed as he muttered, ''Show-off.''

''It is their own fault that they couldn't put up a decent battle,'' Shadow replied, taking a battle stance. He had figured that the blue hedgehog was just another challenger he could easily take down. ''You shall join them.''

''We'll see!'' Sonic leapt backwards when Shadow dashed towards him, then quickly used his super speed to charge at his opponent. However, the black-furred hedgehog vanished suddenly, appearing right behind Sonic and kicking him away. Sonic hit the ground hard, shaking his head and getting up. ''Okay, not bad. I see you've got a couple of tricks up in your glove, but you're not the only one,'' he said as he turned towards his foe. Shadow braced himself for Sonic's next attack. Sonic dashed towards his opponent, with the black-furred hedgehog anticipating the attack and using his air shoes to dash towards Sonic. However, in the last moment, Sonic dodged the attack, curling up into a ball and spin-dashing at Shadow, knocking him down. As Sonic landed back on his feet, Shadow frowned, observing his foe as he got up.

''Hmph,'' he said, an amused smirk on his expression. ''I thought I would take you down in one hit, but it seems like you're more resilient than I thought. What is your name?''

''I'm Sonic the Hedgehog,'' Sonic replied. ''You?''

''Shadow the Hedgehog,'' Shadow responded, clenching his fist as he glared at his opponent. ''I am the Ultimate Life Form!''

''Ultimate Life Form or not, you're going down, pal!'' Sonic ran towards Shadow, performing another spin dash. Unfortunately for him, Shadow decided to counter him with the same move, with the two hedgehogs ending up clashing in a race across the bridge several times, each trying to knock the other away. Sonic leapt back, with Shadow ramming into him, knocking him away. He then suddenly teleported away, kicking Sonic in the back, sending him flying. Then, he teleported again, punching him, with Sonic landing on the ground hard.

''Is that really everything you've got?'' Shadow asked, his eyes narrowing as he observed Sonic trying to get up. ''Pathetic.''

Without answering, Sonic suddenly got up and rammed him, knocking Shadow away. However, Shadow kept his balance thanks to his air shoes, only to get spin-dashed from the back, with Sonic then going for another attack from the side. However, Shadow teleported again, appearing above Sonic and knocking him down. Despite being badly bruised, Sonic slowly got up, gazing at Shadow, who was standing on the guardrail and looking down at Sonic, a smug smirk on his expression.

''Sonic!'' Sonic perked up, turning around and seeing Lucas joining him at the battlefield. ''Are you okay?''

''I'll be fine,'' Sonic replied, glancing back at Shadow. ''I'm not beaten yet!''

Shadow remained silent, his eyes narrowing as he observed the two. The reason why he was at Neos City was because he had a mission to complete, but he got distracted by the Irregular Hunters and decided to dispatch of those who stood in his way. So far, only Sonic had actually proved to be a challenge, even he couldn't match him in raw power. Shadow figured that he could just end the blue hedgehog right there and then, but then decided against it.

''I don't have time for these games; farewell!''

Sonic and Lucas stared at the spot from which Shadow had vanished, with Sonic breathing heavily as he muttered, ''Shadow… what is he?'' He turned to Lucas, who gave him a troubled look, as if wanting to answer but knowing that the answer would not help them much. Sonic's ears then twitched as he heard sirens in the distance. ''These guys really have bad timing.''

[...]

With that said, he ran off towards CyExLabs, having reached the place in a few seconds. However, even those seconds didn't matter, as Shadow had already defeated the Irregular Hunters, skating down the street, away from the CyExLabs. Sonic knew that, if Shadow teleported now, they would lose him for good. As for how he'd get Shadow to follow him, he wasn't completely sure.

Okay, this is what I'll do. Step one: Light taunting. Step two: I have no idea. Sonic hoped that this would work, preparing for the worst as he called out, ''Hey!''

Shadow turned around, visibly surprised to see Sonic here. ''You again…''

''I've found you, Faker!'' Sonic walked up to Shadow, pleased that he got the latter's attention.

''Faker? I think you're the fake hedgehog around here,'' Shadow replied. Admittedly, he was both annoyed and intrigued by Sonic's sudden appearance. ''You're comparing yourself to me? Ha! You're not even good enough to be my fake!''

''I'll make you eat those words!''

Sonic achieved exactly what he wanted, grinning when he saw Shadow charging at him. Instead of attacking back, he ran off towards the meeting spot he and Lucas had agreed on.

''Coward!'' Sonic heard Shadow yell behind him, but ignored it. It would take him just a few seconds until they arrived at a secure spot. He then entered a narrow street, dashing from wall to wall and jumping over a fence. Fortunately, Shadow was still following him without question.

''I thought you'd be able to keep up with me, Faker!'' Sonic taunted him. ''Looks like you're not as fast as I thought.''

''I'll show you…'' Shadow frowned, not even registering that Sonic had slowed down when they reached an underpass at an area devoid of people. He passed Sonic, then stopped, turning towards the blue hedgehog. His eyes narrowed. ''What is the meaning of this?''

''I want to talk to you,'' Sonic said in a calm tone. Shadow stepped back, glaring at the latter. ''You've been causing trouble among the Hunters, but I figured that you were just defending yourself, since you're an Irregular and all that. So, why are you here?''

''That is none of your business,'' Shadow responded curtly.

''It is if you are going to continue causing trouble for me, my friends and everyone else in Neos City,'' Sonic replied.

''Hmph, Neos City will soon be no more,'' Shadow responded. Sonic's smile vanished and he frowned as he observed Shadow.

''What are you talking about?'' he asked. ''I don't understand. Is Neos City in danger?''

''Neos City… All of the humans…'' Shadow started, slowly opening and closing his fist. His tone was calm, almost devoid of any emotion. ''I'll be the judge of their sins.''

Sonic felt a chill flowing down his spine as he saw Shadow's demeanor changing. ''What… are you…?''

''So, don't get in my way!'' Shadow yelled, summoning an orange and crimson bolt of energy, throwing it at Sonic.

''Wha-?!'' Sonic dodged Shadow's attack, with Shadow suddenly charging at him. Sonic crouched, managing to throw Shadow backwards, but the black-furred hedgehog landed on his feet, his air shoes keeping him in balance.

''Sonic!'' Both Sonic and Shadow looked up to the top of the underpass, with Lucas flying down on his hoverboard, stopping next to his partner. He and Sonic exchanged a nod, both turning towards Shadow, with Lucas adding, ''I had hoped that Sonic would be able to talk to you, but if you refuse to explain anything to us, then we'll have to fight you.''

''I will welcome any challenge,'' Shadow responded. Lucas turned to Sonic.

''Ready?''

''Yeah! Let's do it!''

Both extended their hands, with Sonic sensing Lucas' BioEnergy. They didn't even make any physical contact this time, yet a blue orb of energy appeared between them, with both exclaiming, ''Chaos Surge!''

To Shadow's shock, both absorbed the energy orb, both gaining an aura, with electric sparks surrounding their bodies. His eyes narrowed and he gritted his teeth as he realized what was going on, his voice only a whisper, ''How… dare you…?''

''Time for Round 2, Shadow!'' Sonic said, clenching his fists and taking a battle stance. Lucas stepped away, despite the overflowing energy he felt. He still couldn't control his super speed properly and he felt that it would be better to leave this one to Sonic. Not to mention, if he exhausted himself, then Sonic would lose power as well.

''Why… are you… using that…?'' Shadow continued, suddenly overwhelmed by a memory of the past. He could hear Touka screaming in fear; he could remember absorbing her BioEnergy; he could see her lying on the ground, motionless. Shadow felt a tranquil fury surging through his body, the sense of rage overwhelming him. He clenched his fist, summoning another bolt of energy. ''Unforgivable!''

Sonic dodged the bolt of energy Shadow had fired, stunning the latter with his increased speed. He suddenly appeared right in front of Shadow, kicking the latter into the gut. Shadow fell on one knee, blue sparks of electricity enveloping his body and paralyzing his limbs. Sonic stepped in front of him.

''Why are you so upset?'' Sonic asked. ''If we could just talk– agh!''

Sonic managed to dodge another bolt of energy, but Shadow suddenly teleported behind him, kicking him in the back of the head, his attack boosted by his air shoes. Sonic flew, hitting the pavement hard, but then got up again, just in time to dodge another bolt of energy.

''How dare you to utilize BioEnergy this way? Do you have a death wish?!'' Shadow yelled at both Sonic and Lucas.

''Wait, so you know about this?'' Lucas asked. Shadow gritted his teeth, feeling that he revealed a bit too much. After all, no one was supposed to know what BioEnergy could really do, especially in the hands of an Irregular.

''It doesn't matter,'' Shadow told the two. ''None of it will matter once I'm done with Neos City and everyone inhabiting it.''

''Wait!'' Lucas yelled, but it was too late. Shadow had already teleported away.

''What should we do now? He's gone!'' Sonic said, feeling the Chaos Surge power-up fading away. ''It sounded like he wants to take revenge on Neos City or something like that.''

[...]

Sonic ran through the facility, searching for Shadow. He knew that Lucas was right and that their priority was to find the black hedgehog and learn what exactly he was up to. He thought about his earlier encounter with Shadow, remembering how upset the latter was after he saw him and Lucas performing Chaos Surge. He had to wonder what exactly Shadow had experienced to make him react like that. Sonic knew that something happened, something really bad, and that Shadow needed help rather than a fight. Still, if the latter chose violence as a response, Sonic wasn't afraid to fight back.

Now, where might a black hedgehog with a cryptic reasoning for his actions be? Sonic eventually skidded to a halt in a hallway, looking at the doors. He crackled his knuckles. Okay, we shall do it the old-fashioned way, aka relying on pure luck. Sure, speed may be one of my best qualities, along with my handsomeness and charm, but as Lucas had told me once, I miss things if I don't slow down. So, let's see if my gut feeling is going to help me. Sonic walked down the hallway, randomly opening doors in hopes of finding Shadow in one of the many rooms. So far, he hadn't much luck with the first few, his ears lowering in disappointment when he opened another one that was empty.

Sonic then stepped back into the hallway, taking a deep breath and trying to figure out which door he should open next. What if Shadow wasn't here? Maybe they had missed him, or he didn't return yet. Sonic kept walking, looking from one door to another, until he eventually came across one that, at least to him, looked important. Com'n, luck! Don't disappoint me again!

His eyes widened in surprise as he entered the room, finding himself surrounded by computers. At one of them was Shadow, too focused on the monitor before him to notice Sonic's presence. Sonic, on the other hand, was relieved that he had finally found him.

''Shadow!''

Shadow suddenly turned around when he heard Sonic calling his name. His eyes widened in shock, his quills bristled, questioning how in the world Sonic had managed to find him, let alone figure out which room he was in. Did he place a tracker on him? No, that wasn't possible.

''What are you doing here, Hedgehog? How did you find me?'' Shadow asked in a demanding tone.

''Well, you know how they say; persistence pays off,'' Sonic replied, shrugging. ''You weren't easy to track down, especially once you teleported away, but I am glad that I had found you. We still haven't finished our conversation, and I have a bunch of new questions for you.''

''If you know what is good for you, you would leave me alone,'' Shadow replied, briefly glancing back at the monitor. He was almost done with the program that would turn Neos City to ashes, but Sonic had just arrived before he could type in the final code. However, when he looked back at the blue hedgehog, it appeared that he had no clue what Shadow was up to.

''Unfortunately for you, this is just how I roll. You still owe me an explanation,'' Sonic said, observing Shadow as the latter sat back at the computer, typing something on the keyboard, now a little calmer. ''What was that talk about how you'll be the one to judge Neos City, and why did you freak out when Lucas and I had used Chaos Surge? Have you seen it before?''

When Shadow didn't answer, Sonic started to tap impatiently with his foot, his arms folded across his chest. He was about to approach Shadow, when the latter slammed his hands against the desk suddenly, getting up. It appeared that he was done with whatever he was working on.

''You're really getting on my nerves, Hedgehog,'' Shadow told Sonic. To his surprise, Sonic just grinned.

''Yeeeah, that's what a lot of people tell me. So, what's your deal?'' Sonic asked nonchalantly.

''Since you made the effort to find me at this place, I will give you a choice,'' Shadow replied, with Sonic's carefree attitude vanishing as he listened carefully to the former. ''You can either perish at my hand, or you can observe Neos City, including this part of Starpoint Area, be consumed in a massive explosion, you and everyone within the radius meeting their creator.''

''What?'' Sonic stared at Shadow for a moment, shocked. He felt cold chills running down his spine as he processed what Shadow had just told me. ''What are you talking about? D-Do you want to nuke Neos City?''

''I guess you could describe it that way,'' Shadow replied, folding his arms across his chest. A sinister smirk spread across his lips, showing his fangs. ''What I'm offering you is an act of mercy. Even if you're an ARNav, I'm certain that you wouldn't want to go down in such an awful way.''

''You're trying to tell me that you're going to kill off everyone in Neos City and that I should be happy to die at your hand, did I get that right?'' Sonic asked, his eyes narrowing. Shadow just glared at him, not even responding. ''Oh, no, pal, I'm not going to do that. Now, here's what is going to happen. You'll stop this explosion and we'll have- agh!''

Before Sonic could even finish his sentence, Shadow had formed a bolt of orange energy and fired it at Sonic, who managed to dodge it in the last second. The bolt of energy hit the door behind him, leaving a black mark, a scent of burnt metal and plastic filling the air. Sonic looked at the door, then back at Shadow.

''Fine, have it your way!'' Sonic charged at Shadow, who dodged the latter's attack and, using his air shoes, matched Sonic in speed. The two became a pair of blue and orange and black blurs as they fought, eventually crashing into the hallway, where they were found by a bewildered Lucas.

Sonic didn't even have the time to acknowledge Lucas' presence, as Shadow rammed into him, causing him to almost smash into the wall. Sonic then charged at Shadow, who skated down the hallway to a more open area. Sonic could feel sparks of energy crackling through his body as he glared at Shadow. He knew that he could just ask Lucas to perform Chaos Surge and take down Shadow that way, but he decided to save it in case they had no other way of defeating the black hedgehog.

''Why are you doing this Shadow? Why are you trying to kill everyone?'' Sonic asked, his ears twitching as he heard Lucas running into the room. Lucas, who was right behind Sonic, stared at Shadow in pure shock after hearing Sonic's questions. What were the two talking about?

''Why should I tell you anything?'' Shadow replied, clenching his fists as he took a combat stance. He had set off the program that would overload the energy cores. Now, all he needed to do was to stall for time.

''Well, it looks like the world is ending and you're hellbent on killing me. If this were a movie, this would be the moment where the villain reveals their motives for what they're doing,'' Sonic replied.

''Wh-What?''

Sonic couldn't help but smirk at Shadow's bewildered look. Either the black hedgehog had never seen a movie, or he didn't believe himself to be the villain of this story. He then used this moment of distraction to run up to Shadow and clock him straight across the face, sending him flying. Shadow hit the ground hard, but managed to get up in a crouching position, rubbing his bruised cheek with the back of his hand and baring his fangs.

''Why do you hate everyone so much?'' Sonic continued, preparing himself for Shadow's retaliation. It came faster than he expected, with Shadow charging at him for a punch. Sonic dodged it, but ended up with a kick to his chest.

''Because this is what they deserve!'' Shadow growled, hitting Sonic's shoulder when the latter failed to dodge his attack. Sonic had no idea what had gotten into Shadow, but it looked like the black hedgehog had enough. ''You keep asking why…'' Sonic gasped as he hit the wall, moving his head just in time to avoid Shadow's next punch, which left a crack in it. He then looked back at the enraged black hedgehog, his crimson eyes glowing as he breathed heavily, ignoring the pain in his hand. ''Humans are nothing but selfish, greedy beings with no compassion for those who suffer. They keep experimenting with life callously, showing no remorse for their actions. Even senseless death won't stop them from their cruelty towards others.''

''I know that people can be cruel and selfish…'' Sonic said, using his super speed to get away from being pinned by Shadow against the wall and appear right behind him, ''...but that still doesn't give you the right to act like a genocidal maniac!''

Shadow charged at Sonic, with the latter managing to dodge his fist, only for Shadow to suddenly vanish and Sonic feel pain in his back. He flew, landing on the ground face-first, with Shadow then appearing before him. Sonic lifted his head, glaring at the black hedgehog, who returned an aloof gaze. Sonic was surprised that the latter didn't gloat, but the feeling of surprise was quickly replaced by a sense of curiosity.

''You haven't told me everything…'' He slowly got up, bruised. ''Am I right?''

Shadow didn't respond. He had to admit, Sonic was quite determined to get a direct answer out of him, even if it cost him his life, and he had to admire that resolve.

''Why do you insist on learning why I'm doing this? Why are you so persistent?'' Shadow finally asked, hoping that the blue hedgehog would finally shut up and focus on the fight.

''Because, I believe that you wouldn't be saying any of this if there wasn't some personal tragedy involved,'' Sonic replied.

Shadow stared at Sonic in stunned silence, wondering how the blue hedgehog came to that conclusion. Was he that easy to read? Does it even matter anymore?

''If you really insist…'' Shadow took a deep breath, carefully observing his opponent. They would all be gone soon, and the secret would die along with them. There was nothing they could do to stop the inevitable. Shadow's gaze wandered from Sonic to Lucas. ''I assume that this human is important to you.''

''Of course he is! Lucas is my best buddy,'' Sonic said, with Lucas smiling in response. He was worried about his partner, but he didn't interfere, hoping that Sonic would be to deal with this situation.

''I also had someone who was important to me, someone I was close to,'' Shadow continued, clenching his fists, feeling the rage growing inside him. ''However, she had been taken away from me. The humans who worked here were responsible for her death, and I had promised to myself that I would avenge her.'' Shadow's quiet tone grew louder, filled with raw hatred. ''They treated Touka like a guinea pig, never telling her why she had been here, and she payed with her life. We had both been trapped here for all of our lives, and all she wanted was to step outside this building, but that wish died with her.'' Shadow gritted his teeth, baring his fangs. He felt as if someone put a stone in his chest, as if someone grabbed him by the neck and was choking him. ''Those humans never cared for her! They just let her die, never bothering to even lift a finger to help her when she needed them!''

Sonic and Lucas exchanged glances of astonishment, which was quickly replaced by knowing looks. Despite his head still being a mess from the storm of emotions he felt, Shadow had to admit that he was a little surprised by their reaction. It seemed as if they knew something he didn't. Sonic then stepped up, trying to look serious, but the corner of his mouth twitched as a tiny grin formed on his lips.

''Shadow, you said that this person's name is Touka, right?'' Sonic asked. Shadow frowned, glaring at the blue hedgehog.

''Was,'' he responded.

''Uh, I don't know how to tell you this but… I think that someone had lied to you,'' Sonic continued.

''What are you talking about?'' Shadow asked, now feeling irritated.

''That's because Sonic and I know Touka, and the last time we saw her, which was the other day, she was alive,'' Lucas replied, hoping that they were all talking about the same person. Ferra had been telling them the truth so far and he hoped that the part with Touka was correct as well. ''As a matter of fact, we were told that she had entered this building and didn't come out. She may still be somewhere-''

''You're lying!'' Sonic and Lucas both almost jumped out of their skin when Shadow screamed at them. His crimson eyes were glowing, his fists clenched as he stared at them, completely enraged. His voice, normally calm and steady, was filled with raw fury. ''She is dead! I watched her die!'' Shadow continued, the fury in his voice fading into anguish. ''She is gone and nothing will bring her back!''

''Shadow…'' Sonic could see tears forming in the corners of Shadow's eyes, with black hedgehog finally giving into his grief. He felt pity for Shadow, for him losing the person he cared about the most, but at the same time, he knew that there was hope. ''Shadow, please, listen to me. Touka is still here, and she actually went searching for you-!''

''SHUT UP!''

Filled with rage, Shadow fired a bolt of energy at Sonic, but before the blue hedgehog could dodge it, cyan energy appeared around the bolt, directing it away from Sonic and into a nearby wall. Sonic, Lucas and Shadow heard steps behind them, with Silver and Makoto, followed by Warren, Tails, Lily, Knuckles, Minami and Amy emerging from the hallway.

''I hope we're not too late,'' Silver told Sonic, his palms lined with cyan energy. Sonic just shook his head in response.

''Ha, the cavalry always arrives in time,'' Knuckles commented, keeping an eye on Shadow. ''You're outnumbered, Black Hedgehog. Surrender now and we might spare you.''

Shadow didn't respond, instead observing the group of humans and Irregulars. He will not let them stop him in carrying out his last wish. He would make sure that humanity would perish at his hands.

''No,'' Shadow replied, his voice now calm and collected, chilling Sonic to the core when he heard him. He sounded focused, yet… empty. Sonic knew that Shadow had crossed the line of no return, that he felt that there was nothing he had to live for. There was only one thing that remained, and he was going to fight for it until the bitter end. Shadow focused on the blue hedgehog, as if reading his mind, his crimson eyes narrowing. ''This battle has just begun.''

[...]

Sonic and Shadow spin-dashed into each other, too fast for Knuckles and Silver to follow. While Knuckles could punch the living daylights out of Shadow and Silver could use his psychokinesis to prevent him from moving at all, there was one issue with this plan – they had to have a clear target so they didn't hit Sonic on accident.

''This is bad,'' Silver muttered as Sonic and Shadow charged once again at each other, both seemingly equal in power and speed. ''We won't be able to do much unless they slow down.''

''Stay alert, Grey Hedgehog,'' Knuckles told him, keeping an eye on Shadow. ''The moment we have the opportunity, we attack.''

Shadow suddenly teleported behind Sonic, but the latter anticipated this move, spin-dashing into the darker hedgehog. Shadow hit the wall behind, but managed to get up, forming an bolt of energy and firing it at Sonic. However, before it could hit his opponent, it stopped mid-air, surrounded by cyan energy once again.

''Thanks, Silv!'' Sonic replied, with Silver grinning, and dashed back at Shadow. The two suddenly started to grapple with each other, neither being able to push the other away. Sonic's eyes narrowed as he locked eyes with Shadow. ''You're making a grave mistake.''

''I don't care.'' Shadow attempted to punch Sonic, but the latter dodged the attack, stepping back, only for Knuckles to suddenly charge between them, punching Shadow square in the chest. The dark hedgehog stumbled back, having to admit that Knuckles' attack actually did quite some damage. Knuckles attempted to punch Shadow once again, but the latter used his air shoes to skate backwards, dodging every single punch.

''Stop moving!'' Knuckles yelled furiously, swing after swing missing due to Shadow's superior speed. Suddenly, Shadow teleported away, leaving Knuckles puzzled for a moment, then appearing right behind the echidna and firing an energy bolt at point-blank range.

''Knux!'' Sonic and Silver cried out in worry as the energy bolt took the echidna out. Still, despite being on the ground, Knuckles was trying to get up. He rammed his fists, spikes first, into the nearby wall in an attempt to lift himself up, but Shadow suddenly spin-dashed into him. Or at least, he would've done so if his entire body hadn't been paralyzed by a cyan aura. He forced his head to move, realizing that it was Silver who kept him from attacking.

''The battle's over,'' Silver told him, his palms lined with cyan energy. Sonic and Knuckles had joined him, both badly bruised and a little out of breath, but otherwise fine. Shadow tried to move, but Silver's kept him in place. Shadow knew that, if he wanted to continue this fight, he would have to take the grey hedgehog out first.

[...]

Silver hovered Shadow a bit closer to him, Sonic and Knuckles, still making sure that there was a reasonable distance between them in case Shadow tried something. There was no way that he would let the darker hedgehog escape.

''Give up Shadow,'' Sonic said. ''As Silver said, it's over.''

''You were a powerful opponent, but even the toughest of warriors know when it is time to surrender,'' Knuckles added.

Shadow remained silent, observing the three. He tried to move, but Silver was holding him tight in place. Still, despite that, he wasn't down for the count yet. He hadn't battled Knuckles and Silver before, so he didn't know what they were capable of, resulting in underestimating the two. He lowered his head.

''I refuse. I will never give up,'' he said, tapping into his energy reserves, hoping that his plan would work. ''Chaos Control!''

Much to Sonic, Knuckles and, especially, Silver's shock, Shadow teleported out of the cyan aura that kept him in place. He then appeared before the three, an energy bolt forming in his hands. ''Chaos Spear!''

Fortunately, Silver managed to raise a cyan barrier to block the attack. ''Take this!'' Silver then pushed the cyan barrier at Shadow in an attempt to pin him against the wall. However, Shadow used his air skates to push back against the cyan barrier, refusing to let the grey hedgehog return him to an immobile state once again. Unfortunately for him, Silver's psychokinesis was more powerful.

''Knux, fastball special, now!'' Sonic turned to Knuckles, who nodded. He then curled into a ball and Knuckles grabbed him, hurling him straight into Shadow, with Silver lifting the barrier away in the last second.

Sonic spin-dashed into Shadow, finally knocking the black hedgehog off his feet. However, despite being on the ground, Shadow was still trying to get up, showing baffling persistence. Sonic knew that they were running out of time and that there was nothing that there would convince Shadow to stop this explosion from happening. He was too consumed by grief and rage to listen to anyone, to the point that Sonic had to wonder whether Shadow was even concerned with his own survival.

Shadow had finally managed to get up, stepping towards them. He was breathing heavily, his expression showing nothing but pure fury. Sonic stepped back, joining Knuckles and Silver as they anticipated Shadow's next move, only to be stunned when Shadow's body suddenly started to glow, a red aura surrounding him as he charged up energy. The red aura formed a sphere around Shadow as he crossed his arms, hovering in the air for a brief moment, only to unfold them, releasing a massive wave of energy.

''Chaos Blast!''

The energy blast resulted in a massive explosion, blowing up the entire area and taking Sonic, Knuckles and Silver down. Shadow landed on the ground, winded from the attack that had been fueled by his anger, hatred and pain. He still felt the adrenaline rushing through his body as he approached Sonic, standing right in front of the fallen blue hedgehog.

''I told you, I refuse to give up, Hedgehog'' he said.

''Wh-Why don't you leave?'' Sonic asked, trying to lift his head, locking eyes with Shadow. ''Y-You'll die a-as well…''

This question left Shadow stunned momentarily. As much as he had to admire Sonic's tenacity and ability to keep up with him, he couldn't understand why he was determined to talk to him, to learn more about him. Why was Sonic showing so much concern regarding his emotional and mental state? They were enemies, nothing more and nothing less. Shadow had already shown that he didn't care for him or any of his friends and was willing to kill all of them in order to fulfill his own goals.

''Do you really have nothing to live for?'' Sonic asked as he got up, pressing his hand against his shoulder and looking unsafe on his feet. Despite the beating he took, he was still smiling, baffling Shadow. How could Sonic still be willing to talk to him like this? Sonic then sighed, shaking his head. ''I guess that is what makes you so dangerous. You believe that you have nothing left to lose.''

''I agree, I have nothing left to lose,'' Shadow said, well aware that there is nothing Sonic could do. What he didn't expect was for Sonic to suddenly sucker punch him, causing him to stumble back. Shadow was shocked, rubbing his bruised cheek.

''Well, I disagree!'' Sonic told him firmly, with Knuckles and Silver standing up behind him, both still willing to continue the fight. ''Even if that's that path you have chosen, I won't give up. I will continue to fight for my friends, for Neos City, and for you as well. You might believe that I'm lying, but there is someone waiting for you.''

Knuckles and Silver stared at Sonic. While they may not have had access to the full story behind this fight, as everything happened to fast and not much had been explained, they still trusted Sonic with whatever plan he had. However, before either of them could even continue with the battle, Lucas' team suddenly ran into the area, followed by a cry that shook Shadow to his very core.

''Shadow, please, stop this!''

Shadow stared in shock at the very person he believed to be dead for so long. His crimson eyes were wide and his body was paralyzed, his heart racing as a storm of emotions hit him with full force. ''N-No… It can't be… This- This isn't possible…''

It felt like a dream. The person he cared about the most, the one he fought for and the one who wanted to avenge was standing right in front of him, alive and well.

[...]

''I don't think you should sacrifice your own life either.'' Shadow turned around, surprised to see Sonic behind him. Silver was also there, just standing awkwardly with the energy cores floating around him. ''I told you before, you still have something to live for.''

''I don't disagree with you,'' Shadow said in a regretful tone, with Sonic tilting his head, his arms folded across his chest. ''However, there is no other option.''

''What about using Chaos Surge? You are an Irregular and you can manipulate BioEnergy,'' Sonic suggested, ignoring Shadow's furious glare. ''From what I understood, all you need is a power boost, or am I wrong?''

''I refuse to use BioEnergy for this,'' Shadow responded angrily.

''Why?'' Silver asked, picking the energy core out of the panel once Touka was done disconnecting it. ''Sure, it is risky, but we could show you how to use it properly.''

''I'm also fully willing to go along with this plan,'' Touka added. Shadow clenched his fists, shaking. He knew that the three were right, that there would be a chance for him to make it out alive if he absorbed Touka's BioEnergy. However, the moment they suggested it, his mind flashed back to his battle with the rogue Irregular, the memory of Touka dying resurfacing. He had hoped that this memory would perish when he too perished, but he now understood that he couldn't keep it no longer a secret.

''I was the reason why you almost lost your life,'' Shadow said, surprising everyone. ''I was a complete fool, having resorted to use your BioEnergy in the fight against that Irregular, and when it was over, I was told you were dead.'' He shook his head, his voice shaking. ''I'm not going to repeat the same mistake again!''

''Shadow…'' Touka muttered, feeling sorry for him. Despite all of his hatred towards the humans that betrayed him, he still blamed himself for what had happened to her. She exchanged quiet glances with Sonic and Silver, the latter leaving to quickly pick up the remaining energy cores after Lucas waved him over. She clenched her fists, a determined look forming on her expression. ''I know you won't repeat your mistake, and that is why I want us to try out Chaos Surge.''

''What?'' Shadow was stunned, while Sonic just grinned.

''If Lucas and Sonic could do it without suffering the any of the harsher consequences, then I'm sure we can do it too,'' Touka added.

''Now that's the spirit!'' Sonic cheered, while Shadow gave both of them a dubious look.

[...]

''Stack them up in the middle,'' he said, pointing at the ground. Silver did as he was told and, after giving them one last gaze, he quickly followed the rest of the group. Lucas and Sonic turned to Touka and Shadow, with Sonic crackling his knuckles.

''Okay, ready to learn how to use Chaos Surge?'' Sonic asked. Shadow nodded, being ready to finally confront his fears and the pain that came with it. He looked at Touka, giving her a look of pure determination.

''I will hold on to our promise,'' he said, with Touka smiling, happy to see him overcome his doubts. The two then looked at Sonic and Lucas.

''All that you have to do is activate the BioEnergy. Once it is active, don't absorb it, but let it float. You both need to feel it,'' Sonic explained.

''Once you do, then you both need to absorb it. Don't be afraid of going for it and stay focused,'' Lucas continued, him and Sonic stretching out their arms, blue energy crackling between them. Both could feel the BioEnergy transforming into something far more powerful.

''Chaos Surge!''

Touka and Shadow watched the two as they absorbed the energy, leading the two to become enveloped in a blue aura, with electricity sparking around them, both Lucas and Sonic giving the two a confident look. Touka then looked at Shadow, extending her hand, with Shadow grabbing it without any hesitance. He could sense her BioEnergy, calling for him to absorb it, to become stronger. However, he rejected this power. It wasn't just for him, but for both of them.

''Chaos Surge!''

A bright dark red and orange orb of energy appeared between the two, sparks of electricity enveloping them as they both absorbed it, now empowered. Shadow's eyes were now glowing in an orange and red colour as he and Touka turned towards the energy cores, which were now burning in a hot red.

''Ready?'' Touka asked as she stepped on one side of the energy cores, extending her hands before them as she felt the Chaos energy surging through her body.

''I am,'' Shadow mirrored her actions, focusing on the Chaos energy inside his body. It was far stronger than anything else he had experience and he was going to use every drop of it to save this world.

Both of their eyes glowed red as they were enveloped by a blue field of energy, determined to carry out this mission to the bitter end.

''CHAOS CONTROL!''

[...]

Shadow looked hesitant for a moment, but then did as Tails instructed him, placing the goggles on his forehead and carefully placing the band between his quills. Touka placed her hands on her back, bowing over slightly as she grinned.

''The goggles look really great on you,'' she said, with Shadow smiling in response. His smile then quickly faded into a frown when he saw Sonic run up to them, grinning.

''You know, you may not want to be friends with us, but that still doesn't mean that we can't hang out,'' Sonic said. ''Despite all the craziness and battles, we did have some fun, didn't we?''

''While I appreciate your help, Blue Hedgehog, I'm not interested in being in your company longer than necessary,'' Shadow responded, turning around. ''This is a farewell.''

He and Touka then walked away, only for Shadow to suddenly flinch, feeling exasperated when he heard Sonic's response.

''See ya later, Shad!'' Sonic yelled for everyone to hear, waving Shadow and Touka goodbye. The two didn't respond, despite their obvious reaction, vanishing into the forest. Sonic smirked in satisfaction, glancing at Tails as he placed a hand on his hip. ''The two will come around eventually.''

Tails laughed, ''I had figured you wouldn't give up on them.''

''I believe that all they need is a simple nudge in the right direction. Shadow isn't a bad guy and I'm looking forward to running into him again,'' Sonic responded, with the rest of the group approaching them. ''Now, com'n, let's go home!''

Links:

#Sonadow Moments in Sonic Cyber Revolution (The Memories of The Past Arc)

#Sonic Cyber Revolution (Masterlist)

[tenebraevesper]

Shatter Me, Entry 4: LOVE or HATE?

''For example, if I let my hair sway a little, will the voice I hear be LOVE or HATE? Do whatever you like, no matter what they say, I won't stop walking. Unstoppable news, they'll forget it tomorrow. Today is better than yesterday, believing leads to a big victory. Sync with the rhythm, I want to be swaying, but the outsiders are noisy, noise canceling. For example, if I trace my finger a little, will your choice be LOVE or HATE? Do whatever you like, make your cheeks turn red and spitting, boy. Differences in hobbies, differences in peace of mind, even if I confuse you my path is shaped by just LOVE or HATE.''

– LOVE or HATE? by Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I'm Not the Demon Lord

xXxXxXx

''Keep up, Faker! I know you can do better!''

Shadow narrowed his eyes, keeping a close eye on the Blue Blur before him as both skated past the greenery, determined not to lose to his rival. Unlike all the other times, where he was fine acknowledging Sonic's speed and strength, this was a battle he couldn't afford to lose. He was determined to win, no matter the methods he would use. He needed to win this, for his own sake.

''Don't underestimate me!''

A cheerful laugh echoed in Shadow's ears echoed as he and Sonic weaved through this area of Green Hill. Shadow couldn't help but smile, well aware that Sonic was probably having the time of his life being in a chase like this.

''If I wanted to underestimate you, I wouldn't be avoiding you like this,'' Sonic said, leaping on a platform to get to higher ground, only to get startled when Shadow suddenly warped right in front of him. ''I guess I should focus more on the fight rather than the talk.''

''I'm glad that you recall what I had told you,'' Shadow responded, arms folded across his chest in the typical manner, although his lips were graced by a small smirk. Surprisingly, instead of just grabbing Sonic then and there, he decided to stay where he was, although it helped that he was about three steps away from reaching his rival. Sonic grinned playfully, his eye-lids lowered as he took a step back, his hands on his back.

''It helps that you made sure to remind me of it over and over again, but I don't think that'll stop me from quipping,'' Sonic said.

''If you ever stopped making quips, it would be a sign that something is really wrong with you,'' Shadow replied, taking a step forward.

''Heh, you know me too well, Shads,'' Sonic replied, only to leap from the platform backwards, curling into a ball and bouncing down, before resuming the chase.

Sonic was fully aware that, no matter how fast he was, Shadow would be able to catch up to him at some point. He didn't mind losing though, as he already knew what might happen after he loses the race, but that didn't mean that he was going to make it easy for Shadow. Speaking of which, his rival had warped right behind him, followed by another warp right in front of Sonic, forcing the azure hedgehog to dodge. Sonic gritted his teeth when Shadow suddenly appeared behind him, a smirk on his expression and the green Chaos Emerald in his hand. Sonic leapt away, but took only a few steps before Shadow appeared again, forcing Sonic to turn the other way, but Shadow was ahead of him once again.

''What's the matter, Sonic? It seems that you cannot escape me,'' Shadow teased him. Sonic turned around to punch him, but Shadow caught his hands, with the two ending up in a grappling hold.

''To make it clear, this does not count as you having caught me,'' Sonic stated, his eyes narrowed as he tried to push Shadow way while keeping a tight grip on his hands, but they remained locked in position. ''You'd have to do better than this!''

''I'm not going to argue with that, since you can still fight back,'' Shadow said, a devious smirk gracing his lips. ''Therefore, I'd have to go out of my way and follow your brand of unpredictability.''

''Wha-?'' Before Sonic could even get a question out, Shadow suddenly pulled his hands downwards, causing Sonic to stumble forward, with Shadow letting go of him just to wrap his arms around Sonic's torso and pulling him closer. Sonic's fawn muzzle turned crimson red when he suddenly found himself in Shadow's embrace, his own hands resting on Shadow's fluffy chest fur. His own heart was racing, feeling as if it was going to break through his ribcage.

''So, how's that for being unpredictable?'' Shadow asked, his gaze soft, yet showing a clear sense of smugness Sonic was all too familiar with. It was obvious that he enjoyed seeing Sonic being so flustered, especially since he knew that he was the cause of it. However, Sonic was quick to bounce back.

''Fine, I'll admit that you caught me off guard,'' he said, narrowing his eyes, not trying to show that he actually felt quite comfortable held like this. Even though Shadow had technically caught him, it seemed that there was an unspoken agreement between them to continue, as Shadow let go of him a moment later, allowing Sonic to step back and create some distance. Sonic then stretched his hands above his head, intertwining his fingers, and taking a moment to figure out his next move. He then saw a gleam in Shadow's crimson eyes, alerting him to his rival's next move.

Suddenly, Shadow lunged at him, but Sonic managed to leap back, dodging Shadow, with the chase then resuming. Sonic sped off between the palms, finding himself back at Hedgehog's Pass and leaping onto the platform above. He didn't even have to turn around to know Shadow was right behind him, his ears flicking at the sound of his rival's air shoes as he got closer and closer. Sonic took a turn, hoping that he could shake Shadow off at the Loop-de-Loop, followed by running around the other platforms as if he was on a roller-coaster. Up, down, all around… Sonic felt the adrenaline pumping through his body as he sprinted towards a clearing, only to hear a familiar sound and dodging a spin-dash from Shadow at the last second, with both skidding to a halt as they faced each other.

''Nice try, Shads, but you'll have to step up- agh!'' Sonic suddenly found himself flying when Shadow used Chaos Control to warp closer and rammed into him, knocking him down on the ground. Shadow walked up to him with a smirk on his expression.

''You're losing focus-''

However, before he could even finish, Sonic got up faster than expected, spin-dashing into Shadow and knocking him back into a palm tree. The ebony hedgehog was more stunned than hurt, staring back at his azure rival, who just gave him a teasing smile.

''What was that about losing focus? Seriously, Shads, don't you know that you should pay attention to your opponent during a battle?'' Sonic lectured him, hands placed on his hips. Shadow snorted in amusement, having to admit that Sonic was right. He did underestimate his rival, having thought that he finally managed to knock Sonic out, but he should've known better. Still, he felt as if it wasn't a big deal. This wasn't one of their usual battles where they would argue about the best way to save the world. This was something they were doing for themselves, dishing out hits and taking them as they went on, feeling genuinely relaxed about this whole ordeal.

Nevertheless, Shadow wasn't going to let Sonic win this battle.

Sonic's eyes widened as he saw Shadow showing off the Chaos Emerald, realizing that his rival was about to use Chaos Control again. He wasn't sure whether Shadow was trying to warp closer to him or whether he had planned to use Chaos Control to actually stop time, noting to himself that the latter would be kinda cheating, since Sonic obviously wouldn't be able to make a move if that's what happened. Therefore, he didn't even wait to learn what Shadow's intentions were, running off again.

Shadow narrowed his eyes as Sonic disappeared once again, kicking up dirt and smoke, but he already anticipated that move. He quickly followed him up a hill, knowing that this would be his opportunity, using Chaos Control once again to warp closer. Sonic seemed to have anticipated that move, as he turned back, ready to continue the fight.

It's now or never!

Sonic gasped in surprise, having not expected for Shadow to suddenly tackle him from the side, causing both of them to tumble and roll down the hill, all the while still fighting over who'd land on the top. Unfortunately for Sonic, he was the one who lost, with Shadow finally pinning him down, keeping a tight grip on his arms and straddling his waist. Both were breathing heavily, their chests visbly heaving as they tried to catch their breath. Sonic tried to lift his limbs, but it was clear that Shadow wasn't letting him go this time.

''I win,'' the ebony hedgehog said, a triumphant smirk on his lips. Sonic's mind was racing, still trying to find a way out of this situation, but the voice in his head told him to just give up. It was over. Nevertheless, Sonic remained defiant.

''You must be really enjoying your victory,'' he quipped in a deadpan tone.

''Hmph, I do,'' Shadow replied in a matter-of-fact tone, with Sonic knowing that his rival was holding himself back from ribbing Sonic about it. Both were surprisingly silent, the only sound being that of them breathing as they tried to recover from the ordeal.

Sonic gazed into Shadow's eyes, emerald locking with crimson, and he knew that the same question was on his rival's mind – what would be their next move? Admittedly, both of them knew what was coming, but there was some uncharacteristic hesitance on both sides, as this was still new territory for both of them to explore. Sonic could feel a wave of warmth spreading through his body, sparking like electricity, only for a strange weight to settle down in the pit of his stomach as as he parted his lips when Shadow leaned closer, their noses almost touching.

''So, what now?'' Shadow's breath ghosted Sonic's lips, leaving his rival trembling with anticipation. The ebony hedgehog knew well what Sonic's answer would be, but he wanted to enjoy this moment just a little bit longer. Not only that, but he also wanted to absolutely make sure that Sonic agreed to it. He knew that neither of them were good at communicating their feelings, so asking him a question like this was important. Fortunately for him, the look Sonic gave him was that of impatience and slight irritation.

''I believe that this the moment where you claim your prize, Faker,'' Sonic told him in a deadpan tone.

Shadow let out a soft laugh, well aware that Sonic wasn't the most patient person either, and probably just wanted to get this over with. He leaned closer, whispering, ''Your call, Faker…''

''I will crush you once and for all, Hedgehog!''

Both Sonic and Shadow audibly groaned, rolling their eyes as they heard a familiar voice shouting in the distance and snapping them out of their moment.

''You gotta be kidding me!'' Sonic groaned, glancing back at Shadow, his annoyed expression mirroring Shadow's.

''The Doctor had picked the worst of moments for attacking us,'' Shadow growled in irritation. He and Sonic then got up, turning to the small army of Badniks approaching them, with Dr. Eggman sitting in his Eggmobile.

''Well, look at this on the positive side. At least we don't have to deal with five of him this time,'' Sonic replied.

''Fair point,'' Shadow responded. Both then turned their attention towards Dr. Eggman and his Badniks.

''Yo, Egghead! What are you up to this time?'' Sonic shouted, with Shadow deciding to let him take over this conversation. Knowing the dynamic between his rival and the Doctor, he was certain that their enemy would eventually reveal his plans, giving Sonic and Shadow enough information to stop him. ''Let me guess! You have found another magical gem! Oh, or even better! You decided to awaken an ancient eldritch abomination and lost control of it!'' Sonic then tilted his head. ''Or, is it both?''

''Unfortunately for you, rodent, it's neither. Instead, I decided to go back to the basics!'' Dr. Eggman replied, only for a blue blur to suddenly appear out of nowhere. Shadow was alert enough to dodge it, but Sonic wasn't that lucky, being dragged into the foliage by a familiar foe.

''Metal?!'' Sonic was shocked to see Metal Sonic appear to battle him, as he hadn't seen him in quite a while. ''I though you were out of commission or something like that.'' Metal responded by throwing him on the ground, followed by a punch that managed to crack the ground below. Fortunately, Sonic rolled over, dodging the attack and quickly getting on his feet. ''Oh, right, you don't talk unless you're Neo Metal Sonic.'' Sonic dodged a kick. ''Y'know, after dealing with Chaos Sonic, I really appreciate your silence.'' Metal Sonic suddenly fired an energy blast from his chest cavity, forcing Sonic to dive down to dodge it, with the explosion leaving the foliage behind him charred. ''Phew, I'm glad that the Chaos Council did make a Chaos Sonic with your weapons. That guy was already hard to beat as he was, and ten times as annoying.''

Metal Sonic started to charge up once again, with Sonic taking off running. The azure hedgehog smirked, being glad to go back to the familiar dynamic he had with his robotic rival, and already forming a plan in regards to how to defeat him.

Meanwhile, Shadow was left dealing with the Badniks and listening to Dr. Eggman's gloating. The dark hedgehog was dodging attacks from Buzz Bombers and smashing through a Caterkiller and a Motobug with a well-aimed spin-dash. Admittedly, while he was a bit concerned about Sonic, he knew his rival well enough to know that he could handle Metal Sonic on his own, leaving Shadow to deal with the rest.

''Chaos Spear!'' Shadow snapped his fingers, summoning a green bolt of energy and throwing it directly into the Badniks, obliterating them. He could hear Dr. Eggman growl in frustration, feeling quite satisfied to hear that. Nevertheless, it seemed that the Doctor wasn't going to give up so easily.

''How about this, Shadow? If you tell me the location of the Paradox Prism, I'll make sure that some remains of you are left,'' Dr. Eggman proposed just as Shadow found himself getting cornered by the Badniks. Shadow just rolled his eyes in response.

''You are the third person who asked me about the Paradox Prism, Doctor, and the answer is still the same,'' Shadow replied in a firm tone, summoning another Chaos Spear. ''No.''

With that said, he weaved between the Badniks, using the bolt of energy as a weapon to pierce through them, freeing the Flickies that were trapped inside them. In the corner of his eye, he could see Sonic fighting Metal Sonic, exchanging blows and spin-dashing into his robotic counterpart, only to end up hitting Metal Sonic's Black Shield. Shadow narrowed his eyes, glancing back at the rest of the Badniks, with a smirk forming on his lips. He held up the green Chaos Emerald.

''Chaos Control!''

Shadow could feel the energy of the Chaos Emerald coursing through his body and spreading into the environment, with time around him stopping. Using this to his advantage, Shadow quickly spin-dashed into the remaining Badniks, destroying all of them, and allowing time to continue once more.

''Wh-huh?'' Dr. Eggman was baffled to see all of his Badniks destroyed, with Shadow skating towards Sonic. He then frowned, having taken note of Shadow's Chaos Emerald and realizing what had just happened, growling in annoyance. ''That does it!''

Back on the battlefield, Sonic went for the offensive, with Metal Sonic blocking his attacks, only to get a kick to the head from Shadow, causing him to hit the dirt. Sonic then grinned at Shadow. ''Wanna try a combo and send Metal flying?''

Shadow just nodded, and the moment Metal Sonic got up, he found himself being surrounded by two hedgehogs, who curled up into balls and started spinning around him, creating a blue and orange tornado that crackled with energy, damaging Metal Sonic and sending him flying straight at the Dr. Eggman, landing in the Eggmobile, defeated.

''This is not the last you see of me!'' Dr. Eggman growled, flying the Eggmobile away.

''See you next time, Eggy!'' Sonic shouted after him, leaving Dr. Eggman grumble furiously. Sonic chuckled, well aware that his adversary would soon come up with another plan to ruin his day. He then playfully elbowed Shadow. ''Wanna bet he's going to be back by next Tuesday?''

''Probably even earlier if he is properly motivated,'' Shadow replied, with Sonic nodding in agreement.

''Sonic!''

Sonic and Shadow then turned around to see Tails, Amy, Knuckles and Rouge joining them, clearly on edge and alert, only to stop at the sight of scrapped Badniks. Knuckles rose an eyebrow, turning to the two hedgehogs. ''What happened here?''

''You guys just missed a fight with Eggman, but don't worry-'' Sonic started, only to pull Shadow into a side-hug, placing his hand around the latter's waist. Shadow, in turn, was startled by this move, but didn't push Sonic away, figuring that he might as well get used to it. This wasn't the first time Sonic did that, nor will it be the last time. ''Shadow had helped me deal with him, so everything's fine now.''

''I guess that's a relief,'' Amy said, letting her Piko Piko Hammer disappear, with her and the rest of the group approaching the two.

''I mean, after taking on the Chaos Council and Chaos Sonic, fighting Eggman and Metal Sonic feels like a piece of cake,'' Sonic continued, only to earn a bunch of confused looks from his friends.

''Chaos Council?'' Tails repeated, furrowing a brow. ''What are you talking about?''

Shadow glanced at Sonic, who seemed to have just realized that he said a bit too much. ''You haven't told them anything?''

''I was about to, but I keep getting distracted,'' Sonic replied, slightly miffed, only to earn a ''Then get to it!'' look from Shadow.

''Blue, what happened?'' Rouge asked. Sonic rubbed the back of his head nervously, trying to figure out how to explain this whole thing.

''Well, it's quite a long story…'' Sonic glanced at Shadow, who nodded in assurance. He then took a deep breath and gave his friends a determined look. ''The truth is, I broke the Paradox Prism and shattered our universe.''

''YOU WHAT?!''

Sonic flinched, having already expected the shocked reaction, but hearing it like this didn't make him feel any better. He gave them a nervous smile. ''Yeah, so that happened… But, you don't have to worry, everything is fine now and the universe is restored to how it was supposed to be.''

''Sonic, we want details,'' Knuckles said in a firm tone, folding his arms across his chest and shooting him a glare. Sonic sighed, glancing once again at Shadow for support. To his surprise and joy, Shadow placed his hand on Sonic's shoulder.

''I'll fill in any blanks in your story in case you forget something,'' he said. Sonic smiled back, thankful for the support, and then turned back to his friends, who were still waiting for an answer.

''I promise, I'll tell you everything, but I think we should find a place to sit down first, because this might just knock you off your feet,'' Sonic told them.

xXx

''…and then Nine restored all of the Shatterspaces with the Paradox Prism, only for it to disappear back to Green Hill. After I said my goodbyes to everyone, the Roses used one of the Chaos Council's ships to transport me and Shadow through the Void, with Shadow carrying me the rest of the way. The next thing I remember was waking up back at the cave with the Paradox Prism just before it got shattered,'' Sonic finished his tale.

''You're lucky I was there, else you wouldn't have made it,'' Shadow added in a grim tone, but Sonic just smiled in response, rubbing his nose.

''Yeah, I really was lucky. Thanks for saving my life, Shads!'' he replied in a nonchalant tone, before turning back to his friends who all had a shocked look on their expression. ''Uh, guys? Guys?''

The group was currently at the beach, having decided to let Sonic tell them everything without any interruptions. Even Big and Froggy were there, sitting on the nearby pier and fishing, although judging by Big's reactions, he too was listening to Sonic's story, being just as stunned as everyone else.

Now, they knew that Sonic had shattered the Paradox Prism, creating the Shatterverse and landing in New Yoke City, where he met Nine who gave him his tech that allowed him to regulate the Paradox Prism Energy inside him, the Chaos Council and Rusty Rose who ruled over New Yoke City, as well as the Resistance led by Rebel Rouge and Renegade Knucks, followed by the battle and race for the Prism Shard. Unable to touch the Shard, he was thrown straight into Boscage Maze, meeting the Scavengers and Thorn Rose and helping the two sides reconcile while also fighting Thorn over the Prism Shard. He managed to return back to New Yoke City, learning of Nine's betrayal and his desire to make The Grim his new home, with Sonic insisting on helping the Resistance, and the unfortunate capture of Nine and the Prism Shard at the Chaos Council's hands, while Sonic ended up in No Place. There, he met Captain Dread and his crew, engaging into a battle with Rusty Rose over the Prism Shard and while he helped Captain Dread to get it, he ended up flying out of No Place and into The Void, where he met Shadow.

This was where Shadow interrupted, explaining the group how he had used the Chaos Emerald to avoid being shattered and emerged in The Void. Unfortunately for him, he discovered that he was unable to enter any of the Shatterspaces Sonic had visited the hard way, causing him to lose the Chaos Emerald to The Void and having to observe Sonic as he was trying to get things back on track, until he finally confronted his rival over what had happened. While Sonic's friends didn't approve of Shadow going straight for beating Sonic up to get him to listen, they did agree that the dark hedgehog had a point, his part of the story resulting in the revelation of Ghost Hill, leaving Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Rouge and Big shuddering at the thought of being just remnants of themselves -  ghosts, as Shadow had put it. What followed was the battle between Sonic and Shadow over Sonic's tech due to Shadow's mistaken belief that he could use it to travel between the Shatterverses, only to be proven wrong and almost ending up being lost in The Void if it weren't for Sonic.

''I totally saved your life!'' Sonic told him cheekily as he got to that point.

''I had also saved your life. We're even now,'' Shadow remarked.

The story continued with Shadow realizing that it's Sonic, and not the tech, who is able to travel through the Shatterverse, with both agreeing (reluctantly on Shadow's part and excitingly on Sonic's part) to work together. Sonic then added how he followed the Chaos Council into Boscage Maze, where he met up with the Scavengers and Thorn, as well as got into contact with Nine. While the battle resulted into a loss of the Prism Shard, Sonic was determined to continue, being knocked into No Place by Shadow, where he ended up in a battle not only against the Chaos Council, but also against Captain Dread's crew, who had been joined by Rusty Rose. Shadow also added how he had been stalling the Chaos Council's mothership, but unfortunately, they lost another Prism Shard, taking the battle to New Yoke City. There, Sonic joined the Resistance once again, getting them up to speed with the situation and tried to save both Nine and the Prism Shards, only to end up fighting Chaos Sonic, a robotic and more annoying version of himself.

After defeating, as Sonic put it, ''Metal Sonic's more annoying cousin'', he and Nine grabbed the Prism Shards and went on a mad chase through the Shatterverse before meeting up with Shadow and going to Ghost Hill to fix the Paradox Prism. Unfortunately, they were followed by the Chaos Council, with Sonic and Shadow teaming up to defend Ghost Hill.

''It was awesome, guys! I wish you could've seen it…'' Sonic trailed off suddenly as he realized what he had just said. He then quickly collected himself, continuing the story.

Unfortunately for the two hedgehogs and Nine, the Chaos Council's forces managed to breach into the cave, even summoning the Prismatic Titan, ''…who for some reason looked like a Kaiju Eggman, I don't even know what was up with that!'', and Sonic having to use the Prismatic Energy to fight back, ''…again, I was totally awesome!'', ending the battle in a solid victory and hope for everything to be restored to the way it was. However, Sonic's enthusiasm quickly vanished when he remembered what happened next, and he fell silent, much to the surprise of his friends.

''Sonic, what's wrong? What happened then?'' Tails asked, giving his big brother a look of concern.

''I… Nine… He…'' Sonic tried to respond, but couldn't get a word out, being still hurt by what had happened between them.

''Nine betrayed us and took the Prism Shards, leaving Ghost Hill to be destroyed,'' Shadow continued in a grim tone, much to the shock of everyone.

Sonic nodded, his tone just as serious as Shadow's, ''We managed to escape to The Void, but I… I thought that it was over. We lost Ghost Hill and the Prism Shards, and we were completely defeated, and I was on the verge of giving up.'' He then smiled fondly, glancing at Shadow. ''But a certain someone had told me that there was always a way, and I realized that we still had a chance to fix this.'' Shadow in turn, just gave him the familiar ''Don't push it look'', with Sonic figuring that some things never change.

The story then continued, with Sonic revealing how Nine used the Paradox Prism to build a fortress within The Grim, as well as robotic versions of Sonic, Knuckles, Amy, Rouge and Birdie, forcing Sonic and Shadow to fight him. However, the moment Shadow had realized that Nine was after the Paradox Prism Energy that was within Sonic, Shadow abandoned their initial plan, forcing Sonic to escape The Grim and go back to New Yoke City for support. With the Shatterverse around them decaying, all of the Shatterverse Variants and the Chaos Council agreed to become temporary allies to defend themselves against Nine. When Nine held the No Place pirates as hostages, Sonic insisted on saving them, much to the displeasure of his allies, with him stubbornly heading out to get them back.

''I don't want to lose anyone else… We already lost so much…'' Sonic admitted, feeling the guilt from back them eating its way into his heart. ''I tried to tell myself that it's what I do, that I'm the hero, but when I offered myself to Nine so he could fix the Shatterverse from decaying, he confronted me with the truth. Deep down, after what I did, destroying my own home, it's the only way I can ever live with myself, even if that means I won't live at all.''

''Sonic…''

Sonic's friends, and even Shadow, were quite disturbed by that reveal. Tails especially was hit hard by this, since he always admired Sonic for his heroics, even if his big brother could be a lot to deal with, so to hear that Sonic was told this cruel truth by someone who was like himself was quite difficult to listen to.

''But then, the cavalry arrived, and when I say cavalry, I mean everyone,'' Sonic continued.

The story continued, with Sonic describing how the alliance of the Resistance, the Scavengers, the Pirates and the Chaos Council arrived to aid him in the battle against Nine, with Sonic, who had finally learned to think things through instead of charging recklessly into a battle, handing the leadership over to Rebel, who had figured out a plan to counter Nine (with Rouge showing a look of pride for her Shatterverse Variant). Shadow then interfered, explaining how Nine had kept him busy by sending his own robots and after he saved Sonic, the two managed to escape, witnessing the alliance defeating Grim Big, albeit at the loss of the Chaos Council's mothership. Things escalated quickly, with Nine pushing them back and Rebel's plan failing. This were going from bad to worse, when Sonic suddenly came up with a plan that assured a victory for them.

''Wait, that happened?'' Knuckles asked in disbelief, while Sonic just frowned in response.

''I was also surprised that it worked,'' Shadow added, much to Sonic's chagrin. He did not need both of his rivals to team up against him.

''Hey, I can come up with a solid plan from time to time,'' Sonic protested.

''The only question is whether you can follow through with it,'' Shadow teased him.

''I prefer to think on my feet,'' Sonic replied, moving on with the story.

The plan in question was to pretend to be defeated by Nine's forces while Sonic confronted him directly, forcing Nine to divert the Prism Energy away from his robots and allowing for Sonic's allies to defeat the Grim Alphas and put an end to this whole battle, leading up to a fight between a fight between Sonic, Renegade Knucks and Shadow versus Nine, who was still powered up by the Paradox Prism and was losing control over himself. Realizing that if they didn't stop the fight right then and there, everything would be destroyed, Sonic knocked Nine into his lair, where he protected him from the alliance and made everyone realize just how dire the situation was, as nothing was left of any of their worlds.

''All Nine wanted was to be left alone in peace, and he realized that he had gone too far in trying to accomplish his goal,'' Sonic explained. ''He agreed to help us to atone for what he had done, revealing that he would need to extract the Prism Energy inside me to fully fix the Paradox Prism, but…''

''There was a possibility that you wouldn't survive it,'' Shadow finished the sentence for him. Sonic nodded.

''Well, I had to take my chance. I shattered our reality and drove Nine away by not listening to what he wanted, and it was up to me to make up for my mistake,'' he said in a firm tone. ''Fortunately, I managed to survive the extraction, but only barely. I was basically turning into a Ghost myself.''

The story then ended with Sonic and Shadow describing how the Chaos Council attempted to betray them, only to get defeated, and Nine restoring the Shatterverses, ending in a mad race where the Roses and Shadow tried to get back to Green Hill to save Sonic from ceasing to exist, the result being that both of them somehow found themselves back at just before the Paradox Prism got shattered, with Sonic stopping himself from breaking it again and Shadow warping the Paradox Prism away to safety.

''…and that's how we restored everything to its prime,'' Sonic concluded the story.

There was a moment of heavy silence as his friends just processed what they had just been told. Sonic smiled nervously, wondering what the reaction would be and hoping that his friends wouldn't chew him out for this, even if he deserved it. To his surprise, what ended up happening was a collective sigh of exasperation.

''Well, that at least explains why you acted so weird when we protected the Paradox Prism from Eggman,'' Amy said. ''It is nice to know that you learned a thing or two about teamwork.''

''Heh, yeah,'' Sonic replied, feeling quite relieved that this was their reaction. Knuckles just shook his head.

''It is also very like you to get roped into an adventure without us knowing anything,'' he said.

''I guess we should also be thankful that Shadow was with you to keep you focused on the mission,'' Rouge added, glancing at the dark hedgehog, who was a bit surprised by the compliment, but nevertheless appreciated it, nodding in response. Sonic agreed with that assessment, turning towards Tails.

''Buddy, if you ever get angry at me… Like, 'I'm going to cause an apocalypse' angry, please promise me that we will talk it out,'' he said, the guilt clearly visible on his expression.

Tails just chuckled. ''Yeah, I promise. Although, I wonder if I should also make myself seven mechanical tails. It sounds like it would be quite handy in helping me with my inventions or as weapons.'' When he saw Sonic's alarmed look, he quickly added, ''Hey, I'm just joking, but you really should see your face now.''

''So, what happened to the Shatterverse Variants?'' Amy suddenly asked. ''Do you two know anything?''

Shadow and Sonic exchanged glances, only to shake their heads, with Sonic adding, ''We don't know, but I really hope that everything is fine and that they can live their life in peace.''

Sonic's chest heaved and he lowered his head slightly, something Shadow took note of. It was clear to him that, despite their (mis)adventure in the Shatterverse being finally over, there was still one more conversation they needed to have.

''I suppose all is well that ends well. At least we know what the Paradox Prism can do and to not approach it anymore,'' Rouge said, shrugging nonchalantly, even though she did sound a bit regretful, clearly a bit annoyed that she couldn't get her hands on it. She then gave Sonic and Shadow a smug look. ''Speaking of which, it also explains why two are suddenly so close. An adventure like that would result in some revelations and you two clearly spent a lot of time together. So, are you two official now?''

''Oh, right! I almost forgot!'' Amy clasped her hands together in glee.

''I'd also like to know that,'' Tails added, a wide grin on his expression.

''W-Wait, official? What are you guys talking?'' Knuckles asked, clearly being out of the loop with the most recent events.

''Well, as it turns out, Sonic and Shadow have a huge crush on each other,'' Rouge answered his question, turning to the two hedgehogs who did their best to not look too flustered by being confronted like this. ''All we want is a simple confirmation – are you two official or not?''

''No, we're not official,'' Shadow replied in a blunt tone, arms folded across his chest. This raised some eyebrows, with Tails, Amy, Knuckles and Rouge turning to Sonic for an answer. He just snorted in amusement, well aware that Shadow was technically saying the truth, but still decided to add his own part to the conversation.

''Well, technically, the answer is 'No, we're not official, yet','' Sonic explained. ''We kinda were getting to that part, but we got interrupted by Eggman.''

''Okay, that makes sense,'' Amy said, the rest of the group nodding in agreement. ''But, this should be a foregone conclusion, right?''

Sonic and Shadow exchanged glances, then nodded firmly.

''Yeah.''

''Yes.''

xXx

Sonic took a deep breath, flopping over on his back as he sighed in relief, feeling that he could finally put this whole adventure in the Shatterverse behind himself. He stared at the red and orange sky, having found a cliff just above the ocean that gave him a great view of the sunset. After all the excitement today, he just needed a moment to himself. Still, there was something that was bothering him, and after the conversation he had with his friends, that feeling returned back with full force. A shadow fell over his expression as he thought about it, only for his ears to flick when he heard footsteps, causing him to get up.

''I thought I was the brooding one.''

''Hey, Shadow!'' Sonic turned to his companion, glad to see him. He grinned. ''Nice to see that you have a sense of humor.''

''I was merely making a statement,'' Shadow said in a matter-of-fact tone, albeit glad to see that his comment managed to cheer Sonic up. ''How are you holding up?''

''Well, you know me. There is nothing that I can't bounce back from,'' Sonic said in a chipper tone. ''I was just watching the sunset. Do you want to join me?''

Shadow nodded, with him sitting down next to Sonic on the cliff, gazing ahead at the sunset. He suddenly felt Sonic placing his palm over his hand, briefly glancing towards his rival, who took notice of it and just smiled in return, looking quite content. Shadow let a small smile form on his lips and turn his attention back to the sunset, twisting his palm so he and Sonic intertwined fingers, now holding hands.

''I know you have been thinking about the Shatterverse and about Nine,'' Shadow started, suddenly drawing Sonic's attention. Both turned to each other, with Shadow's expression showing mild curiosity and resolve to have this conversation. ''What was going through your mind?''

Sonic lowered his head, staring ahead at the ocean. ''I know that I said how I'm hoping that Nine and everyone else is doing fine, but… I think I've been lying to myself.''

''Sonic…'' Shadow started, only for Sonic to interrupt him.

''We went back to the moment just before I had shattered the Paradox Prism. If the Prism never got shattered, that would mean that the Shatteverse would never come into existence, which means…'' Sonic didn't want to finish the thought, his voice heavy with sorrow and guilt. Shadow knew that, even if Sonic didn't ask for it, he wanted some kind of answer, either comfort or assurance, but was torn between whether he would want to keep his hopes up or the truth.

''What you said makes sense,'' Shadow started, aware that Sonic needed to hear the truth. ''If the Paradox Prism never got shattered, then it's impossible for the Shatterverse to exist. Our actions had undone all of the events.''

''I figured that would be the case…''

Sonic sighed, leaning against Shadow's shoulder. He remained silent, with Shadow wrapping his arms around his waist to pull him closer and allowing him to feel more comfortable. Both sat like that in silence, observing the sunset before them and listening to the rush of waves crashing against the rocks below them. Shadow could feel Sonic's breath slowing down as he relaxed, simply taking in the moment.

Neither were sure how much time had passed, but it wasn't too long, as Sonic spoke up again, ''So, we're together now, right?''

''That seems to be the case,'' Shadow said, glancing at Sonic and meeting his tired gaze. Suddenly, Sonic leaned closer, leaving a peck on his cheek and giving Shadow a mischievous look.

''Heh, finally managed to kiss you,'' he said, feeling quite proud of himself.

''Tch, you call that a kiss?'' Shadow replied, trying to act dismissive despite the tone of fondness in his voice. Sonic rolled his eyes, despite knowing that Shadow was just messing with him, and decided to play along with his aloof nature.

''If you think you know better, then why don't you show me?'' Sonic goaded him. If he ever had any reservations about this relationship, they were all gone now. It was clear that he wanted this, allowing Shadow to make the final move. Shadow understood the message, a smirk forming on his lips.

''With pleasure,'' he said, placing his hand under Sonic's chin and lifting it up, tilting his head before sealing their lips into a kiss. Sonic's eyes widened for a moment, his whole body trembling in anticipation, and then he relaxed, leaning in closer and losing himself in the warmth of the moment.

Unlike their battles, which were way more fast-paced and passionate, this moment was slow and soft, and both felt as if time had just suddenly stopped, being enveloped in the tenderness of their first kiss. It was filled with sincerity and sweetness, and it felt like a tiny embers sparking and bursting into a great flame. It was all new, yet it had the familiarity both were craving. Neither wanted to change what they had together, but even with their own feelings being now in the open, neither felt as if any change had happened. It was pure bliss, simple and to the point… and unfortunately, it lasted way too short.

''Woah,'' Sonic breathed, feeling stunned as his heart raced a mile a minute. He had experienced a lot of things, but this was something else. It felt as if he just ran several times all across the world and back, leaving with a sense of exhilaration.

''Hmph,'' Shadow breathed, taking a moment to recover from this experience, as he was almost overwhelmed by the sense of elation, followed by disappointment because the moment couldn't last longer. Nevertheless, Sonic was still in his arms, so they could stay like this as long as they wanted. He gave his rival a curious look. ''So, have I managed to convince you?''

Sonic hummed in response, giving Shadow a teasing smile. ''Maybe? I think I need a bit more convincing.''

Shadow smirked, and Sonic took note of Shadow's sharp fangs, with a sudden image of them piercing his own skin his rival and lover claimed him came to his mind, only for Sonic to quickly shake it off, deciding that this was something not something he wanted to think about… yet. For now, he was satisfied with taking it a bit slow, for once.

''You know, we could incorporate moments like this into our sparring matches,'' Sonic suddenly said, a sly smirk on his lips.

''What do you mean by that?'' Shadow asked, having a fleeting feeling of that Sonic was up to. ''Are you implying it should be a reward or-?''

Shadow was cut off when Sonic suddenly pressed his lips against his own. He leaned into it, wishing to capture the moment pleasure, only to feel a sense of pain in his lower lip due to Sonic biting him. Unlike Shadow's own fangs, Sonic's weren't as sharp, so they didn't pierce the skin, but his actions still caught Shadow off guard. Both pulled back, feeling a familiar rush of excitement as they exchanged glances. Both smirked, understanding what the other was up to, because when Sonic suddenly got up to start another race-battle, he was grabbed by his arm by Shadow, who reacted just as fast, pulling Sonic back towards him, holding him in place, with the other hand wrapped around his torso, so Sonic's back was facing Shadow.

Sonic gasped in pain and pleasure as he felt Shadow's sharp fangs sink into his shoulder, a scent of copper filling the air as the dark hedgehog drew blood. This was followed by Shadow dragging his tongue over the bite mark, causing Sonic to shiver and squirm as the former lapped up the blood, eventually releasing his rival. Sonic turned on his heel towards Shadow, placing his fingers on the bite on his shoulder, while Shadow gave him a taunting look, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

''Your turn, Sonic.''

Shadow then turned around, skating away, with Sonic quickly chasing after his rival, a look of playful resolve on his expression. So much for going slow. Well, that's not my style, so it doesn't matter. Shadow is going to pay for this.

Neither of them really cared the fact that they would have to explain why their bodies were peppered in red bite marks to the rest of the team, nor how long it would take for the marks to disappear. All that mattered was that they could explore their rivalry in new ways, finding a challenge in every interaction they had.

Both knew that this was the kind of relationship they wanted, and they were determined to make it last.

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Shatter Me, Entry 5: Shatter Me - Sonic X Shadow Generations

''Somebody make me feel alive and shatter me!''

– Shatter Me by Lindsey Stirling

xXxXxXx

Shadow's crimson eyes widened, their colour reflecting that of the sky, which was covered in dark clouds, thunder rumbling and lightning glowing in an eerie blood red light. Black and red alien-like creatures appeared from the clouds, dropping all over the city that Shadow had been observing earlier, causing carnage and destruction in their wake. Shadow could only stare in shock in disbelief as the realization of not only where he was, but also what was going on, hit him.

''Impossible! The Black Arms were supposed to be extinct!''

Somehow, he found himself back at Westopolis during the siege the Black Arms aliens laid upon it, but he didn't understand how this was possible. He knew that the Black Arms were gone, having not only personally defeated Black Doom as Super Shadow, but also annihilated the Black Comet via the Eclipse Cannon. Despite not acknowledging himself as such, he was the sole survivor of the Black Arms race, being a hybrid who had Black Arms DNA imbued in his person.

Nevertheless, having his memories fully restored and having resolved to protect the world in his own way, Shadow decided to put a stop to this invasion. It didn't matter to him whether this was some kind of illusion or if he had traveled to the past, he was not going to let Black Doom, or anyone for that matter, manipulate him again. Having made his decision, he skated off towards the city, fighting off any of the aliens that got into his way.

If the Black Arms are here, then Black Doom should also be close.

Shadow blasted a Black Warrior with a well-aimed Chaos Spear, continuing his chase through Westopolis, looking around for Black Doom, as he suspected that his supposed ''father'' might appear eventually and demand that he finds the Chaos Emeralds. However, something that he took note of was the fact that the streets seemed to be almost empty. There were no civilians running away nor G.U.N. soldiers fighting back against the invasion, keeping Shadow wondering. He was suddenly blinded by a flash of light, placing his arm over his eyes to shield them, and to his shock, he found himself skating through the Space Colony ARK, devoid of all life aside from one entity that emerged from a red portal.

''You!''

Before Shadow was a black and dark purple starfish-like creature with six black-tipped squamous probes and a brutally large red-orange eye in its center. Emerging from its eye and moving along its limbs, it had six blood-red lines. The dark hedgehog furrowed a brow, gritting his teeth as he glared daggers at what he came to knew as Doom's Eye.

''You are late, Shadow… We have returned to take over this pathetic planet you call home! Its annihilation is near! It is time to embrace the dawn of your demise and despair!''

To Shadow's shock, the space station around him started to break apart, with reality warping in itself, turning into a spiral-like landscape. Shadow turned his attention back to Doom's Eye, who was now escaping through the tunnel and sped up, determined not to let it get away. However, the ground below him gave away, and a kaleidoscope of buildings emerged instead. It was as if the world was falling apart and trying to rebuild itself again. He saw Doom's Eye flying past him, stopping for a moment as if to taunt him, before disappearing once again as Shadow fell back into a reality that was either the past or his own memories; he didn't know.

''Shadow!''

Shadow felt someone grabbing him by the wrist, turning his attention upwards and seeing Sonic holding his arm. The azure hedgehog was just as stunned to see the environment around them becoming more and more twisted, but nevertheless happy to see his rival.

''Brace yourself!'' Sonic exclaimed, suddenly throwing Shadow towards a nearby skyscraper, with the dark hedgehog landing on top of it. Sonic then used his homing attack to zero in on the skyscraper, skidding to a halt once he landed safely. Both hedgehogs exchanged glances, before looking back at their surroundings, which were a twisted reflection of the reality they knew.

''Sonic, what is going on? The Black Arms…'' Shadow trailed off when he suddenly spotted another newcomer to their little reunion – a light blue hedgehog wearing red shoes and carrying himself with a swagger Shadow had already seen in one other person. His eyes darted from Sonic's younger self towards the older one, who just gave him a confident smirk.

''It's a bit of a long story involving saving the world again… But, do you think you can handle yourself here?'' Sonic asked. Shadow gazed back at the warped image of Westopolis that was once again invaded by the Black Arms, before turning his attention back to Sonic, responding in an equally confident manner.

''Of course I can. I'll take care of this.''

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Sonic Cyber Revolution Analyzer: The Memories of the Past Arc (Part 6) - Shadow the Hedgehog & Touka Kageura

Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Silver, Shadow and Metal Sonic remember their first meeting with their human partners, while also dealing with the aftermath of what happened at the Codex Research Facility, leading to the formation of Team Neos.

Chapters

Entry 10: His World

Entry 11: Believe In Myself

Entry 12: Unknown From M.E.

Entry 13: My Sweet Passion

Entry 14: Dreams of an Absolution

Entry 15: I Am... All Of Me

Entry 16: What I’m Made Of

The Memories of the Past Arc is a story arc segmented into two parts: The Memories of The Past & Present Day, and each chapter focuses on a different pair of characters. The first segment explores how they met and became partners, while the second segment focuses on the aftermath of what happened in the previous story arc.

As a side-note, all of the chapter titles are also the titles of each character’s theme songs: His World for Sonic, Believe In Myself for Tails, Unknown From M.E. for Knuckles, My Sweet Passion for Amy, Dreams of an Absolution for Silver, I Am... All Of Me for Shadow and What I’m Made Of for Metal Sonic.

Part 6 of this story arc’s analysis will focus on Shadow the Hedgehog and Touka Kageura and be split into two segments; the first segment focusing on the story itself and the second part being an in-depth character analysis.

-The Memories of The Past: Shadow & Touka-

''…Subject S-2005 vital signs are all normal. All neurological functions are normal, but it is still in a state of unconsciousness. All…''

''Why are you calling him Subject S-2005, Professor? Doesn't he have a name?''

''I don't believe it needs a name, Touka.''

''Hmph, what did you call this project? Project Shadow, right? So, how about calling him Shadow? Shadow the Hedgehog!''

The dark hedgehog inside the stasis pod stirred, but was still in a state of semi-unconsciousness. His ears flicked, having overheard this conversation and his eye-lids barely lifted, his vision hazy, but slightly clearing. He could make out two figures in the room, one an older man, working at a computer, and the other a teenage girl, staring at him through the glass, a warm smile on her lips.

''I hope we can be friends, Shadow,'' she murmured, quiet enough for the man not to hear her, her voice quite soothing. ''I've been looking forward to meeting you. I hope you'll wake up soon.''

Shadow the Hedgehog tried to stir once again, force his body to open his eyes, to signal that he could hear her, but his body felt heavy and weak. He couldn't move a muscle. Then, his vision became hazy once again, darkness following soon as he entered the void.

Shadow the Hedgehog’s flashback starts with him being in a stasis pod, barely aware of his own surroundings, save for a voice who, despite the protests of another person, decides to give him his name.

The story then picks up some time later, with Touka being treated by Kisaki for her scraped skin at the medbay in the Codex Research Facility after she put on the heelys and convinced Shadow to pull her through the hallway at pull speed, causing her to crash into a wall. Shadow feels guilty for getting her hurt, but Touka points out that was on her. As she bickers with Kisaki, the three see a worker being brought in after she had been attacked by an Irregular, looking like she was near death.

''She had been exposed to an Irregular. I still can't believe they allow one of those to roam around freely,'' the man who brought the woman in replied, gazing at Shadow for a moment, giving him a stern look before leaving. Shadow lowered his head, feeling rather uncomfortable, with both Touka and Kisaki giving him looks of concern. Touka then got off the bed, turning to her friend.

''Hey, Shads, how about we go for a walk?'' Touka suggested, with Shadow nodding. She waved back at Kisaki, both walking past the other patient at a faster pace and entering a hallway. ''How are you doing?''

''I'm… fine,'' Shadow responded, still clearly distressed. The glowering gaze the man gave him, along with the reveal that the woman came into contact with an Irregular was still on his mind.

''Shadow, this isn't your fault,'' Touka said, stepping in front of the dark hedgehog, crouching to be at his eye-level, the bandages on her knees and hands on clear display. ''Again, I was the one with that stupid idea; that fiasco is completely on me. As for what that guy said, he was just being a jerk to you for no reason.''

''I know, but…'' Shadow clenched his fists, tensing as Touka placed her hand on his shoulder. He closed his eyes. ''You and I know both what I am. If I ever become aggressive like any other Irregular, I will hurt you. I cannot let that happen.''

''You won't,'' Touka responded.

''How can you be so sure?'' Shadow shook his head as he looked up at her, frustrated, his crimson eyes glinting.

''Because I know you, and I know you would never hurt me. The fact that you're so worried about something like that happening says how much you care,'' Touka told him in a calm and soothing, yet firm tone. Shadow stared at her, taking a deep breath and trying to relax. He knew that Touka was right and that he would never intentionally hurt her, but he was also afraid. He was quite powerful, and that power made him incredibly dangerous. If he were out of control, he could easily end the life of everyone he came across.

''You're right,'' Shadow replied, sighing.

After having another worker point out the danger Shadow poses, the hedgehog gets quiet, feeling guilt for not protecting Touka and fear that he might hurt her intentionally. Touka points how how she trusts him and how she knows that he would never hurt her, allowing Shadow to relax a little.

Touka then gets hungry and wants a snack in the form of muffins from the lunch earlier that day. Shadow points out how they are not allowed into the cafeteria between hours and how they’ll be in trouble if they get caught, with Touka being happy that he decided to go along with her. They get into the kitchen, grabbing a couple of muffins, but the moment they hear someone entering it, Shadow quickly Chaos Controls them back into their room... only for both to fall on the ground because Shadow still doesn’t have the hang on his powers.

A flash of light blue light appeared in Touka and Shadow's room, followed by both of them dropping on the ground facedown, Shadow landing on top of Touka. Both groaned in pain.

''I still need to work on the landing,'' Shadow grumbled, both him and Touka feeling sore.

''Did the muffin survive?'' Touka asked, looking up at him and holding up her own. Shadow glanced at the muffin in his hand.

''It did,'' he replied.

''Then, I'd call this mission successful,'' Touka replied, giving him a thumbs up. Both then got up, sitting down on the floor, with Touka tearing away the wrapping around the chocolate-covered muffin, Shadow mimicking her. ''I hope this has managed to get your mind off what had happened.''

''I guess it did,'' Shadow responded taking a bite off the muffin, his eyes narrowing. ''It made me worry about what kind of trouble you'll get into yourself next.''

''In the end, it worked out,'' Touka replied, smiling sheepishly at him. Shadow glanced down at the muffin in his hand.

''I appreciate you trying to make me feel better, but we both know I will never be accepted here,'' he noted, looking up at her. ''It doesn't matter to me, though. As long as you trust me-''

Shadow suddenly got cut off when Touka just hugged him. Even though he didn't like any kind of physical contact, he made an exception for Touka, who loved to snuggle up to him at the most unexpected of times. He'd find himself to be at ease, glad that she had an uncanny ability to read him like an open book, especially when he had troubles voicing how he felt. Any time he felt upset, she was there for him, not leaving his side until he was fine.

Still, his worries would continue to resurface.

Yes, in this story, Shadow is a hugger.

The next part of the flashback takes place sometime later, with Touka being in her room, reading a book, while Shadow is away for training, only for Prof. Sakamoto to barge inside, demanding to see Shadow because he didn’t come for his training session. Touka, a bit miffed, points out that he left earlier, with the Professor leaving annoyed about having to search for him. Touka does not like how Prof. Sakamoto treats Shadow, deciding to find him on her own.

Shadow was gazing ahead forlornly, sitting on the cold ground at a corner in one of the storage rooms, surrounded by huge wooden crates. He clutched one arm with the other, trying to ignore the pain in his chest. He wasn't injured nor ill, but he still felt like he was suffocating. Something was pressing against his chest and no matter how much he tried to ignore it, it was only growing stronger and stronger until it overwhelmed him. He had to leave, being haunted by this strange sensation, being haunted by that feeling and the words that followed it. He felt sick to his stomach, feeling like he would pass out. He knew that it was all in his head, but he had no idea how to fight it. Shadow gritted his teeth, closing his eyes as his fingers dug into his arm, hoping that the sensation of physical pain would combat the mental one. It was awful.

''Shadow?'' Shadow suddenly looked up, alert. To his relief, it was just Touka, who climbed over a crate and crouched next to him, a look of concern on her expression. ''Are you okay?''

''How did you know I was here?'' Shadow asked her. Touka sat next to him.

''I was the one who had shown you all the hiding spots. Did you really think I wouldn't be able to find you?'' she asked. Shadow just gave her a half-smile, figuring that he should've known. ''Prof. Sakamoto told me that you missed out on your training practice. He's searching for you.''

Shadow frowned, lowering his gaze. ''He's furious, isn't he?''

''Yeah,'' Touka replied in a despondent tone. ''I hadn't told him that I had an idea where you are. I figured that it would be better if I talked to you.'' Shadow remained silent, with Touka continuing, ''Shadow, what had happened? Why are you here?''

Shadow remained silent, seemingly unwilling to answer her question. He then tried to respond, but then shook his head, the pressure on his chest only growing to the point it genuinely hurt. His throat felt dry and he started suffocating again. He pressed his hand against the white fur, digging his fingers into the chest, trying to fight the pain away. It was tearing him from inside out.

Why won't it stop?! Why does it hurt so much?!

He gasped for air as he suddenly felt Touka embracing him. He didn't even know he was shaking, the corners of his eyes shimmering. The pain was still there, but now a new, warmer sensation overcame it, and Shadow buried his head into Touka's chest, eyes closed as he hugged her back. He never wanted to let go of her again.

''It's fine if you don't want to talk about it,'' Touka whispered, nuzzling Shadow. ''But, don't ever think I wouldn't be there for you when you need help.''

They sat there for what seemed to be ages, with Touka then shifting and leaning against the wall, placing Shadow in her lap so his legs were dangling over her tight, allowing him to lean against her chest. She kept her hands wrapped around him, Shadow's ears twitching as he heard her heart-beat. It was quite soothing, calming his down. The feeling of pain and suffocation was still there, but it grew weaker. They remained sitting in silence.

''I don't want to go back,'' Shadow muttered, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

''What happened?'' Touka asked curiously. Shadow was silent, clearly reluctant to answer the question.

''The Professor has… has deemed me a failure,'' he replied.

''What?'' Touka's eyes widened in surprise. Admittedly, Shadow never talked about his training, unless it was about showing off his skills, so she had little knowledge of what he was doing, or rather, what Sakamoto made him to do.

''He had told me that my general performance is below the standards he had set; that nothing I do is good enough,'' Shadow continued, feeling the pressure that weighted on his chest slowly crumbling. ''I perform at my best, but he constantly demands that I be better, faster, stronger, and it's…''

''It's a lot of pressure,'' Touka finished the sentence when he went silent again. Shadow simply nodded.

''I don't know what he wants from me anymore,'' Shadow said, looking up at Touka in disbelief. ''I am the strongest Irregular in existence. I had won against any opponent I had faced during the training, mastered my powers, strength and speed. Yet, it feels like it's not enough. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong.''

''It sounds to me that the Prof. Sakamoto is just being a jerk and giving you a tough time for no reason,'' Touka said, frowning. ''Trust me, no matter how good the results are, he still won't be happy about it. If he starts complaining again, just ignore him. That's how I've been dealing with him for the past months.''

''I noticed,'' Shadow said, smirking. He then sighed tiredly, leaning against her, grabbing her arm. ''However, his words still won't leave my head. Every time I do something, I start doubting myself, wondering if the way I completed my task is good enough. It is something that is staying with me even if the Professor isn't around.'' He shook his head. ''But, it's not just that. Remember what happened with Prof. Bailey?''

Touka hummed as she tried to remember whom he was referring to, only for her eyes to narrow. ''You mean the woman who called you a 'thing' and and was angry at Prof. Sakamoto for not killing you off, and started insulting you for being an Irregular? Yeah, I do.''

''You then spilled ink all over her research papers and got into trouble for that,'' Shadow continued in a quiet tone.

''Yeah, I did, and I'm proud of that,'' Touka replied, feeling the rage bubbling inside her as she remembered Prof. Bailey's haughty look after she told Shadow that he was worth nothing. She also remembered how hurt Shadow was when he was basically insulted for just existing. ''I wish I could've done more, but she keeps her room locked.''

''You didn't have to do that for me,'' Shadow said, with Touka giving him a confused look. ''I should've handled the situation on my own.''

''I wasn't going to let her just insult you like that and walk away without any consequences,'' Touka said in a firm, yet gentle tone. She tilted her head as Shadow lowered his gaze.

''That wasn't the only time you had protected me,'' he continued. ''Even if they don't say it, no one here is fond of me, except for you and maybe Dr. Kageura. They all look at me like I'm some kind of dangerous weapon, just waiting when I'll attack one of them. They're afraid, but they know that I won't hurt them, so they keep insulting me because they know they can get away with it.''

''Shadow…'' Touka trailed off, feeling a lump in her throat. The rage that had started bubbling inside her was now rapidly expanding through the rest of her body.

''I don't really care anymore what they're telling me, but I feel that I should be the one to stand up to them, not you,'' Shadow continued, the accumulated sensation of pressure and pain finally breaking him as he felt the corners of his eyes tearing. He just blinked, trying to compose himself. ''I am The Ultimate Lifeform. I should be able to deal with this.'' He clenched his fists, his fingers digging into the palms of his hand, his tone growing more and more frustrated. ''But, I can't… Any time I try to speak up, it feels like someone knocked the wind out of me. I should be protecting you, not you protecting me.'' He groaned in frustration. ''Maybe the Professor is right… Maybe I am a failure.''

''Shads, you're not a failure and you will never be one.'' Touka's gentle tone caused Shadow to look up, noting the soft gaze in her eyes. ''You are someone who has been put under a lot of pressure in an environment where no one cares about how you feel, only what you can do. You don't want to show how much all of that has affected you, but I can see just how hurt you are. I know that you'd rather solve problems on your own, but you shouldn't be ashamed of allowing yourself to take a step back and let someone else handle a situation you cannot.'' Touka then smiled. ''Besides, remember what Kisaki had said? She told us that we're acting like siblings, and as your older sister, it is my duty to take care of you. I will always put your happiness and safety above mine, just like you'd for me.''

Shadow stared at her for a moment, the frown on his expression wavering and he smiled, pressing his head against her chest. He took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

''You always know how to say the right thing,'' he muttered. ''Although, I recall that when Dr. Kageura told us that, she also said that siblings don't always get along; and then proceeded to explain how she once almost knocked her sister's teeth out for stealing her diary when they were younger.''

Touka snorted. ''I really hope we won't end up arguing like that.''

''As far as I know, you don't even have a diary,'' Shadow said bluntly, only for Touka to nuzzle him, causing the former to smile in response.

''Yeah, that's because I share all of my secrets with you,'' she said. Shadow just nodded, taking another deep breath and leaning against her.

''I guess we should return,'' he muttered. He didn't want to get up yet, feeling exhausted.

''I think we can stay here for a while longer,'' Touka said, with Shadow looking up at her. She had once again that mischievous grin on her expression. ''As your older sister, I recommend that you first rest and recover before you go training again.''

''But, what about the Professor?'' Shadow asked.

''Don't worry, I'll take care of him,'' Touka replied, winking at him. Her expression then changed to an annoyed one. ''I will make sure that he won't ever hurt you like that again.''

Shadow snorted. ''You can be scary when you get angry.''

''Oh, I'm not angry,'' Touka replied in a casual tone, then frowned. ''I'm furious.''

''That's reassuring,'' Shadow said sarcastically. However, he felt a lot more at ease after the talk he had with her, his eyes closing as he drifted off to sleep. He wanted nothing more but, for once, to be at peace.

In this reality, after his creation, Shadow had been forced to constantly train and expand on his combat skills, being put under immense pressure to succeed. The bar would constantly rise, over and over again, and Shadow was forced to keep up with the expectations, even if they were beyond what was possible for him. He was forced to hear over and over again how much of a failure he was for not meeting certain expectations, leaving him hurt, afraid, guilty and in constant mental and emotional anguish. It doesn’t also help that he was treated by everyone like some dangerous animal that might kill them any second. To the people (aside from Kisaki Kageura) at the Codex Research Facility, he was not a person, but a thing they should be afraid of. He suffered a lot under their torment, being hated for solely existing even though he never asked to be created.

That is, save for one person - Touka, who at this point acts like his older sister, constantly protecting him from harm and standing up for him. She has no issue going against anyone who tries to hurt her younger brother, even willing to sabotage their research as an act of revenge. While Shadow may protect Touka from physical harm, Touka protects Shadow from any emotional harm, being the only person in the facility Shadow is willing to trust with his life.

The two later on confront Sakamoto, with Touka demanding that Shadow won’t go on any training sessions without her present. Sakamoto points out that she has no authority and is about to slap her, when Shadow puts himself between the two, furious at Sakamoto for even thinking about trying to hurt Touka. Sakamoto relents, showing fear of his own creation. Touka and Shadow are happy about the result, only for the room to quickly fall apart, with both being chased by a Irregular and then seeing nothing but the void.

-Present Day-

Shadow gasped as he awoke with a start, sitting up on the couch, the blanket he covered himself with lying on the floor. His head hurt and he pressed his hand against his temple, looking around as he tried to figure out where he was. It took him a moment to realize that he was in his and Touka's attic room, his air shoes lying on the ground next to the couch. He sighed in relief, realizing that he just had a nightmare. Admittedly, it wasn't the first time he had experienced something like that, and this nightmare wasn't even the worst he had. Still, he was shaken by the experience, having his subconscious remind him of his worst fears.

Shadow glanced at the bed behind him, where Touka was still fast asleep. She had offered him to sleep in her bed, but Shadow opted for the couch instead, not really caring where he'd sleep as long as they stayed in the same room. Combing with his fingers through his quills, Shadow leaned against the couch, still staring at Touka. He knew that it was still late in the night and that he should go back to sleep, but he couldn't. He knew it was irrational to feel like this, especially since they were far away from Codex, which had been shut down for at least a decade, and that nobody could take Touka away from him now. However, there was this feeling, the paranoia that was slowly clawing away any sense of rational thought and serenity, leaving him with an sense of emptiness and anxiety. It was maddening, and the only way to deal with it was to stay awake the whole night, making sure Touka was safe.

''…Shadow?''

Lost in his thoughts, Shadow hadn't noticed Touka stir and wake up. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and yawning as she gave him a puzzled look, still not completely awake.

''Did I wake you up?'' Shadow asked. Touka yawned again.

''Nah, I just felt like waking up…'' she muttered, rising an eyebrow. ''Why are you awake?''

''I can't sleep,'' Shadow admitted, lowering his head. ''I… I had…''

''Shadow, do you want talk?'' Touka asked, pointing at the spot next to her. Shadow nodded, getting off the couch and walking up to the bed, with Touka shifting away to make space for him. He leaned against the pillow, staring ahead.

''This shouldn't be happening to me…'' he muttered.

Touka gave him an empathetic gaze, well aware of what was going through his head. She could remember the times she would wake up in her bed at Codex, finding him sitting on his bed, staring at her, his crimson eyes almost glowing in the dim light present in the dark room. The first time it had happened, it was quite an eerie experience, but when Touka learned that he had experienced a nightmare, she let him sleep in her bed, as her close presence seemed to calm him down. He never told her what the nightmare was about, only expressing stubbornly that he shouldn't have had any nightmares; he shouldn't fear anything. It took a while for Touka to learn what he was so afraid of, as he refused to talk about it, and she would assure him that having nightmares or fears wasn't something he should be ashamed of. He could be quite prideful, and it took a lot of patience from Touka to finally get him to open up.

''So, what was the nightmare about?'' Touka asked him. Shadow's eyes narrowed, his ears drooping.

''I had a nightmare of losing you again,'' Shadow finally admitted.

''I see… It must be really hard for you to adjust to this whole situation,'' Touka noted.

''I'll be fine… I just need more time,'' Shadow replied, leaning against Touka, feeling her arms wrapping around him, making sure she wouldn't get pricked by his quills.

''I'm sure you will, but I think it would be better if you get to do something that will keep your mind off what had happened at Codex,'' Touka replied. Shadow rose an eyebrow, giving her a suspicious look.

''First, what are you up to now? Second, how worried should I be?'' he asked. Touka furrowed a brow.

''I was actually thinking of introducing you to hoverboard racing,'' she explained. Shadow snorted.

''I guess that isn't as bad as your previous ideas,'' he noted. Touka just rolled her eyes, noticing a smug look on Shadow's expression. Instead of responding, Touka just nuzzled him. This was just a little teasing between them, something they both missed and were glad to return back to how things used to be before all this mess. Obviously, they still would have to deal with their past, but for now, they just wanted to relax and enjoy the moment they had. Tomorrow could wait.

As it turns out, Shadow was suffering from an intense nightmare, which unfortunately wasn’t an uncommon experience for him at Codex, being almost crushed by the fear of losing Touka again even if he was now in a safe environment. He snuggles up to her, as the only thing that can keep him from having nightmares is to make sure that he is in her close presence, assured that she will always be by his side. Touka also figures that he’ll need something to take his mind off things, deciding to introduce him to her favorite sport - hoverboard racing, something Shadow agrees with.

The next day, Lucas and Sonic enter the Solar Stadium, having gotten a call from Silver who told them that Shadow wanted to talk to Sonic and having learned from Kisaki that the two were at the hoverboard racing stadium. The two find Touka and Shadow just as they finished a race, with Shadow wondering what Sonic is doing here. Sonic explains why he’s here, but Shadow refuses to talk, noting how, if he wanted to talk to Sonic, he would’ve done it on his terms. Sonic feels exasperated by Shadow’s attitude, only to realize that there is a way to get him to talk and challenges him to a hoverboard race.

Shadow knew that Sonic was just baiting him,… and he hated that it was working. He knew that Sonic was quite a challenging and persistent opponent when it came to battles, and that he wasn't going to leave him alone so easily, no matter what he said or did. They were equals in terms of strength and speed, and both of them loved a good challenge.

''Hmph,'' Shadow scoffed. ''I will wipe that stupid smirk of your face.''

''You would have to catch me first,'' Sonic replied, running off to the holographic screen, choosing a racing track and joining Shadow at the start of it. ''Ready?''

''Try keeping up with me, slowpoke,'' Shadow responded, right as they started their race, entering the AR Field. Sonic's ears were pinned back.

''Oh, you did not-!'' he shouted, half-grinning as he followed Shadow.

Shadow accepts, despite knowing what Sonic was trying to do and, after some banter, they quickly race off, leaving a bemused Lucas and Touka behind. Touka then shrugs it off, figuring that Shadow and Sonic’s rivalry will be a thing now.

Speaking of rivalry, both Shadow and Sonic have the time of their life, but their race results in a tie, so Sonic suggests another race. Shadow still wonders why Sonic is so insistent on talking to him, with Sonic responding how he was just curious and how they are talking now, so it worked. Shadow proposes a challenge - if Sonic beats him, the dark hedgehog will answer his questions, something Sonic easily accepts.

While these two are exploring their rivalry, we shift to the Tamago Corporation, meeting Dr. Telos Tamago, the CEO who was designed after Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik from Sonic the Hedgehog (the first movie). He leaves a meeting and enters an office, but his behavior is quite unusual and certainly inhuman.

He didn't even react to the door opening, with two diminutive robots entering the room, one red with a mostly round body and the other yellow with a cubical body.

''It appears that everything is going according to your plan, sir.''

The red robot turned to the person who followed them inside the room; an obese, tall and burly man with a torso shaped roughly like an egg, a bald head, a pinkish nose and a mahogany-colored bushy unkempt mustache. He was wearing green-lensed goggles on the top of his head and his eyes were covered by dark blue tinted pince-nez glasses. For his attire, he was wearing an elegant, red coat sporting two square metal buttons on both sides of the chest in gold. These buttons had white straps that ran across the coat's sides to identical buttons on the back. The coat also had silver, zipper-like linings down the back, arms, and front, yellow cuffs, and two extensions on the front that have large silver buttons. In addition, he was wearing white, cuffless gloves on his hands and a pair of black pants with matching boots seemingly attached to them bearing circular plates on the both sides of the ankles and three square ones riding up the shin.

''Of course it is, Orbot! Did you really think…'' the man trailed off when he saw the Tamago. He frowned, glaring at the other man. ''I believe that you are sitting in my chair.''

Without a word, Tamago got up and walked over to the side of the room, with the other man sitting down, grumbling under his breath, ''I swear, those androids know no respect…''

''Well, Boss, you did program him to act as the representative of the Tamago Corporation,'' the yellow robot pointed out.

''I know that, Cubot!'' the man growled, the two robots cowering, and waved his hand at the android in the corner of the room, causing the latter to leave the room. ''I had already told you two that I had done it so my brilliant mind wouldn't be bothered by trivial matter such as leading a megacorporation.''

Doctor Eggman leaned back, clasping his hands as a wide grin spread across his lips, Orbot and Cubot looking up at him.

''Soon, Neos City will feel the wrath of The Eggman Empire.''

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Dr. Ivo Robotnik, better known as Dr. Eggman - the main villain of this story.

Shadow the Hedgehog

Shadow the Hedgehog is a major deuteragonist of Sonic Cyber Revolution. He is an Irregular ARNav based on his in-universe video game counterpart and is the partner of Touka Kageura.

Known as ‘‘The Ultimate Lifeform’’, Shadow is aloof, independent, and usually acts with a cool and businesslike indifference, rarely showing his vulnerable side. He is quite reserved and closed-off, not caring much about anything besides his own desires and he can be perceived as uncaring by strangers due to his callous way of treating others.

Despite his aloof and reserved loner attitude, Shadow is actually loyal to a fault to and fiercely protective of those he cares about - specifically, his older sister Touka. Due to his past at the Codex Research Facility, where he was put under a lot of immense stress and pressure, to the point of suffering from emotional and mental distress, Shadow has a hard time trusting strangers, with him and Touka developing a sort of “us against the world” mentality, where they rather keep to themselves than interact with other people.

Shadow has a hard time expressing his emotions, not wanting to show any vulnerability due to his negative experiences, but he still has a soft and kind side to him that his being hidden under a mountain of attitude. However, if one gains his trust, he will slowly open up to them, even if he still holds the person at arms length.

Shadow is the most skilled combatant of Team Neos due to the intense training he had to go through. He actually enjoys fighting, but depending on the nature of the battle, he can be quite ruthless, not wanting to waste time on weaker opponents and seeking those who can challenge him, making him very dangerous. His abilities include Chaos Control, Chaos Blast and Chaos Spear. Chaos Control allows him to teleport at certain distances and even bring other people along, albeit at the cost of his own energy. Chaos Blast allows him to discharge a blast of explosive energy, which becomes only stronger if fueled by strong emotions, especially negative ones. Chaos Spear is a technique where Shadow fires an orange bolt of energy at his opponent.

Upon using Chaos Surge alongside Touka, Shadow is engulfed in red and orange sparks of energy, with his eyes turning from crimson to a reddish-orange. His Chaos Control, Chaos Blast and Chaos Spear abilities become much stronger, with Shadow being able to increase the power of Chaos Blast without having the need to experience strong emotions and summon multiple Chaos Spears in quick succession. The greatest feat of power is shown in his Chaos Control, though, as it allows him to briefly warp time and space, and even transport objects to other ends of the universe.

Shadow is fiercely loyal Touka, willing to do anything for her without any hesitation, regardless of whether his actions are heroic or villainous, and would even sacrifice his own life for her. To his nothing in the world matters besides Touka’s own happiness. Fortunately for him (and the world at large), Touka cares more about Shadow’s comfort, wanting just to live a normal life with Shadow as her younger brother. Touka is also the only person Shadow is willing to show his more vulnerable side and talk about his insecurities - his greatest fear being that he might lose his sister once again. However, this doesn’t mean that their relationship is perfect as, like all normal siblings, the two have a tendency to bicker, especially due to Touka’s mischievous streak and Shadow having to look out for his sister’s safety. Nevertheless, they deeply care about each other, even if Shadow has tendency to throw her under the bus whenever confronted with an awkward social situation. In contrast to Touka, who has a sweet tooth, Shadow enjoys bitter things, even outright eating coffee beans.

As mentioned above, due to his past, Shadow has a hard time warming up to new people, even when they’re someone he is aware that he can trust, like the members of Team Neos. At first, he didn’t want to associate himself with them, but thanks to their support and persistence, he has managed to open up a little bit to them, showing in his own way that he cares about his teammates and respects them, going even so far to acknowledge them as his friends.

It should be noted that the one person that can be considered Shadow’s first and closest friend is Sonic the Hedgehog. Shadow considers Sonic mainly to be his rival and teammate, but with Sonic’s insistent interactions and offer for companionship, they become close enough for Shadow to call him his friend. Shadow genuinely enjoys being in Sonic’s company, with the two often sparring with and/or racing against each other in their free time, even if he does get confused by Sonic’s affectionate behavior, chalking it up to Sonic just being Sonic. He also is becomes a lot more expressive, showing more emotions when he is alone with Sonic. However, it seems that there might be something more to their relationship besides rivalry and friendship, something neither hedgehog is willing to acknowledge... yet.

Similar to Sonic and Metal Sonic, Shadow has a rivalry with Mephiles the Dark, an Irregular ARNav created later on by Prof. Hiroshi Sakamoto for a different project, known as Project Shadow: Resurrection. Despite their same origins, while Shadow took upon himself to defend the world, Mephiles seeks out to destroy it. However, instead of taking a direct approach, Mephiles resorts to manipulating Shadow into destroying everything he cares about, taking great pleasure in seeing the dark hedgehog hurting his friends and, most importantly, Touka. This will be explored more in The Final Haunt Arc.

 During The Team Dark Arc, Shadow (and Touka) will also reunite with Rouge the Bat and meet E-123 Omega, forming Team Dark, but that particular relationship will be explored more in that arc.

Lastly, one more person that will have a great influence on Shadow is Eclipse the Darkling, who sees himself as Shadow’s brother and is jealous of Touka, wishing for Shadow to join him in the invasion Black Doom will lead against Neos City during The Black Arms Arc.

Touka Kageura

Fan Art by Emerald The Lynx  

Touka Kageura is Shadow’s partner and, alongside the hedgehog, a member of Team Neos.

Touka at first appears to be very similar to Shadow, being quiet, cool, independent and stand-offish, if a bit smug and refusing help from others, preferring to act on her own. It is eventually revealed that the reason she behaves like this is because she suffers from severe amnesia, unable to remember anything about her past life before awakening in the care of Kisaki Kageura, her guardian figure.

However, with Shadow’s awakening, her memories slowly start coming back to her, and while she is still reserved due to her past, she shows to be a very kind, strong-willed, mischievous, determined, patient and gentle person, having a childlike wonder for the world outside and a strong desire to explore it. Due to her mysterious past, she is very focused on getting answers about her true identity.

While her character was technically based on Maria Robotnik from the Sonic the Hedgehog games, Touka is her own person and her backstory takes a wildly different turn as she learns more about herself. While this will be addressed later on in The Final Haunt Arc, it should be noted that Touka is actually an artificial human, created and genetically enhanced by Prof. Hiroshi Sakamoto to help save his dying daughter, Tomoe Sakamoto. However, Tomoe died before she could be saved, resulting in Prof. Sakamoto becoming distant and emotionally abusive towards Touka, who resembles his late daughter (and can be seen as Tomoe’s younger “twin sister”).

Instead of terminating her, Professor Sakamoto decided to use Touka in tandem with Project Shadow to create the ultimate weapon for the government. However, due to the accident that led to the Codex Research Facility being shut down, this project had been seemingly abandoned and Touka had been put in a stasis pod. 10 years later, she had been released under the guardianship of Kisaki, most of her memories gone, at least until the events of The Ultimate Lifeform Arc.

Due to her origins, Touka has a much bigger pool of BioEnergy than a normal human would, and when using Chaos Surge alongside Shadow, she gains access to his Chaos Control, Chaos Blast and Chaos Spear abilities, able to use that power as if it were her own. With some training, Touka learns how to control her flow of BioEnergy, meaning that she can keep up the Chaos Surge going for far longer than any of her other teammates, but with the cost of becoming quite exhausted afterwards.

Similarly to Shadow, Touka is very competitive and is considered to be the best hoverboard racer in Team Neos, if not the entirety of Neos City, being quite proud of her feat.

Touka has a sibling-like dynamic with Shadow, outright referring to him and treating him as her younger brother. She is the only person Shadow is willing to show his vulnerable side to (with the possible exception of Sonic) and capable of getting through him whenever he puts up some kind of mental and emotional barricade around him. Touka cares greatly about Shadow and is fiercely protective of her little brother, her primary concern being his emotional and mental health. Despite their unquestioning loyalty towards each other, they still tend to bicker, just like any sibling duo, with Shadow being the responsible sibling to Touka’s foolish sibling, and trying his best to keep her out of trouble while also getting roped into her antics. In contrast to Shadow, who enjoys bitter things, Touka has a sweet tooth.

Similarly to Shadow, Touka has trouble trusting people and can be very stubborn before she opens up to anyone. She is more social than Shadow, who takes this to his advantage by making her the one to speak to people so he doesn’t have to. This is especially seen when the two agree to become members of Team Neos, with their interactions with their teammates being quite awkward and uncomfortable. Nevertheless, thanks to the steady support from her new friend group, Touka opens up to them and even starts to referring to them as her friends openly.

Touka is also very close with her guardian, Kisaki Kageura, having proudly taken her last name. Despite on paper being her adopted daughter, Touka prefers to refer to Kisaki with her first name, with the two acting more as roommates, even though they acknowledge they are actually a family.

The person Touka refuses to acknowledge as her family is Prof. Hiroshi Sakamoto, despite being biologically related to him, as that man never acted like a parental figure to her in her whole life, using her instead for his own selfish experiments. Nevertheless, she does acknowledge his deceased daughter, Tomoe, as her twin sister, being able to relate to her desire to live.

Another person Touka learns she has a connection to is Toshiro Miwa, Mephiles’ partner, who is technically her younger brother due to Prof. Sakamoto’s attempt at creating another artificial human, this time as a weapon, as part of Project Shadow: Resurrection. While Touka acknowledges Toshiro as her “brother”, the two have an antagonistic relationship and she holds zero familial feelings towards him, due to Toshiro and Mephiles wanting to destroy her and Shadow.

Despite being a firm member of Team Neos, due to the circumstances in The Team Dark Arc, Touka becomes a member of Team Dark, along with Shadow, Rouge and Omega.

Lastly, in the future The Black Arms Arc, Touka has an encounter with Eclipse the Darkling, a Black Arms member who considers Shadow his brother and is jealous of Shadow’s strong bond with Touka, targeting her to force Shadow to join him. While Shadow absolutely hates Eclipse for hurting his sister, Touka does take note that there is more to the Darkling than it seems.

Insert Themes:

I Am… All Of Me by Shadow The Hedgehog (NateWantsToBattle Cover, Theme of Shadow)

Links:

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#Sonic Cyber Revolution Analyzer (Masterlist)  

[tenebraevesper]

Sonadow Moments in Sonic Cyber Revolution (The Enter The E.G.G.M.A.N. Arc & The Babylon Rogues Arc)

The Enter The E.G.G.M.A.N. Arc

[...]

Meanwhile, Sonic landed right next to Shadow, grinning at the latter. ''How about we finally finish this?''

''I thought you'd be disappointed that the battle is already over,'' Shadow replied in a teasing tone, him and Sonic both turning towards the mech.

''Oh, I am, but I have a feeling this won't be the last one,'' Sonic responded, both getting into a starting position.

The two hedgehogs then rushed towards the mech at a speed of light, leaving only a blue and a black and orange streak behind, going into a spin-dash through each side of the mech's chest. Each of the hedgehogs landed on the opposite buildings, using the momentum to bounce off them and strike right through the mech in an X pattern in perfect sync before landing on the ground, skidding to halt as they now stood next to each other. The Death Egg Robot exploded into tiny pieces, the holographic projection vanishing as Eggman screamed in pure fury.

''I HATE THAT HEDGEHOG!''

Sonic and Shadow were joined by the rest of the team, who were cheering in relief that Eggman was finally defeated. Unknown to them, someone was watching their little celebration, standing high above on one of the buildings.

[...]

The Babylon Rogues Arc

[...]

Unknown to Team Neos, Touka and Shadow were at the Solar Stadium the whole time, albeit not in the mood to engage with their fellow teammates. They had observed the whole argument between Team Neos and the Babylon Rogues, their brows furrowed when Team Neos accepted the challenge to participate in a Tag Team Race.

''They don't know what they got themselves into,'' Touka said, her hoverboard leaned against a seat as Lucas, Sonic, Warren, Tails, Lily and Knuckles approached Chase, Jet, Rika, Wave, Arven and Storm, while Minami, Amy, Makoto and Silver sat on the bleachers. A holographic screen appeared above the racing track, allowing them to follow the race between Team Neos and the Babylon Rogues while they were inside the AR Field. Touka glanced at Shadow. ''Do you think that we should've warned them?''

''No,'' Shadow replied curtly, arms folded across his chest. ''If Sonic believes that he can win this, he can try.''

''Don't tell me that you're annoyed that he's racing against Jet,'' Touka said, rising an eyebrow. Shadow scoffed.

''Tch, if I wanted to race against him, I would've done it already,'' Shadow replied, shooting a glare at Touka. ''I'm merely curious about his performance in this kind of race.''

''So, you're actually hoping that he'll win?'' Touka asked, looking intrigued. Shadow didn't answer, focusing on the screen ahead instead, with Touka just shrugging. However, knowing her little brother, even if he didn't want to admit it, she was aware that Shadow was hoping Sonic and his team would win against Jet and the Babylon Rogues, even if the odds were clearly stacked against them.

[...]

Team Neos suddenly looked up, surprised to see Touka and Shadow walking up to them.

''We figured that one out already. You don't have to rub salt in the wound,'' Lucas said bitterly, staring at Touka. Meanwhile, Sonic turned to Shadow, who had his arms folded across his chest.

''Were you guys watching the whole race?'' he asked.

''Yes, and I had expected better from you,'' Shadow said sternly. Sonic's ears were pinned back as his eyes narrowed, staring at Shadow. Both were silent for a moment, appearing to be quite tense.

''I know, and if I get another chance, I would show you and everyone that I can go beyond my own limits,'' Sonic replied, his tone uncharacteristically serious. To his surprise, Shadow smirked.

''I'm certain that you would,'' he said, unfolding his arms, giving his rival a determined gaze. ''That's why I'm challenging you to a race.''

''What?'' Sonic was stunned, his expression matching that of his friends.

''If you manage to beat me, then you'll be able to beat the Babylon Rogues,'' Shadow continued, ignoring the looks everyone was giving him. Sonic stared at him for a moment, wondering what Shadow was trying to accomplish with this, but he then nodded, figuring that his rival must've had a good reason behind this proposal.

''I accept your challenge.''

[...]

''I accept your challenge,'' Sonic said, staring at Shadow with a determined look on his expression. He didn't know why the ebony hedgehog proposed that they race against each other, but he still went along with it, feeling that there was a good reason behind Shadow's actions. He wanted to know what the purpose of this challenge was. ''Which track do you want to race on?''

''You can pick any track you want,'' Shadow replied, extending his hand as an orb of data particles appeared before him, forming into a hoverboard. Sonic picked up his own, but just as he was about to walk over to the holographic screen to select a track, Lucas interrupted them.

''Wait a second, Shadow… What are you trying to do?'' he asked.

''I'm trying to prove a point,'' Shadow replied, with Lucas noting how this wasn't an explanation of what he was up to. He turned to Touka with a questioning look, who shrugged.

''Maybe you should just watch the race,'' she said, beckoning to them to follow her to the bleachers. Meanwhile, Sonic and Shadow prepared themselves for the race, Sonic having selected Tempo City as their racing track and still wondering what Shadow was up to. He trusted his rival, but that didn't mean he didn't have any questions. However, he was confident he would get an answer.

''You said that if I want to beat Jet, I'd have to beat you first,'' Sonic said, stepping on his hoverboard. ''But, last time we raced against each other, we always ended up in a tie. So, where's this confidence coming from?''

''I had some practice since last time,'' Shadow replied, already standing on his hoverboard. Sonic grinned at the idea of having an even bigger challenge. Both looked up at the holographic screen above flashing from red to yellow to green as the AR Field formed.

READY? SET! GO!!

Kicking off, Sonic and Shadow flew right into the AR Field, revealing itself to be an urban area, with tall buildings, archways and towers surrounding them. As this wasn't a Tag Race, there weren't any Power Boxes, meaning they had to rely on their surroundings, rails, accelerators and shortcuts to get the advantage over the other racer. Sonic grinned as he leapt onto an accelerator, getting ahead for a moment, with Shadow being right behind him. He wasn't too worried about losing this one, as he was very familiar with Tempo City's layout.

''You still have to show those skills you've been talking about!'' Sonic shouted as he and Shadow leapt onto a rail as it spiraled into the downtown area. Shadow didn't answer, narrowing his eyes and focusing on his next move. There was a stream of wind just before the end of the rail, with Shadow kicking off and leaping on the stream, getting into a half-crouch as he held onto his hoverboard, with the stream carrying him ahead of Sonic and landing on the ground in front of his rival. Sonic's jaw dropped slightly, as he didn't expect this kind of move. ''Woah, not bad!''

''Hmph!'' Hearing this comment, Shadow briefly turned his head towards Sonic, smirking, then focused back on the track. Meanwhile, outside the track, Team Neos were watching the race between Sonic and Shadow via one of the holographic screens that popped up whenever a track was in use.

''Wait, a minute, I didn't know that you could actually do that!'' Minami said. She and the rest of

''Tch, of course you can,'' Touka replied, drawing everyone's attention. ''However, the issue is that most racers don't think to use that particular shortcut because it can get difficult to time the right moment you'd have to leap onto that wind stream and the landing can be a bit hard if you don't know what you're doing. That's why people usually avoid it.''

Back on the track, Sonic and Shadow were racing through a street that had its walls decorated in graffiti. Shadow was still ahead of Sonic, but the cobalt hedgehog smirked as he knew that there were several curves at this track along with rails he could grind on to pass by Shadow. He was slowly getting closer and closer, boosting ahead of Shadow when he slowed down at one curve and leapt onto one of the rails and accelerating. Grinning, he looked back, spotting Shadow right behind him.

''Seems like I had managed to get ahead of you,'' he said.

''You're still not focused,'' Shadow told him, his eyes flicking to the side. He smirked, grabbing onto the side of his hoverboard and leaping off the rail, much to Sonic's confusion. He looked around, wondering where Shadow went to, only to realize that the ebony hedgehog had managed to get onto one of the walls that surrounded this part of the track. He was still slower than Sonic, but this was quickly made up by the walls curving up and having accelerators plastered all over. While Sonic had to leap off the rail first to get on the accelerator, Shadow simply sped down the wall, boosting ahead and getting the lead.

''Woah!'' Sonic had to admit that this was an impressive move as they entered a tunnel. He managed to gain some slight speed, but he just couldn't surpass Shadow.

''Hmph.'' Shadow briefly glanced back, slowly down slightly so he and Sonic were racing roughly at the same speed, with Sonic rising his eyebrow as Shadow addressed him, ''Why have you accepted the Babylon Rogues' challenge? What was your plan for beating them?''

''Huh?'' Sonic blinked at first, saying the first thing that came to his mind, ''Well, I was trying to outspeed them? Isn't that the point of a race?''

''Maybe in a Solo Race, but not in a Tag Team Race,'' Shadow replied, kicking off and using one of the accelerator to the side to gain more speed. Sonic followed him, his eyes narrowing as his attention was fully on his rival, who had a holographic screen opened next to him. ''Think about it! How did you manage to win your previous battles? How did you defeat Dr. Eggman?''

Sonic gave Shadow a confused look, wondering why the ebony hedgehog was asking him that, but then thought about it for a moment. ''It wasn't just me… We all fought Eggman together and…'' He grinned. ''I had my friends supporting me.''

''Then, do you understand why you lost in a Tag Team Race?'' Shadow asked, with Sonic rolling his eyes.

''Yeah, I do. Thanks for the lesson, Shads,'' Sonic replied, the latter bit being slightly sarcastic. Both of them then used another stream of wind to exit the tunnel.

Meanwhile, back at the bleachers, Touka had a holographic screen open in front of her, allowing for the whole group to hear the conversation. She noticed the looks of discomfort on Warren, Tails and Lily's expressions; Knuckles just stared ahead blankly, being deep in thought; while Lucas just sighed as he felt a strong sense of embarressement. He felt that he should've realized this earlier, as looking back on the race, they weren't exactly working together, being focused on just trying to outspeed Chase and Jet.

''Going by your expressions, you never had a clear strategy when going into this race,'' Touka said, crossing her arms across the chest. ''Have you ever participated at a Tag Team Race before?''

''…No,'' Lucas admitted, with Warren, Tails, Lily and Knuckles shaking their heads. ''This was our first time.''

''Hmph, I guess we can talk about that once Shadow and Sonic join us,'' Touka said, turning her attention back to the screen.

Meanwhile, Sonic and Shadow have entered the last part of their race, speeding down the street, with platforms floating above them. At this point, they were both going at the same speed, with Shadow drawing Sonic's attention by asking another question, ''What do you plan to do now?''

''First of all, I'm going to beat you!'' Sonic replied as he leapt onto an accelerator, boosting away. He was confident that he could defeat Shadow in this race, but to his surprise, the ebony hedgehog started weaving behind him, gaining momentum and using a nearby wall as a ramp to leap onto the platforms above them, then quickly boost down right in front of Sonic, once again taking the lead.

''Hey!'' Sonic yelled, but Shadow turned back to him with a smug smirk.

''Only because you have learned your lesson doesn't mean I'm going to let you win!'' he replied, the two passing only a few seconds later through the finish line, the AR Field behind them vanishing and both of them finding themselves back at the Solar Stadium; with Shadow being the clear winner.

Despite losing, Sonic didn't feel bad about it, as this was a race he had been looking for and he actually really enjoyed it. He turned to Shadow, who got off his hoverboard, holding up his hand curled into a fist. Shadow gave it an uncertain look at first, but then went along with the fist-bump.

''That was a great race! Thanks for the challenge!'' Sonic said, with Shadow just nodding in response. They were approached by the rest of the group, with Sonic noticing that Lucas was mulling over something. ''I know that look. What's your plan?''

[...]

''You can read it if you want, but the gist of it is that the Babylon Rogues had won the Tag Team Hoverboard Racing Tournament held in Mikado City two months ago, despite having participated at it for the first time,'' Touka added, folding her arms across her chest. ''Unless you kept up with the news, you couldn't have known that you were going against professionals.''

''That explains a lot,'' Knuckles said in a dry tone. His teammates' confidence started to falter slightly, with Sonic suddenly turning towards Touka and Shadow.

''Hey, if you two knew this the whole time, why didn't you warn us?'' Sonic asked, placing his hands on his hips, his gaze being mainly directed towards Shadow.

''We had figured that someone like you would know what you were getting yourself into,'' Shadow replied, then shrugged. ''I guess we were wrong.''

Sonic was mildly irked, glaring at Shadow, but he did figure that he probably should've thought this one through.

''What are you guys going to do now?'' Silver asked. ''You guys did agree to another race.''

''If you want, Shadow and I could train you for it,'' Touka suggested, getting some surprised looks from her teammates. She rose an eyebrow. ''Why are you staring at me like that?''

''We just didn't expect you to offer us help. Usually, you guys just avoid any social interactions,'' Minami pointed out.

''We'll make an exception for this case,'' Shadow replied, only for his ears to twitch when he heard Sonic whistling.

''Wow, and I thought you'd only join us during world-ending scenarios,'' Sonic said sarcastically, elbowing Shadow.

''We merely decided to spare you from further embarrassement,'' Shadow responded, with the two just staring at each other intensely. After a moment of awkward silence, which seemed to last an eternity, Amy got between the two, turning to Shadow.

[...]

''We'll definitely prove them wrong,'' Sonic said confidently.

''Just don't get too cocky. You have yet to win a race,'' Shadow told him.

''Don't worry about that Shads. Even if I can't beat you, I'm sure I can beat Jet,'' Sonic replied. Shadow just snorted.

''I guess I'll never understand how you can be this optimistic,'' he muttered under his breath, quiet enough for only Sonic to hear him.

Sonic just grinned back in response.

Links:

#Sonadow Moments in Sonic Cyber Revolution (The Memories of The Past Arc)

#Sonadow Moments in Sonic Cyber Revolution (The Final Haunt Arc)

#Sonic Cyber Revolution (Masterlist)

[tenebraevesper]

Sonadow Moments in Sonic Cyber Revolution (The Memories of The Past Arc)

[...]

Kisaki led the two upstairs, with Lucas and Sonic looking at the doors, wondering which one led to Touka and Shadow's room. Instead, Kisaki just grabbed a broom leaned against a nearby wall and walked up to the hatch above on the ceiling, knocking on it.

''Touka, Shadow! Your friends are here!'' she called out, stepping back when she heard steps from above. The hatch then opened, with Shadow's head poking out upside down and looking down at the three, a frown spread on his expression. Sonic just waved at him nonchalantly.

''Hey, Shad!''

''What are you doing here?'' Shadow growled, glaring at Sonic. Sonic grinned in response.

''We are here to talk to you and Touka about something important,'' Sonic said. ''Could you come downstairs or should we join you in the attic?''

''How did you find us?'' Shadow responded instead of answering Sonic's question, still glaring at the blue hedgehog.

''We forgot to tell you that the tracking app installed in the AR Visor hadn't been turned off,'' Sonic explained, smiling sheepishly. Shadow looked up, instinctively reaching for the goggles on the top of his head, vanishing back inside the room.

Kisaki looked at Lucas and Sonic, giving the two a questioning look, with Lucas and Sonic just shrugging in response. Admittedly, she had feared that letting the two inside was a mistake, but the fact that they knew about Shadow, someone no one beside her and Touka should be aware of, made her change her mind. It was obvious that Shadow wasn't too happy to see Sonic and Lucas, but at least he knew them and didn't act too hostile.

Suddenly, the ladder came down, with Touka taking a few steps down, still holding onto the entrance to the attic with her hand. She gave Lucas and Sonic an annoyed look. ''Fine, we are going to talk. You can come upstairs.''

''Thanks!'' Sonic replied, him and Lucas climbing into the room. Kisaki remained standing in the hallway, having noticed Touka's irritation and feeling guilty about letting the two inside. She hoped that she did the right thing though, leaving for downstairs.

Meanwhile, Lucas and Sonic were looking around the attic, with Sonic zipping from one side to another, being quite curious about the stuff Touka had in her room. His exploration was stopped by Shadow, who stepped right in front of him, causing Sonic to almost crash into him.

''Can't you stand still for five minutes, Hedgehog?'' Shadow asked him, arms folded across his chest.

''The best I can do is two,'' Sonic replied nonchalantly. Shadow's eyes narrowed.

''Do you want me to force you to stand still?'' he asked, his quills bristling. Sonic could sense a faint build up of Chaos energy within him and gave him a sheepish smile.

''I don't think that's necessary,'' Sonic replied, plopping on the couch. Lucas just sighed in exasperation over his partner's antics, joining him on the couch. Touka just leaned against her bed, while Shadow remained standing next to her.

''Okay, what do you two want from us? Besides telling us about the tracking app,'' Touka asked.

''We wanted to ask you if you could join us in a meeting with everyone else who had been at Codex,'' Lucas said, quickly adding, ''Excluding Ferra and Metal Sonic, for obvious reasons.''

''Why do you want us there?'' Shadow asked.

''We planned to reveal that part at the meeting,'' Sonic replied.

''Let's just say that is has something to do with investigating Codex, and that's why we need you to come along,'' Lucas added. ''Would you be okay with that?''

Lucas and Sonic observed Touka and Shadow's expression, both frozen into a permanent scowl. Lucas knew that neither of them would probably want anything to do with Codex anymore, but he had hoped that they would at least consider to hear what he has to say. Touka glanced at Shadow.

''What do you think?'' she asked.

''I'll leave this decision up to you. You know these people better than I do,'' Shadow replied. Touka's face fell, as he had hoped for some advice from her partner, but Shadow decided to leave this one to her. She knew that she could trust Lucas and Sonic, as well as their friends. She wasn't even mad at them for not telling her or Shadow about the tracking app, as she had been stalking the group for a while, never joining them though.

''I guess I do owe you two for helping me reunite with Shadow,'' Touka finally said. ''Besides, you aren't the only ones interested in Codex, meaning we both have the same goal.''

''That's great!'' Sonic jumped off the couch, stepping in front of the two. ''I'm glad you two are joining us!''

''Only because we have a common goal doesn't mean that we are friends,'' Shadow responded, annoyed by Sonic's eagerness. Why was the blue hedgehog so excited to have him around? They did nothing but fight ever since they met. He noticed that Sonic did look a little upset, if not sad over his refusal. He shook his head lightly, adding, ''Still, I guess I can consider you an ally. After all, you tried to knock some sense into me when I was at my lowest, and I never thanked you properly for-''

Shadow was interrupted by Sonic who suddenly zipped up next to him, placing his arm over Shadow's shoulder, grinning. ''You don't have to thank me, Shad. What happened is all water under the bridge now. I would've done that for anyone.''

''First: Stop calling me Shad,'' Shadow replied, glaring at Sonic. ''Second: You are too close, Blue Hedgehog.''

''Hehehe, sorry about that, Shadow,'' Sonic quickly stepped away, still grinning.

''We should leave now, or we'll be late,'' Lucas noted, checking the time on his AR Visor.

''Heh, I can clear the distance in seconds if you want me to go ahead,'' Sonic said, stretching his arms and then glancing at Shadow, smirking confidently. ''Do you want to race?''

''Tch…'' Despite the fact that Shadow was annoyed by Sonic's optimistic and overly friendly nature, he couldn't help but smirk at the challenge Sonic had offered. He did respect the blue hedgehog's skills and power. ''You're so persistent.''

Sonic rubbed under his nose with his index finger, still grinning. ''You haven't seen anything.''

Lucas and Touka glanced at each other, both realizing that this is probably going to be a thing now. They then made their way down the ladder and the stairs, passing by Kisaki, who was in the kitchen.

''Oh, you're leaving?'' she called out to them.

''Shadow and I will be away the whole day,'' Touka replied casually.

''Okay, have fun,'' Kisaki responded, looking a little uncertain. Lucas felt a little bad for her, as there was some obvious tension between her and Touka, and had to wonder if they had an argument before he and Sonic had arrived.

''Look, I apologize for me and Sonic just barging in like that. I hope you aren't too mad at your mum for letting us in,'' Lucas said as he and Touka drove off on their hoverboards, Sonic following them on foot, while Shadow was skating next to them.

''Kisaki isn't my mother,'' Touka replied, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at Lucas, whose eyes widened in astonishment, matching Sonic's. ''I consider her my guardian, and that's it. I already have enough on my plate to even give a damn about explaining my situation.''

''You guys got a really rough deal,'' Sonic said, looking at Shadow, giving him a sympathetic look.

''It appears that things aren't going to improve,'' Shadow replied sarcastically, with Sonic just smirking in response.

[...]

''That's great to hear,'' Lucas commented, his gaze wandering over to Touka and Shadow, who were standing further away from everyone else, both silent. He genuinely wanted them on the team as well, but he knew that there was hardly any way he'd be able to convince them. Neither looked like they wanted to be here, unless necessary, and they already had their own problems they needed to deal with; and Lucas respected that. Sonic, on the other hand, didn't get the memo. Instead, he zipped right across the room, stepping in front of the two, extending his hand to Shadow.

''I know that you're not particularly fond of any of us, but I still don't mind working with you,'' Sonic said, smiling. Shadow stared at him for a moment, then folded his arms across his chest.

''I couldn't care less about this world, or the humans that live on it. I am here solely to protect Touka,'' Shadow responded.

''I understand,'' Sonic replied, placing his hands on the back of his head and giving Shadow a knowing smirk. ''But, what happens if you cannot protect Touka on your own?''

Shadow stared at him for a moment, not showing any emotion. However, Sonic already had an idea what was going through Shadow's head, even if the latter wouldn't admit it.

''That will never happen,'' Shadow responded calmly, although he didn't sound like he was convinced. After all, if it weren't for Sonic and his friends, Touka would've died and Shadow wouldn't have been none the wiser.

[...]

''Okay, we still need to figure out what our team's name is going to be,'' Sonic said, drawing everyone's attention.

''Do we even need one?'' Silver asked.

''Of course we do!'' Sonic responded, grinning. ''So, any ideas? I have a couple.''

''Then, let us hear them,'' Amy suggested.

''I was thinking about Team Alpha Bravo,'' Sonic said, only for the smile to fade when he saw everyone's looks of disapproval. ''Uh, then how about Super Irregular ARNav Team Hyper Force Go.''

''That's way too long,'' Tails replied.

''I don't believe that it would do us any good to have 'Irregular' in our team name,'' Knuckles added.

''Do you guys have any better ideas?'' Sonic asked. There was a moment of silence, with some shrugging or shaking their heads. Apparently, coming up with a team name was a lot harder than they thought.

''Uh, I don't know… Team Blue?'' Amy suggested.

''I think it should be a team name that isn't just referring to Sonic, but all of us,'' Makoto said.

''Maybe…'' Sonic opened his mouth to suggest another name, only to see Shadow glaring at him.

''No.''

''But, I didn't say anything!''

''Exactly.''

Sonic rose an eyebrow, then smirked, deciding to involve the dark-furred hedgehog into the conversation.

''Do you have any idea for a name, Shadow?'' he asked.

''I'll pass,'' Shadow responded in typical curt fashion. ''Besides, someone has to shot down the stupid ideas.''

''Unfortunately, he is right,'' Minami said. ''The ideas you had so far weren't the best.''

''Guys, how about Team Neos?'' Silver suggested, drawing everyone's attention. ''I mean, we all want to protect Neos City, and I think it has a good ring to it.''

[...]

''This is the Doppelgänger card. It usually indicates danger, a forewarning that a person will encounter a darker reflection of themselves; some kind of shadow archetype. In mythology, seeing your own Dopplegänger is an omen of death. The Doppelgänger may not always mean harm, but that doesn't mean they're capable of it. It can be taken metaphorically, as in the person is a danger to themselves; or it can be taken literally, as in the person in question will be in danger of someone who resembles them, be it physically or psychologically,'' Amy explained, handing the card over to Shadow, who furrowed a brow as he observed it.

''You said that Sonic drew the same card,'' he muttered, looking up at her. ''Did he find his Doppelgänger?''

''As a matter of fact, he did,'' Amy replied. ''A few days afterwards, he ran into Metal Sonic, who not only resembles him, but also almost caused him to drown. So, basically a literal death omen.'' She then gave him a sheepish smile. ''Then, there is you.''

''Me?'' Shadow rose an eyebrow.

''From what I've seen, you're literally Sonic's equal in any aspect, but without his optimism or desire to help people just because he can or…'' Amy trailed off as she saw the unamused look on Shadow's expression.

''To sum up, you're calling me his shadow archetype,'' Shadow added in a deadpan tone, returning the card to Amy and folding his arms across his chest. ''The irony is not lost on me.''

''Heheh, I guess it is kind of ironic…'' Amy laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her head, adding, ''Not to mention, you also put all of us into danger.''

She observed Shadow as his gaze lowered, avoiding eye-contact with her. ''I apologize for… for how I acted.''

''Don't worry, it's fine,'' Amy replied, shaking her head and giving him a warm smile. Shadow looked back at her, looking uncertain. It was still hard for him to process that everyone would forgive him so easily. ''Hey, if Sonic trust you, then I do too.''

''Do you all trust the Blue Hedgehog's judgement so easily?'' Shadow asked, folding his arms across his chest.

''Well, what can I say?'' Amy shrugged, adding casually, ''He just has a way of convincing people to go along with his ideas.''

''I hate to admit it, but you are right,'' Shadow said, a coy smirk appearing on his lips. ''His persistence can be quite annoying, though.''

''You'll get used to that eventually,'' Amy responded.

[...]

''Okay, but what will happen after you are done digging in your past?'' Sonic asked. Touka fell silent, both her and Shadow looking unsure, obviously having no answer. Sonic just shrugged, giving them a grin. ''Hey, if you don't know the answer, then take your time. You'll eventually come up with something, and if you still have no idea, you can ask me for advice.''

Sonic noticed a tiny smile forming on Touka's lips, the latter looking just exasperated with him, but at the same time knowing that Sonic was just trying to help. Sonic turned his attention to Shadow, who just stared back with a scowl on his expression.

''We don't need your advice, Blue Hedgehog,'' Shadow replied. Sonic just grinned back, much to Shadow's chagrin. There was something admirable and irritating about the former's confidence, with Sonic leaning forward towards Shadow, his arms folded in a similar manner.

''Don't worry, Shads, I know you like to be independent,'' Sonic said, with Shadow glaring back.

[...]

''Hey, wait up!'' Silver ran up to Shadow, who stopped, giving the latter a curious look. ''Do you want to come along with me? That is, if you're not tired yet. We could talk, maybe I could show you around the city. Consider it a baton pass, since I was the newest member of the team before you came along.''

''You're as persistent as the Blue Hedgehog,'' Shadow muttered. Silver gave him a confused look.

''Uh, is that supposed to be a compliment or…?'' he trailed off, with Shadow folding his arms across his chest.

''I had talked to Amy about how you and your friends are treating me, and it still mystifies me that you are so calm in my presence and willing to trust me,'' he explained. ''Despite the fact that I had tried to destroy all of you not even a day ago.''

''Is that really what is bothering you?'' Silver asked, looking genuinely surprised. ''Because, you had also told us the reasons why you had done that and also tried to save everyone later on. I think that's enough to earn our trust.''

''Amy had told me that you and your friends are also trusting Sonic's judgement,'' Shadow added. Silver chuckled.

''I guess we do. He seems to have nack for figuring people out,'' he responded. ''Besides, don't we all have something in common?''

''What do you mean?'' Shadow asked.

''You aren't the only one who has something worth fighting for,'' Silver replied. ''We all do.''

Shadow fell silent for a moment, before adding, ''You did mention something about protecting the future during the meeting. What did you mean by that?''

''Right, you don't know. I'm actually a time-traveler from 200 years into the future,'' Silver explained. Shadow was genuinely surprised by the reveal, staring at Silver in stunned silence. He did not expect that kind of answer. Silver just smiled, folding his arms on his back. ''Maybe I should explain things in detail.''

''Good idea,'' Shadow replied, nodding.

[...]

Shadow sighed, leaning forward, placing his head against his hands as he stared ahead, a frown on his expression. Silver tilted his head, observing him and wondering what was going through Shadow's head.

''One more question,'' Shadow said, still staring ahead. ''How can you all stand Sonic's attitude?''

''What is wrong with Sonic's attitude?'' Silver asked, genuinely puzzled.

''He's irritating and he keeps getting in my way,'' Shadow grumbled. Silver chuckled, with Shadow shooting him an annoyed look.

''You know, if you want to complain about Sonic, you should talk to him directly,'' Silver explained. Shadow's eyes narrowed.

''Perhaps, I will,'' he replied, then turned his gaze back to the city.

[...]

''Hey, Shadow!'' They turned their heads to the source, Shadow's smirk fading into a frown as he saw Sonic and Lucas approaching them. He wasn't in mood to deal with the blue hedgehog. ''It's great to see you again.''

''What are you doing here, Blue Hedgehog?'' Shadow asked, his eyes narrowing as he stared at Sonic.

''I had heard from Silver that you wanted to talk to me,'' Sonic replied. Touka rose an eyebrow, glancing at Shadow questioningly, who didn't notice her reaction.

''Don't you think that if I wanted to talk to you, I would've done it on my own terms?'' Shadow responded, taking a step towards Sonic. Sonic just grinned back in response, while Lucas next to him just sighed.

''I guess I should've thought about that,'' Sonic said sheepishly. ''Still, since I'm already here…''

''No.'' Shadow's response was blunt and curt. Sonic just gave him an exasperated look, his eye-lids lowered. He then tilted his head, observing the hoverboard in Shadow's hands and then grinned.

''Do you want to race?'' Sonic asked, summoning his own hoverboard. Shadow rose an eyebrow, looking reluctant about whether he'd take him upon the offer, but Sonic continued with his goading, ''Don't tell me that you're afraid of losing.''

Shadow knew that Sonic was just baiting him,… and he hated that it was working. He knew that Sonic was quite a challenging and persistent opponent when it came to battles, and that he wasn't going to leave him alone so easily, no matter what he said or did. They were equals in terms of strength and speed, and both of them loved a good challenge.

''Hmph,'' Shadow scoffed. ''I will wipe that stupid smirk of your face.''

''You would have to catch me first,'' Sonic replied, running off to the holographic screen, choosing a racing track and joining Shadow at the start of it. ''Ready?''

''Try keeping up with me, slowpoke,'' Shadow responded, right as they started their race, entering the AR Field. Sonic's ears were pinned back.

''Oh, you did not-!'' he shouted, half-grinning as he followed Shadow.

Meanwhile, Touka and Lucas exchanged glances, with Touka sighing as she looked at him.

''This is going to be a thing, isn't it?''

''Are you upset about it?'' Lucas asked her. Touka shook her head, her arms folded across her chest.

''Not really,'' she replied, a faint hint of a smile on her lips. Admittedly, she did bring Shadow here to get his mind off what had happened in the past days, and having Sonic around helped a lot.

Meanwhile, the two hedgehogs were racing through a jungle-like terrain, Sonic having caught up to Shadow, both weaving between the trees and grinding down a log placed over a cliff. Shadow was still in the lead, turning his head back to Sonic as the latter tried to get past him. Despite being in the back, Sonic gave him a confident look, jumping through an accelerator, a ring floating in mid-air with tracks that had arrows on them, allowing a short burst of speed. It was enough for Sonic to overtake Shadow.

''How is that for a 'slowpoke'?'' Sonic turned briefly to Shadow, grinning triumphantly. Shadow remained focused, his eyes briefly narrowing as he crouched. Sonic turned around, his eyes widening and quickly ducked as they entered a huge tree with a hollow entrance, exiting at a river that led to a waterfall, both jumping on the grind rails covered in vines. ''Man, that was close!''

''Hmph, you should pay more attention to your surroundings, Hedgehog,'' Shadow had told him, the two now head-to-head.

''Yeah, I probably should, but a little bantering makes the race even more exciting, don't you think so, Shads?'' Sonic replied. Shadow just glanced at him, then looked back at the track, still focused on the race. The two then jumped off the grind rail, entering the last part of the race, now speeding right next to each other. Sonic gave him a somewhat puzzled look, but then turned to the track, now determined. They both exited the AR Field, crossing the finish line at the same moment. They came to a halt, exchanging glances. Sonic grinned. ''I guess it's a tie. Do you want to have another go at it?''

''Why are you so insistent on talking to me?'' Shadow asked.

''I guess I'm just curious,'' Sonic replied, shrugging casually. ''On the other hand, since you're not too thrilled to talk to me, I had figured that I should find another way of communicating with you.''

''I had already figured that that's why you had asked me for a race,'' Shadow noted, folding his arms across his chest.

''It did work, didn't it?'' Sonic replied, placing his hands behind his quills.

''Not as much as you believe,'' Shadow responded.

''Maybe, but we are having a conversation,'' Sonic said. Shadow hated to admit that the blue hedgehog was right. He contemplated whether he should give in and just talk to Sonic about what was bothering him. He did say that he wanted to talk to him, but on the other hand, he didn't want to make this easy for the latter.

''You said you wanted another hoverboard race,'' Shadow said. ''If you win, then we'll talk. If not, you'll leave me alone.''

''Challenge accepted,'' Sonic said confidently.

[...]

Sonic was not comfortable with the position he was in. Shadow had somehow managed to get a boost, landing right in front of Sonic and getting the lead. The track they were on started on top of a high skyscraper with a sloping road below them, filled with grind rails, accelerators, ramps and loops. Fortunately for Sonic, they came across a part of the track where they could choose a grind rail or a ramp with an accelerator. While Shadow went with the former, Sonic choose the latter, kicking off the ramp and grabbing the hoverboard just as he passed through the accelerator, spin-dashing right down the road and landing in front of Shadow.

''Not bad, huh, Shads?'' he briefly turned back, with the dark hedgehog narrowing his eyes.

''The race is not over yet!'' Shadow responded, right as he and Sonic entered a tunnel, both using the accelerators to gain advantage, only to end up going head-to-head. There were more accelerators at the side of the tunnel, with Sonic and Shadow using them, both feeling a rush of adrenaline and frustration when they realized that it didn't change their position at all and even before they passed through the finish line, it was clear that it would be another tie.

''I guess this doesn't help our case,'' Sonic said, rubbing the back of his head, holding the hoverboard under his arm. ''What was this, the fourth or fifth race we had?'' He then shrugged. ''Oh, well… Do you want to have another go at it?''

''No,'' Shadow replied, much to Sonic's surprise. ''I don't think another race would make a difference, unless you're planning to use your natural speed.''

''Then, what do you suggest?'' Sonic asked. Shadow stared at him for a moment, then turned his back to the latter, with Sonic feeling confused, at least until Shadow spoke again, hoverboard under his arm and the other hand placed on his hip.

''You had asked me what would happen if I ever find myself in a situation where I wouldn't be able to to protect Touka,'' he said, staring at the ground, his eyes narrowed.

''Yeah, and you said that you would never let that happen,'' Sonic replied, walking up to Shadow and facing him. ''Why are you bringing this up now?''

''If you were put in the same kind of situation, what would you do?'' Shadow asked him. Sonic appeared to be startled at first, scratching his cheek, pondering.

''I… I'm not really sure,'' he replied. Shadow gave him an irked look.

''You ask me that same question, but you have no answer to it?'' he asked, glaring at Sonic. Sonic smiled sheepishly, feeling a bit nervous, but then stepped forward.

''I'm sure that in a situation where I'm unable to do anything, I can rely on my friends to help me,'' Sonic replied, smiling confidently. ''After all, wasn't that a point of Team Neos? Where we all support each other?''

''What if one of your friends turns against you?'' Shadow asked, catching Sonic off guard.

''What do you mean by that? Like, they are being brainwashed or…?'' Sonic trailed off as he saw Shadow's serious gaze. Surprisingly, Sonic fell silent for a moment, with Shadow wondering whether he finally managed to get the hedgehog to actually have some meaningful self-reflection. Whatever it was, it only lasted a few seconds, as Sonic returned back to his optimistic demeanor. ''No matter what happens, I will make sure to save my friends, even if I have to fight them to knock some sense into them.'' He then elbowed Shadow, grinning mischievously. ''I did the same with you, didn't I?''

''Hmph, you're being too overconfident,'' Shadow responded.

''Then I guess then I'll have you to pull me back whenever I get ahead of myself, right Shads?'' Sonic replied in a chipper tone. Shadow didn't respond, but Sonic didn't really appear to mind his lack of response, instead walking away towards Lucas and Touka. ''Anyways, if you want another race, give me a call.''

Shadow remained standing in silence, staring at the blue hedgehog with a curious look on his expression, then sighed, following the latter.

Links:

#Sonadow Moments in Sonic Cyber Revolution (The Ultimate Lifeform Arc)

#Sonadow Moments in Sonic Cyber Revolution (The Enter The E.G.G.M.A.N. Arc & The Babylon Rogues Arc)

#Sonic Cyber Revolution (Masterlist)

[tenebraevesper]

Sonic Cyber Revolution Analyzer: The Babylon Rogues Arc - The Babylon Rogues

After their battle with Dr. Eggman, Sonic and his friends decide to take a break, having fun at the local hoverboard racing stadium. However, this doesn’t last long they get challenged by a group of professional hoverboard racers - the Babylon Rogues! With a new rivalry sparking, it is up to Sonic to show Jet who is the fastest racer in Neos City.

Chapters

Entry 20: Catch Me If You Can

Entry 21: Sonic Speed Riders

The Babylon Rogues Arc is, as of writing this analysis, the shortest arc of Sonic Cyber Revolution, adapting elements from the Sonic Riders spin-off video games and introducing the Babylon Rogues as recurring characters to the story.

Take note that the lyrics presented in both of the chapters are symbolizing the Babylon Rogues smack talking to Team Neos:

''Catch me if you can! There's no turning back, reach but never catch! Catch me if you can! You can't fathom that, wonders you can't have! Catch me if you can! Catch me if you can!''

With Team Neos response being:

''I'm gonna hit you with Sonic Speed!''

The Arc kicks off with Sonic and Lucas hanging out with Tails and Warren at the Taylor Workshop, talking about their battle with Dr. Eggman and Lucas being the only one actually worried about Eggman attacking them again. Sonic suggest that they relax a little and have some fun at the Solar Stadium by going hoverboard racing.

There, they meet up with Lily, Knuckles, Minami, Amy, Makoto and Silver (Shadow left Sonic on read) and have fun racing. The way the Solar Stadium works is that all tracks are programmed inside AR Fields, meaning that multiple different tracks can be active at the same time. Hoverboard racing is actually a very popular sport in this universe, to the point that there are several variations of this sport and even whole tournaments for it.

After finishing one race, with Amy winning, Sonic volunteers to pick the next track for his friends to race on, only to encounter a very arrogant and brash bird.

After hearing his teammates voicing their agreement, Sonic walked over to the closest holographic screen, but just as he was half-way over, his ears twitched and he heard someone yelling. Looking up, he saw a figure speeding right towards him on their hoverboard. Sonic quickly dove aside in order to avoid being ran over by the racer, hitting the ground hard and feeling a gust of wind brushing through his quills, his hoverboard falling on the ground. He turned back at the racer, glaring at him.

''Watch out where you're going! You almost ran me over!'' Sonic shouted, with the racer turning around on his hoverboard, looking at Sonic.

The racer was an ARNav, having the appearance of an anthropomorphic hawk with emerald green and dark emerald green feathers covering his body and white feathers on his front torso. On his arms near his wrists were dark emerald green fire-like markings. He had a golden beak and azure blue eyes with red and black markings on the sides. His hair was styled like a mohawk with dark emerald green tips. He also had three tail feathers with dark emerald green tips. For attire, he wore a pair of white gloves that possess visible lining with red and black cuffs and dark gray bands around each wrist. He also wore red, black and white boots with gray soles, and goggles with yellow lenses, white frames and gray straps.

''Hmph, serves you right for being in my path!'' the hawk ARNav replied, pushing the goggles that were over his eyes up on his forehead and grinning smugly.

Sonic frowned as he got up. Usually, he was all for befriending people, but for some reason, this ARNav got on his nerves. He couldn't explain it, but his gut feeling told him that the hawk was trouble. He shook his head, picking up his hoverboard and going towards the holographic screen, only to see the hawk flying towards it as well. Not wanting the hawk to be there first, he used to his super speed to run over, but they ended up reaching it at the same time, with the hawk suddenly blocking Sonic, giving him an intrigued look.

''What was that?'' he asked, not allowing Sonic to get the screen.

''I just ran over,'' Sonic replied bluntly.

''I was talking about your speed, smartass,'' the hawk replied. ''There is no way you're that fast.''

''You clearly don't know who you're talking to. I'm Sonic the Hedgehog, known The Fastest Thing Alive,'' Sonic bragged, pointing with his thumb at his chest. ''There's hardly anyone who can match me.''

''Hmph! You may be the fastest creature on the ground, but in the air, with me and my hoverboard, you're just a joke!'' the hawk replied, pointing at himself. ''I'm Jet the Hawk, The Legendary Wind Master and there is no one who can beat me in a race, especially not some pathetic rookie racer.''

After Jet the Hawk nearly runs over Sonic with his hoverboard, he then ticks off the hedgehog by belittling him and bragging about being faster than Sonic, calling the latter a pathetic rookie racer. As it turns out, while Sonic is normally laid-back and chill around people, there is something about Jet’s attitude that actually manages to piss him off.

''I'm doing better at hoverboard racing than you think,'' Sonic replied, but Jet laughed at him.

''Tell that to someone who is actually cares,'' Jet replied. Sonic could feel the sense of annoyance bubbling inside him, but he kept his cool. From their conversation, he gauged that Jet was one of those arrogant types who was quite confident in his skills and was also able to back up his claims. Nevertheless, he was sure that he could deal with Jet, but for now, he just wanted to select a track so he and his friends could race. However, before he could do anything, two more ARNavs flew up to them, joining Jet.

One of them was an anthropomorphic swallow with light and dark purple feathers that covered her body and head. Her hair was styled like a pair of long braids. On her arms near her wrists were light purple fire-like markings. She had a golden-curved beak, light purple eyelids, cobalt blue eyes, and two tail feathers. For attire, she wore a white kerchief, white gloves that possessed visible lining with golden bracelets and red lining, a white tube top, and dark purple flare-designed white trousers. She also wore red boots with white accents and gray soles, a white necklace with a red utility gem, and gray sunglasses with gold lenses.

The other ARNav was an anthropomorphic albatross of hulking physique with gray feathers and white feathers covering his body. On his arms near his wrists were dark gray fire-like markings. He had light blue eyes with red and black markings around it, a golden beak and his hair was short. For attire, he wore tan gloves that possessed visible lining with black bands, small goggles with yellow frames and white straps, a brown necklace with small gray pieces, and black, yellow and white sneakers with sock-like cuffs and gray soles.

''What are you doing, Jet? We had sent you to select a track ages ago.''

''Is this guy causing you any trouble, Boss?''

Jet is joined by two of his teammates, Wave the Swallow and Storm the Albatross, both who are wondering what’s taking Jet so long to select the track, with Jet’s show of superiority being interrupted by Team Neos, who were worried about Sonic, and three other more humans who are with Jet, Wave and Storm.

It is revealed that the three humans are Chase Young, Jet’s partner; Rika Nakano, Wave’s partner; and Arven Pryce, Storm’s partner. The six of them form the Babylon Rogues of this universe.

Both Team Neos and the Babylon Rogues get into an argument when it is revealed that Lucas and Chase actually know each other (and by proxy, Chase also knows Warren) as they all knew each other as kids, with Chase having bullied Lucas for his introverted personality, calling him a shut-in and hikikomori. Jet immediately picks on his partner’s behavior by bragging about the superiority of the Babylon Rogues and getting annoyed that Sonic doesn’t recognize the name, calling the latter a Rookie, annoying Sonic greatly.

Even Rika and Wave get in on it by looking over Lucas’ hoverboard and pointing out the modifications, something Warren and Tails are quite proud of, only for Rika and Wave to mock them for the shoddy craftsmanship, pissing Warren and Tails off and sparking another rivalry.

As for Arven and Storm, Arven actually isn’t that antagonistic towards Lily as much as he develops a crush on her on first sight, with Knuckles telling him off and getting into a stand-off with Storm.

Makoto, Silver and Amy are a bit worried about the situation, with Minami pointing out how fighting won’t achieve anything, with Jet agreeing and deciding to settle their feud in a Tag Team Race, something everyone agrees to, with Team Neos being confident that they will win.

Unknown to Team Neos, Touka and Shadow were at the Solar Stadium the whole time, albeit not in the mood to engage with their fellow teammates. They had observed the whole argument between Team Neos and the Babylon Rogues, their brows furrowed when Team Neos accepted the challenge to participate in a Tag Team Race.

''They don't know what they got themselves into,'' Touka said, her hoverboard leaned against a seat as Lucas, Sonic, Warren, Tails, Lily and Knuckles approached Chase, Jet, Rika, Wave, Arven and Storm, while Minami, Amy, Makoto and Silver sat on the bleachers. A holographic screen appeared above the racing track, allowing them to follow the race between Team Neos and the Babylon Rogues while they were inside the AR Field. Touka glanced at Shadow. ''Do you think that we should've warned them?''

''No,'' Shadow replied curtly, arms folded across his chest. ''If Sonic believes that he can win this, he can try.''

''Don't tell me that you're annoyed that he's racing against Jet,'' Touka said, rising an eyebrow. Shadow scoffed.

''Tch, if I wanted to race against him, I would've done it already,'' Shadow replied, shooting a glare at Touka. ''I'm merely curious about his performance in this kind of race.''

''So, you're actually hoping that he'll win?'' Touka asked, looking intrigued. Shadow didn't answer, focusing on the screen ahead instead, with Touka just shrugging. However, knowing her little brother, even if he didn't want to admit it, she was aware that Shadow was hoping Sonic and his team would win against Jet and the Babylon Rogues, even if the odds were clearly stacked against them.

Unknown to Team Neos, Touka and Shadow are actually at the stadium, having watched their little feud with the Babylon Rogues and don’t appear to be too optimistic about Team Neos’ chances in a race against the Babylon Rogues, even if they do hope that their teammates will win.

''Hey, Makoto, what are the exact rules of a Tag Team Race? I did hear about it, but I don't really know any details,'' Silver asked as he, Makoto, Amy and Minami were observing their friends prepare themselves for the race.

''Well, in a Tag Team Race you usually have two teams, each consisting of six members, racing against each members. Those six members consists of pairs of a human partner and ARNav and to win the race, at least one pair needs to cross the finish line. If only the human partner or the ARNav crosses the finish line, it doesn't count as a victory, so they have to work together,'' Makoto explain. ''Also, in Tag Team Races, you can find Power Boxes as you go through the track, which can help you gain advantage in a race. To use them, the human partner needs to touch one, while the ARNav activates it, so once again, teamwork is important here.''

As Makoto explains to Silver the rules of a Tag Team Race and Minami and Amy cheer on their friends, Sonic/Lucas, Tails/Warren, Knuckles/Lily & Jet/Chase, Wave/Rika & Arven/Storm have some pre-race banter (with Arven even making a bet and asking Lily for a date if the Babylon Rogues win the race).

The race starts, and while at first, Team Neos and the Babylon Rogues seem to be on equal ground, it quickly turns out that the track the Babylon Rogues have chosen is actually the most difficult track Solar Stadium has to offer, a track known as Wayward Dimension, which changes areas as they pass through them. Unlike Team Neos, the Babylon Rogues have way more experience with this, taking a huge lead and leaving Team Neos to struggle, with Jet and Chase winning over Sonic and Lucas, leaving Team Neos humiliated by their defeat.

Sonic and Lucas are especially hurt by their defeat.

''Technically, we could, but…'' Lucas trailed off, sighing. ''We might not be able to beat them at all. I had never raced in Wayward Dimension and if they can handle a track like that, maybe we can't catch up to them at all.''

''What if we train? We could familiarize ourselves with it,'' Sonic suggested, not wanting to give up yet.

''Unfortunately, the Babylon Rogues still have more experience,'' Knuckles pointed out, with Sonic falling silent as he thought about it. He really wanted to wipe Jet's smug smile, but it was clear that there was a huge gap between their own experience and that of the Babylon Rogues'.

''It is impressive that you had managed to last as long as you did, but you would've ultimately lost the race regardless of what you did. You were doomed from the start.''

Team Neos suddenly looked up, surprised to see Touka and Shadow walking up to them.

''We figured that one out already. You don't have to rub salt in the wound,'' Lucas said bitterly, staring at Touka. Meanwhile, Sonic turned to Shadow, who had his arms folded across his chest.

''Were you guys watching the whole race?'' he asked.

''Yes, and I had expected better from you,'' Shadow said sternly. Sonic's ears were pinned back as his eyes narrowed, staring at Shadow. Both were silent for a moment, appearing to be quite tense.

''I know, and if I get another chance, I would show you and everyone that I can go beyond my own limits,'' Sonic replied, his tone uncharacteristically serious. To his surprise, Shadow smirked.

''I'm certain that you would,'' he said, unfolding his arms, giving his rival a determined gaze. ''That's why I'm challenging you to a race.''

''What?'' Sonic was stunned, his expression matching that of his friends.

''If you manage to beat me, then you'll be able to beat the Babylon Rogues,'' Shadow continued, ignoring the looks everyone was giving him. Sonic stared at him for a moment, wondering what Shadow was trying to accomplish with this, but he then nodded, figuring that his rival must've had a good reason behind this proposal.

''I accept your challenge.''

As they think about their defeat, they’re approached by Touka and Shadow, with Lucas asking them to not rub salt into their wound. Instead, Shadow addresses Sonic, challenging him to a race, much to Sonic’s surprise. Realizing that Shadow might be up to something, Sonic agrees to the race.

While the rest of Team Neos is confused by Shadow’s challenge, trying to figure out what kind of point he’s trying to make, Sonic questions Shadow about his intentions.

''Wait a second, Shadow… What are you trying to do?'' he asked.

''I'm trying to prove a point,'' Shadow replied, with Lucas noting how this wasn't an explanation of what he was up to. He turned to Touka with a questioning look, who shrugged.

''Maybe you should just watch the race,'' she said, beckoning to them to follow her to the bleachers. Meanwhile, Sonic and Shadow prepared themselves for the race, Sonic having selected Tempo City as their racing track and still wondering what Shadow was up to. He trusted his rival, but that didn't mean he didn't have any questions. However, he was confident he would get an answer.

''You said that if I want to beat Jet, I'd have to beat you first,'' Sonic said, stepping on his hoverboard. ''But, last time we raced against each other, we always ended up in a tie. So, where's this confidence coming from?''

''I had some practice since last time,'' Shadow replied, already standing on his hoverboard. Sonic grinned at the idea of having an even bigger challenge. Both looked up at the holographic screen above flashing from red to yellow to green as the AR Field formed.

READY? SET! GO!!

As Sonic and Shadow kick off their race, Shadow shows that he had become much more skilled at hoverboard racing, courtesy of his training with Touka. He comments on how Sonic still isn’t focused, questioning him about his own desire to race against the Babylon Rogues, with Sonic being left confused by his question.

''Hmph.'' Shadow briefly glanced back, slowly down slightly so he and Sonic were racing roughly at the same speed, with Sonic rising his eyebrow as Shadow addressed him, ''Why have you accepted the Babylon Rogues' challenge? What was your plan for beating them?''

''Huh?'' Sonic blinked at first, saying the first thing that came to his mind, ''Well, I was trying to outspeed them? Isn't that the point of a race?''

''Maybe in a Solo Race, but not in a Tag Team Race,'' Shadow replied, kicking off and using one of the accelerator to the side to gain more speed. Sonic followed him, his eyes narrowing as his attention was fully on his rival, who had a holographic screen opened next to him. ''Think about it! How did you manage to win your previous battles? How did you defeat Dr. Eggman?''

Sonic gave Shadow a confused look, wondering why the ebony hedgehog was asking him that, but then thought about it for a moment. ''It wasn't just me… We all fought Eggman together and…'' He grinned. ''I had my friends supporting me.''

''Then, do you understand why you lost in a Tag Team Race?'' Shadow asked, with Sonic rolling his eyes.

''Yeah, I do. Thanks for the lesson, Shads,'' Sonic replied, the latter bit being slightly sarcastic. Both of them then used another stream of wind to exit the tunnel.

As Shadow points out, Sonic and his friends never really had a clear strategy for what was supposed to be a team race, with Sonic realizing his mistake. They then get a bit competitive.

Meanwhile, Sonic and Shadow have entered the last part of their race, speeding down the street, with platforms floating above them. At this point, they were both going at the same speed, with Shadow drawing Sonic's attention by asking another question, ''What do you plan to do now?''

''First of all, I'm going to beat you!'' Sonic replied as he leapt onto an accelerator, boosting away. He was confident that he could defeat Shadow in this race, but to his surprise, the ebony hedgehog started weaving behind him, gaining momentum and using a nearby wall as a ramp to leap onto the platforms above them, then quickly boost down right in front of Sonic, once again taking the lead.

''Hey!'' Sonic yelled, but Shadow turned back to him with a smug smirk.

''Only because you have learned your lesson doesn't mean I'm going to let you win!'' he replied, the two passing only a few seconds later through the finish line, the AR Field behind them vanishing and both of them finding themselves back at the Solar Stadium; with Shadow being the clear winner.

Despite losing, Sonic didn't feel bad about it, as this was a race he had been looking for and he actually really enjoyed it. He turned to Shadow, who got off his hoverboard, holding up his hand curled into a fist. Shadow gave it an uncertain look at first, but then went along with the fist-bump.

After the race ends in Shadow’s victory, albeit with Sonic also being in good spirits, the dark hedgehog questions his rival about his plans. Sonic wants to come up with a proper strategy, challenging the Babylon Rogues again, but agreeing to train and prepare for this race. Touka points out how, even if the whole team worked hard to win, they’re still too inexperienced, as the Babylon Rouges have actually won the Tag Team Hoverboard Racing Tournament held in Mikado City two months ago, despite having participating in it the first time. In short, they’re professionals.

With the group wondering what they should do, Touka and Shadow offer to train them, much to their shock. Team Neos then learns that Touka is actually one of the best hoverboard racers in Neos City, pretty much on the same level as the Babylon Rogues, knowing all the tracks inside out, capable of giving advice to them that would help them improve. They accept their help, wishing to beat their rivals.

Meanwhile, as we check in on the Babylon Rogues, they’re in Chase’s room, lounging. Chase is bothered by the sudden challenge, but Jet assures him confidently that no one can beat them, with Chase agreeing, but still being annoyed by the lack of challenge.

It is revealed in a flashback that Chase, Rika and Arven participated in a Solo Race Tournament three months prior, where they ended up racing against Jet, Wave and Storm, only for the race to end up in a tie. While the tournament was already over, Chase and Jet keep challenging each other, trying to prove who the better racer is, while Rika, Wave, Arven and Storm are exasperated by their behavior.

''I was right ahead of you!''

''You were just touching my tail feathers! I won!''

Being still in the middle of their argument, Chase and Jet were startled by a high-pitched whistle, turning suddenly towards Rika, who was the one who had drawn their attention, Wave, Arven and Storm.

''Are you two done arguing?'' Rika asked, her expression showing that she was completely done with their bickering.

''Not until we determine who is the faster racer!'' Chase protested, then pointed at himself. ''Which is me, of course.''

''Hmph, you got to have a screw lose. I'm the fastest racer here!'' Jet replied.

''Look, Jet; considering how you had been trying to beat each other for three hours and still ended up in a draw, it is clear that both of you are equally good,'' Wave said. Frankly, she wasn't happy either about drawing with the other team, but at this point, she was too tired to care.

''Could we just go home? I'm hungry,'' Storm added.

''Honestly, we also just want to move on from this…'' Arven trailed off, doing a double-take and raising an eyebrow when Storm claimed that he was hungry. Why would an ARNav say anything like that? It's not like they could get hungry. Rika overheard it too, along with Wave, but Chase and Jet completely ignored the comment, still too focused on trying to prove who was the better racer.

''Maybe we could...''

''No.''

''But, just-''

''NO!''

Both Chase and Jet flinched when everyone just yelled in frustration. They just shot glares at everyone, before glancing at each other and yielding. Chase sighed, turning towards Jet.

''I have to admit, you're quite a challenge,'' he said.

''You aren't that bad either…'' Jet said in an off-handed manner, arms folded across his chest and facing slightly away from Chase. ''It is an accomplishment to be able to just keep up with the Babylon Rogues.''

''I wouldn't be here if I wasn't the best. Maybe we could compete against each other at a different tournament,'' Chase suggested, extending his hand. Jet glanced at it, seemingly hesistant for a moment, but he then extended his arm, shaking hands with Chase.

''Then we'll leave our feud for the next tournament,'' Jet replied.

''Unfortunately, I don't think either of you will be able to participate at the next tournament,'' Rika said, a holographic screen opened next to her, with Wave, Arven and Storm giving it a curious look.

''Why not?'' Chase and Jet asked in unison.

''The next tournament is a Tag Team Race and you, Chase, don't have an ARNav partner,'' Rika pointed out.

''The same goes for you too, Jet, since none of us have human partners, so we'll have to sit this one out,'' Wave added.

''That's just stupid,'' Jet commented, his eyes narrowed.

''I absolutely agree, but it's not like they're going to let us participate, unless…'' Chase said, suddenly trailing off, his eyes widening in realization. Next to him, Jet seemingly had to same idea as he made the same expression.

''Unless, we partner up,'' Jet finished Chase's thought.

''What?!'' Rika, Wave, Arven and Storm were a bit shocked by this suggestion. Admittedly, each team knew that their respective leader could make some wild decisions, but they didn't expect for both of them to come to the same conclusion.

''Honestly, I like the idea,'' Chase said. ''Tag Team Races are usually a lot more challenging than Solo Races.''

''And you know how they say, the bigger the challenges, the bigger opportunity for growth… as the best racing team, obviously,'' Jet added. ''We should go back to the blimp and discuss this.''

With Chase and Jet realizing that they have a lot more common than they thought, they agree to team up to become the best racing team in the world. Chase, Rika and Arven also learn that Jet, Wave and Storm are Irregular ARNavs, but they couldn’t care less about it. Also, the Babylon Rogues are still thieves, but are currently focusing more on professional hoverboard racing.

Back at Solar Stadium, Lucas, Sonic, Warren, Tails, Lily and Knuckles genuinely have difficulty beating Touka and Shadow, who took the “show, don’t tell” approach in their training, refusing to tell them anything while also exploiting all the various shortcuts and tracks to win the race. The team does manage to improve, with Lucas and Sonic getting ahead of the two, but the last portion of the track catches them off guard, as it is a water hazard with a bunch of water spouts and a huge wave that crashes over the racers. While Sonic and Lucas slow down to avoid the wave, Touka and Shadow flying right into it, surfing the wave and winning again.

With the team taking a break (Minami, Amy, Makoto and Silver brought them lunch) and talking about the upcoming race, Sonic is confident that, even if he doesn’t manage to beat Shadow, he will beat Jet.

Skipping to the day of the race, Minami and Amy decide to treat it as a formal race by acting as reporters, with Makoto and Silver as their camera crew, and even ask Touka and Shadow for a comment on Team Neos’ chances in regards to beating the Babylon Rogues. Predictably, Shadow warps away, leaving an exasperated Touka to be the one to comment on it.

''May we hear your opinion regarding Team Neos' chances against the Babylon Rogues?'' Amy asked, pointing her microphone towards Shadow, while Minami pointed hers towards Touka. Shadow simply folded his arms, closing his eyes for a moment and playing it cool.

''Touka will explain everything,'' he said, then promptly vanished in a flash of cyan light, leaving a baffled Amy.

''Wait a sec- Shadow!'' Touka groaned when Shadow just warped away. She was fuming. ''I don't think I should even be surprised that he threw me under the bus… again!''

''Um, could we at least get your thoughts on the race?'' Minami asked, smiling sheepishly. Touka sighed.

''I already said it yesterday, Team Neos has a fighting chance as long as they stick to their strategy,'' she replied.

''What about the Babylon Rogues? You had told us that you figured out how they worked,'' Amy said.

''Right. Usually, people in a Tag Team Race try to stay close to each other in order to help their teammates. However, the Babylon Rogues have developed a strategy where Chase and Jet are in the front, while Rika, Wave, Arven and Storm stay behind other racers to keep them from reaching the former two. It is quite effective as the other team has now two things to worry about, and with their attention divided, things can get quite difficult for the opposing team,'' Touka explained, glancing at Team Neos in slight worry.

After a few more interviews with both of their friends and the Babylon Rogues, as well as dragging Jet away from the microphone before he could tell his whole life story, everyone settled down in their places. Sonic, Lucas, Tails, Warren, Knuckles and Lily were at the start line alongside Jet, Chase, Wave, Rika, Storm and Arven, while Amy, Minami, Silver, Makoto, Shadow and Touka were at the bleachers, waiting for the race to start. They weren't the only ones there, as there were other people who got interested in this particular race.

''You'll be eating my dust, Rookie,'' Jet told Sonic, grinning smugly.

''I'm simply here to have some fun,'' Sonic replied casually. Jet frowned, scoffing when Sonic didn't get annoyed as he usually would. Both groups then focused on the screen above them.

READY? SET! GO!!

The race kicks off, with Team Neos showing off the results of their training, managing to throw the Babylon Rogues into a disarray. However, the latter team manages to make a come back, with Wave/Rika and Storm/Arven keeping Tails/Warren and Knuckles/Lily busy, leaving it to Jet/Chase and Sonic/Lucas to win the race when they enter the water hazard area.

Chase and Jet, meanwhile, had managed to speed past Lucas and Sonic, who were well aware that entering a certain area would trigger the rogue wave.

''Looks like you're going to lose again!'' Jet turned his head back, in attempt to taunt Sonic, but to his surprise, he was nowhere to be seen. His and Chase's jaws dropped when the rogue wave appeared, with Lucas and Sonic riding right on it, leaping off and landing ahead of them, exiting the AR Field and crossing the finish line. They turned around, spotting Chase and Jet placing second, followed by Lily, Knuckles, Warren and Tails, with Arven, Storm, Rika and Wave follow them.

''You were saying, oh Legendary Wind Rider?'' Sonic mocked Jet, a smug smirk on his lips.

''It can't be! How could I lose to a Rookie?!'' Jet snapped, furious over his loss. He observed as the rest of Team Neos joined Lucas and Sonic, all of them celebrating their victory. He and Chase were joined by Rika, Wave, Arven and Storm, all stunned by their loss. Jet was still fuming, but looking at his teammates and partner, he couldn't help but feel a wave of disappointment. He was supposed to carry this team to victory and now, they were a bunch of losers. It felt like any of their previous experiences had been nullified by this one loss.

''Jet, are you-'' Wave started, but was cut off by Jet.

''Tch! If we lost, we lost! Just know that these guys got lucky!'' he replied in a off-handed manner, slightly surprising his teammates. Sure, he was something of a sore loser, but he wasn't going to let anyone know that. Instead, he walked over to Sonic, who was celebrating with his friends. Sonic spotted the green hawk staring at him, waiting for some kind of response. ''Don't you have anything to say?''

''Oh, right! That was an exciting race, dude!'' Sonic replied, extending his hand, much to Jet's surprise. ''We should race against each other sometime again.''

Jet was genuinely surprised that Sonic didn't attempt to mock him for his loss, staring at the latter's hand for a tense moment. He then scoffed, but did shake Sonic's hand.

''I guess you really are a challenge. Next time, I'll beat you,'' Jet told him, with Sonic just grinning back. Meanwhile, Chase approached Lucas.

''I gotta say, you actually surprised me,'' Chase admitted, with Lucas giving him a confused look. ''For someone who isn't athletic, of course.''

''I had help from my friends,'' Lucas replied, a smile forming on his lips. Chase looked like he was about to say something else, but he didn't, instead just walking away.

Using the trick they had learned from Touka and Shadow, Lucas and Sonic manage to speed past Chase and Jet, winning the race. Chase and Jet are obviously frustrated about their loss, but given Sonic’s cheerful attitude, Jet manages to calm down enough to acknowledge Sonic as his rival, with Chase acknowledging Lucas’ skills. The rest of Team Neos and Babylon Rogues join them, having moved on from their mutual feud and learning that they’re all Irregular ARNavs after Storm complains about being hungry. In the end, both teams agree to another race, where the loser has to treat the winner to lunch.

''Hey, I'm hungry. How about we go eat something?'' he asked. This seemingly innocent question drew the attention of Team Neos, who gave the Babylon Rogues a questioning look. Chase, Jet, Rika and Wave just face-palmed.

''Wait, normal ARNavs don't get hungry… Are you Irregulars?'' Makoto asked in a hushed tone, making sure none of the other racers heard them. Jet, Wave and Storm froze, unsure how to respond because they knew what the consequences of merely existing as an Irregular were, but then Jet stepped ahead.

''So what if we are? Are you going to call the Hunters on us?'' he asked. Sonic snorted.

''Why should we? It's not like were regular ARNavs either,'' he replied. It took them a moment, but the Babylon Rogues realized that Sonic and his friends were also Irregulars. As for their human partners, they were a little worried regarding dropping this bombshell. However, before anyone could say anything, Sonic quickly broke the ice by approaching Jet and elbowing him. ''How about another race? Loser treats the winner to lunch!''

''You sure you wanna risk a rematch? I promise you right now you'll regret it!'' Jet responded, following Sonic to the start line. Their teammates just exchanged glances, wondering how they should even address the situation. Finally, all of them just shrugged, deciding to just ignore the whole situation and move along.

After all, there was another race waiting to happen.

The Babylon Rogues

Jet the Hawk

Jet the Hawk is a recurring character of Sonic Cyber Revolution. He is an Irregular ARNav based on his in-universe video game counterpart and is the partner of Chase Young.

Known as the Legendary Wind Master, Jet is highly arrogant, confident, conceited and holds high standards. He has a massive ego, considering himself the fastest, and holds everyone else in low regard, often bragging about his skills. While he is willing to praise others, he usually makes his compliments short and follows up with an insult.

Jet is usually very rude and disrespectful and has a snide sense of humor. He enjoys insulting others and rubbing his victory or other's losses in their faces. He is extremely prideful and protective of his reputation, not wanting to look bad. He is also a sore loser and refuses the pity of others as he considers it a direct insult to his character. Regardless, he stands by his losses, even if it was because of unexpected events, and will work hard to overcome them. He also despises those who are faster or more confident than him.

Mostly, Jet is laid-back and nonchalant, though he chooses not to show this to people he does not explicitly know, as he is too prideful to show his less-likable traits. While he knows his duties as the leader of the Babylon Rogues, he does not take his responsibilities very seriously and remains unconcerned in the face of issues. However, he knows when to assert his authority. As a team leader, Jet is strict, has little tolerance for failure and dislikes showing any sign of weakness to anyone. While he gets along in general with his Wave and Storm, he tends to get annoyed by their shortcomings.

While he does show a sense of level-headedness, Jet still has a short temper, often ignoring Wave and Storm's frequent arguments. He can also be very greedy and selfish when some kind of treasure is in play. Taking enormous pride in winning, Jet opposes cheating and strives to win fairly by using his own skills, and he genuinely enjoys racing worthy opponents.

Despite having started out as rivals, Jet becomes partners with Chase Young, having acknowledged the latter’s skill in hoverboard racing, with the two getting quite well along due to having similar personalities. Both strive to be top racers, wanting to win with their races their own way and are quite in sync in a race.

Jet has developed a rivalry with Sonic the Hedgehog, scoffing at the latter’s title of The Fastest Thing Alive and wanting to prove himself that he is way faster than the hedgehog. While he had a somewhat antagonistic relationship with Sonic at the beginning, Jet eventually starts respecting Sonic’s skills and is always eager to race the latter.

Chase Young

Chase Young is Jet the Hawk’s partner and, alongside the hawk, the leader of the Babylon Rogues.

Arrogant, confident and always on the search for a thrill, Chase shares a similar mindset to Jet in wanting to prove himself to be the top hoverboard racer using his own skills. Chase considers himself a top racer, not believing that there is anyone better than him, at least until he meets Jet, who matches him in both skill and ego. Despite this similarities, Chase shows a bit more level-headedness than Jet, being actually the one to think things through.

Chase is actually the son of the CEO of a company that designs and builds hoverboards. Feeling that he needs to uphold his family’s reputation, Chase often travels around Starpoint Area along with Rika and Arven to show that he is the best racer there is, participating at various tournaments. Despite his victories, he does feel a sense of hollowness, as he feels that there really isn’t anyone who can match him aside from Jet, seeking someone who he could call his rival.

This desire for finding an equal was actually what drove Chase to bully Lucas Kinomoto when they were younger, whom he knows due to both attending the same class at school. Chase saw potential in Lucas, but due to the latter’s introverted nature, he became frustrated, calling him a shut-in. Lucas doesn’t know the reasons for Chase’s bullying, but he has moved on from it over time, with the two eventually meeting again on the race track during The Babylon Rogues Arc. After Lucas finally shows the potential Chase saw in him, Chase develops a sense of respect for him, with the two having a friendly rivalry.

Wave the Swallow

Wave the Swallow is a recurring character of Sonic Cyber Revolution. She is an Irregular ARNav based on her in-universe video game counterpart and is the partner of Rika Nakano.

Wave is the technical and mechanical expert of the Babylon Rogues, and because of her knowledge on hoverboards, Wave is brimming with self-confidence and can be a bit of a trash-talker and highly critical of others' work with hoverboards. She hates thick-headed or stupid people and she tends to give advice only she can understand. Regardless, Wave is level-headed and serves as the voice of reason in the Babylon Rogues, though she can be mistreated by the other members, Jet in particular.

Wave often refuses to admit others' talents with hoverboard mechanics due to her dislike of anyone who could rival her. She often holds back on her compliments and will either continue to dismiss or deny that the person has any skill at all to cover up any sense of generous gesture she may hold. In the cases she does give compliments, she will disguise them as insults. It is only in the rarest of cases that Wave gives well-meant compliments.

This honest attitude is something Wave only shows around Rika, as both share the same passion in hoverboard tech and taking charge of the team to get anything done. Wave is very serious on a job, staying dedicated to the task at hand, and insists on no lack of dedication from her companions. When things do not go as planned, however, she tends to get impatient. Also, she can be quite stubborn and obstinate when making a decision, and unlike Jet, she is not above cheating to win a race.

Wave has also developed a sense of rivalry with Miles “Tails” Prower, having insulted the fox for the work he and Warren had done on Lucas’ hoverboard, even though she does acknowledge that their “shoddy craftsmanship” is genuinely good, showing a bit of jealousy that the two are good technicians. After their race during The Babylon Rouges Arc, while Wave is frustrated about her loss to Team Neos, she becomes less antagonistic towards them, and is willing to give a genuine compliment to Tails.

Rika Nakano

Rika Nakano is Wave the Swallow’s partner and, alongside the swallow, a member of the Babylon Rogues.

Rika shares a similar role to Wave, being the technical and mechanical expert for the human side of the Babylon Rogues and is very prideful and passionate about her work. She respects Wave and her work as a technician, but will give an attitude to everyone else, being highly-critical of their work with hoverboards.

Rika is the most grounded of the group, keeping Chase and Arven focused on the task at hand and has no issue getting into an argument with Chase if things don’t go their way, often losing her patience with the two. Nevertheless, she is quite loyal to her companions and shares their passion in hoverboard racing.

Her desire is to work at the company Chase’s father owns as a hoverboard mechanic and designer, which is why she accompanies Chase on his journeys.

Rika has also developed a sense of rivalry with Warren Taylor, which is an extension of Wave’s rivalry with Tails, as she sees Warren’s work with hoverboards as beneath her own, shooting insults at him. However, after Warren proves himself to be quite skilled in hoverboard racing, she does acknowledge him as her equal.

Storm the Albatross

Storm the Albatross is a recurring character of Sonic Cyber Revolution. She is an Irregular ARNav based on his in-universe video game counterpart and is the partner of Arven Pryce.

Storm is the muscle of the team, being a hulking individual that possesses incredible physical strength, enabling him to destroy just about anything in his path. In general, Storm is somewhat dim-witted and slow on the uptake, but makes up for it in raw power. He is Jet's most loyal follower and right-hand man, referring to the former as “Boss”. As such, he is always ready for Jet's assignments. Despite being committed to his duties though, Storm has a quick temper, and his clumsiness constantly succeeds in embarrassing himself and his teammates.

When confronting others, Storm takes on a rough and tough attitude by making threats of payback and/or beating up the people in question, in an effort to daunt them. Whenever Storm gets excited, flustered or ill at ease, he tends to stutter, sometimes become gradually speechless, and will drop whatever façade of toughness he may have at that point, and acts like a bumbling and discouraged individual that easily succumbs to the orders of others.

Storm is also quite close with Arven, supporting the latter in doing whatever he wants, which is usually romancing Lily. The two treat each other as best buddies, sharing a similar role in the team and are willing to go along with whatever their leader says. However, Storm does have a tendency to unintentionally insult Arven whenever he attempts to compliment him, which the latter takes in stride.

Storm has also developed a rivalry with Knuckles the Echidna, mainly because he believes that the latter stands Arven’s way of trying to get a date with Lily. However, after being beaten in a race by Team Neos, Storm does start showing a degree of respect for Knuckles, becoming less antagonistic towards him.

Arven Pryce

Arven Pryce is Storm the Albatross’ partner and, alongside the albatross, a member of the Babylon Rogues.

Arven stands as the tallest of the group, having an imposing figure and sharing the role of the muscle alongside Storm. Arven, while certainly less dim-witted than Storm, is still a follower, not having much of an ambition aside from going along with whatever Chase says. He does like to throw his weight around to intimidate other people, and he shares a passion for hoverboard racing with the rest of the group.

Arven is quite laid-back, having a go with the flow attitude, and is quite close with his partner, Storm. He does have a tendency to not think things through, being quite blunt with his statements, which can get him into trouble. Being around Storm, he is usually subjected to some kind of unintentional insult on his partner’s part, as Storm tries to compliment him while also making things worse, but Arven takes this in stride. He is aware that Storm just means well.

Arven has developed a rivalry with Lily Crystle. Well, not a rivalry as much as a one-sided crush on his part and during their first encounter, he challenged her to a race which, if he won, she would go out with him on a date. Naturally, Lily refuses, leading to Arven being focused on crushing her in the race. However, after Team Neos beats him in the race, Arven does back off from her. While he has stopped directly pursuing her, Arven still nurses a crush on her, hoping for the two to get along.

Insert Themes:

Catch Me If You Can by Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (Theme of Babylon Rogues/Theme of Jet the Hawk)

Sonic Speed Riders by Sonic Riders

Links:

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Sonic Cyber Revolution Analyzer: The Final Haunt Arc (Part 1) - Rouge the Bat

With the truth of Project Shadow looming over them, Shadow and Touka are forced by Mephiles the Dark and Toshiro Miwa to once again to confront their past, while the rest of Team Neos deals with Dr. Eggman’s newest scheme. Fortunately, they find an ally in the form of Rouge the Bat, renown treasure hunter and spy.

Chapters

Entry 22: The Treasure Hunter

Entry 23: Stop & Rewind

Entry 24: Artificial Life

Entry 25: For Your Sake

Entry 26: The Chosen One

Entry 27: Never Turn Back

This analysis of The Final Haunt Arc focuses on Entry 22: The Treasure Hunter, as the chapter is an introduction to Rouge the Bat into the story, a recurring character who is a rival to Knuckles the Echidna and ally to Team Neos.

The story kicks off with Rouge the Bat stealing a pink jewel from a vault inside a mansion in the middle of the night, lamenting the lack of challenge when it comes to security.

At the same time, Warren and Tails have finished their analysis of the data they had gathered at the Codex Research Facility, calling Touka and Shadow to ask them for permission to rely the information to the whole of Team Neos, as the information, while personal to the two, would be important for the whole team. The siblings agree.

The next day, as they’re on their way to the Taylor Workshop, Lily and Knuckles talk to Minami and Amy about the recent break-ins where the thief had stolen a bunch of jewels. Since Lily’s mother, Lauren, collects jewels and gemstones, she is afraid that her own collection might get stolen. However, Knuckles, as the Guardian of Lily and by extension the Crystle Mansion, is confident that he would be able to prevent this from happening.

As Team Neos gathers at the Taylor Workshop, with Warren and Tails telling them about the information they had gathered. They point out how research on Irregulars was permitted up until the incident where Shadow caused the shut down of the Codex Research Facility, with the main directive being the research of the origins of the Irregulars and how to control them. The two reveal how Prof. Sakamoto actually had a contributor to his research, but it had been redacted, so they don’t know who this contributor is. Warren and Tails then proceed to explain what exactly Irregular ARNavs are according to that research:

''The reason for that is because Irregulars are literal errors that appeared in the current system. They are amalgamations of stray data that has been caught between an AR Field and the real world, glitching out and forming into an Irregular. That also explains why we have no memories of anything before awakening. We're literally not supposed to exist,'' Tails explained. There was a moment of silence, with his teammates exchanging glances, being rather surprised, but at the same time, they seemed to be more accepting of that fact. With all the things that happened to them, this may not have been as shocking as it was supposed to be.

''That would explain why so many Irregulars have appeared in Neos City, since this place is filled with AR Fields,'' Sonic pointed out.

Tails simply nodded and continued, ''There is something else I want to add. According to Prof. Sakamoto, it is actually almost impossible for an Irregular to be artificially created. It wasn't elaborated on why though, but I have a couple of theories regarding that. More importantly, the remaining data shows that there had been several unsuccessful attempts of creating an artificial Irregular that they would be able to control, hence why I said that it's almost impossible to create one. However, thanks to the anonymous contributor, there was one, and only one, successful creation.''

As if on cue, everyone turned their heads towards Shadow. The ebony hedgehog wasn't too keen on all of the sudden attention he got, opting to just scowl and ignore it. They knew about his and Touka's past, as they had told them, and he wasn't going to answer any unnecessary questions.

They move onto the topic of BioEnergy, revealing how Prof. Sakamoto actually attempted to weaponize Irregulars via Project Shadow which, as Touka points out, failed spectacularly.

''Hmph, it is ironic that what the Professor couldn't achieve, you have managed to figure out,'' Shadow said suddenly, ignoring the looks he got.

''You mean, Chaos Surge?'' Lucas asked. Shadow nodded, then noted Sonic's curious look.

As Shadow points out, Team Neos had actually managed to achieve what Prof. Sakamoto failed - weaponizing BioEnergy alongside Irregulars via the use of Chaos Surge.

Later that night, Knuckles rummages through the fridge for grapes as he wanted to eat a late night snack. He walks past the hobby room, where he finds Rouge stealing a red jewel from the display case.

''Who are you and what are you doing with that jewel?'' Knuckles confronted the intruder. The bat ARNav gave him an intrigued gaze, still holding up the red jewel.

''My name is Rouge the Bat. Better known as the treasure hunter, Rouge,'' Rouge introduced herself, then tilted her head slightly as she gazed at Knuckles. ''And, who are you, handsome?''

''I'm Knuckles the Echidna, the Guardian of the Crystle Mansion, and you have no business being here,'' Knuckles responded, trying to ignore the ''handsome'' comment. Rouge put her fingertip on her lips, acting as if she were surprised.

''Oh, really? I had no idea!'' she said, walking around Knuckles. The red echidna was scowling, arms folded across his chest as he observed her circling him as if she was checking him out. ''I had just found some beautiful jewels and I just couldn't resist taking a closer look at them.''

''You got your chance to take a look at them, now give me back the jewel and leave before I make you leave!'' Knuckles warned her, but Rouge didn't appear to be particularly threatened.

''Don't worry, I was planning on leaving, but not without a souvenir,'' Rouge replied casually, brushing with her hand against Knuckles shoulder as she walked past him. Knuckles tensed for a moment, shivering feeling a chill down his spine, but then quickly turned towards Rouge.

''Give me the jewel back,'' he demanded. Rouge smirked, placing one hand on her hip as she turned towards him.

''Why don't you take it by yourself?'' she replied, holding the jewel up. Knuckles stepped towards her, but Rouge stepped back. Frowning, he stepped again towards her, reaching for the jewel, but Rouge leapt back. Now annoyed, Knuckles lunged at Rouge, but she quickly flapped her wings, flying up and causing Knuckles to crash into a nearby display. He shook his head, looking up at Rouge as she hovered above him. ''Huh? Is that all you've got?''

''You'll pay for this!'' Knuckles growled.

''I'm sorry honey, but I don't have any money on me,'' Rouge teased him, then winked at Knuckles. ''Would a kiss be enough?''

''Wh-ah, no!'' Knuckles stammered, his cheeks taking a sudden shade of red, being caught off guard by Rouge's question. Rouge took advantage of this, doing a two-finger salute and quickly flew out through the skylight.

''I'll be seeing you later!''

Knuckles just stared at the skylight, completely stunned. Suddenly, a pit formed in his stomach, followed by the sensation of dread as he realized that Rouge had just escaped with the jewel he was supposed to protect simply because he froze. He hated it.

Knuckles attempt to stop Rouge, but Rouge manages to stop him by simply flirting with Knuckles, who completely freezes as he has no clue how to deal with her. He is trained in combat, not how to handle flirting.

The next day Knuckles in a sour mood as he talks to Lily, who recognizes Rouge from the Sonic video games and tells Knuckles not to tell her parents about it, deciding to put Team Neos on the case in order to capture Rouge and force her to return the stolen jewel. They meet up with the rest of the team at Heizeru Park, discussing what they would be doing in regards to ambush Rouge if she returns again to steal more jewels, with Lucas coming up with a plan.

While Team Neos is busy with Rouge, Dr. Eggman overlooks Ferra and Metal Sonic’s training with the Chaos Surge. He himself had been busy with the fallout of infecting the Buddy Bots with a virus, letting the android he created, Dr. Tamago, do the talking to the public and the investigators. He knows that people wouldn't so easily trust the company after what had happened, but after some time passes, everyone would forget about it, not knowing at all that The Eggman Empire is associated with the Tamago Corporation.

Dr. Eggman is gleeful about getting the attention of Sonic and the rest of Team Neos, as this way, he can finally focus on conquering Neos City while playing his own game of cat and mouse with the hedgehog. He meets up with Toshiro and Mephiles, revealing that he is in contact with Prof. Sakamoto, who actually works for Dr. Eggman at a separate Egg Base. He orders Toshiro and Mephiles to attack Team Neos, simply to keep them busy while he keeps working on his own plans.

Back at the Crystle Mansion, Team Neos has set up a trap for Rouge, with Makoto, Silver, Minami, Amy, Touka and Shadow patrolling outside, Warren, Tails, Lucas and Sonic guarding the entrances to the hobby room and Lily and Knuckles standing guard inside the hobby room.

Knuckles is still bitter about his failure to protect the mansion from Rouge’s theft, but Lily manages to cheer him up, noting how Knuckles isn’t bothered just by his failure, but by something else as well.

''I brought dishonor to my status as your Guardian. While I swore to protect you, this also extends to your home. I deeply apologize for my failure,'' Knuckles added solemly, staring ahead. Lily gazed at him, a sympathetic look on her expression, and shifted closer to him. ''All I want is to fix my mistake.''

''Knux, listen… You haven't failed anything,'' Lily told him in a comforting tone. Knuckles just frowned harder.

''You're just stating that to make me feel better,'' he responded. Lily just rolled her eyes, humming.

''Yeah, you're right, I do want to make you feel better because I feel like you're too hard on yourself,'' she admitted, tilting her head. ''Also, I think there's a bit more to it than you just losing a jewel to Rouge.''

Knuckles stiffened, a slight shade of red tinting his cheeks as he clenched his fists tighter. He then looked at Lily. ''Do you swear you won't tell anyone about what I'm going to tell you?''

''Of course not, cross my heart and hope to die if I ever do,'' Lily replied, with Knuckles sitting next to her, crossing his legs and taking a deep breath as he placed his hands on his knees.

''I believe that Rouge has somehow charmed me… or at least she put me under a hex,'' Knuckles started. Lily gave him a surprised look.

''What do you mean by that?''

''During our encounter, we had a conversation and I… I started feeling weird, to the point that I just froze. I'm ashamed to admit that I wasn't able to do anything at the moment and my inaction allowed Rouge to escape,'' Knuckles admitted.

''Was it something specific you guys were talking about?'' Lily asked, prying for more details to make sense of the situation. Knuckles shook his head.

''I… No, I just told her to hand over the jewel and she started to act weird and… bewitching, I suppose,'' he replied, remembering how he shivered at Rouge's touch. Lily stared at him for a moment, gears turning in her head as she processed the information, then snorted in amusement.

''I think I understand what's going on,'' she said. Knuckles gave her a confused look.

''You do?''

''Yeah, and rest assured, Rouge didn't put a hex on you,'' Lily assured him.

''Then, why-?'' Knuckle's voice died in his throat. Frankly, he felt quite foolish. He sighed, leaning back against the display case. ''I feel as if I should focus on my task rather than think about what had happened.''

''If you want to do that, that's okay. I'll be with you the whole time. If Rouge appears and tries to 'charm' you again, I'll have your back,'' Lily assured him, holding up her fist towards Knuckles. Knuckles smiled, lifting his arm and doing a fist bump.

''Thank you,'' he replied, grateful for Lily's presence. Whenever he felt like he doubted his actions, she was there to clear his mind and give him a proper direction. Sure, he was supposed to protect her, but he had to admit that he was content with Lily looking after him.

As it turns out, Knuckles believes that Rouge has somehow charmed him, causing him to freeze and feel weird around her. Lily quickly figures out that Knuckles either has a crush on Rouge or it’s just his inability to deal with someone flirting with him, with Rouge taking advantage of that. She promises him to have his back next time this happens.

Hours pass, with Team Neos falling asleep on guard duty. As it turns out, Rouge had been waiting for this to happen, observing the team from outside. Once she is sure that everyone is asleep, she sneaks into the hobby room, attempting to steal a green jewel.

Rouge had to admit that they looked kind of cute like this. Unfortunately for them, she was planning to leave this place completely empty. She walked up towards the display case, reaching for the green jewel inside it, only to get startled when a gloved fist grabbed her arm. Her eyes widened as she stared at Knuckles, now fully awake and glaring at her.

''I… I thought you were asleep,'' Rouge said, completely stunned.

''No, you have been tricked,'' Knuckles replied. To Rouge's surprise, Lily suddenly got up, giving her a victorious look.

''I had figured that you might stick around, which is why I told everyone to meet up at Heizeru Park to talk about what we should do. Once we were done, I just sent everyone a message about the actual plan, which was to bait you here,'' Lily explained. Rouge smirked.

''You're a smart cookie, sweetheart,'' she said, ripping her arm out of Knuckles' grip and stepping back.

To her surprise, she gets grabbed by Knuckles, with Lily revealing the true plan. Having a hunch that Rouge would spy on them, Lily suggested they all pretend to fall asleep to lure her into a false sense of security, something Rouge praises her for. When Sonic, Tails and Knuckles attack her, she throws a smoke bomb at them, attempting to escape through the skylight, only to be stopped by Silver and Shadow. She manages to get past them, as well as dodging Amy’s attack, only to see Knuckles flying after her on his own hoverboard, with the two resuming their chase in the city.

''You know, I had a lovely time playing with you,'' Rouge said, avoiding the punch and going for a kick in the gut, but Knuckles managed to catch her leg.

''I'm not pleased with any of your games,'' Knuckles responded, holding onto Rouge's leg and swinging her around before letting her go. Rouge flew back, but used her wings to stop herself, hovering on the rooftop.

She was about to attack Knuckles, when she and the echidna suddenly heard the sound of buzzing. They looked up, surprised to see a swarm of wasp or bee-like robots, which suddenly started to fire lasers from their stingers. Knuckles and Rouge dodged the laser blasts, being pushed back towards the edge of the rooftop. Rouge then flew up in an attempt to escape the barrage of laser blasts, only for one to hit her right in the right wing. She cried out in pain, finding herself plummeting towards the street below her. Rouge closed her eyes, aware that she couldn't fly herself up due to her injured wing and already accepted her fate, when she suddenly felt someone grabbing her. She forced her eyes open, stunned to see Knuckles carrying her bridal style and gliding towards the ground. She realized that she probably jumped after her when she got hit.

''Y-You saved me?'' Rouge stuttered in awe as they landed safely on the ground.

''You may be getting on my nerves, but I'm not going to let you die,'' Knuckles replied. Rouge stared at him, feeling her heart racing. ''Are you okay?''

''Uh, I am…'' Rouge replied, her mind fuzzy and her cheeks slightly red. She was stunned that Knuckles had saved her, despite the fact that he made it clear that he disliked her. ''You can let me down now.''

''Oh, right,'' Knuckles mumbled, letting go off Rouge. Both looked up at the wasp-like robots, which flew after them. Knuckles glanced at Rouge. ''How about a truce until we take care of those robots?''

''Gladly,'' Rouge replied, both turning towards their common enemy. She flapped with her injured wing, feeling a sting of pain, but she figured she could handle it.

During their fight, they get attacked by Buzz Bombers (sent my Toshiro and Mephiles), which shot down Rouge, only for Knuckles to save her. Rouge is quite stunned that her rival had saved her from falling, slowly developing a crush on him, with the two agreeing to a truce to deal with the robots.

After getting some help from Sonic, Silver and Shadow, as well as the rest of Team Neos arriving on the scene, Knuckles suddenly realizes that Rouge is gone.

Knuckles turned to Rouge to see what she had to say, only to realize that she was gone. He looked around frantically, only to see her suddenly fly down and holding her bag, having gone to the rooftop to pick it up.

''It appears that our truce has come to an end,'' Rouge said, turning to Knuckles. She was startled when he suddenly held her hand, a faint blush tinting her cheeks as she looked at Knuckles in astonishment. However, the strange feeling of fuzziness came to an sudden end when the echidna threw her over his shoulder and slammed her right into the ground. Rouge felt her back ache, but it didn't stop her from jumping on her feet and yelling at Knuckles, her face red, ''What the hell was that for?!''

The echidna warrior was taken aback by her sudden outburst, a look of guilt forming on his expression, ''I-I thought we'd be continuing our fight.''

Rouge groaned, rubbing her temples, then reached for her bag and took out the jewel, tossing it at Knuckles. ''I hate to part with it, but I guess I need to repay you for saving my life. You can have it back.''

Knuckles was genuinely stunned to see the red jewel back in his hands, looking down at it, then back at Rouge. ''I'm sorry… for hurting you earlier.''

''Don't worry, Big Guy, it's fine. I've been through worse,'' Rouge replied, blowing a kiss at him and then flying away. ''Bye!''

Knuckles stared at her as she vanished into the night, still a little stunned, with Lily approaching him. ''Are you okay?''

''I'm fine,'' Knuckles replied, still trying to process what just had happened. He was glad to have managed to get back the jewel and be done with everything, but at the same time he felt as if his interactions with Rouge weren't over yet.

As for Rouge, she managed to find a good spot on a building, allowing for her injured wing to rest. She sighed, enjoying the cold breeze that cooled the burnt spot and gazed down at the streets. While she felt a bit bitter for returning the jewel to Knuckles, she realized that it didn't really matter. As a matter of fact, she had a lot of fun tonight and she was looking forward to interacting more with Knuckles and his friends.

''I guess I had finally found my match.''

After some misunderstanding between her and Knuckles, who believed they were done with their truce and supposed to continue the battle, Rouge returns the jewel she stole as a thank you for saving her life. Knuckles is a bit stunned that Rouge would do that, feeling that this is indeed the beginning of something.

As for Rouge, while a bit bitter about the loss of the jewel, she admits that she had a lot of fun tonight, finding her match in Knuckles and looking forward to interacting more with him.

Rouge the Bat

Rouge the Bat is a recurring character of Sonic Cyber Revolution. She is an Irregular ARNav based on her in-universe video game counterpart and is an ally of Team Neos and the leader of Team Dark.

Rouge strong-minded female bat with a collected and convivial voice. She is, in short, an enigma, as her motivations are always in question. In truth, she is usually just out for herself. She is incredibly smart, sassy, and seductive, and knows how to get what she wants. Once she has a target in mind, she always goes for it, regardless of the costs. Beneath her ditsy exterior though, she is a calculating realist and her motives are always mercenary in nature. Regardless, she is loyal to her closest friends.

Rouge is a renown treasure hunter, insisting on being called that instead of a thief (even though she technically commits theft), and a spy, having a weakness for jewels which she always obsesses about. She is quite skilled in combat, stealth and infiltration, possessing both super-level kicking power and flight.

While Rouge typically looks out for her own interests, she becomes a valuable ally to Team Neos, teaming up more often than not with them whenever there is some kind of crisis and giving them hard-to-access information.

Rouge’s unquenchable thirst for gemstones tends to land her often in hot water with Knuckles, as she has a tendency to specifically target the Crystle Mansion. She shows to be very carefree and has a playful devil-may-care attitude around Knuckles, often flirting with the echidna. This tactic is usually used to get Knuckles’ guard down, as he doesn’t know how to respond to Rouge’s flirting, but it appears that Rouge might actually have genuine feelings for him, showing a bashful side whenever she actually gets a response from the echidna.

Rouge’s rivalry with Knuckles brings her a lot of entertainment, as she likes to interact with him, but she can also get exasperated by his clueless nature whenever she tries to show her true emotions in regards to him, a sentiment she shares with Lily.

During The Team Dark Arc, Rouge forms, along with Shadow, Omega and Touka, Team Dark due to the circumstances they find themselves in. Rouge acts as the de facto leader of the team, being the one to handle finding missions, the briefing and information gathering. It should be noted that, while Team Dark is officially disbanded at the end of the arc as a team acting within the ARMS organisation, Rouge reforms the team later on, calling Shadow, Omega and Touka to help her with whatever mission she finds for them. She also shows to care a lot about her teammates, looking out for them whenever necessary.

Rouge also owns Club “Rouge”, a club that also has her apartment above it. Club “Rouge” also serves as the headquarters of Team Dark, where the team is usually briefed for missions. When not on a mission or a treasure hunt, Rouge is the one who manages it, with Omega working as the bouncer.

Insert Themes:

Fly in the Freedom by Sonic Adventure 2 (Theme of Rouge)

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Sonic Cyber Revolution Analyzer: The Ultimate Life Form Arc (Part 1)

After being awakened by Ferra and Metal Sonic, Shadow decides to take revenge on those who wronged him and his only friend, Touka, by destroying Neos City, unaware that Touka has lost her memories. Lucas, Sonic and their friends try to stop him, but unknown to either sides, it appears that there is someone else pulling the strings.

Chapters

Entry 4: Project Shadow

Entry 5: The Looming Shadow

Entry 6: Chaos Surge

Entry 7: Countdown To Destruction

Entry 8: The Illusion Of Hope

Entry 9: Live and Learn

''Project Shadow has been a success, a true scientific masterpiece. We will be finally able to control and study an Irregular. He will help us revolutionize AR Field and ARNav technology.''

Shadow the Hedgehog suddenly opened his crimson eyes, which briefly glowed in an orange tint, staring ahead with grim focus. He gazed down, realizing that his arms, legs and torso were cuffed with steel shackles. However, a moment later, the stasis pod slowly opened and he was released from his restraints. 

He stepped out of the stasis pod, taking a look at the room as he tried to remember the owner of that voice, but winced when he found a bolt of sharp agony spreading through his body. Memories of the past flashed in his mind, but the only clear ones were those of the pain he felt, of a strange man in a lab coat looming over him, and the paralysis he had experienced.'

'They say that you are too dangerous, but they have no idea what you are really capable of. You are what humanity needs. You are Shadow, the Ultimate Life Form.''

The Ultimate Life Form Arc is an adaptation of Sonic Adventure 2, with Shadow the Hedgehog being the main antagonist of this Arc. The story starts right off the end of the previous Arc, The Metal Irregular Arc. To recap, after receiving a message from an anonymous person, Metal Sonic and Ferra find the abandoned underground Codex Research Facility, which is analogous to the Space Colony ARK, being unknowingly manipulated to free Shadow from his stasis pod in their search for a way to defeat Sonic.

Upon waking up, Shadow starts exploring the abandoned Codex Research Facility and is met by a flood of memories of his time there.

From what he could remember, he was the resulting creation of Project Shadow. The project's purpose was to create an Irregular ARNav, short for Irregular Augmented Reality Navigator, that could be controlled and studied in a safe space at the underground Codex Research Facility, with the project being overseen by Professor Hiroshi Sakamoto. This was due to the increasing number of Irregulars that would start turning up and causing chaos across the entire Starpoint Area by attacking humans and leeching of their BioEnergy, their life force, leaving many comatose and some even dead. Shadow was supposed to be the answer to this ongoing issue.

In Sonic Adventure 2 and Shadow the Hedgehog, it was revealed that Shadow had been created as both a cure, a way of achieving immortality, and a weapon of mass destruction for the Black Arms. In Sonic Cyber Revolution, Shadow’s origins are tied to the existence of the Irregulars, with Professor Hiroshi Sakamoto (whose character is analogous to Professor Gerald Robotnik) attempting to learn more about Irregulars and how to control them properly. The origins of the Irregulars will be explored later on in detail, but it can be said that Shadow is one of the only two artificial Irregulars in existence, as of now.

Another character that is tied intimately to Shadow’s backstory and character is Touka Kageura, whom we had already met in the previous Arc, although little was known about the role in the story. It is revealed that Touka had actually Shadow’s best friend and older sister figure, making her character analogous to Maria Robotnik, albeit with several key differences, one being the fact that Touka was never plagued by a terminal illness.

Through Shadow’s flashbacks, it is revealed that he and Touka made a promise that, once Project Shadow had been finished, they would leave the Codex Research Facility and visit the world outside. However, they couldn’t fulfill it due to an accident that led to the shutdown of the Codex Research Facility.

Suddenly, they were alerted by a blaring siren, followed by red flashing lights. Touka and Shadow looked at each other, both stunned, their hearts racing when they heard the following line: ''IRREGULAR ESCAPED! LOCKDOWN PROTOCOL INITIATED!''.

''We need to leave!'' Shadow grabbed Touka's hand, dragging her down the hallway. 

[...]

''Shadow!''

Touka's cry of concern drew the Irregular's attention, along with Shadow's. As he tried to get up, he felt a hand on his shoulder, realizing that Touka was trying to help him. Both heard the Irregular snarling viciously, with Shadow sensing a surge of energy crackling through his body and empowering him. His eyes started to glow in an orange and red, with the energy surging through him and there was only one thought on his mind – he needed to protect Touka.

That is my mission!

Suddenly, everything became a blur of red and black, interwoven when screams and cries of agony. Shadow's mind went completely blank, as if he was in a trance or more of a frenzy, as he focused on his one and only mission, unable to comprehend what was going on until everything was over. When he came back too his senses, he realized that he was breathing heavily, the Irregular lying on the ground, so badly beaten it was flickering in and out of existence. As he looked up at his surroundings, he saw that the entire room had been destroyed, the surface being covered in scorch marks.

What have I done?

One day, Shadow and Touka are alerted to a lockdown of the facility due to an aggressive Irregular escaping from one of the research areas. Their attempt to find a safe room leads them to run into the Irregular, who eventually corners them in a a room, forcing Shadow to fight back to protect Touka. However, during the heat of the battle with the Irregular, Shadow accidentally drains Touka of her BioEnergy, defeating the Irregular and leaving Touka near death.

Shadow felt his blood freeze in his veins when he saw Touka lying on the ground, her face pale as snow. He ran over to her. ''Touka, wake up! Please, wake up!'' he pleaded, trying to shake her awake, his eyes widening when he felt a weak pulse. ''No, please! Wake up! Wake up!'' Shadow felt the corners of his eyes watering as he tried to figure out what to do to help her.

''Sha-dow…''

''Touka…'' Shadow gasped when he saw Touka opening her eyes slowly, at first relieved, only to realize that her pulse was slowly weakening. ''Touka, please stay awake! I'll get you help!''

''It's not… your fault… Shadow…'' Touka forced a weak smile. Shadow stared at her in dismay, a tear flowing down his cheek. The feeling of hope he had was crushed by cold reality when Touka closed her eyes, her pulse vanishing.

Shadow is in a nearly catatonic state as he witnessed the death of his sister at his own hands, only to be forcefully dragged away from her body by the security when Prof. Sakamoto finds them. He still holds onto a silver of hope that she may have survived, as help arrived soon after, but is later told by Prof. Sakamoto that she has indeed died.

This was the only hope Shadow had and he was holding on it for dear life. At this point, everything that had happened felt like a nightmare and he hoped that someone would finally wake him up from it. Minutes felt like days, but eventually, Prof. Sakamoto arrived to talk to him.

''Professor, how is Touka? Have you managed to help her?'' Shadow desperately asked him, but Professor Sakamoto remained silent, his expression unreadable. Shadow immediately backed off, wondering if the Professor was angry at him. It wouldn't be surprising, considering what he had done. He lowered his head, casting his gaze to the side, his ears folding. ''I… I didn't mean for this to happen. I was only trying to protect Touka and… and things got out of control. But, she…'' Shadow clenched his fist, looking back at the Prof. Sakamoto. ''She is going to be okay, right… Right?!''

''You won't see her ever again. Your actions, the absorption of her BioEnergy, resulted in her demise.''

These words caused Shadow's blood to freeze. At that moment, something shattered inside of him. Prof. Sakamoto continued talking, but Shadow didn't listen, still in a state of shock. He couldn't believe that his only friend, the only person in this whole facility who had genuinely cared about him, was dead… and it was all his fault.

''…despite the unfortunate circumstances, your energy output had been quite impressive. Uncontrolled, but impressive nonetheless. I am quite certain that we will find a way for you to learn how to perfect your combat skills,'' Prof. Sakamoto said, not even registering the fact that Shadow's emotional state changed from pure shock to tranquil fury, his quills bristled. ''You will follow me back to the lab. We still have a couple of tests to go through…''

''No.''

''What was that?''

Shadow still remembered Prof. Sakamoto's cold glare as he faced the hedgehog. Did this man really not care that someone so close to him had died? Did he really believe that Shadow would act as if Touka's existence meant nothing to him?

''I said no, Professor. I refuse to participate in any more of this research project.''

Shadow felt his blood boiling, cold fury flowing through his body. Why would these people even care? To them, he was just a science subject. All they wanted were results, not giving a damn about how he felt, how Touka felt…

The cold and callous manner with how the Professor dismissed both Touka’s death and Shadow’s feelings enrages the dark hedgehog to the point he refuses to participate in the research project. When Prof. Sakamoto attempts to stop him from leaving, Shadow fights back, hurting his creator and going on a rampage through the Codex Research Facility, describing it as a “massacre”. He is eventually captured and put into a stasis pod, where he remained until his recent awakening.

While in Sonic Adventure 2 it was G.U.N. that raided Space Colony ARK and massacred everyone on board due to the government fearing Project Shadow, in Sonic Cyber Revolution, it was Shadow himself who hurt many people in a blind rage due to the death of his only friend. After he was captured and put in a stasis pod, the government of Starpoint Area quickly shut down the Codex Research Facility as they deemed the research on Irregulars to be too dangerous to be followed up on and even forbid any further study on Irregulars and their origins. Instead, Irregulars would be captured by Irregular Hunters and eliminated as swift as possible, while the existence of the Codex Research Facility was covered up and forgotten.

It also should be noted that this accident happened around 10 years prior to the beginning of Sonic Cyber Revolution (instead of 50 years, like in the games), meaning that there are survivors of this accident. It also begs the question to how Touka is still alive 10 years later when Professor Sakamoto told Shadow that she was dead and that Shadow himself killed her. This will be elaborated later on.

Having no leads on who freed him, Shadow decides to check the data logs to learn what happened in between him being put in a stasis pod and the abandonment of the Codex Research Facility. Most of the files are wiped clean, but Shadow comes across some hidden logs, explaining the nature of Project Shadow and that after the initial failures, Prof. Sakamoto was contacted by someone who promised him the necessary data and materials to create “The Ultimate Life Form”. He’s furious to learn that the plan was to eventually use him as a weapon by using Touka’s BioEnergy as a “Living Battery” to further empower him.

''Here is the last log,'' Shadow muttered as he started reading it, '''I am counting my last days at the Codex Research Facility, as rumor has it that it will be closed down soon. While I had declared Project Shadow a success, it was still far from over. I was able to create an Irregular of ultimate power, but unable to control it. The Irregular's emotional response in a situation of great duress is flawed, making him imperfect as a weapon, and if I had more time, I would've removed those inhibitions. I don't believe the authorities will discover the stasis pod, nor these logs. I refuse to let anyone destroy my work. I know that, if I had the opportunity, I would have found a way to bring my creation under my control. To whomever finds these logs, finish what I had started. Let the Ultimate Life Form fulfill its purpose – to serve the will of humanity as a tool of destruction'.''

Frustrated, Shadow got up, slamming his hands against the table as he felt nothing but pure hatred towards not only his creator, but towards humanity in general. Vivid memories of Touka's last moments filled his mind and he clenched his fists. Touka may have died at his hands, but if it weren't for this facility, for Prof. Sakamoto, she still would've been alive. She had never done anything to deserve such sad fate, to be seen as just another research experiment. He was disgusted by the scientists' selfishness and lack of empathy, and the fact that their priority was their own cruel ambition.

Had the Project been completed, we would've become mindless weapons; tools for humanity to use as they saw fit. Shadow's eyes narrowed as he stared at the screen, now showing him a map of Starpoint Area, Neos City in particular. If this is what humanity wanted me to be, then so be it. However, I won't let them use me. They will never control me.

He was the Ultimate Lifeform, an Irregular whose powers and abilities were beyond anything humanity has seen. He had nothing left to lose and nothing to live for, as the only person he cared about was gone. What would happen to him, he didn't know, but there was one thing he was certain about. Orange and red energy sparked up in the palm of his hand.

The humans will pay.

Overwhelmed with grief and rage, Shadow decides to make humanity pay for what they had done to him and Touka, seeing them as selfish monsters who deserve to be eradicated.

The scene cuts to Sonic and Lucas, who had explained to him that there is actually a Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise in-universe and how seeing ARNavs based on various mascots isn’t all too surprising. So, yeah. The crux here is Sonic the Hedgehog is a video game franchise in-universe, but has fallen a little into obscurity. Unless you’re a fan of the franchise, you’d probably not even know about it. Not to mention that Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Silver, Metal Sonic and Shadow are not the same characters as from the video games, but their own people. This will be elaborated on later in detail, especially since Lucas and Sonic run into a different problem.

They’re confronted by Irregular Hunters led by Commander Loki (a wolf ARNav), who tells his squad to attack Sonic because he’s an Irregular. Now, how do they know Sonic is an Irregular if Sonic literally has a device to hide his identity as one?

Well, just like G.U.N. in Sonic Adventure 2, the Irregular Hunters mistook Sonic for Shadow. Fortunately, they do have a better excuse for making this mistake, as Commander Loki only got the message that they’re searching for a hedgehog Irregular in the area and Sonic was the first one they came across. It doesn’t help that Sonic fought back, albeit in self-defense, which they mistook for aggression.

Lucas calls them out on their “mistake”, as they’re technically right about Sonic being an Irregular, but not the true culprit, which Loki apologizes for and leaves. As for Sonic and Lucas, they decide to investigate on their own, with Sonic finding the true culprit at Cosmo Bridge - that being Shadow, who beat up the Hunters who were after him and is now being confronted by Sonic.

This is Sonic and Shadow’s first meeting and they immediately get into a fight.

''Hmph,'' he said, an amused smirk on his expression. ''I thought I would take you down in one hit, but it seems like you're more resilient than I thought. What is your name?''

''I'm Sonic the Hedgehog,'' Sonic replied. ''You?''

''Shadow the Hedgehog,'' Shadow responded, clenching his fist as he glared at his opponent. ''I am the Ultimate Life Form!''

''Ultimate Life Form or not, you're going down, pal!'' Sonic ran towards Shadow, performing another spin dash. Unfortunately for him, Shadow decided to counter him with the same move, with the two hedgehogs ending up clashing in a race across the bridge several times, each trying to knock the other away. Sonic leapt back, with Shadow ramming into him, knocking him away. He then suddenly teleported away, kicking Sonic in the back, sending him flying. Then, he teleported again, punching him, with Sonic landing on the ground hard.

''Is that really everything you've got?'' Shadow asked, his eyes narrowing as he observed Sonic trying to get up. ''Pathetic.''

At first, they seem to be evenly matched, but Shadow eventually gains the upper hand, catching Sonic off guard with his warping ability and beating him into the ground, only to leave when Lucas arrives.

Shadow remained silent, his eyes narrowing as he observed the two. The reason why he was at Neos City was because he had a mission to complete, but he got distracted by the Irregular Hunters and decided to dispatch of those who stood in his way. So far, only Sonic had actually proved to be a challenge, even he couldn't match him in raw power. Shadow figured that he could just end the blue hedgehog right there and then, but then decided against it.

''I don't have time for these games; farewell!''

Sonic and Lucas stared at the spot from which Shadow had vanished, with Sonic breathing heavily as he muttered, ''Shadow… what is he?'' He turned to Lucas, who gave him a troubled look, as if wanting to answer but knowing that the answer would not help them much. Sonic's ears then twitched as he heard sirens in the distance. ''These guys really have bad timing.''

''We should leave before more Hunters show up,'' Lucas said, looking worried when he saw the bruises. ''Can you move?''

''Nothing is gonna stop this speedster,'' Sonic replied casually, only to wince as he felt a jolt of pain, holding his arm. ''Ugh…''

Sonic and Lucas also leave, not wanting to deal with the Hunters, with Lucas telling Sonic that if Shadow is really like his video game counterpart, he’s a huge threat, having recognized his teleportation ability as Chaos Control. Now, the Chaos Emeralds don’t exist in this universe, but Shadow does have several Chaos-related abilities in his arsenal, which will be detailed later on. Lucas decides to gather his friends to figure out how to deal with Shadow.

The scene switches over to Touka, who is dealing with flashbacks of disjointed memories she barely recognizes. To keep it short, Touka has amnesia, remembering little to nothing aside from the past six months she spent under the care of her guardian and adoptive mother, Kisaki Kageura. She has no clue where she came from or who her family is or even how she lost her memories, but she’s determined to find out what truly happened to her.

However, now that she had the time to think through everything, she felt that her memories were quite important and that she needed to remember her past life. She knew that there was something involving this ''Codex'', but she wasn't sure what it was. She also needed to find the black and crimson hedgehog-

Wait, what?! Touka's eyes widened when another memory flashed in her mind, the same one of the stasis pod, but this time showing her the figure inside it. Black and red quills, gloves with golden rings, eyes closed as he waited for his awakening… Touka sighed. No wonder I've been following Lucas and Sonic around. I guess my gut feeling really is on point. Once done with her breakfast, she quickly went to get her hoverboard and left the house. I need to go.

It is also revealed that she had been following Sonic and Lucas for a while now, mainly because Sonic reminds her of a friend she had seemingly forgotten.

''So, to sum up… First, we had to deal with Metal Sonic, and now we have to deal with Shadow?'' Lily asked, adding in a sarcastic tone, ''Who's next, Dr. Eggman?''

We then switch over to Sonic and Lucas talking to the rest of the group, briefing them on the situation with Shadow. They have no clue what Shadow wants, but have figured that he’s trouble and want to prepare for another confrontation with him and find a way to counter his Chaos Control.

Sonic and Lucas decide to try out the power-up they used during their fight with Metal Sonic, despite it being a risk as it drains Lucas of his BioEnergy and can endanger him. Fortunately, it works, and it comes with some interesting side-effects.

''It looks like this phenomenon doesn't only empower Sonic, but Lucas as well,'' Tails explained. ''Now, they don't only share Lucas' BioEnergy, but also Sonic's super speed.''

[...]

''I usually feel a surge of energy whenever this happens, so maybe we could call it 'Surge'?'' Sonic said.

''How about 'Chaos Surge'?'' Lucas suggested, with the rest of the group giving him a questioning look, with Lucas wondering if he said the wrong thing. Admittedly, Sonic was usually the one who would name stuff.

It is revealed that, by sharing Lucas’ BioEnergy, Lucas also gains Sonic’s super speed. They decide to name this phenomena Chaos Surge, which becomes the go-to power up whenever any Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy and Silver need an additional boost. The drawback to this boost is that it drains the human partners of their life force, meaning that they need to be careful regarding when and how they use it.

Later on, Touka spots Sonic and Lucas in their search for Shadow, but before she can follow them, she is confronted by Metal Sonic and Ferra, who question Touka’s reasons for spying on Sonic and Lucas while also spying on Touka herself. Touka explains she has amnesia, with Ferra then questioning her about the Codex Research Facility, believing Touka was the one who told her to free Shadow.

''No, I don't!'' Touka yelled back in frustration. ''I already told you, I have amnesia. My memories have just recently started to resurface and from what I understood is that I need to find a black and red hedgehog Irregular…''

Realizing that they could actually benefit from this, Ferra offers Touka to show her where the Codex Research Facility is and help her find Shadow, with Touka in return explaining how Metal Sonic lost to Sonic, and with both agreeing to those terms, we have now four factions, all with their own goals:

Sonic, Lucas, Tails, Warren, Knuckles, Lily, Amy, Minami, Silver and Makoto, who want to confront Shadow over why he’s here, believing he’s a threat (they’re not wrong).

Metal Sonic and Ferra, who want to learn who was the one who tricked them into awakening Shadow and have entered an alliance with Touka to learn how Sonic overpowered Metal Sonic.

Touka, who is dealing with amnesia, her memory being fragmented and disjointed and her only lead being Metal Sonic and Ferra’s knowledge of the Codex Research Facility, where she hopes to find Shadow and get some answers.

Shadow, who still operates under the belief that Touka is dead and basically wants to destroy humanity for what they have done to him. Considering how the Eclipse Cannon doesn’t exist in this universe, he will have to find a different way to get his revenge.

Shadow walked through Codex, his steps echoing through the empty facility. His exploration during the previous night had provided him with a lot of insight into Neos City. This was actually the first time he had visited it and while the had to admit that he was a bit in awe of what he had seen, he made sure to stick to his mission.

Scout Neos City and the AR Fields, assess its defenses and the probability of people being aware of Codex or any projects it had. Shadow entered the main control room, accessing the main computer. So far, no one knows anything and the Irregular Hunters are not an issue. If I play things right, I should be able to complete what I had started. His eyes narrowed as he started to comb through the remaining files concerning a different project. Despite the fact that Codex had been cleaned of most data and equipment, they still have left some useful items. However, I will have to return to Neos City to retrieve what I'm missing, since this project had been split up between the researchers at Codex and the Cyber Exploration Lab. Shadow leaned back, clenching his fist as he felt a familiar sense of rage bubbling inside him. Once I have what I need, humanity will stand no chance.

With that said, the rest of the story will be continued in The Ultimate Life Form Arc (Part 2).

Insert Themes:

Escape From The City by Sonic Adventure 2 (NateWantsToBattle Cover)

I Am… All Of Me by Shadow The Hedgehog (NateWantsToBattle Cover)

Live and Learn by Sonic Adventure 2 (NateWantsToBattle Cover)

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