#dont expect this to be a masterpiece btw i sorta winged it along the way

[sonicboomseason3]

I have an episode idea!

Ok so basically it’s about Shadow deciding to participate in a game show for some reason (my guess either for ego inflating reasons or a prize of some sort like a large sum of money or an ancient mech), but he doesn’t have anyone to fill out his local edgelord duties for him while he’s gone, he can’t have Sonic fill in for him, heavens no, he thinks Tails is like 3 and too young for the job, Sticks is too insane, Amy too pink I guess? And Knuckles is Knuckles. So who does he ask? Silver the hedgehog (and possibly Mephiles too), hilarity ensues.

ALKSDJLAJLFSJALJ HEY THIS COULD ACTUALLY BE AN IDEA i have some thoughts on how to expand upon this concept...... and so i created what you see below instead of making bullet points like a normal person

(takes place sometime after this post and this post)

. . .

"...and because I'm getting paid below minimum wage at my job, I applied for Veggies Gone Edgy," Shadow finished explaining to his audience.

Team Sonic was baffled. Shadow was standing in front of them, wearing sunglasses and yet another Hawaiian shirt and looking as self-assured as ever despite...everything he had just said. Veggies Gone Edgy? Seriously? That one game show hosted by Comedy Chimp where contestants make weapons out of celery sticks and asparagus and kick each other's butts with them?

"Who're you and what've you done with Shadow?!" Sticks demanded to know, brandishing her boomerang threateningly. The Shadow she knew would never resort to using pea shooters! He would just use regular shooters! "Which android are you?!"

One of Sonic's hands shot out to block her from tackling Shadow. He wasn't in the mood to watch one of his team members die. "Shadow, all I asked was why you were wearing that, and that didn't answer anything."

"It's part of the dress code." Shadow raised his sunglasses to rest upon his brow. "The theme for this episode is summer fun."

Sonic nodded slowly, absorbing the information. Forgive him if he was having a hard time reconciling summer and fun with Shadow the Hedgehog. "Okaaaay... and why are you doing this when you don't have to?"

"I told you, you daft idiot. I'm underpaid."

"I think what Sonic meant," Amy interrupted, "was that you don't actually need any more money. You can afford anything you want with what you currently have. You don't have to pay rent or anything, since you live in a cave."

"That's the great thing about living in nature!" Knuckles grinned before holding up a hand. "High five!"

Shadow smacked it away. Knuckles decided that counted.

"Fine, you got me. The truth is, I'm participating because Infinite, that pathetic, grungy, loser mutt who wears that freak mask to hide his ugly mug, applied in a futile attempt to prove himself as a bigger edgelord than me. I'm going to show him who's boss."

The others had no words.

"But because I'm going to be busy being edgy on set, I won't be around to be edgy around the village. Which is a problem," Shadow mused aloud. "Who else will be around to walk around hating everything? That's why I've called you all here."

"You want one of us to fill in for you?" Tails felt like he was picking up on what Shadow was putting down. "I don't think that's--"

Shadow snorted before he could finish. "Chaos, no. I don't need to even consider it for half a second to know none of you fools can measure up to my presence. I called you all here precisely so I could rub in why you're no good."

"Have you ever thought of considering why your attitude is no good?" Amy hissed.

"Never. For starters, you." He pointed a rude finger at her. "Your color palette is the least edgy thing I've ever seen. You're better off masquerading as a pony in some cartoon about friendship."

"Excuse me?!"

He redirected his attention towards Sticks. "You're not it because I don't need people saying that my substitute swims in the local landfill for sport."

Sticks sighed wistfully. "None of you will ever get it..."

"You, fox, are out of the question." Shadow looked down his nose at Tails. "You're 6 months old."

"I thought you said I was 3."

"So, you admit it."

Tails blinked. "Huh?"

"You admit you're 3."

"What? No. I'm just saying you think I'm--"

"You admit you're 3 months old."

"Three months? Nonono, hold on, when did--"

"As for the echidna..." Shadow trailed off as he peered at Knuckles, who smiled somewhat bashfully under his unreadable gaze. After a brief staring contest, the black hedgehog sighed and quickly moved on to the team's leader. "Last but not least, Sonic, you seem like the best option, but..."

"...But...?" Sonic prompted.

"I don't like you."

Sonic resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I saw that coming."

"And people confuse us to be each other enough already," Shadow added. "I don't know why, considering we look nothing alike."

Sonic nodded, a gesture that indicated surprisingly genuine agreement. "Yeah, that's always been annoying. That's a pretty valid reason, actually."

"Speak for yourself." Tails was still pretty put out over how Shadow was under the impression that he was aging backwards. Which was literally impossible, by the way. "If none of us are good enough for you, then who is?"

"No one is. Don't ask stupid questions," Shadow replied. "I know when to settle for less when I have to, though, so I have no choice but to ask someone outside of our usual circle."

Before anyone could ask him to explain himself, he starts making a beeline for the door.

Amy's eyes followed his retreating form. "Where are you going?"

"To destroy the world."

Team Sonic spent no more than 2 seconds freaking out over this blunt admission and getting their weapons out before a portal opened above them and dropped a familiar face in between them and Shadow, who stopped walking as soon as he heard the sound behind him. Still, he didn't turn around.

"Shadow the Hedgehog!" Silver glared, skipping all pleasantries. "I'm from a future where you destroyed the world and I somehow still exist even though my planet doesn't! I plan on stopping you, no matter what!"

"Ah, just the one I was looking for."

He faltered slightly at those unexpected words, but he refused to drop his battle stance completely. "Excuse me?"

"I need you to fill in for my edginess while I'm off participating in a game show." Shadow finally turned around to look him in the eye. "It's imperative that you succeed."

"Wh... Okay, I don't understand a word of what you just said, but why would I help you when you destroyed my world?!" Silver shouted.

"Do this, and your world will be safe."

"Shadow, you did not just create a whole timeline where you destroyed the world only so you could summon Silver here to act like you." Sonic was the first to break the stunned silence that befell his entire group. He couldn't believe this... Actually, never mind, he could. Shadow would do this. He would. "You really couldn't pick someone from the village in our time?"

"Do you think I can rely on any of those nitwits?" Shadow shot back.

"Do you think you can rely on Silver?" Sonic paused before turning to the newcomer. "No offense."

"None taken, but if this will really save the future..." Silver took a deep breath. Shadow wanted him to act edgy, did he? He still didn't get why, but he had a feeling that he shouldn't ask for more context. The Hawaiian shirt was already a red flag by itself. Lowering his voice in a poor attempt at emulating Shadow's own, he exclaimed, "It's no use!"

Sticks could detect any lame, overused meme from a mile away. "You're not funny," she told him, though her words were mainly aimed at the author who had just made him say such things.

"Ah, sorry..."

"We'll work on it. You just need to be in the correct mindset first." Shadow grabbed his soon-to-be replacement by the arm. "I'm taking you to get a dye job. I'm sure it'll help with everything else."

Before anyone could protest, the two of them teleported away in a flash of blue light.

"Guys..."

Sonic, Tails, Amy, and Sticks turned to face Knuckles.

"The more we interact with Shadow, the more I feel embarrassed to know him."

The others found that they shared the sentiment.