#ficlets be like: here's an idea I won't expand upon have fun

[cheetahsprints]

Prompt #6: Garden

Inspired by this post

• Sonadow Prompt Fills •

• Ambience Music •

*

Shadow waited. He scarcely glanced at the meteors passing through the endless sky.

Telling the passage of time was impossible.

The garden was not immune to its effects, though. That was the only sign. The flooring became cracked by some more persistent weeds that ate their way to the center. They crawled over Shadow's shoes until he couldn't see them anymore... those shoes that had been a gift from the Professor, the idea from his dear Maria. The columns faded and the paint chipped away. The robots that tended to the garden went defunct since no one came to repair them. As a result, the plants eventually wilted. Through all of that, Shadow barely moved more than a statue, aside from actions that were involuntary.

“Let’s play a game,” Maria had said, poking the dark red gemstone embedded in his chest. “You will stay here and stand very still. I’ll be back soon!”

So, he had waited. She hadn’t really explained the rules, he had soon realized upon reflection. However, it didn’t matter. He didn’t want to lose. He didn’t want to disappoint. He had to play the game the correct way, even though he knew she would never actually be angry with him.

He was the Ultimate Lifeform, designed to protect and heal. He could do such a simple thing as stay and stand very still. It was child’s play... literally.

He didn’t need food, but he eventually missed the taste and the feeling of being full. Enough time passed that his mouth grew dry and his tongue thick, without water. His muscles ached. He wouldn’t grow sick. He wouldn’t age. He wouldn’t perish like all of the flowers.

He missed their beauty, the rainbow of colors. He missed Maria’s voice, her fond looks, her laugh, everything. He missed the Professor too, because he didn’t appear either. No one appeared. The garden was theirs, him and Maria. The other scientists didn’t know about its existence.

He often wondered if he was playing the game right. Games usually ended before too long. Did he misunderstand something? Surely, it couldn’t hurt to give her a call and check… they could restart with more clarity…

Then, something new happened, finally, just before his decision was set into motion. A screen flickered on and disrupted the emptiness. It revealed a hedgehog with bright green eyes, a peach muzzle, blue quills, and a deep blue gem in his belly, the first face and splash of color that Shadow could feast his eyes upon in an unfathomable amount of time. His jovial voice caressed Shadow’s ears and lit the feeble embers inside of him. He spoke about harmony, about change, about freedom, friendship, and love.

He spoke about Maria Robotnik’s sacrifice to save the Earth.

He was ignorant of Shadow’s rage. He didn’t see Shadow punch the communicator to bits, bellowing with betrayal and agony. Shadow felt he was such a fool to have happily listened and watched her drift away.

The carefree blue idiot would feel Shadow’s fury when he descended to Earth, intent on destroying it. He and his silly little friends took a beating for having been there when Maria had gone on without him. Shadow was halted when he found out from the pink hedgehog that Maria’s greatest wish had been to protect the Earth and that was the purpose Shadow had originally been created to serve. However, the entity Black Doom had wanted to use Professor Robotnik’s resources for the destruction of worlds and later an organization of Earthlings wanted to weaponize his creations.

Shadow deflated into confusion and sorrow.

Sonic held him as he broke down and cried, feeling like a forgotten toy by the one he had loved most. He felt inexplicably safe in Sonic’s arms. He was a near stranger, yet it felt like Shadow was done waiting and had finally come home.

“She wanted you to stay safe,” Sonic reassured warmly. “She didn’t want anything to happen to you, and she probably hoped you’d get the idea and leave on your own, or that she’d be able to return to you when the danger passed. I’m so sorry, Shadow.”

“Thank you... Sonic...”

Perhaps, in time, his love could take a new form.

*