Chapter Text
“It all starts with this. A jewel containing the ultimate power…”
Shadow gazed at the emerald he held in his hand and admired the glow it cast around him. Getting it was both easier and harder than he thought it would be. Easy in the way everything was easy because nothing could stop him. Hard, because everything was disorienting. He contemplated what he'd seen of Earth so far as he sat on the G.U.N walker he'd come across. Those thoughts were quickly interrupted by someone… yelling? At him? Shadow gave a confused look at the blue hedgehog who was approaching him.
“Now I know what's going on! The military has mistaken me for the likes of you!”
“...What?” Shadow mumbled under his breath. What was that hedgehog talking about?
“So! Where do you think you're going with that emerald!?”
Shadow frowned and stood while clutching the emerald closer. This was quickly getting out of hand. He didn't want to fight someone just to fight, even if they were delusional enough to challenge him.
“Say something, you fake hedgehog!!”
What he didn't expect was his aggressor to be on top of the mech with him and in his face right after calling him fake. That was fast, way too fast. The sneer that had been forming turned to a surprised grimace while he called out the words that had already been on the tip of his tongue, “Chaos Control!” Time began to flow slower around him right after the command came out of his mouth. The blue hedgehog had started reaching up to grab the emerald out of his hand. Shadow frowned and quickly left him there on top of the walker mech while he climbed to the top of a nearby building. Once he'd put that little bit of distance between them, he couldn't help but turn around to study that hedgehog as time went back to normal.
“Woah… he’s fast…”
Shadow smirked and preened a bit.
“No… it's not his speed, he must be using the power of the emerald to warp! Hey! Cheater!! Wait until I get my hands on you,” the blue hedgehog shouted. “I bet you're nothing without that emerald, you cheating fake hedgehog!!” Shadow growled and shot back a retort, “My name is Shadow the Hedgehog. I am the world's Ultimate Lifeform. I'll…” No, no, he couldn't get caught up in a fight, he had to go. “There's no time for games. Farewell!” He drew upon the emerald’s power again and raced away. It was just a strange encounter. He'd never see that idiot again.
But try as he might he couldn't get that blue hedgehog out of his head. Just who was he? That speed of his wasn't normal, no matter which way he thought about it. Shadow found himself searching through documents, videos, news articles, anything he could get his hands on. It wasn't hard to find them. Everyone had something to say about a “fast blue hedgehog” whether it was good or bad. The latest footage was of him battling a monstrous creature made entirely out of water. At least, that was what the claims were... He watched a video showing something shining gold and fierce rushing towards it through the sunken ruins of a city again.
Apparently that was “Super Sonic”. Sonic the Hedgehog, overflowing with power from the chaos emeralds. There was no way it was real. Sure, he had that speed, but that? No, there was no way. Shadow doubted he was even all that fast too. What caught his eye more than that, though, was the battles with Dr. Robotnik he'd fought. The very same Robotnik he was currently allied with. He hadn't planned on seeing Sonic again anytime soon, but with how often those two crossed paths, perhaps he would. Something in him was hoping that he did now, just a little bit. Just so he could prove what a fraud Sonic was. Thoughts of putting that blue hedgehog in his place brought a smirk to Shadow’s face as he turned the computer he was using off.
She had seen the news and contacted Tails as soon as she did. Sonic the Hedgehog, a terrorist? Stealing a chaos emerald? There was no way that was true!! She and Tails had planned how to break Sonic out that very day. It wouldn't be hard to prove he was innocent, of course. Eggman had to have something to do with all this. She just had to find out where he came in… And find out she did! Specifically, when she bumped into someone she thought was Sonic. Eggman being there too hadn't been something she'd expected but she guessed it made sense now. After Tails had caused a distraction, she'd quickly run off to where Sonic had to be. One “borrowed” card key later…
Amy grumbled to herself as she crawled through the vents in search of her friend. That hedgehog had to be close. Her intuition hadn't failed her yet! Putting her ear to the bottom of the ventilation shaft, she listened for him again. There wasn't a lot of sound except for footsteps. The way they faded in and out sounded a lot like pacing. Carefully she pinpointed exactly which room it was coming from before peering through the vent cover. A flash of cobalt blue fur was all the clue she needed to see that her instincts had been right yet again! Amy cheered herself on mentally while she undid the cover and jumped down into the room. Just as she suspected, inside a bare and tiny cell stood Sonic the Hedgehog. He stared at her in confusion. “Wha- Amy?!”
“Shh! Keep your voice down,” she warned him, “But have no fear, Amy Rose is here! …Chaos, you smell awful. When's the last time you got a shower? They didn't let you have one?!” The pink hedgehog frowned at Sonic and put her hands on her hips. He crossed his arms in response and huffed. “It's not that bad! How'd you get here, anyways? I would’ve gotten out by myself!” The way he tried to brush things off was a little strange to her. There was no way he was getting out on his own. Or was it about the fact that he stank? Amy studied Sonic’s face and noticed a blush starting to creep over his cheeks. She then decided to just answer the question as she dug through her quills for the card key. “Well, if you gotta know, I caught a ride with Tails. Are you sure you don't need my help?” The key was waved in front of his face for emphasis. “It looks like you could use it!”
That only made Sonic grumble and do a few quick exercises to blow off steam. “The only reason I'm in here is because of that fake hedgehog!” Amy frowned as she thought for a moment. “Fake hedgehog? You mean… that black hedgehog?” She instantly got Sonic’s attention again by mentioning that. He held onto the bars of the cell with a tight grip. “Did you see ‘em? Where is he now?!” Amy tried not to frown more at just how agitated Sonic seemed to be. She attempted to lighten the mood a little bit while she unlocked that awful prison cell. “If I tell you, will you marry me?” “...What? No way!!” The quick laugh he made as he answered wasn't much, but it was enough. Amy giggled while she slid the card key through the slot. “I thought I had you this time!” The door to the cell opened slowly but without any issues. Sonic let out a sigh of relief that made Amy give him a sympathetic smile. “That black hedgehog came here with Dr. Eggman.” She glanced back at the cell he'd left and something about it caught her eye.
“What's with all the writing on the wall? Did you do that?” Amy asked him, but there was no answer. She turned and realized that he’d run off without saying a word. Her quills briefly flared from irritation as she ran after him as fast as she could. “Hey, wait for me, Sonic! Ugh, he’s such a brat sometimes!!”
Sonic sped through the rainforest in his rush to get away from any pursuers from the military base that loomed in the distance behind him. There had been a few that had been determined to catch him the last time he'd looked back and he'd been zipping around in circles and doubled back in order to shake them, if it was possible. He had to keep them occupied chasing false leads as long as he could if he didn't want to get thrown back in a cell! Thankfully, a quick glance behind him showed that there weren't any others hot on his trail anymore for the moment. The hedgehog finally let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and his steps gradually slowed until he was at a standstill in a small clearing. Birdsong and the scent of the forest surrounded him completely, giving him relief and the sense of safety that came with it. He was completely alone. Sonic stood there for a moment to think and get an idea of what to do next.
A warmth in his abdomen spread as the adrenaline wore off and Sonic bit at his lip. Of course all this just had to happen right when his heat started, didn't it? He could have been somewhere else, somewhere cozy while he rode it out in private. Somewhere… well, somewhere kind of like where he was right now. A devious idea struck the hedgehog as soon as he came to that realization. If he just kind of scratched at that itch here, then he could ignore it long enough to find Tails and Amy and get the hell off the island. Who was going to catch him here anyways? Sonic paused to listen for any sound that meant someone was around or approaching his spot. Hearing nothing, he smiled to himself self-assuredly. Nobody was going to catch him at all. The hedgehog peeled off his gloves first and set them inside his quills. His shoes, socks, shirt and shorts quickly followed and were slung nearby. With that done he sat and leaned against a nearby log. Briefly he took another quick glance around the area, his teeth set into his lip with anticipation. Nothing. Nobody would see or know.
Sonic let out a soft giggle and reached up to his chest. Gently he started to fondle one of his pert little breasts, a finger passing over the nipple. It sent an electric shock straight into his lower abdomen and made the heat so much worse. He groaned while he laid his head against the log and closed his eyes. His fingertip continued to occasionally roll over that sensitive button as he reached lower and lower with his other hand... With another finger, he brushed against his lower lips a few times until he couldn't stand to wait anymore. Sonic slipped his finger between the folds and rubbed the tip against the nub hidden inside. The shock made him suck in air, and he almost shouted for anyone close by to hear. Quickly he clamped his mouth shut to keep quiet as he kept rubbing himself off. Everything was just so much more sensitive when he was in heat; he wouldn't last much longer even if he tried to hold out. It wasn't like he was trying to anyway. A mild burst of pleasure went through his body soon after that thought and left him gasping for air.
“Chaos I needed that,” Sonic mumbled to himself as he slowly came down from the high of his orgasm. For now he felt some relief, just as he hoped he would. He just needed to start getting his clothes back on and jet. The last thing he expected to see when he opened his eyes was someone hovering over him. Red-streaked black fur and quills. Crimson red eyes. He'd been snuck up on, he didn't hear a thing- Sonic tried to quickly reach out and grab something to cover himself with while pushing himself up. A second later he found himself pinned down by the black hedgehog who had been staring at him. It was that same guy that had landed him in this mess to begin with! What was he even doing here!? Sonic was about to give the guy a piece of his mind, even if that would attract attention, when he felt a pair of lips collide against his own.
It usually took a lot to stun Sonic the Hedgehog into silence, but something as simple as being kissed without warning could do it easily. That and his body reacting to it with a fresh throbbing sensation in his abdomen rendered him immobile. Those lips gradually moved, drawing him into returning the kiss. A musky scent that made his nose twitch and brought his heat roaring back to life was drifting through his nostrils. Sonic didn't wait a second more before diving into that kiss even harder. He couldn't move his arms, but he didn't need to. Silently he begged entrance with a few licks to the other’s lips. The weight of the other hedgehog sank onto him while allowing what Sonic was asking him for. Tongue brushed over tongue. Sonic felt those sharp fangs that were hidden just out of sight. He breathed in more of that other hedgehog’s (‘Shadow’, his memory kindly provided) scent. It was driving him wild with a need he hadn't felt at all before, ever.
He glanced up to look Shadow in the eyes. It was clear that his own heated scent was having an effect on him as well from the way he was panting. The kiss ended abruptly though and Sonic whined at the loss. His complaint was quickly silenced when Shadow began using that mouth of his along his neck and onto his shoulder. The whine turned into a gentle moan instead followed by Sonic breathlessly calling out the other hedgehog’s name. Almost instantly he felt Shadow brush his hardened pouch against him through his pants and Chaos he was about to lose his mind. Sonic rolled his hips against Shadow's and spread slick everywhere in the process. He heard the other hedgehog grunt and felt it when his cock slipped out, even through the cloth barrier between them. His heat told him to get it inside as fast as possible. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew that was probably a bad idea. …But he'd never really been a cautious person.
Sonic leaned into Shadow and breathed in that delicious, strong scent that was driving him wild and let himself go. “Fuck me,” he choked out in a strangled, choppy growl. “Or I'm going to fuck you up.” Shadow growled back at him in a way that made him ache with need. The other hedgehog was wasting no time getting rid of his pants and lining himself up, though, and it wasn't long until the head of Shadow's dick was inside him. Sonic rolled against him with a soft moan in anticipation of being filled. Shadow grunted and pushed in deeper, but just a bit before coming to a stop. Something about how slow he was going pissed Sonic off. He was the one who'd been watching him instead of helping him the first chance he got, and now he was acting like he wanted to draw things out? No, he was having none of that.
“Don't you dare hold back on me, faker,’ he hissed into Shadow's ear. Shadow looked at him and blinked. “Faker?” he echoed, his face contorting as he bared his teeth. “Call me that again and you'll pay for it, hedgehog.” Sonic smirked back at Shadow. He knew he really shouldn't push it too much. He was very much at Shadow's mercy, here… But he blurted out a response before he could stop, he was too ahead of himself to stop and think. “Oh? What are you gonna do about it if I do,” the blue hedgehog quipped, “Faker?” Shadow snarled and pulled back only to thrust into him with savage force. Sonic cried out, half a moan and half a yell of surprise. He squeaked out another yell when Shadow bit him on his shoulder to hold him in place. The black hedgehog maneuvered their bodies until Sonic was flush against him and his legs were held apart.
Sonic had barely a second to notice the angry glint in his eyes before Shadow thrust into him again and set an unrelentingly brutal pace. “How's that,” he grunted after several minutes, pausing as he thrust harder a few times, “for fake?” Sonic wasn't capable of answering him clearly. That coiling sensation was back in his lower abdomen and he couldn't even warn Shadow about it. He was too lost in the feeling, the moment. His moans were the only answer the other hedgehog would get. Sonic glanced at him, though, and scoffed at the smirk on his smug face. It was several hard thrusts later that the blue hedgehog came with a loud cry. Shadow rocked into him a few more times before shoving his cock in all the way and holding him as close as possible. Sonic could feel it twitch before releasing a thick stream of seed deep inside him. Both lay together as the aftershocks went through them, connected and panting to catch their breath.
It was Sonic who caught him by surprise this time by kissing him on his lips. Shadow quickly and hungrily kissed him back, though, and reached up to gently brush his fingers over a cheek while he did. Hearing Sonic purr from his touch was like the sweetest music… Soon hands began to wander their way through quills and over fur as they both traded kisses in what was almost definitely a competition. One that Shadow was determined to win. He glanced at Sonic through half closed eyes before tilting his head a bit so he could kiss his neck. Then he pulled Sonic up against him so that he was in his lap. The blue hedgehog looked up at him curiously. “What are you doing now…?” Shadow only smiled back. Quickly he pressed his lips to the center of that soft chest and grinned when he heard a gasp. He wasn't going to stop there either, and carefully lifted Sonic above him. Both of those adorable little teats deserved his attention. So did that slightly pudgy abdomen. He gave them that and drew it out as much as he could until Sonic was pleading for him to just fuck him again. Shadow finally let him ease back down until he was back in his lap. Both of the blue hedgehog’s legs were unable to hold his weight now, which left him grasping desperately at Shadow's shoulders so he didn't fall. “I've got you,” Shadow whispered huskily as he wrapped his arms around him. “I've got you…”
He took a moment to admire his work. Sonic, gasping needily with swollen lips, his nipples pert and sensitive, marks all over his belly that he had made… Not to mention the bite mark he'd left on that once pristine shoulder. Shadow felt… satisfied. Prideful. Something dark that let him know if anyone else tried to claim Sonic from him right then, he would tear them apart until there was nothing left. That blue hedgehog was his. Lifting said hedgehog once more, Shadow carefully guided his throbbing dick to the other's entrance and pressed back into it slowly. As wet as it was there was no need for more preparation, but he was going to take things at the pace he wanted this time. Gently he rolled his hips while rubbing and massaging at Sonic’s back and outer thigh. Soft pants from ecstasy and quiet moans of encouragement kept him going. As if there was any way he would stop now… Shadow didn't speed up as he made love to his blue hedgehog, but every so often he slipped and bucked his hips roughly against Sonic. He was getting close to his release again.
Looking down and seeing the state that pretty face was in, it was clear Sonic wasn't going to last much longer either. With a sigh he slid his hands to grip both thighs so he wouldn't lose him and leaned to whisper in his ear, “I need you to hold on to me tight and don't let go.” In response, trembling hands slid over his shoulders until both peach furred arms were held in place. “Good boy,” Shadow whispered sultrily. Then he suddenly started thrusting into his lover hard and fast and without mercy. Sonic’s back arched as he cried out his name. The sound of it made his cock throb. “Such a good boy for me,” growled Shadow. “Taking me so well like this…” Hearing his hedgehog sob his name again at the same time that hot tunnel he was buried in squeezed his dick tight had him seeing sparks. It was enough to make Shadow cum hard inside of Sonic, filling his hedgehog with more of himself. There was so much that it started dripping out over those beautiful blue thighs. He didn't mind it... There was enough that it mattered. He wasn't thinking too hard about why it would, right then, but it did at that moment. They both lay there for a few minutes in silence and basked in the afterglow of what they'd just done. It was nice. Shadow almost forgot they were enemies for a moment as he leaned down and kissed Sonic slowly and softly, especially when that kiss was returned tenfold.
Then beeping of a hidden communicator startled both of them and made the two separate immediately. Both hedgehogs stared at each other for a second before each of them started reaching for their clothes. Dr. Robotnik’s voice came through the communicator loud and clear as they got dressed. ”Shadow, what are you doing? Hurry and get back here right now, before the island blows up with you on it!” Sonic turned to Shadow in horror as soon as those words registered. “Blows up!?” Shadow watched carefully as he backed away from Sonic with wide eyes and didn't say a word. Then he just sped away and disappeared into the rainforest as quickly as he'd appeared. Sonic glared in the direction he'd gone, but he couldn't chase him down now. He had to find Amy and Tails and get off this island, before it was too late!
Rouge the Bat was many things. Treasure hunter, master thief, excellent spy… One thing that she was not, despite that bit of trouble she'd just been whisked away from, was an idiot. Shadow the Hedgehog, self proclaimed World’s Ultimate Lifeform, might have been though. She gazed at him and his raggedy, scent-marked self with her arms crossed in clear disappointment. Shadow frowned at her when he noticed. “Why are you standing around like that?” he asked. “Well, it seems to me,” Rouge replied primly, “That you had a lot of fun with someone while we were supposed to be on a mission.” “...I didn't have fun with anyone.” Shadow crossed his own arms and looked out of the window towards Earth. “It was that cute little hedgehog girl, wasn't it?” Rouge continued as she walked back into Shadow's line of sight. “That's got to be why you smell like you were rolling around in the hay. You couldn't resist her-” “He's not a girl,” Shadow spat out. The bat stared at him in shock but wasn't about to let it go, even if it was clear he was getting angry. What he said meant only one thing.
“You- you can't be serious. He? Sonic the Hedgehog?! Shadow, that's- Oh Chaos you are an idiot. How did that even happen? Why?!” The black hedgehog groaned and hid his face in his hands. “I don't... I don't know. I just came across him, and something about being around him completely clouded my judgment- I couldn't help myself! He was just…. Right. There. Alone. I just- I couldn't leave him by himself! I had to do something… To help him? …Yes. Help.” “Helping is one way to put it,” the bat snidely commented to herself before speaking louder so her teammate could hear. “He was in heat, Shadow. His scent is all over you right now. You probably just “helped” your way into knocking him up.” Shadow lowered his hands and glared at her over the top of his fingertips. “Did you think I didn't know that after I came to my senses?” He grumbled.
“You’d better know it, especially since he's Dr. Eggman’s nemesis,” Rouge snapped back, then sighed and rubbed her brows. “If Sonic doesn't just get rid of it…” She looked back up at Shadow with a sigh. The black hedgehog stiffened and swallowed nervously. “You had better hope that the doctor doesn't find out about this,” Rouge warned, then went quiet. One of her ears swiveled towards the door. “He's coming this way. Looks like this conversation is over.” Shadow said nothing, and tried to ignore and shove everything Rouge had just said to him into a box before burying it as deep as he could in the back of his mind. He knew that with the way things would truly end, nothing would come out of his and Sonic’s encounter. …The thought of that made him feel cold.
Amy Rose was berating herself internally the entire way back from Prison Island. She should have known. She just didn't connect the dots in time to try to help. Sonic looked awful and he was clearly really upset too and now she knew why. He wouldn't really talk about it either, other than muttering something about a shadow. They all had to run from the military and the police the moment they got back on solid land. Due to the constant moving around there was no time to try to talk. Especially after Eggman announced his plans to take over the world and blew up half the moon with some kind of laser! All Amy could really do was give him encouraging smiles as they rushed to get to Eggman's base and reach the Ark before he did anything worse…
“I'm counting on you, Tails! And Amy? Take care of yourself…”
Sonic grasped the false chaos emerald as tight as he could and smiled at his friends as he was shot out of the Ark. This was it, wasn't it? He had seconds to live unless he thought of something, quick. What, though? Something… With the emerald- Wait. That was it. Maybe he could do something! Tails said it had the same wavelength and properties! He didn't know if he really could pull it off but he wasn't going to give up without a fight!! Sonic took in a deep breath and focused. Pulling from the power that the emerald had in it, he tried to use it to manipulate time and space around him. If he could just control it just like Shadow did… To his surprise, he felt things slow down to a crawl all around him. …It had worked. It worked! He laughed, but his relief was short lived; a growing heat washed over him and cracks were starting to appear in the capsule's glass. Sonic quickly spin dashed his way out before it got any worse.
The hedgehog tumbled through open space until he reached the station again. As quick as he could he found an entrance and dove inside, ricocheting against the walls until all at once time returned to normal. He crashed onto the floor in a disoriented heap. Someone called his name and rushed to his side to lift him up. Sonic smiled weakly and relaxed once he realized it was Knuckles. “Woah… I wasn't sure if I could pull that one off. Somehow I managed to use chaos control…” “Chaos control?” mumbled the echidna before he held onto him so he didn't fall to the floor again. “Hey, are you okay?” Sonic took in a deep breath to try and shake off the confusion and nausea before he stood on his own. “I'm fine. I'm just worried about Tails and Amy. Knuckles, I hate to ask, but could you help them? This is our last chance to stop that cannon from firing.” The echidna nodded. “Sure, I can. How do you plan on stopping the cannon, though?”
He held up the emerald with a determined expression. “This fake emerald. It's going to make the whole thing explode, and I'm going to slam dunk it in there!” Sonic didn't waste any more time with explanation and ran off towards his final destination…
Shadow rounded the corner into the hall that led to the Eclipse Cannon with purpose. If anyone was trying to reach it, they would have to pass through here eventually. What he didn't expect was for someone to tap on his shoulder a few seconds after he arrived. Shadow whirled around, chaos energy already forming in his hands to throw it at…
“Looking for me, faker?” asked Sonic.
Shadow stared down at him. The chaos energy he held fizzled out. “You… you never cease to surprise me, blue hedgehog,” he finally said in a quiet voice. “I thought that capsule you were in exploded in space?” Somewhere deep inside of his heart he was so relieved he could burst. He breathed in. That enticing scent that had made him completely lose his head back in the jungle was still there. Faint, but still there. It was more than scent that drew him to Sonic in any case. Sonic was smirking at him and moving to go down the hall towards the cannon. Shadow matched him step for step. “You know, what can I say? I die hard!” said the blue hedgehog. Shadow scoffed. “Tell me. How did you survive?”
Sonic gazed at him with a genuine smile on his face as he pulled out an emerald. “You actually saved me, you know.” That chaos emerald was the fake one. Shadow glanced at it, then looked back up at Sonic incredulously. He shouldn't have been able to do anything with it. Not like that. And yet… “...It was a chaos emerald, wasn't it? But, there's no way you could have activated the Chaos Control using an emerald that's fake!” Sonic’s smile turned smug but he said nothing. The blue hedgehog didn't have too. The proof that he could and did was right there after all, because he was there at all. Shadow wasn't sure if he wanted to cold clock him or kiss those peach lips until both of them were out of breath. Instead of doing either of those things, he just chuckled. Both of them went into a jog.
“So, there's more to you than just your speed. What are you, anyway?” asked Shadow. Sonic shrugged, “What you see is what you get! Just a guy who loves adventure! I'm Sonic the Hedgehog!” The black hedgehog studied his counterpart silently for a moment. Did he even know how special he was? How extraordinary the feats he managed to do were? Shadow wondered how something like that couldn't matter to him. He wanted to see just how far he could go. He wanted to kiss him so badly it hurt. He wanted to tear him apart to see what made him tick. Anything except what he knew he had to do. The black hedgehog turned his eyes away from him as he activated his air shoes at the same time Sonic broke into a light run.
“I see. But you know,” he replied decisively, “I can't let you live. Your adventuring days are coming to an end!”
Their fight along the boardwalk was fierce, and it was one that Shadow was certain he would never forget. Sonic matched him in every single way. Whenever he'd get ahead, Sonic would use that damned fake emerald to warp ahead of him. He retaliated with spears made of chaos energy itself, thrown with precision. Both of them whirled around each other in a desperate attempt to come out on top. Shadow knew he had won by pure circumstance when the spear he threw couldn't be dodged. It was either getting hit or being crushed by a stray meteorite. Sonic tumbled over himself until he slid to a stop a ways away. He didn't stand up. Not even when Shadow swerved to a stop in front of him. The blue hedgehog was still breathing, though, and he managed to turn his head to look up at him. “Looks like you got me, Shadow,” he whispered. “So… what now?”
Shadow didn't know how to answer that. What he should do was kill him. Just like he planned to at the start of their fight. His hand twitched, but when he called for the energy to summon another spear there were only faint sparks. The black hedgehog looked over at his hand briefly in confusion, then back at Sonic. Sonic had closed his eyes and was pacing his breathing. Waiting for him to make the final blow. Shadow swallowed as his heart started to ache. If he did this, he would be destroying something truly special. He'd have killed someone who was his equal in every sense of the word. Nobody else could fight him and survive. Nobody else but the hedgehog at his feet. Shadow stood there in silence as he came to a realization. He did not want to kill Sonic the Hedgehog. Not really, and if his emotions were as muddled as they were, there was no way he'd be able to anyway. Controlling chaos energy took certainty and he no longer had that. Not when it came to him.
Sonic’s ears swiveled from trying to hear Shadow or the crackling of one of his spears. After a moment he opened an eye and looked around, but he was alone. Shadow wasn't in sight. He got to his feet and tried to catch a glimpse of him along the boardwalk. There was nothing but space. Sonic looked around again as unease started to cloud his mind. “Shadow…?” he called out, and listened again for any sound of the black hedgehog. There was no answer. Taking out the fake emerald again, he gazed at it for a few seconds, then turned forward to the Eclipse Cannon. With one final look around, Sonic the Hedgehog ran off towards it as fast as his legs could go.
The grating roar of the beast that protected the center of the Ark made Shadow's ears ring. He'd gotten there just in time. Sonic and one of his friends stood off to the side as they stared up towards the prototype of the ultimate lifeform. The two didn't even notice him until he began to pass them by. “Leave this one to me,” he told them as he did, looking up at the monster as it turned its neck to gaze down at him. He felt calm despite the circumstances. This was what he had to do. His promise… “Shadow, what are you doing?” Sonic called after him. The concern was obvious, so he spared a moment to turn towards the blue hedgehog. “I'll take care of this while you run to get the chaos emeralds!” The prototype let out another roar and drew his attention away. Still, he didn't miss the hand raised in his direction, or the way Sonic gazed at him before he rushed into another fight.
As Shadow fought behind them, Sonic took Knuckles by the hand and rushed them over to the shrine. “You think you can handle this quickly, Knucks?” he tittered. He wasn't even looking at the echidna but at Shadow as he fought. This wasn't lost on said echidna, but he nodded anyway and set the Master Emerald in place. Taking in a deep breath and focusing on the power around him he began the chant:
“The servers are the seven chaos.
Chaos is power. Power is enriched by the heart. The controller is the one that unifies the chaos.”
Knuckles felt the welcoming embrace of the Master Emerald as its power filled him and could hear the unspoken question; What was his request? “Only you can do this! Stop the chaos emeralds!” he replied. Now all they could do was wait, and hope that was enough.
Sonic was pacing nearby as he glanced between Shadow finishing off the prototype and the Master Emerald putting a stop to the Ark’s descent. The black hedgehog joined them just in time to see the Master Emerald at work. Sonic couldn't help but feel relief. Things seemed like they were going to finally come to an end! At least, until the beast reared back and screeched before vanishing into thin air. Sonic swore under his breath. “...Is it gone?” Knuckles asked. The Ark shook again as if to answer the echidna's question. “Huh? Didn't we stop the chaos emeralds?! What's going on, are we still on a collision course with Earth?” Sonic glanced over at Shadow as he scrambled back to his feet. The other hedgehog shook his head; he didn't know. Luckily for them, Eggman was able to inform them about it without them having to look for themselves.
“The prototype is still alive, and it's controlling the space colony as it's falling to Earth! It's become one with the space colony and is determined to keep it on its collision course!”
Sonic could feel the pressure on him to make things right as soon as the intercom went quiet. But he wasn't sure if he could do it alone. Not when he barely had any time to do anything. He turned to Shadow and reached out a hand towards him, one that the black hedgehog took without questioning it. “We can win this, but I'm going to need your help. If we work together we'll save the earth. Just follow my lead and don't lose hope, alright?” The way Shadow looked at him as if he was the only other one there made Sonic’s heart flutter a bit, especially when he replied, “I won't as long as we're together. Show me what to do.” Sonic nodded and led him to the middle of the shrine. “Reach out to the seven chaos emeralds and let their energy flow through you. Wish with all your heart that you had the power to save the planet and everyone you care for… Then that strength will be yours. Both of ours…”
Then Sonic closed his eyes, Shadow's hand still in his. He called out to and pulled the positive energy the chaos emeralds radiated into him. All seven floated towards them both as they both wished for the strength the gems could give. More and more power flowed into the two of them and the emeralds spun around faster and faster until he felt himself transform into something strong and overflowing with chaos energy. As he opened his eyes, he could tell his fur and quills had changed to the rich golden color that came with being super. When he looked at Shadow, though, he couldn't help but feel he paled in comparison. The platinum fur that matched those red stripes made him look like an angel. Like the sun… Sonic squeezed his hand and smiled. The look of reverence he got in return was a surprise, though. Especially after Shadow leaned in and kissed him softly on his lips. Despite that he recovered quickly and gave him a quick kiss back with a smile.
“C’mon, we have a world to save!”
With that they both teleported outside the ark and into the last battle to save Earth.
Sonic whirled around a laser and flew in close to strike at one of the boils that had appeared with determination. It exploded into blood and viscera, the same as the others he'd struck. The massive lizard writhed weakly from the wound he'd inflicted before going completely and totally still. It was finally put out of its misery. He couldn't help feeling relieved, but they weren't done yet.
“Sonic, come to me, quickly!” Shadow called to him over the radio phone. Sonic flew towards the platinum colored hedgehog in the distance with his arms reaching out until he was in his embrace. A soft kiss was pressed to his forehead. “You did it… You were so incredible. Now, let's finish this for good!” Sonic nodded and together they flew side by side towards the falling Ark. In tandem they raised their arms up. Both of them called out at the same time:
“Chaos Control!!”
A massive white light enveloped the space station as the two hedgehogs returned it to its proper place. Sonic grinned in triumph and turned to Shadow… Except Shadow wasn't there. That grin on his face vanished as he looked down to see the other hedgehog drifting down towards the planet. His fur color was changing back. Sonic had never felt panic like he felt it then. “Shadow! Shadow, hold on!!” He had to reach him. Before his own de-transformation happened. He had too.
“Shadow!!”
…He heard it, his voice. He looked up to see him. Sonic, fierce and shining gold, and so, so beautiful. So real. He was already too close to the planet. If Sonic came any closer he'd fall to his death as well. Shadow wasn't going to let him. What he could do, before his time was up, would be to leave him something of himself. He reached for one of the inhibitor rings on his wrist and undid it. Taking it in his hand, he threw it with all his remaining strength. The last of his fur turned to black again, and he closed his eyes as his body entered the atmosphere.
It took a while before Sonic returned to the room where everyone else had gathered. He glanced around at them all. In his hand he gripped the ring Shadow had given him tight.
Rouge asked where he was.
Sonic shook his head and handed her the ring. She could have it. It wouldn't bring him back. Everyone’s words sounded muffled. His head hurt and his heart ached, but he put on his mask and held himself together for the others. Just until he was completely and totally alone. He wished Rouge would stop glancing at him. He wanted Amy to stop trying to console him. Finally Sonic left with the excuse that he needed to do one last run through the Ark, just give him fifteen minutes, he'd be right back, he was fine, really! and sped off.
He didn't go very far before he ducked into a room and broke down. It wasn't fair. It wasn't supposed to end like this. They all should be going home. Especially Shadow. They should have, together. He'd have admitted he was jealous of him from the first time they met, or tell him he'd known there had been good in him… He'd have shown him so much of what planet Earth had to offer. Now he'd never get too. Sonic sighed and wiped his eyes as he stood. He had to get back to the others, they were probably waiting for him. All he could do was say goodbye one last time.
With one last look out of the viewing glass into space, he whispered to himself, “Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog.”