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"Shadow, We did it! It's over."
The glowing hedgehog turned to his ebony counterpart, who was also radiating the power of the Chaos Emeralds. He saw a expression of relief on Shadow's face and turned back towards the Biolizard who was no longer able to fight against the duo. Sonic could go home. Maybe he could take Shadow with him, Tails and Knuckles. Perhaps, Rouge too. Tom and Maddie wouldn't mind. However, Sonic waited for the ebony hedgehog to say something or even scowl at him but...
Nothing. Silence rang out between the two.
Then Shadow managed to get a loose grip onto Sonic.
"Shadow?" Sonic prompted him to speak and tightly latched his hand in Shadow's. Shadow was barely holding himself up straight and his words were coming out weak and lifeless.
"Let go Sonic." His hands began to slip away from Sonic's reach. The words flickered through Sonic's mind, sending him into shock. Shadow has so much dedication and resilience and yet he's allowing himself to go out, in such a horrible way as well. Sonic had already lost Longclaw and he couldn't bare losing Shadow again. Reliving the feeling of not being able to help... he just wanted to go home to Tom, Maddie, Ozzy and spend time with all his friends. Not be floating in the depths of space with his rival slipping through his fingers, quite literally.
Shadow continued. "I have fulfilled my purpose, I have no reason to exist anyway, Sonic. What's the point in saving me?"
Sonic felt tears begin to fall down his nuzzle. Shadow didn't deserve this fate. He wanted to see him live, even if Shadow would never be fond of him, he wanted Shadow to live. Sonic huffed as he grabbed his opposite a bit tighter than before by his wrist. "What's the point? Come on Shadow. You did fulfil your promise to Maria but that's not your ending. You still have things to see and do. This isn't what she would want for you."
Shadow clearly expresses his annoyance at Sonic for the repeated mention of Maria. "YOU still have things to do, Sonic. Not me. They need you, and that's not just those people on Earth but Tails, Knuckles and your Earth family. I don't have anyone."
"You have me." Sonic immediately fires back.
"Faker, promise me you'll take care of Rouge and the others and get them back safely from the ARK for me." Shadow whispered with whatever strength remained in himself.
"Shadow, please."
Everything stopped as Shadow slipped his hands away from Sonic's grasp.
"Sayonara, Sonic the Hedgehog."
Sonic desperately tried to follow after Shadow but the chaos energy was dimming and Sonic's chances of getting him and Shadow back to the Space Colony ARK safely were swiftly decreasing. The tears barely visible, dripping down his muzzle before had became a strong flow in unison with Sonic's muffled squeaks of desperation he was holding to himself.
Then, he heard it.
"Maria, this is what you wanted, right? this is my promise I made to you!"
It all had come pouring out of Sonic. He didn't want this. He couldn't watch another person die knowing there was always a possibility he could of saved them. He was grasping something but he couldn't make out it was. His eyesight had gone fuzzy from his tears. It was Shadow's Inhibitor rings. He held them just a little bit tighter. That was all he had left of him.
-
Sonic was back with everyone aboard the ARK. He covered up the fact he had been sobbing and they were gearing up to return to Earth finally, but no one knew Shadow was dead. Rouge finally broke the silence, by asking the question Sonic did not want to answer.
"Where's Shadow?"
And it all just slips out. Sonic bubbled down into tears, leaning against the window staring out, where Shadow and Maria used to sit and observe the stars. It gave it away that the confident and caring Sonic was upset. Rouge could of burst on the spot like a bubble but she kept her composure. Later on after the news had sunk in, Rouge and Sonic had sat in that same spot together. "He asked me to take care of you and the others, you know?" Rouge smiled. "Yeah, I knew it. He really did have a soft spot for us then." Sonic pulled out the rings and passed one to Rouge. "This all we have left of him."
"Well then, it's worth treasuring, Sonic. Isn't it?"