Chapter Text
A distant flash lit the window of the space colony, signaling the end of Shadow's supersonic adversary.
"I guess he was just a regular hedgehog after all."
The fool even had the nerve to call Shadow a fake. They may have looked alike, but there was only one ultimate life form. Shadow hadn't spent fifty years in a military prison only to be accused of imitating a virtual child who wore novelty shoes. Still, the boy had shown some skill, and a not inconsiderable amount of tenacity. It was almost a shame that he was now ash in the void. Almost.
A voice crackled in Shadow's headset. The mad doctor who called himself "Eggman," heir to the Robotnik legacy. It was fitting that he would be the key to carrying out his grandfather's will, and Maria's revenge.
"Shadow! Someone is trying to get to the Eclipse Cannon. There's not much time left before the cannon fires again. Can you get over there?"
One of the late hedgehog's companions, no doubt. Shadow would ensure they followed their hero into oblivion. He exited through a nearby airlock and raced across the surface of the megastructure, his destiny drawing ever closer.
Shadow arrived at a long platform leading to the massive cannon and found a familiar figure waiting for him. His rival, somehow unharmed. Interesting. Very interesting.
"You never cease to surprise me, blue hedgehog. I thought that capsule you were in exploded in space."
"You know, what can I say? I die hard."
Just who was this guy?
"So there's more to you than just looking like me. What are you, anyway?"
"What you see is what you get! Just a guy that loves adventure. I'm Sonic the Hedgehog!"
Ah. He was an idiot.
"I see. But you know, I can't let you live. Your 'adventuring' days are coming to an end."
Sonic took off toward the cannon, Shadow following behind, his rocket boots scorching the unsteady platform. Shadow leapt into the air and tackled Sonic, knocking him down. Too easy. Shadow placed himself between his rival and the cannon, preparing for a fight. Sonic rolled into a crouch, clutching something shiny in his hand. The fake Chaos Emerald, supposedly able to destroy the cannon.
"I'll use your technique! Chaos Control!"
Sonic disappeared in a flash. Shadow spun around to find his rival a full dozen yards further down the platform. Sonic could use Chaos Control? Even with a fake emerald? That must've been how he was able to escape the explosion. What was this boy capable of? Shadow chased after him.
The two hedgehogs traded blows as they sped down the path to the cannon. The force of their battle shook the platform violently, causing it to collapse behind them. It didn't matter. There was no going back.
Sonic just wouldn't stop. Nothing Shadow did was working. He couldn't believe it. He was the ultimate life form. The cannon drew closer and closer. Sonic raised his arm, the fake emerald glittering in the light. Shadow lunged at him, but it was too late. The emerald went sailing through the insubstantial atmosphere, straight toward the cannon.
Shadow held his breath as the cannon started to ignite. Electricity arced between the spires surrounding the barrel. Just as the cannon was about to fire, an explosion rocked the tip. What remained of the platform was torn apart, launching the hedgehogs into space. Sonic caught hold of an antenna as Shadow flew past, using his rocket boots to guide his trajectory toward an airlock.
Rage and confusion welled within Shadow as he alighted within the interior of the space colony. He… lost? To some carefree adrenaline junkie? It was impossible. There had to be something he could do.
Shadow stumbled as the floor began to shake. A monitor on the wall came to life, displaying the image of Shadow's creator, Gerald Robotnik, who began to speak.
"This is a death sentence for every human being on Earth. If my calculations are correct, the space colony ARK will impact the earth in twenty-seven minutes and fifty-three seconds. All of you will be destroyed, along with your beloved planet Earth."
So that was the professor's plan all along. Gathering the seven Chaos Emeralds and activating the Eclipse Cannon must've triggered something, sending the entire space colony hurtling toward the planet below. It wasn't too late.
Shadow carefully made his way through the halls of the structure, the force of the vibrations increasing with every passing moment. He found himself drawn to the laboratory where he was raised. He walked to the large window and stared out at the Earth, growing ever larger in his view. Maria would be avenged soon. It would be his final act.
Was he ready to die? He hadn't really considered it, but now he had plenty of time. He had been facing death constantly since escaping from the prison, driven on by his quest, but of course nothing could really kill him. Nothing but his victory.
He wouldn't have long to wait.