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It was by total coincidence that Shadow had found a curled up mound made up of blue quills and fur. He had only wanted to find a place to chill in the calm and soothing forest, to get some time to himself after a week of being stuck with Sonic in the shatterverse, and having to join a group meeting to explain the entire story. Lets just say it didn’t work well for Shadow’s slowly impending social anxiety and distaste for group hangouts in general.
So when Shadow, having spent the entire month after the incident clearing things up with Sonic about their relationship, decided to teleport away, it was completely reasonable! He needed time to just shut down and be alone. But, seeing the heap of blue fur across him made him freeze. Did he not just meet up with Sonic 10 minutes ago? Last time Shadow checked, Sonic was also busy, something about a picnic with Team Sonic.
“Uhm, Sonic?” Shadow cautiously asks, albeit he’s annoyed by the cobalt hedgehog disrupting his peace time, he couldn’t help but be concerned. The blue mound’s head rises, tears in his eyes and the disheveled quills were much more visible. It was Sonic, he shared his face, his green eyes, his blue fur. But Shadow had a gut feeling that this wasn’t him as well.
The ‘Sonic’s’ eyes grew wide. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “... You’re not…” The faker started, “Shadow? Is that really you?” The ‘Sonic’ asked. The ebony hedgehog stood there, not knowing what to say. He just simply nodded. “I’m just as confused as you are, I just saw you like a couple minutes ago?-” “You’re alive..?” They both exclaimed at the same time. The question stunned them both into silence.
“Uhm, yes? I’m… alive? Sonic, you're acting weird. We just saw each other a couple minutes ago, we were talking about how things were gonna go after the whole paradox prism situation.” The Sonic stared at him, still confused. “I… The paradox prism? What’s that? No- wait- I saw you fall from space to earth in front of my eyes!” Now the two were even more puzzled.
“I fell from space years ago, Sonic. We talked about that since my return. It’s been, what? 2 years since that happened.” Shadow tried to explain, he walked towards the faker and sat beside him. The ‘Sonic’ cautiously kept his distance, but looked as if he wanted to sit closer, but he was afraid ( Afraid of what?) . Shadow hated the tense environment.
“Shadow; it’s been only 2 weeks since you fell.” ‘Sonic’ said, barely a noise. Like he was in disbelief. The hedgehogs stared ahead at first, before ‘Sonic’ giggled softly. The ebony hedgehog turned his head to the faker’s direction and gave him a concerned but questioning glance. The cobalt blur only softly smiled in response, before saying: “Sorry, was just thinking that maybe you were from the future or something. It’s a stupid thought, really. Time traveling doesn’t exist, pfft…” The faker looked up, gazing at the stars that had invaded the deep blue sky.
“... What about Silver? He’s literally the ‘Time Traveling Hedgehog.’ Time traveling exists, idiot.” Shadow retorts. The faker turns his head toward the ebony hedgehog, they locked eyes once more. “Who’s Silver?” The faker tilted his head in confusion. Shadow’s face scrunches up in frustration. “Everything just keeps getting weirder and weirder!” He yells out, making the faker flinch. Shadow got up quickly, his hand scrunched up, gripping tightly at his gloves. “You’re Sonic, but you’re not him either. I fell 2 years ago, you say I fell 2 WEEKS ago. None of this makes any sense! I saw Sonic earlier. But then I meet you? Who- Who even are you,,,” Shadow’s tone of voice gradually calms, as he stares down at the faker, tired and exasperated. The faker has mostly curled himself in, and Shadow feels slightly guilty. Slightly. The faker uncurls himself and looks up at Shadow, like he was a threat.
“I… I don’t know you either. You aren’t the Shadow I knew, the same one that got me into prison cause ya’ stole a chaos emerald in the museum, that sparred with me or raced me all day. But you look like him. That hurts just enough.” The faker sniffled a bit; ( when was he crying? ) Shadow took notice of it and pulled a napkin out of his quills, wiping the faker’s tear drenched face. “Stop crying now. Though I do need an explanation, I think I can piece some stuff up, you said I fell 2 weeks ago, right? What date is it for you?” He asked. “7th of July, 20XX. You?” The ebony hedgehog’s face scrunches up again, soon responding with a simple; “11th of February, 20XX. See? This is where it gets weird. You’re years into the past, and I’m years into the future. How it collided is a question I don’t have answers to.” He ponders in his head on a plausible answer, before feeling a gloved hand on his shoulder. Shadow turns his head to the owner of the hand.
“Look, I know this seems weird, and you’ve probably heard from… future me? I suppose. Can I, erm, just… rant about how I feel about… uh, you?” The faker nervously spoke, stuttering and stumbling upon words. “... fine.” He responds. They sat there, while the ‘sonic’ talked, Shadow listened.
“So like, you’re not that nice, That one was pretty clear. You and Rouge’s connection was much closer, and as much as I wanted to talk to you more, I couldn’t! I regret that a lot. We always sparred and fought and did whatever… Now that you’re kinda… gone; I feel like my life isn’t as meaningful as I think it was. Yeah, I’m a hero, that’s meaningful. But not as much when it benefits me as much as it benefits for the people I save. I feel exhilarated in each fight, I feel some sort of burning passion when we race, I know it only lasted for a month, but each day I looked forward to each of them. 2 weeks later? You’re gone. I don’t know if I’ve completely adjusted to that change and I-” The faker soon felt cold tears scuffle down his face. “Oh! Haha, I’m- I’m crying- that- that hasn’t happened in a hot moment.” He sniffed, his throat slightly hoarse as the onslaught of tears strided down his face. Shadow pulled out yet another napkin from his quills and passed it over to him. ‘Sonic’ blew his nose with it, but the tears didn’t stop. Shadow moved slightly to wipe off the tears from his face. The faker just huddled slightly closer to Shadow, as if to not trigger anything. Shadow only pulled him closer.
They stayed like that for a while, an older, much wiser and calmer Shadow, holding a very vulnerable, trembling, and much younger version of Sonic. “Thanks, a lot. ‘M needed that.” Sonic said, muffled in the fur of Shadow’s. The much older hedgehog only nodded and stroked the younger’s quills. “It’ll be fine. My existence in the future is proof I’ll be fine. Trust me.” Sonic had never felt safer. Maybe it will be okay.