Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

06:30

Beep-beep. Beep-beep. Beep-beep.

With a groan, a gloved hand slaps the alarm until it finds its off switch. With a deep breath, Shadow the Hedgehog sits on his bed. There’s no one there.

This is the norm in his life.

Lazily, he gets up, takes off his gloves and socks, and puts them in the bed before going to the bathroom to take a hot shower. That ought to wake him up.

As the hot water relaxes his body, the ebony hedgehog observes the steam fogging the glass door on his shower box. Funny. Waking up at this time and doing this routine was easier, once. So long ago, when he still worked for G.U.N. and so many things were different.

He once thought it was just his age. But that was impossible, since he didn’t age. Then, he accepted that it was just inertia getting bigger over time. He wouldn’t have questioned, until an inspection from a certain blue hedgehog brought him the answer he was looking for.

It was easier for him to sleep late and wake up early and not complain about his pains because he didn’t consider himself as a person. A being. Once the then annoying hedgehog convinced him otherwise, he realized a lot of things about how he interacted with the world around him. Some good. Most bad.

Blinking, he realized he had spent almost ten minutes doing nothing but reflecting on that. Stuff that happened years ago. Turning off the shower, he grabs his towel to dry himself. In a moment’s notice, he’s back in his bedroom, putting on his gloves, socks, and hover shoes, which he had neatly put next to the door the night prior.

Going down the stairs, he finds his kitchen. Preparing breakfast is a procedure driven more by his muscles than his brain. Oats. Honey. Peanut butter. Blueberries. Milk. Microwave. Banana.

Eating his oatmeal while looking at nothing, his mind searches for something he is supposed to do later today. He agreed on something. But he can’t remember exactly what. No matter. He knew someone who did.

08:30

Speeding through the city, Shadow looks at the blurs all around him. He knows what he is looking for, but not exactly where he would be. New Station Square was very different from the one he ran across so many times over the years. Not that he particularly cared all that much. He made strides to change his brash personality and make friends, yes. But he still wasn’t to the point where he cared about complete strangers. He wonders if he ever will.

The outskirts of the city led Shadow to the forest overlooking Mystic Ruins. Arriving at the dense jungle, Shadow activates the hover function of his shoes, elevating to stay on top of the trees, he looks for any particularly tall ones. Finding what he is looking for, he inclines his shoes to start hovering in the direction of a tree that outgrew its neighbors. It’s not as fast as running, but he is going for accuracy now, not speed.

Arriving closer, Shadow finally sees the Hero of Mobius resting in one of the large branches, overlooking the sky and the forest and the city in the horizon. Sonic the Hedgehog was laying on a branch, hands below his head, one leg crossed on top of the other. His green eyes open, seeing the sky and nothing at the same time, lost in thought. Shadow doubts he even heard the rockets of his shoes approaching. So, he decides to break the silence.

“Been a while since you chose this spot.”

Blinking, Sonic turns to face the ebony hedgehog. Emerald meets ruby as Sonic takes a second to smile.

“Really? I hadn’t noticed. It’s just… y’know. On the rotation.”

“Still. You’ve preferred the beach and New Station Square over the last few months.”

“Huh. Guess I just.. dunno, really. I really don’t think much about where my morning runs lead me.”

Shadow nods. “I know. A lot on your head?”

“I guess. Tails finally told me what the party today is about.”

Right. The party. He had been invited to a party at the start of the afternoon. It’s what he was going to be doing today.

Sonic notices the silent moment and fills it with the answer.

“Ten years.”

“…since?”

“…since we found out about me.”

Shadow shots his eyes wide open in the direction. “Can’t possibly have been that long!”

“Welcome to me one hour ago.” Sonic says with a smile.

For something that happened ten years ago, both hedgehogs remembered it a bit vividly.

“Raaaaaaaaaugh!!”

Hard rocks met hard fists as Knuckles pummeled into the ground below him, turning concrete into powder. The building had collapsed just a moment ago. He still had time! He had to be quick.

“Knuckles, it’s a whole building.” Shadow’s cold voice said from afar. He was hovering above the whole situation, looking down at the echidna focused on nothing but his action. To the side, Amy comforting Tails, looking at where Sonic had been a moment ago, with not a single reaction. With no one saying anything else, he continues.

“Eggman saw the chance to take him down, not caring about going down with him.” Which was true. The friction between the blue hedgehog and the mad scientist had reached its peak. Out of badniks, bases and escape routes, Eggman went for the nuclear option. Detonating the entire base with them both inside. He would finally take down the ‘rodent’ he hated so much. Even if it was the last thing he’d ever do.

“Sonic can survive a lot.” Shadow admits, briefly remembering their first encounter. But Sonic didn’t have emeralds this time. Not even a fake one. “But he couldn’t have outrun this. Or resist it. No mortal could. G.U.N. will investigate this place later, retrieve both of th-“

“Sonic!” The echidna cried. To everyone’s surprise, including Shadow’s, Knuckles had managed to break enough concrete to actually be able to pull Sonic’s battered body out of it.

Shadow immediately approaches to see the state of his rival. Bruises all over. Deep cuts. Several broken bones.

…but his chest was moving up and down. Slowly, but surely. Breath entered and left his nose. Sonic was, somehow, alive. Unconscious. Good, Shadow thought. The amount of pain he’d be in right now…

Forcing himself out of the flashback, Shadow looks over at Sonic. Not even scars. Like it never happened. Shadow catches Sonic looking at his own legs, surely having the same thoughts.

“Ten years is not enough to contemplate immortality.” The azure hedgehog finally says.

“I do wonder. Because I never had to consider anything else. To actually discover you’re going to live forever after a lifetime of… not thinking so. I can’t put myself in your shoes. Would if I could, though.”

“I guess I’m just too busy trying to figure out the ‘how’ to think of all the other things.”

“Is it important? To know? You might never find out.” Shadow doesn’t realize it, but he rubs his hands together. Anxious for the hedgehog he grew to care about.

“It is to me. I want it to be a good reason. Someone wants me around. Maybe I’m supposed to do something.”

“What are you going to do if it's for a good reason?”

Sonic shrugs. “Thank whoever or whatever did it. Keep living.”

“And if it’s for a bad reason?”

“Defy whoever or whatever did it. Keep liv-…“ With a blink, he turns to Shadow, and smiles. “…thank you.”

“Here to help.” He replies with a smile of his own.

“We’re going to the party.” Sonic looks at the horizon once again, fast enough to not see Shadow’s eye roll right afterward.

“…do I have to?”

“Tails said he had a gift for the both of us. And you’re a member of Team Sonic by now. There’s no escaping it.” Sonic grins.

“…fine. Miles is not as irritating as some of your other friends. Who else is coming?”

12:30

Emerald eyes scan the party he’s currently at. To an outside viewer, this looked like a very ordinary party. Especially for this bunch. They used to throw these parties every time they saved the world from Eggman’s latest plot. Or from any demigod the egghead would unleash. They kinda outdid themselves on attendance this time, though. Almost every friend Sonic had made over the past 25 years was around. Much to Shadow’s chagrin.

To Sonic, however, it was different this time. The azure hedgehog looked around realizing how old everyone was getting. Tails, now taller than him, had started growing brown fur on his hands and tails, as well as in the tuff in his forehead. He had turned his aviator goggles into an all-time accessory, too. Now a renowned scientist with patents in almost every area, he had a whole crowd of people looking up to him instead of the blue hero. He deserved it.

Knuckles and Amy also showed signs of growth, but much more subtle. The echidna had lines on his face, doming a new cowboy hat possibly to hide it, though he swears it’s just because it looks good. He also has abandoned the old white boxer gloves and red shoes for a simpler leather combo. Amy also had lines on her face, but almost unnoticeable due to her makeup skills. She had grown taller too, and let her quills grow longer. She had abandoned the red dress for a more comfortable green shirt, with orange shorts almost reaching her knees. Sonic smiles as it almost resembles the outfit she used to wear when they first met.

…

And then there was Shadow.

Shadow looked as he always did. But at the same time, oh so very different.

He hadn’t aged a day from when they had first met, many years ago. Same obsidian fur. Same red highlights. Same ruby eyes. Same shoes. Same height, even.

But Sonic knew better. That Shadow would never be in this party. He never would be seen talking with the other guests, friends Sonic had been making over the years. He knew it was still a bit of an effort for the dark hedgehog. But that made it even a little bit better for Sonic. He doesn’t notice the tall kit approaching him.

“It’s a whole situation when I can sneak up on you while you are admiring your boyfriend.”

“…I totally saw you.” The hedgehog lied.

“Uh huh. I already thanked him for coming. Strange that now almost everyone calls me Miles. Used to be only him.”

Sonic wasn’t fully listening. Tails knew it. He waited.

“…it’s kinda surreal. Everyone ages, but not him. Like he doesn’t belong. Jarring.”

Tails raises an eyebrow. “Yeah, you can say that again.”

His older brother recognizes the tone, turning his attention to the fox. “What?”

“You, silly. You didn’t grow older either. You’re still exactly like you were ten years ago. You look out of place for us too.”

Sonic just stares. He hadn’t thought about it. Of course it made sense. He doesn’t have time to dwell on it, though, as he sees the kit beckoning Shadow and Knuckles over. The latter just delivers a gift-wrapped package to Tails. The former stays.

“I promised a gift.” Tails states, holding the box. “I spent the last month or so realizing it’s been ten years since Eggman’s defeat, and since we all learned about your immortality. I’ve been thinking about… the good and bad of it. I know you’ll want to keep celebrating everyone’s birthdays-“

“Obviously.” Sonic interjects.

“-even after everyone has passed.” Tails finishes.

“…Tails…” Sonic’s expression falls.

“Well, you know me. I’m the one who thinks ahead, while you live in the present. Which is also how I know it’ll be painful for you to keep track of the days, and weeks, and months. …and years. So, uhm, this.”

He finally offers the box. Sonic accepts it, undoing its bow and opening the lid. Inside, a tablet. About four times the size of Tails’ trusty Miles Electric, but with a similar design. A big screen, and a few buttons on one of the sides.

Sonic finds its power switch, flicking it. The screen comes to life.

YESTERDAY

TODAY

• 10 years celebration party

TOMORROW

Both Sonic and Shadow examine the text carefully. Tails explains it as they do.

“It’s kinda like a calendar, except for the lack of the actual day. So it’ll warn you, for instance, when my birthday turns up. But it won’t say the current date. That way, you won’t need to keep track of the days to know when to celebrate… or mourn something. I already inserted everyone’s birthdays, except yours, Shadow, since you don’t really celebrate it and we don’t know when it is. And another one. Cause I wanted to show you. Here.”

Tails uses the buttons on the side of the calendar to create a new event.

Name: Birthday – Sonic the Hedgehog

Date: June 23 rd

Frequency: [  ] One-time [  ] Monthly [ ✔ ] Yearly

Pressing Enter, Tails creates the new event. “So you can create and delete events at your leisure. And you can mount it to a wall to use it as a calendar and all that. And it has a bunch of power sources, including batteries and solar and electricity – so it’ll last a long time and it’s very adaptable to whatever energy we use in the future.”

Sonic listens to the explanation, speechless. Shadow’s tongue isn’t as tied.

“Impressive, Miles. Very thoughtful, in every sense. You must’ve spent quite a while thinking about all of this.”

“Heh… basically, I started thinking about it when we found out about his immortality. But I only started to actually build it around… three months ago?”

“Still, impressive. I wouldn’t have thought of half of these features.” Shadow nods his head once. “And, of course, thank you.”

“Uh, yeah.” Sonic finally reacts, hugging Tails. “Thank you.”

Tails simply returns the hug with a small laugh, but Shadow takes notice. He’ll ask about it later, though.

Right now, they have a party to enjoy.

19:30

The sound of chili boiling in a pan fills the minimalist kitchen the two hedgehogs shared together.

Sonic was manning the stove, cooking his uncle’s chili dog recipe for himself.

Shadow was nearby, on the kitchen’s balcony, looking at the list of events on the calendar they had received.

“There’s gotta be more than 50 names on this list. You truly can’t be more than an acquaintance with half of these.” He says, looking over the list.

“You called me a super social butterfly two nights ago.” Sonic replies with a snort. “I make friends easily. Always have been.”

“Hmph.” Is all he says. With the chili ready, Sonic prepares four chili dogs. Three for his plate, one for Shadow’s.

They start eating in silence. Only when he was already halfway done with his plate Shadow breaks the silence.

“Funny, I was thinking back on how surprised I was when I learned you could cook.”

Sonic raises an eyebrow. “Why is that funny?”

“I’ve been like this all day. Reminiscing. Remembering. Even before remembering it was any kind of significant date.”

“And?”

“And it’s not like me to do that. I see no reason to do it.”

“Remembrance isn’t enough? Remembering for remembering’s sake.”

“Till what? Immortality is forever, Sonic. You’ve been immortal for ten years. We’ve been together for seven. What is the math going to be like a hundred years from now? A thousand years? For how long will remembering be worth it?”

Sonic doesn’t immediately answer. He plays with his food for a moment. “I… don’t think I ever thought that far. We’re not indestructible, Shadow. A thousand years?”

“I’d never let anything happen to you. Would you let something happen to me?” Sonic’s expression at the question was answer enough. “If we take care of each other… I don’t see anything happening to us. So yeah. A thousand years. Several, even.”

Sonic doesn’t answer again. This time, Shadow uses the opportunity to ask what he wanted to ask.

“Your… moment. With Miles. I noticed it. Something troubles you. Out with it.” Always so direct. To the point.

“I think it just… hit me.”

“What did?”

“That I’ll see him die. And everyone else.”

This provoked a reaction out of Shadow. “You… hadn’t thought of it before?”

“Of course I had! I just… hadn’t thought about it. I knew it’d happen, but I didn’t spend time thinking I’d live in a world without my brother. What that world would look like.”

“Like Death itself.” Came the answer, extremely quick. After a moment, Sonic realized.

“Oh! Right! You… sorry.” He winces.

“Ten years ago, I would have clubbed you in the head for making me think of her. Today, I am ok. You helped me a lot over the years.” He sighs. “But yeah. You’ll hate everything. And everyone. I think. You know I did. Maybe you won’t be as angry, but you will be as dark.”

“…you thought about it before. About how I’d be when…”

“Maria’s death is a cornerstone of who I am. I started thinking about how you’d behave as soon as I realized how much you loved him. Like I loved her.”

Sonic looks down. At Shadow’s hand, resting on the table besides his plate. Not fully knowing why, Sonic reaches out to it with his own. “You’d stay by my side? Even then?”

Shadow looks at the blue hedgehog. Rubies laser focused on emeralds, in an expression Sonic failed to understand. Without a word, Shadow leaves the kitchen, going up the stairs of the apartment they shared.

Sonic is alone with his thoughts and two plates of half-eaten chili dogs. For a bit less than two minutes. Several thoughts race through his brain, as fast as his feet usually are. He hears familiar footsteps – the hover shoes stepping down the stairs.

Shadow sits back on his seat, putting a closed, small blue jewelry box on the table between the two plates. Sonic looks at it and goes absolutely beet red.

“I bought them about two months ago. I figured… we never actually promised forever to each other.”

“…” Sonic’s eyes didn’t leave the jewelry box, as blue as he was.

“You don’t have to answer right now. I understand that you would need time to think. I just wanted you to know that yes. I’ll stay by your side even when you are in your darkest days. We’ll fight, obviously. We’re strong-minded people. Set on our ways. And forever is a long time. But if you want, I promise to never leave.”

“I… want to think about it. S-sorry.”

“Absolutely nothing to apologize for. I’m patient. And like I just said – I am not going anywhere.” He takes the box back, putting them in his quill’s hammerspace. “You cooked, so it’s my time on the dishes. Do you want to go for a run before bed?”

“Uuuh… yeah, sure. I have loads to think about.”

“Don’t overdo it. I’ll be in bed at the usual time.”

With a small nod, Sonic quietly leaves the house on a walk. Only some minutes later Shadow hears a sonic boom. By this point, he’s already halfway done with the dishes. After he is done with them, he goes to his study, picking the book on the table beside his chair. He was halfway through it and planned to finish it soon. With a deep breath to cleanse his mind of all the thoughts of the day, he opens the book on the bookmarked page and starts reading.

21:30

Finally done with his reading session, Shadow leaves the study. Today was… eventful. Yesterday wasn't. He knows tomorrow won’t be. That’s the problem with living, he had found. It’s just day after day. Living forever would be day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day.

That was the brilliance of Tails’ gift. He knew Sonic would keep track of everyone’s birthdays, and he would celebrate them somehow. But over time, days would blend together, so he would have to keep track. And keeping track of the days when you live forever would drive anyone mad. That’s what Tails had thought of, maybe. Shadow was grateful regardless.

Arriving at the bedroom, he sees Sonic already sound asleep. He knows the blue hedgehog will wake up before he does. He always does. It’s the norm.

Shadow takes the time to pull the jewelry box out of his quills, opening it and looking at the two golden bands inside. With a sigh, he closes it and puts it back in its original hiding space.

Silently, he removes his hover shoes, putting them by the door along the red sneakers that were already there, as he does every night. He sits on his side of the bed, laying down on his side, facing away from Sonic. It takes less than a minute for the already-asleep hedgehog to put an arm over Shadow’s torso and pull him closer, until Shadow can feel Sonic’s body’s heat radiating into his own. There’s something extremely enjoyable about being the small spoon. He’d never admit it, though. But with Sonic being several inches higher than him, he quickly accepted the position, and grew to like it over time.

Closing his tired and heavy eyes, slumber came absurdly quick.

Chapter Text

06:30

Golden chaos energy crackles in the air as it finds its shape as a gloved hand holds it.

“Can he do it?” Sonic asks, his eyes laser focused ahead. “Can the Hero of Mobius pull off one last miracle?”

In his hands, two swords made out of yellow chaos energy.

In front of him, a training dummy.

Close-by, three Chao watched intently.

“Raaaaah!” With a war cry, Sonic runs toward his immovable enemy, and starts slashing his magic swords against it, making a performance out of it, with twirls and pirouettes. One final attack with both swords in an X formation makes them disappear. As the dummy doesn’t react, Sonic quickly pushes it into the ground with a hand.

“Woohoo!” He cheers his own victory, with the three Chao happily joining, flying towards him for a celebratory hug. “Thank you, thank you! I couldn’t have done it without you. Now come on. Let’s get you home.” With the Chao hugging his torso, Sonic walks towards the forest clearing the Chao call home.

He probably could’ve run. If he held onto the little Chao, he figured they’d arrive in the blink of an eye. But there’s no need to. …hm. Sonic tries to remember the last time he had to run. For any reason other than his liking. He couldn’t remember. He knew it’d happen eventually. A few years ago, he tried remembering what were the last words Eggman had said to him. He couldn’t remember either.

Lost in thought, Sonic arrives at a forest clearing with a pristine lake in the middle, shining blue water like it’s made of crystal. The grass, greener than his own eyes, and the very air seemed to be alive and vibrant. Several dozen Chao of all colors and alignments playing, sleeping, laughing, and doing all sorts of activities. They don’t even notice as Sonic gets on his knee so the Chao can get to the ground safely.

One of them, a Hero Chao, looks back at Sonic, the dot in his head extending into a question mark as the hero gets up. With a hand on his quills, he removes the Red Chaos Emerald from his hammerspace, its shine reflecting his green eyes.

“It’s Shadow’s turn foraging. Which means it’s my turn shopping. And to say hello to some friends. Don’t worry, though.” The cobalt hedgehog winks at the Chao. “No one will know we’re up here.”

Turning his attention to the Chaos Emerald, Sonic lets its energy merge with his. It totally made sense why Shadow used to like having one at all times.

“Have I really always been able to do this?”

Sonic looks at his hand, focused on the small golden energy flame coming from it. It was almost distracting him from the hand holding his pulse, guiding his arm into place.

Shadow was standing right before him, both hands in Sonic’s pulses, guiding his stance like some sort of dance. A ways away behind them, an unfinished house, with several mounds of sand and other materials, waiting to be turned into bricks and concrete and doors and windows. By its side, a red biplane with white stripes and black details is parked, waiting for its garage.

“Well, you’ve seen me form this energy into spears before.” The ebony hedgehog answers, his voice low due to their proximity. He didn’t have an issue with it. Neither did his partner. “And our Chaos signatures are almost the same in strength. I just trained mine to be more focused.”

Guiding Sonic’s hand into movement, Shadow sees the golden flamelike energy leaving a trail of energy in its wake.

“It helps to know how much you can control at a time. But once you know for certain, it can be fun to just play with it and experience creating forms.”

He doesn’t expect a small laugh coming from Sonic after that. Sensing the question, the azure hedgehog answers.

“The vision of you goofing around with your Chaos energy like this.”

Shadow shakes his head, with a small smile. “Focus, hedgehog.”

Centering himself in this memory from decades ago, Sonic smiles at the Emerald in his hand. It makes sense why Shadow likes the Green Chaos Emerald so much. Sonic holds the Emerald in both his hands, and brings it closer to his face to whisper, like he’s telling a secret to the gem.

“Chaos Control.”

In a golden flash, the hedgehog is gone.

07:30

Leaving his house with a basket in hand, Shadow calmly walks in the direction of the nearby forest. It took him a while to adjust, but now he knows exactly where he needs to go, and where to find what he needs to find. His time at training and away missions at G.U.N. was proving to be useful as he arrives at the part of the forest with the trees that bear fruit.

Activating his hover shoes’ rocket function, the dark hedgehog easily reached for the taller fruits. Autumn had started a couple of weeks ago, so the apples were extra shiny, the pears were extra juicy, and the bananas were extra ripe. Shadow kept picking fruits until his basket was bursting with the choices of fruits he picked. Tomorrow was vegetable day.

At the same speed he went into the forest, he started going back. With an idle mind, he simply lets one foot go in front of the other. The dark hedgehog doesn’t remember the last time he had to run. For any reason other than his liking. He couldn’t remember. He knew it’d happen eventually.

After a while, he easily finds his way back to his house. On the way, however, he decides to take a detour. Finding its clearing with ease, he goes up the steps, one at a time. The dark hedgehog smiles. If only Rouge were there.

In front of him, the Master Emerald shines in its shrine. Shadow feels its Chaos energy emanating, almost drowning him. Around it, seven thin tall-ish pillars, with each of the Chaos Emeralds levitating at their tip, spinning in place, humming with all the power inside of them.

Well, except for one empty pillar. Shadow looks at it. The Red Chaos Emerald is not in its place. Looking in the distance, Shadow can clearly see their house. Seeing the garage door opened with their plane still inside, he raises an eyebrow. Sonic usually takes the Tornado when he goes to the surface. Not that it’s an issue, though. He trusts the hedgehog with a Chaos Emerald.

With a sigh, he approaches the Master Emerald, placing his left hand in it.

Emerald green meets ruby red.

Its green surface, impossibly smooth, emits a -click- sound as it contacts with the gold in the band on Shadow’s ring finger.

“There’s nothing to worry about. They’ll be back soon.”

He can almost hear an answer in the gem’s hum.

12:30

“How do you go from ‘shopping for groceries in Apotos’ to ‘being invited to the Festival of the Sun in Soleanna’?” Shadow asks, with his arms crossed. Not out of anger, though. More… bewilderment. To this day, he still didn’t know how Sonic managed to have this aura that made him so adored.

“Well, I was telling you I bumped into this G.U.N. team.” The hedgehog answers, while cleaning the dishes from their lunch. Shadow had prepared their meal this time, so Sonic was now on the sink, focused on his job but still managing to recount his day as he did so. “We got to chatting, because they said they had read all the files, and identified me on the spot.”

“Amazing that this can still happen after so many years.”

“Not really when you have a giant statue dedicated to you.” Sonic shrugs.

True, Shadow thought. He’d been there himself. The Sonic Memorial. A section of the New Station Square Cemetery. Standing tall and proud at its center, a statue reaching over 30 feet in height. Sonic’s image, immortalized in gold, with one fist on his hip, looking ahead with a confident smile. Behind him, a golden Power Ring scaled to size. A plaque on its base read:

Chaos’ chosen Champion and his trusted friends

May their spirits never die

That section was dedicated to the leaders of what once was the Restoration, now reduced to a simple Council of Heroes. All of Sonic’s friends and allies were buried there as they died, one by one. Shadow had been there himself a few times to pay his respects to all of them. He would say it’d be only for Rouge, but spent just as much time on other graves, like Tails’s and Amy’s.

Sonic realizes Shadow is reminiscing and knows just what to do to take his mind off it.

“Omega will be there.”

Shadow almost jumps out of his chair. “At the Memorial?!”

Sonic turns the water off, done with his chore. “At the Festival, silly. The Council of Heroes is taking care of him.”

“Oh. …why?”

Sonic shrugs. “The whole Council will be there. He wanted to go with them.”

“And he told you this?”

“Thun did.” The blue hedgehog says, sitting down on the table by Shadow’s side.

Thun is a cat with lightning powers. She’s the newest member of the Council of Heroes. Shadow never met her, but Sonic said she’s fast. Not nearly as fast as either of them, but still fast for normal Mobian speeds. Besides one or other civilian encounter, the G.U.N. and the Council of Heroes are the only people who can somewhat reliably contact the couple of hedgehogs. They didn’t know where Angel Island was currently. Honoring Knuckles’s last wish, the two hedgehogs tapped into the Master Emerald’s power to move it to a new location using Chaos Control.

They would never tell anyone where.

“Fine.’ Shadow relents. “We’re going to this Festival. It’s been a while since I talked with Omega. It’ll be good to relive old times. You can do what you do.”

Sonic grins. “Fantastic. It’s tomorrow, so no need to create an event on the Miles’ DayDrift.” His eyes go to the tablet Tails had gifted them. Shadow named it the day after. No events for the previous, current, or next days are set up on it. “I need to get the Tornado out of the garage to get a bit of sunlight to charge up, though. We can use an Emerald, but I don’t want to borrow one for two consecutive days.”

“We could fall.” The dark hedgehog suggests with a smile.

It takes Sonic a second to understand. “Ooooooh. We’re making jokes about it now.”

“Yeah, figured it was time.”

It was one of their more recent experiences.

Sonic wanted to pay Shadow back for finally teaching him how to swim.

The wind races against Shadow’s face, he can barely open his eyes. His entire body is feeling the effect of increasing speed.

He can hear the Tornado’s engine above them, getting more and more distant.

He holds onto his partner for dear life.

“Just focus on me.” Sonic says, seeing Shadow’s panicked face. “You’re safe. I promise.”

“Y-you say as if we weren’t freefalling! ” Shadow reacts, hearing the panic in his own voice. Troubled, he decides to follow the advice. He stops focusing on the ground, which is approaching at alarming speed. Instead, he looks into the pair of emerald eyes looking back at him, as serene as they have ever been. “How do you do this so effortlessly?! ”

“Eh… I’ve faceplanted  a lot over the years, on many adventures.” Sonic answers, with a smile as he remembers some of them. “You kinda get used to it. But I understand why you’d be scared.”

“I… I-I’m not scared --!”

“Shad, it’s alright.” Sonic comforts him by holding his face. “I’ll help you move past this fear.”

“Seriously, though – I’ll go get the Tornado outside. Surely we have enough sunlight left to charge it.” Shadow says, getting up after reliving that memory.

“Okie dokie.” Sonic gets up too. “I have a promise to keep.”

“Yeah, don’t keep them waiting.”

19:30

Today has been a full day so far. Not that Sonic minded. He preferred them. Right now he was fulfilling a promise. Well, on the tail end of it.

Right now he’s sitting by the shade of a tree, with several Chao by his side, fast asleep. One of them seems to have an eventful dream. The hedgehog was keeping an eye on him the most. These little creatures are known to sleepwalk.

He’s lost in his own thoughts until he hears something approaching. He turns to see, who else could it be, but Shadow. He brings a package – Sonic can already smell it.

“Chili dogs!” He exclaims, with a big stupid grin on his face, which brings a smile on Shadow’s.

“Since we did the restocking today, I thought we should have a treat for dinner. And seeing as you’re parenting Chao today, figured you’d be home late.” Shadow plants a kiss on Sonic’s forehead before sitting down in front of him, setting up a small picnic area for the two of them.

“You shouldn’t have. You know I’m not crazy for them anymore.”

Which was true. So much time has passed. Tails never had a problem with Sonic’s obsession, so nothing challenged it when they lived together. Now that Tails was gone and Sonic shared a house with someone who actually cooks for himself, he started tasting many other dishes. According to Shadow, he learned so many different cultures due to so much time on his away missions.

Chili dogs still were amazing. But just as Shadow learned to appreciate them, he had learned to appreciate everything else.

As they ate, Sonic would give a few pieces to the Chao as they would come to him. He would smile and pat their heads, but Shadow now knew Sonic’s tells. There was something in his head.

And Shadow was not a hedgehog that liked secrets.

“Penny for your thoughts.” It wasn’t a question.

“You know, I remember when we didn’t know each other. It was easier to not tell you stuff.” Sonic smiles, with a heavy sigh.

“You had other friends to tell things to. We only have each other now. Is it something bad?”

“No!” Sonic shakes his head. “At least… I don’t think so. Most likely not.”

A raised eyebrow is the only response he gets.

“…Thun was telling me of a new recruit for the Council.”

“You think they’re trouble?”

“No, no. She was telling me how great he was. Perfect for the cause.”

“And this… worries you?”

“I’m not worried. I’m… anxious. Nervous. She was all happy about this guy. His psychic powers. And telekinesis.”

“…oh.” Shadow blinks.

Silver had never really told them how far along in the future he was from. The only word he ever used was “centuries”.

“I just… my math was off, I think. I don’t keep count. I promised Tails I wouldn’t. I just…”

“More time than you thought it had been?”

“Waaaaay more time than I thought it had been.” Sonic shivers. “Thun said he had visions. Of a world on fire. Do you think he’d recognize us?”

Shadow thinks. It takes him a while to remember. “If Gerald’s theories are correct, not right now. Right now he’s still a kid who grew up in a safe and protected world. Some time, in the future, he’s going to be the same age he was when the version we know traveled back for the first time. He’s going to remember both versions of events being correct – even more so if he’s a psychic, he might interpret the memories as visions. He might be doing that already, even.”

“I imagine it’ll be a shock. Especially if he knows about the Memorial. Should we tell him we’re here? When the time comes?”

“Hmmm. Maybe. I do like the secrecy. And not sharing you with other people.” Shadow huffs, but ends up smiling. “Joking. Mostly. I have no issue with him knowing we’re around when the time comes. Just don’t know if he needs to know where Angel Island is.”

“Well, aren’t you a protective one.” Sonic leans on Shadow.

“It’s what I was built to do.” Shadow plants a kiss on Sonic’s peach cheek.

“Ok, Ultimate Life Form. Finish your dinner. I have to put these Chao to sleep.” Sonic leaps into action to herd the Chao back to their Garden. Shadow watches intently for a few minutes, before packing the picnic and heading back home.

22:45

Finally done with all the Chao, Sonic went up to one of his favorite trees to look at the horizon for a bit. He found out a long time ago he thinks best this way.

Lost in thought, Sonic rests enough to end up dozing off. Sometimes he dreams of his friends. Sometimes he dreams of Shadow. And sometimes he dreams of water. The last one doesn’t scare him anymore.

Still, sometimes he feels like something in it, calling out to him.

Walking back home after his nap, Sonic stops by the Master Emerald’s altar. He does have something that belongs to it.

In front of him, the Master Emerald shines in its shrine. Sonic feels its Chaos energy emanating, almost drowning him. Around it, seven thin tall-ish pillars, with each of the Chaos Emeralds levitating at their tip, spinning in place, humming with all the power inside of them.

Well, except for one empty pillar. Sonic looks at it, reaching into his quills to retrieve the only thing currently in its hammerspace – the Red Chaos Emerald. He simply holds it out in the direction of its altar, letting the magic of Angel Island do the rest. The Emerald levitates out of his hand and towards its resting place. As soon as it arrives, it starts spinning with the others, who all shine brighter for nothing but a moment, welcoming back their sibling.

With a sigh, he approaches the Master Emerald, placing his left hand in it.

Emerald green meets emerald green.

Its green surface, impossibly smooth, emits a -click- sound as it contacts with the gold in the band on Sonic’s ring finger.

“Debt paid in full. We should do this more times. Though if you need anything, you only need to ask.”

He can almost hear an answer in the gem’s hum.

Chapter Text

06:00

Shadow wakes up with several blinks. He’s not in his bed for once. Still groggy, he looks around. Ah, yes. He’s in his study room. He must’ve fallen asleep. Getting up, he realizes there is a book on the floor at his feet. Picking it up, he remembers it being the one he was reading last night. He must’ve been more tired than he realized.

Activating the rocket in his shoes, Shadow finds the slot in his personal library this book belongs to, and puts it back. He then descends, not as gracefully as he wishes, but he chalks it up to the fact he just woke up.

He tries to remember where he got this one particular book.

He can’t remember.

He realized a few centuries ago he was running out of places to put books on the shelves in the bedroom he shared with Sonic. He had decided then to start this project of adding a study room to their house. Jealous of the idea, Sonic builds his playroom. Not to say they wouldn’t use each other’s rooms from time to time.

Finding the books would be a bigger issue, funnily enough. He would go on trips to the surface sometimes, but with no money, he would need to find fast jobs. Once again, he would thank his G.U.N. training and missions that made him knowledgeable in so many things. But now he also had his own life experiences after so many years doing so many things.

Leaving the study room, he walks towards their bedroom. The clock in the kitchen says 6:04 as he walks past it. Sonic is surely fast asleep.

Opening their bedroom door as quietly as he can, he does find the blue hedgehog sprawled on the bed, snoring lightly. It took a while for Shadow to get used to that. Now it was ever so endearing. With a smile, he closes the door. He has breakfast to prepare.

Beep.

Somewhere, a solitary computer holds on for dear life. If it had memories, it would remember the days it used to make many sounds. Not only it, but also its neighbors, and the people of all sizes and kinds walking around.

It would remember the great calamity that turned its workspace into a graveyard in an instant.

Beep.

Somewhere, a light flickers its weak light. If it had memories, it would remember the days it circled the planet it came from, in a tight low orbit. It would remember ever-so-slowly veering out of this orbit, starting its new trajectory into deep space.

It would remember its siblings losing the signals that kept them alive.

Be-.

Somewhere, in deep space, the Space Colony ARK made the last sound it would ever make.

The world had forgotten the Space Colony ARK.

Time has forgotten the Space Colony ARK.

Sonic and Shadow remembered the Space Colony ARK.

07:00

Sniff sniff.

Sonic’s sense of smell is the first to wake up. He can smell… eggs. And toast.

Hmmmm. His partner is in a good mood.

Getting up with a big stretch, Sonic puts on his red sneakers, unchanging and undamaged over the turns of the centuries, due to what he can only think is magic, and goes to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face.

Soon enough, he would arrive at their kitchen downstairs, smiling as he saw Shadow getting two plates on their table. Seeing Sonic, Shadow smiles as well.

“Good morning, King.” Says the dark hedgehog.

“Mornin’, Knight.” Replies the azure hedgehog.

It had been Shadow’s idea. After so many years after everyone who knew who they were had passed, the only people who knew who Sonic and were… were Sonic and Shadow. So he gives Sonic the idea of, well, not exactly changing their names, but sort of amp up the pet name game. Assume new names and, for a few years, try them out. It was good fun.

Sonic kept some of the highlights in his journal.

Jester and King.

Pirate and Captain.

Were and Vamp.

Shadow and Sonic.

King and Knight.

The current one was Sonic’s suggestion, unlike most of the others. On one of Shadow’s book findings, he surprisingly found a reserved copy of fairy tales, some of them dating back to before their new life together.

To Sonic’s surprise, one of the stories was the one of King Arthur, who pulled the sword out of the stone and was destined to lead a kingdom, later doomed to fall.

It reminded him of his time inside that story. Telling about that adventure to Shadow for the first time, he figured it was his time to be King, and Shadow would be his trusted Knight.

All in good fun. As always.

“I missed you in bed.” Sonic approaches the desk to sit down.

“I was reading a good book. Ended up asleep on my couch. My back will have its revenge in a couple of hours.” Shadow sets his own plate to sit down and eat with Sonic. “At least it’s not winter.”

“As if it ever gets that cold in Angel Island.”

“You’re saying you don’t like my cuddles?”

“Now you’re putting words into my mouth.” Sonic grins, nibbling on his toast.

“Well, I have no funny quip for that.” Shadow doesn’t eat for now, just watching Sonic. “Any plans for today, King?”

“Eh… I’ll let future me decide, like always.” He sees Shadow simply staring at him. “What?”

Wordlessly, Shadow simply looks at their calendar. Sonic’s gaze follows.

YESTERDAY

TODAY

• Birthday – Sonic the Hedgehog

TOMORROW

Sonic looks at the screen, unsure on what to think or feel. “I… didn’t see it yesterday at all.”

“I almost didn’t myself. When I figured you were spending the day running, I realized you wouldn’t see it until I pointed it out.”

Sonic doesn’t react much, still looking at the screen.

“You want my company this time, or do you want to do it alone?”

“I… think I’ll be alone today. If that’s alright.”

“Of course!” Shadow puts his hands on top of Sonic’s, their wedding bands touching each other. “Whatever you need. I’ll be extra sure to sleep in our bed tonight. Or if you want me awake…”

“…whatever works best for you, Knight.” Sonic smiles, finally looking back at the dark hedgehog.

Relieved, Shadow gets up, closing the distance between them. Peach lips meet tan lips, in a kiss that feels almost practiced. The sort of kiss that a couple perfects over so many years.

“Happy birthday, King.”

Somewhere in the planet below, a civilization fell. It wasn’t ugly, there was no war or plague. Only Time. The people who lived in that civilization were long gone, and their buildings and landmarks were left in the hands of nature and its wildness.

One of those was once one of the most famous and revered of its civilization. Now it is in pieces, and each of them unrecognizable and covered in dirt and grass and moss and dust.

Its biggest piece was still connected to its foundation. A single shoe, with a piece of a leg.

The plague below it left to the same fate as the rest of everything else. The only words still readable were “Chaos”, “his”, and “die”.

The world had forgotten the Sonic Memorial.

Time has forgotten the Sonic Memorial.

Sonic and Shadow remembered the Sonic Memorial.

12:00

One foot in front of the other, Sonic makes his way up Red Mountain.

He doesn’t run. This is the one pilgrimage he swore to himself he’d never run.

On the way over, faces and voices keep coming to him. He shoos them away. He’ll welcome them in a minute. Right now, he has a mountain peak to reach.

17:00

He’d made it. And just in time to watch the sun starting to set in the horizon.

This is his favorite time of the day. The sun is still out, but not bright enough to turn the sky blue – now with all the tones of orange and yellow – Sonic can just jump into them.

Reaching the apex of the mountain, Sonic takes a deep breath. Two. Five.

Familiar faces come back to him. And voices. And events, happy and sad.

“…one day?”

“Yeah. One day.” Once full of energy, the two-tailed fox lays down in his bed. He doesn’t think he has the energy to get up from it, but he does have the energy to smile. “I got the idea from Shadow. He said he does the same. To not let the grief get him all the time. One day, every year, he remembers everything he ever lost. He said it hurts like hell, and… I believe him. So, you know, pick a good one.”

“I… dunno, Tails. Keeping everything bottled to let go all at once… sounds bad.”

“It would be, if it was a lot of time. If you do it every year, it shouldn’t be… too bad. At least not compared to living in grief all the time… so please. Pick a day, and mourn everyone. You can cry, you can shout, we expect some -good- grieving.” Tails laughs. “And then, all the rest of the time, you move the hell on. Please.”

Sonic kept staring at Tails, thinking. He knew this day would come some day.He had talked with Shadow about it, he remembered.

“…ok. Now please, let’s talk about anything else?”

The two brothers laugh. Sonic would make sure to enjoy this moment like it would be the last time he ever saw Tails.

Because he knew it’d be.

Tears streaming down his face, Sonic lets himself remember everyone. Every good day, every bad day, and every day in between. The last time Tails ever flew the Tornado with Sonic in its wing. The last cake Amy Rose had ever baked him. The day Knuckles gave him and Shadow the role of Guardians of Angel Island. The day Silver came and told him he decided to live in the past for the rest of his days. Even the last time he ever saw Omega, before going to a mission he never returned from.

Sonic’s deep breaths start getting smaller, like something is crushing his throat. He expected it. It happens every year. But he still feels the panic of being buried by all those memories. He lets them out the best way his situation presents to him.

“…aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!” Sonic screams into the clouded sky. His legs get wobbly and weak from the scream, forcing the hedgehog on his knees, as he sobs inconsolably, one hand in the ground and the other in his chest, as he tries to control his breathing. As he tries to get under control, he can still feel his scream in his throat, pleading with every fiber in his body to get out.

Sonic allows it.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH-AAAAH-aaah-aaah!” With the sobs breaking his scream and no voice left, he lets the tears do the rest of the work.

The sky, as eternal as the hedgehog, has no reaction to what it just witnessed.

Neither does the mountain.

20:00

When the oven’s alarm goes off, Shadow promptly gets his oven mitten, opens the oven, and retrieves the cake he had just baked for it. It’s too late when he realizes they didn’t have enough sugar for frosting, but enough cocoa to add a ganache. Might as well be his favorite flavor.

Satisfied with the result, he cuts a piece of the chocolate cake for himself, eating it in silence while watching through the window. As ever, Angel Island is as peaceful as it gets.

Somewhere, in a long-forgotten quarry, a mine had its entrance blocked by landslides and other disasters caused by time.

Inside it, a bulky black and red robot can be found, almost like it’s sitting. Its batteries long dried, its eyes not knowing what light is anymore. Its memory chips certainly corrupted to a point of no return.

This robot once thought it’d be around forever. But millennia had passed since it could find someone clever enough to maintain it.

The world had forgotten Omega.

Time has forgotten Omega.

Sonic and Shadow remembered Omega.

22:45

Sonic was finally out of tears. Over the long trek back home, he had gathered a bunch of worried Chao. They would just stay close by, walking by his side as he would make the way to the clearing with the house he and Shadow had called home for… ooooh, surely several thousands of years, by this point.

Opening the door, the hedgehog’s nose is struck by the smell of his favorite dessert. Because of course Shadow would make him chocolate cake. He usually had no problem with the other desserts Shadow would make for his birthday, ever since he started liking baking. Red Velvet was his favorite, Sonic knew. He almost expected it instead of the chocolate.

By its side, a small note with Shadow’s signature cursive handwriting.

“Happy birthday, King. Your Knight orders you to eat one slice before cake. He outdid himself

Yours for eternity,

Knight.”

Sonic smiles fondly at the letter, before cutting himself a slice and sitting by the window overlooking the Master Emerald Shrine. His favorite place to be alone in the house. He was certainly much better than he was a few hours ago. Still not at 100% though.

Satisfied, and realizing it’s quite late, Sonic finds his way towards their bedroom. Shadow is already fast asleep, his rocket shoes in their usual place. Quietly, Sonic removes his own sneakers, putting them neatly by their counterpart’s side.

Very careful not to wake his partner up, the blue hedgehog climbs on bed, taking his position, gently putting his body against Shadow’s with one hand resting on his torso. He takes the opportunity to smell him. The centuries can turn all they want; Sonic will never get tired of Shadow’s lavender smell.

His carefulness is for nothing, however, as he hears Shadow’s groggy voice. “Are you good?”

“…ask me again tomorrow.” He plants a kiss on Shadow’s temple, now that he doesn’t need to be as careful anymore.

“You enjoyed the cake?”

“You know I did. I need to treat you to something tomorrow to make up for it.” The thumb on the hand on Shadow’s torso starts gently circling, in a small massage. By Shadow’s low purr, apparently very welcome.

“Happy birthday. I love you.”

Sonic smiles, getting their bodies slightly closer together. “I love you too.”

The world had forgotten Sonic and Shadow.

Time has forgotten Sonic and Shadow.

Sonic and Shadow remembered Sonic and Shadow.

Chapter Text

06:00

In a cold sweat, Shadow the Hedgehog wakes up with a head splitting migraine.

It’s not the first time this has happened, but it’s the strongest he can remember. Like a hot knife or a very big hammer hitting his forehead once every three seconds. Looking over the bed, he can see Sonic whimpering, probably having a nightmare. Shadow leaves the bedroom and, with a hand in his head, gets out of the house. He doesn’t even bother with his rocket shoes, getting dirty with the grass he’s walking under.

His objective is the willow tree not very far from their home. He had planted it there himself. He wanted to see it grow. It was a fun couple of decades. And now he was very glad he chose a willow tree, for its bark can make for a good natural painkiller, and that’s exactly what he needed right now. Take what he needs from it, go back to the house to heat it up. He’d be good as new.

~~

Sonic wakes up to an empty bed. His head was pounding like crazy. He gets up with a groan, looking around. No sign of Shadow, but his rocket shoes were still where he had left them the night before.

“…Shad?”

He looks around once more. No answer. Strange. But Sonic doesn’t mind it, as his headache doesn’t let him. Groggy after getting up sick, Sonic makes a quick trip to the kitchen. Still no sign of Shadow. “…maybe in his study?” But he doesn’t go to check. He goes towards their fridge, where he picks up a cold pack and immediately goes back to bed, to go back to sleep after putting the compress in his forehead.

08:30

Sonic’s restless sleep is interrupted when he feels Shadow’s hand on his shoulder.

“Hey... there you are.” He smiles.

“Here. Willow tea. Won’t fix the headache, but will make you feel better.” Shadow offers him a mug with the tea he made for him. “Should we be worried that the both of us got sick on the same day?”

“Nah. It’s just a bug or something.” Sonic dismisses it with a hand gesture, sitting down on the bed to drink the tea.

“But I don’t get sick.” Shadow insists. “I woke up so out of it, I didn’t even realize until after. This could be something serious.”

Sonic can already feel the warmth of the tea exiling his headache away. “If it is, we’ll deal. Like we’ve always done.”

“Hmmm. If you say so.” Shadow looks at his hands clasped together while both sit on the bed. Sonic finishes his tea and sets it on the bedside table. “Anything you want to do?”

“Just keep resting. Can you stay with me?”

“Of course. You need only ask.”

Embracing Sonic in a sidehug, Shadow lays both of them down on the bed, their legs still dangling out.

09:30

It had been almost an hour since they had started to rest.

Something kept nagging at Sonic’s mind. Something Knuckles had said. But it was so long ago. It takes several minutes for him to even remember what his brain was trying to recover.

He gets up again, with much more ease, but still feeling this pang at the back of his head. He goes for his shoes.

“Hmm?” Shadow notices the shift in the bed, and sits down. “Feeling better?”

“Much. Thanks, love. And you? Still feeling just a small feeling you’re forgetting something?”

“Y… yeah. How did you know?” Shadow asks, tilting his head while Sonic puts his shoes on.

“Something I remember Knuckles saying once.”

~~

“Are you sure that would even work like that for me?” Sonic asked. Both him and the echidna sitting down on the Altar. Knuckles had a focused expression on his face, almost meditating, while Sonic simply looked at him, unsure on how to follow suit.

“I do not know, Sonic.” Knuckles said, with an old, tired voice. Someone who has lived well beyond their years. But still, not as everlasting as the hedgehog in front of him. “But I won’t feel safe giving you the task of Guardian if you can’t connect to the Master Emerald like I can.”

“What if I can’t? You’ll still be gone and I’ll still be here. What’ll change from this actually working?”

“Listen, hedgehog. Focus, and the Emerald provides. If you can connect to it, it’ll open possibilities. Being able to draw from its powers more easily. This gem can perform miracles to me, you know this. I want it to perform miracles for you too.”

“Fine…” On one hand, Sonic was getting kinda antsy. They’ve been at this for four days now, and Sonic wanted to go for a run. Knuckles stays  static for a few more minutes, as immovable as a stone.

“Try it now.” He finally says, snapping Sonic out of his thoughts.

Getting up, Sonic closes his fists and looks at the Master Emerald. He lets its energy flow through him, the same way he does the Chaos Emeralds whenever he wants to use their power.

“…the servers are the seven Chaos.” He starts. He can feel the wind starting to get stronger around him. So far so good.

“Chaos is power. Power enriched by the heart.” The Master Emerald shines brighter, as do the other seven. Now for the part that usually failed.

“The controller is the one that unifies the Chaos.”

For the first time, Sonic feels different. A deeper connection to the Master Emerald was born. He feels powerful – even more than his Super form. With a sense that he had felt like this once before, years ago, he looks at his arms and hands. His entire body is shining in pure light. It lasts only a moment, before he feels the energy going away, but the connection is intact.

“About time.” Is all the echidna says, getting up. He is met by a raised eyebrow on the blue hedgehog’s face. “Now, be careful. Remember what I said. Use the prayer only in emergencies. And you are connected to the Master Emerald, but it is connected to you. If it’s in danger, it’ll let you know. If something happens to it, you will feel the pain too.” Knuckles doesn’t wait for Sonic to react or answer before walking away.

“I can already fe- wait where are you going?!”

“Don’t worry, Sonic. We’ll see each other around.” Knuckles turns back with a smile.

They didn’t.

~~

Sonic makes his way to the window overlooking the forest and the Master Emerald Shrine in the distance. “It was one of the last things he taught me before passing.” Looking at Shadow, he points out the window. His partner gets up the bed to see what Sonic was pointing at.

The familiar sight welcomes Shadow. What is different this time, however, is the Master Emerald shining brighter than normal. And what is surely a figure next to it. They can’t tell much about it from this distance.

Looking at each other, they enter a silent agreement.

– BOOM –

For the first time in many years, Sonic and Shadow break the sound barrier out of necessity. Sure, they have never stopped doing it in races. Or out of convenience, in a hurry to get out of a storm or something. But needing to run? Why would they?

Going supersonic, it takes but a moment for them to arrive at the Shrine. Shoes screeching in friction against the stone must’ve alerted the figure to their arrival, but it doesn’t react.

It’s a bird! A bit taller than Sonic, his eyes fixated on the glowing Emerald. White fur, with tinges of all seven colors of the rainbow on their feathered hands and feet. Sonic and Shadow look at each other in silence. Both of them making it clear to the other they don’t know who this character is.

“I wanted to make a joke about you two being horrible guardians. I’ve been standing here for hours.” His voice echoes effortlessly in itself, like it’s more than one instance of this bird talking. “But you two are among the best he could have chosen.”

“Very cute.” Shadow enters a defensive stance, between the bird and the Master Emerald. “Who are you? For how long have you been here?”

“A few hours.” He shrugs. “Since sunrise. As for who I am. Your husband knows. Or knew.”

Shadow’s blood runs hot. He’s not used to having other people calling Sonic his husband. Especially something as eerie as this echoing voice. He does turn to Sonic, who has a puzzled expression.

“I… never met you before. But your voice is… familiar. Why?” Sonic scratches his head, not taking his eyes off of the intruder.

“No matter. I shall wait.” The mysterious bird sits on the floor, legs crossed. He looks at the two hedgehogs standing in front of him. “…oh come on. You will know who I am in a few hours.”

“And you mean no harm?” Sonic asks.

“Of course not.” Beat. “At least… I can’t help it. Pain comes to all through me. But I never had ill intent.” Another beat. “Well, I did once. But I was mad, and I was stopped.” He finally says, nonchalantly.

Sonic keeps looking at the bird. So. Damn. Familiar. And it’s not like there are many birds out there. “Just. Tell me how I know you.”

The bird looks at Sonic, who just now realized his eyes are as white as the rest of him.

“I was… used. Got broken. Hurt people on purpose because of that. You stopped me.”

“Then why don’t I remember any of that?”

“Beca-“

“Because it never happened.”

Both Sonic and Shadow whipped their heads looking for the source of the new voice that interrupted the white bird. Shadow grunts in small annoyance, but Sonic smiles as this is a voice he recognizes.

Shadow sees him first. A small imp-like creature, not much bigger than his hand, flying in their direction with green fairy-like wings. The green bauble in his necklace shining in the Sun’s reflection.

“Chip!” Sonic jumps in happiness.

“Hi, Sonic!” Chip flies into Sonic, hugging his torso. “Told ya I’d be around.”

“It’s been too frigging long, dude!” Sonic hugs him back. “But wait! If you’re here-!”

“Nah, don’t worry. Dark Gaia’s still in slumber. As long as no one uses the Chaos Emeralds to wake him up, we have nothing to worry about. I’m around only for today, for a special occasion.”

“And you also won’t tell me what it is?” The blue hedgehog puts his hands on his hips, causing Chip to look at the bird sitting on the ground.

“You’ve just been around early for no reason and didn’t even tell them what’s happening?”

The bird gets up again, sighing and looking at Sonic. “I can understand mortals not having patience, but after millennia I thought you’d know better by now, God of the Wind.”

“God of what?!” Sonic can hear Shadow echoing his own sentiment.

“Nah.” The bird smiles. “He isn’t. He could be, though. We’re not enough.”

“There’s a difference between being immortal and being one of *us*, Solaris.” Chip flies towards the bird. He might be saying something else, but Sonic isn’t listening anymore.

He looks at Shadow, now looking all over the bird once more.

The black hedgehog is familiar with the name, of course. One of the human kingdoms used to worship him as the God of the Sun. But there was never any more to it than that.

To Sonic, however, he started hearing echoes of himself. Things he could swear he had said, but didn’t remember. Was it because of the thousands of years since then, or something else? He wasn’t sure. But he could hear it.

“That’s a pretty snazzy performance there!”

“Nothing starts until you take action. If you’ve time to worry, then run!”

"The present day... the here and now that you've stolen... time to take it back !"

He is brought out of his own head when the Master Emerald glows once again. Walking out of it, the all too familiar form for all of them of Chaos materializes. In his hands, Tikal – an unconscious echidna, who he gently rests by the Emerald’s light. His green eyes scan the place, looking at all present, but fixating his gaze on Solaris, who does a small bow.

“Welcome back, God of Creation.”

Chaos’s voice doesn’t come out of his mouth, as he doesn’t have one, but everyone, including Sonic and Shadow, can hear it inside their heads.

“It has been too long, God of Time.” Chaos nods his head, turning to Chip. “God of Light.” And then to Sonic and Shadow. “Hero of Mobius. Ultimate Lifeform.”

Shadow keeps staring. Sonic had told him of the adventures he wasn't around for. He had known Sonic had faced Chaos right before they met, and that while G.U.N. had him running around helping people harmed by the Shattered World Crisis, Sonic was dealing with Dark Gaia directly.

Still, seeing both of them talking with each other was still certainly a sight. Sonic seemed to be just as surprised, as his mind raced with thoughts as well.

“Uhm.” The blue speedster, looking at Chaos. “Sorry, but it’s just. Last time we saw each other, there was… are we good?”

Chaos simply looks at Solaris, who answers.

“I can answer that, since it’s kind of my domain.” The bird turns to Sonic and Shadow, who in turn are looking at him now. “Time outlasts everything. Life. Worlds.” He turns to Chaos. “Hatred.” And then to Tikal, sleeping. “Magic.” And finally, back to the hedgehogs. “One of the benefits of immortality is the inability to hold a grudge.” He smiles. “But you know this already.”

“I… guess that makes sense.” Shadow admits, with crossed arms.

“And you two came here too because…?” Sonic asks.

“To greet back an old friend, Sonic.” Chip answers, looking at Chaos. “Our pantheon is small enough. We just missed Chaos, that's all.”

“And we wanted to chat with him about the world’s current affairs. What happened in his absence and everything.” He looks at the other deities. “Which would be…”

“Private?” Shadow guesses.

“Don’t worry.” Chip assures them. “The Emeralds aren’t going anywhere. You have my word.”

12:00

Sonic can hear the metallic clangs of Shadow’s shoes as he paces behind him. Paying attention to the pasta he’s preparing, Sonic breaks the silence.

“They said the Emeralds aren’t going anywhere. I trust Chip.”

“They’re gods, Sonic.”

“That doesn’t mean anything in regards to their word. Might mean more, really.”

“They’re gods, Sonic.”

“…heard you the first time.” Finally, he turns around. As he does so, Shadow stops pacing to lock eyes with him.

“How are you so chill about this? I know you met them before, but they’re gods.”

Understanding what was going on, Sonic laughs heartily. “I didn’t think you’d get freaked out by that.”

“I-I…–“ Shadow takes a deep breath to calm down. “I’m not freaked out about meeting them. I’m freaked about their lifespan.”

“…immortal. Like us. I don’t get what…” Sonic crosses his arm, leaning against the counter by the stovetop with one of his legs crossed in front of the other.

Shadow takes a minute to collect his thoughts and figure out how to say what he wants. “Yes. But their forever goes both ways. They’ve been around since the beginning, too, unlike us.” He stops again to think his words. “We leave the island, what, once every one, two hundred years? Now stretch that into their lifespan. Something like this happens once every era? The fact that we are here to see that…”

“Ooooh, I get it. Yeah, it can get your head in a twist.” Sonic nods. “Tell you what. Let’s eat lunch, it’s almost ready. Then let’s play something in my room. When we get less nervous about this, we can go talk a bit more with them. I’m sure they want to talk with us too. Or they wouldn’t have come all here.”

Shadow’s mind still races. But he accepts Sonic’s idea. He was indeed getting hungry.

17:00

Hands interlocked, Sonic and Shadow walk up the stairs leading to the Master Emerald. Solaris is again the only deity present. Chip had a limitation on his corporeal form, and Chaos had gone to care for Tikal.

“You must have guessed we have unfinished business.” He says, looking at the Master Emerald.

The God of the Sun seemed to shine just as bright.

“You’re still here.” Shadow says. “And we have questions. Though one of them was more directed to Chaos.”

“I can still try and answer. Or relay the question.”

Sonic takes a step forward. “We just wanted to thank him for what he did to me. I also wanted to ask… why, and how.”

That makes Solaris turn to look at Sonic. “Oh, I can totally answer that. He told me the answer to one. And I am the answer to the other.”

Both hedgehogs turn their heads in confusion.

“He wanted to return the favor.” The god explains. “For you saving him from himself. And well. You did the same to me. Even if you did reset that timeline… Time doesn’t forget. We felt… indebted. Which is hard for a god to admit, even harder to actually feel it. Sensing what was going to happen, Chaos came to me for a favor.”

Solaris looks aside, like he’s thinking on the words to say.

“Time is… complicated. Some people think you can’t change it, others think you can. Truth is.. both, really. Some moments are too important to be changed, others are more malleable. Right before the Mad Doctor went for his last attack, I turned you into an event, Sonic the Hedgehog. You are a fact. One that must always happen. That’s how you’re immortal.”

Sonic takes the explanation in. It seemed like it’d take a while, so Shadow took the word.

“You called him ‘God of the Wind’ earlier. What was that about?”

“That was me messing around.” Solaris admits, with a smile and a shrug. “He’s not a god. Neither are you. And we can’t turn you into one. Only enough belief can do that. …why? Do any of you want to…?”

“No. Well, not without knowing all the facts. But if it’s a moot point-“

“What about Shadow?”

Both hedgehog and deity turn to Sonic, who had found the words he was looking for.

“Shadow isn’t like that, is he? He just doesn’t grow old or sick. But if something happens, he can get… destroyed. I can’t.”

“I suppose that’s true.” Solaris crosses his arms in thought. “I could fix that.”

“Hm?” Now it was Shadow’s turn to look at Solaris.

“Yeah.” He shrugs. “Snap of my fingers. What I did to Sonic, I did it as a favor to Chaos. I can do it to you as a favor to Sonic. He did save me too.”

Neither Sonic nor Shadow answer. Shadow’s minding racing with the choices he was presented, Sonic’s mind pleading he’d say yes.

“I’d take it if I were you.” Says the voice in their head. “Especially with what I’m about to do.”

All three of them turn to Chaos. His expression is as indescribable as ever.

“And what are you going to do?” Sonic asks.

“Relief you from this guardianship.” Chaos approaches the Master Emerald. “This job was always mine to keep. When the echidnas sealed me away, the responsibility fell upon them. And when the last one died, the two of you accepted it. Now that I have been released and back to normal, I can assume the post meant for me.”

Sonic and Shadow simply look at the god, truly speechless at this point.

“If you want an outsider’s opinion?” Solaris interjects, and doesn’t wait for an answer. “The world down there changed a lot over the past centuries. Exploring it all could be fun for the two of you.” He shrugs. “You could also just stay here with him. But Chaos is a boring company.”

The God of Creation doesn’t react.

“I… think. We might need a few days. To think all of this over.” Shadow says, holding Sonic’s hand again.

“Oh yeah, absolutely. It will pass in the blink of an eye.” Solaris winks, playfully.

The two of them turn to leave, to stop as they hear Chaos’s voice once more.

“I can’t answer it if you don’t ask, Hero.”

All eyes turn to Sonic, as he scratches one of his quills gently.

“It’s… I’ve been curious for a while. It’s not cheating, since I never counted. But I’ve been wondering for the past couple of years…”

He didn’t need to finish the question for all other three to understand it. Chaos turns to Solaris, and gives him a simple nod.

“23,788 years, 9 months, and 14 days.”

Both hedgehogs stay silent for a full minute. Sonic is the one to break it.

“…holy shit.”

22:00

Both hedgehogs lay on their bed, looking up. Sonic has his arm below Shadow’s body, his hand on the dark hedgehog’s arm. Shadow leans his head, locking it on Sonic’s shoulder. Besides a few commentaries and small talk, the two of them hadn’t talked much.

Sonic does realize when Shadow raises his hand, looking at the ring in his finger.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

“I promised you forever.” Shadow answers. “I need to be around forever for that.”

“I’d never blame you if something happened.” Sonic holds Shadow’s hand with his free one.

“I would. To… imprison you with living forever alone… I could never do that to you. It’s my choice, and I will say yes to Solaris.” He says, planting a kiss on Sonic’s cheek.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want you to.” Sonic returns the kiss – on Shadow’s lips instead.

“And don’t think I didn’t notice how your first reaction to what you are was to worry about me. We will talk about how we feel about what you are.”

“I am who I am, Shadow. Always have been. But I understand there’s a bit to unpack here.”

“Good. Now, these gods are patient. We can sleep this off for now.”

Sonic agrees. They would have much to discuss in the next few days. To stay or to travel. Where to go. For how long.

One thing both of them knew.

They’d do it together.

Chapter Text

07:00

Beep-beep. Beep-beep. Beep-beep.

With a groan, a gloved hand slaps the alarm until it finds its off switch. With a deep breath, Shadow the Hedgehog sits on his bed. There’s no one there.

This is the norm in his life.

Lazily, he gets up, takes off his clothes, and puts them in the bed before going to the bathroom to take a hot shower. That ought to wake him up.

As the hot water relaxes his body, the ebony hedgehog observes the steam fogging the glass door on the shower box. It doesn’t take too long until he’s finished. Leaving the bathroom, Shadow looks at his clothes. Black pants, a gray shirt and a black vest, with his gloves and rocket shoes, of course. Out of every transition as he got acclimatized to new cultures, this one’s obsession with clothes was a confusing one. Not like they had anything to hide. But after a prolonged time living with humans, it made sense for some traditions to cross over.

Fully dressed, Shadow leaves the bedroom. He can smell bacon and pancakes.

Indeed, when he gets to the kitchen, a yellow cat is on the stove, preparing breakfast. Said cat is wearing more relaxed clothes; pajama pants and a T-shirt with a band logo. With gloves and socks, as that mobian bit of culture never went away. When he hears the metal of Shadow’s shoes clink against the wood of the floor, he turns to greet the hedgehog.

“Hey Shadow, good morning.”

“Good morning, Spark. I see you’ve already started breakfast.”

“Yeah, I woke up like, an hour ago. Fell off the bed, really.” He says with a pout. “Sonic went for a run, by the way.”

“I figured as such. And Ashes?”

“Working upstairs. Which reminds me, I need to ask her if she wants syrup on her pancakes.” Removing his phone from his pocket, the cat starts writing a message.

This was a change in culture Shadow appreciated. During his time, he remembered Miles having devices able to communicate text and video so efficiently, and sharing them only with his most trusted friends. Now, everyone and their kid had these phones. Convenience of information. Being able to talk with someone or find something with a simple device like that. It would’ve made life easier all those millennia ago.

Just as fast as Spark gets his phone out to communicate, he puts it back and continues preparing breakfast.

“Anything I can do to help?” He asks.

“Nah, I’m almost done. Sonic said he’d take a look to see if the Tornado is ready to fly after coming back from his run. You can check it if you want.”

“Hm. I will.” He turns to leave, stopping in his tracks. “…don’t take this as meaning we’re eager to leave.”

“Oh, say less.” Spark laughs. “These past three years were fun, but I always knew you two kept moving. We never expected forever.”

Shadow laughs quietly. If only you knew a fraction of forever, Spark. With a nod, he leaves the house.

The outside of the house Sonic and Shadow had stayed on for the past years was on the skirts of Nova City. The city itself is a mixed maze of skyscrapers and natural parks. Right next to the house, a garage with two planes. One of them being a yellow and red spitfire plane belonging to Ashes and Spark – and the other being the Tornado – Sonic and Shadow’s biplane, now fully blue and black. Shadow didn’t remember which repaint this was. He even tried to keep track this time. Of the years, of the friendships made, of these repaints. But even trying, he just couldn’t.

Lost in thought, Shadow starts doing the routine checks on the Tornado. The fuel tank, full. The straps, tight. The controls, responsive. Such a menial task by this point, Shadow does it automatically. But he’d still pay attention. This was an important journey.

“Can it wait?” Sonic asked. “Tomorrow is our friends’ anniversary, and we want to celebrate.”

Even in dreams they were clothed now. Sonic, in this instance, wearing a pair of khaki shorts going a bit under his knees, and a white tank top with a yellow jacket, two numbers above his size.

In front of him, the eternal figure of the god Chaos stares back. “Yes. This is not urgent.”

Chip was right, Chaos was boring company.

“Coolio. I’ll tell Shadow you stopped by.”

“No need. I am informing him as well.”

“Ooooh. God powers. Well, see you when I see you!”

“As it is.” Are the god’s last words as Sonic’s eyes blink awake in the real world.

He sits down and looks at Shadow, already sitting down and already looking at Sonic.

“Guess we’re going back to Angel Island.

10:00

On the second floor of the house, a gray raccoon works on their computer. She wears jeans pants and a deep blue shirt with long sleeves. In the middle of writing a message to a colleague, she hears a distinguished –

– BOOM –

– coming from outside.

“About time.” She finishes the message, shuts the computer down and makes her way downstairs. Arriving, she sees Spark, holding a box, gift wrapped, and Shadow, with one backpack on his back and another in his hand. Soon enough, a blue blur arrives through the open door, stopping at the entrance. The smiling energetic blue hedgehog stretches as he sees everybody waiting for him.

“Well, ain’t that a reception, ha ha!” Sonic laughs as he stretches his arms above his head. When he hears a -pop-, he relaxes them.

“I was going to meet you somewhere in the city, but they wanted to say goodbye.” Shadow nods to the couple that hosted them.

“We bought you a little something. Just to remember us by.” Spark gently shakes the box in his hand before handing it to Sonic, who looks cautiously at Shadow.

No, they didn’t know the couple of hedgehogs was immortal and hundreds of thousands of years old.

No, they didn’t know the two bags on Shadow’s possession had nothing but gifts from hosts like them.

CD mixes from the singer they shared a room with. Sandwich recipes from the amateur chef who hosted them right before Spark and Ashes. A few pieces of assorted clothes.

How could they? Everytime they shared their secret with someone, they either didn’t believe them or just dismissed it or even threw them out, in fear of any repercussions. After a while, they stopped telling anyone. Better to keep it a secret anyway.

Opening the couples’ gift, Sonic finds a couple of handkerchiefs – blue and black with green and red strikes.

“I found it on a walk last week.” Ashes explains. “It was just too perfect.”

“Oooh, you shouldn’t have.” With enthusiasm, Sonic takes the fabrics, gives one to Shadow, and the box back to Ashes. He ties it around his neck, looking at the mirror they have installed on the living room. Shadow, on the other hand, thinks for a bit before wrapping the fabric around his bicep and tying it like an armband. The couple look at each other, both nodding in approval.

And then they turn to their hosts.

“You realize this isn’t goodbye forever, right? We’ll keep in touch.” Sonic says with a smile, taking his phone out of his pocket to make a point.

“I know, but still. It won’t be the same. You helped me love flying again.” Ashes smiles fondly.

Sonic looks at Shadow again, smiling, before turning to Ashes again. “Tell you again. Remember our yearly appointments?” Sonic gets his phone out again. Thank you, Neon, their tech savvy roommate. He was the only one they had ever trusted the Miles’ DayDrift with. He had ported the coding into a phone app for the two of them. He didn’t even need to duplicate anything – as soon as an event was added on Sonic’s app, it went to Shadow’s as well. Neon swears he hadn’t added that yet. It was just already there.

Good old Miles Prower.

Sonic adds an event for that day. “Every year, on this day, we come back and we race. Winner buys dinner.”

Ashes creates the same event on his phone’s normal calendar app. “It’s on.

15:00

That was a long flight. Neither hedgehog complained – it was good that Angel Island was so well hidden. Landing the Tornado next to their house, Sonic and Shadow start undressing. They did get used to the idea of wearing clothes, but had no issue not wearing them in each other’s company.

Their house – had grown. Mainly the five new rooms that had been added over time. All of them displaying nothing but gifts from friends, roommates and hosts the two of them had made over the years. All kinds of items shown there. Sonic and Shadow almost finish the fifth room by creating new displays for the latest batch of gifts, unpacking them from their bags. It takes a while, but after finding a good place for the two bandanas they had received hours prior; they are satisfied with their work.

Now, they have an audience with the God of Creation.

18:00

Hands interlocked, the couple of hedgehogs walk up the last set of stairs, facing the Master Emerald and its Guardian – a job that was theirs so many years ago. It wasn’t the first time they had talked after that day, they would come back from time to time to check in on Chaos and Tikal and the Emeralds. After Tikal departed, they did come less, but never stopped. Still, Chaos’ watery figure stands in front of them.

“Hero of Mobius. Ultimate Lifeform. Thank you for heeding my call.”

“No prob, Chaos. Figured if you called, it must've been important.” Sonic answers. “Anything we can help ya with?”

“Nothing can be done about what is currently happening. But I might be able to help you.”

Shadow doesn’t answer. Chaos looks directly at Sonic.

“When I asked the God of Time to save you, I saw inside your mind. Many choice words you had to give to your opponents. ‘Every world has its end. I know that’s kinda sad, but that’s why we gotta live life to the fullest in the time we have.’”

Sonic cocks his head, remembering, after a while, that indeed he had said that to Merlina, in the adventure that had taken him to the world of Camelot. That means Shadow realizes it first.

“…this world is ending?”

Chaos turns to Shadow. “It is its time. Dark Gaia has been gathering power for the past millennia. Light Gaia won’t be strong enough to defeat him. Not even with Super Sonic’s help, so I ask you to avoid trying. You should save your energy for something else.”

“If Chip needs my help-!” Sonic doesn’t finish, feeling Shadow’s hand squeezing his. Chaos takes the silence to speak again.

“Light Gaia knows it is coming. He is the one who warned me. We are all at peace with it already.”

“…when?” Shadow asks.

“A couple of years. Five at the latest.”

“…what’s going to happen to you? And to everyone?”

“Gods exist anywhere there is belief. We will take other forms, and have other names, but our energy will keep on. In spite of all things; life will out.”

Sonic and Shadow keep staring at him.

“There will be stronger signs. Spaceships and space colonies will be built., Not all of them will succeed, and not everyone will survive. But it cannot be helped. People survive; life will out.”

“And you asked us to come to help with the ships?” Sonic asks, not really thinking he is right, but not knowing what else there could be. “Do we get in one of the ships that make it?”

Chaos doesn’t answer. He turns to the Master Emerald. Sonic hadn’t noticed it before, but it seemed to be shining a little less bright than he remembered. The Chaos Emeralds had a bigger shine, though.

“I’ve spent the last few decades giving more of the Master Emerald’s power to the Chaos Emeralds.” It’s like he could read his mind. “I want you to take them. In their powered state, you don’t need Power Rings to keep your Super forms anymore. Use their power to traverse the stars. Moving faster than the speed of light, you will be faster than any ship by yourselves. Without the need of Power Rings and other forms of power, you can keep your Super forms for years. Forever, even, if you wish.”

It takes a full minute for any of the hedgehogs to react. The god in front of them doesn’t rush. In the end, it is Shadow who finds the words.

“So what? We just… pick a direction and go?”

Chaos looks up, which causes both hedgehogs to do the same. By that time, stars had started sparkling in the sky.

“There are more worlds out there than you can possibly think, Ultimate Lifeform. It might take a while to find one, but you are used to the company of each other. I do not trust the powers of the Chaos Emeralds lightly. I have faith you can take them, find other places, and do good.”

Again, silence falls. And again, it is Shadow who breaks it.

“Be right back.”

Hugging Sonic, Shadow feels the energy radiating from the powered up Emeralds, and doesn’t even need to hold one to have enough energy.

“Chaos Control.”

In their old bed, Sonic and Shadow stare at the ceiling, hands still interlocked.

“You would die trying to save them rather than saving yourself.” Shadow says, still looking up.

“It’s not what I’d do. It’s who I am. It’s who you fell in love with.” Sonic also doesn’t look at his partner. “I know what’s at stake. And I know it’s been… a while. This world is old. I…”

“I kept track. This time.” Shadow admits.

Sonic doesn’t need further explanation. He knows what Shadow means. The dark hedgehog waits for Sonic to protest, but when he doesn’t –

“468 thousand years. And a lot of smaller numbers.”

“…half a million years. How did we not get tired of each other?” Sonic asks with a dumbfounded smile.

“I could never get bored of you. I said ‘forever’ and I meant it.”

Sonic finally turns to Shadow, to see the dark hedgehog staring back. He doesn’t know when that happened. “I meant it too.”

“Then please. Say yes.”

It takes a while for Sonic to say it.

“…yes.”

20:00

“The servers are the seven Chaos.”

Sonic and Shadow look at each other, their faces a breath away from each other.

“Chaos is power.”

Standing in the Master Emerald with Chaos standing next to them, the both of them realize this is almost like the marriage they never bothered to do.

“Power enriched from the heart.”

The hedgehogs feel the Chaos Emerald’s powers tingling at their fur, making their quills stand on end.

“The controller is the one that unifies the Chaos.”

Too lost in each other’s eyes, both hedgehogs can only feel the Chaos Emeralds circling them at high speed. A rush of energy that neither remember when was the last time they felt.

“Please, Chaos Emeralds. Unite with these heroes to perfect their powered states and allow them to be one with the stars, to find new places in the cosmos that they can call home.”

In the rush of energy and power, the two hedgehogs hold each other close by their backs and heads and share a passionate kiss.

Cobalt turns into gold.

Obsidian turns into gold.

Emerald turns into ruby.

Breaking the kiss, both hedgehogs admire each other in their Super states. Both approve of it with a smile. They also notice their wedding bands shining in bright light.

Super Sonic turns to Chaos. “You said you’d take other forms.”

“I am what people believe.”

“Then we’ll see each other around.” Super Shadow says, levitating by Super Sonic’s side.

Chaos only nods.

The hedgehogs look at each other again.

“Race ya?” Super Sonic asks.

Super Shadow only shakes his head. “Together.” He offers his partner his hand.

Smiling, Super Sonic takes it. “Together.”

Stargazing is a hobby that never went away, be it among mobians or among humans. Those who still do it would have an unusual and impressive sight; two shooting stars on an upwards trajectory. Little would they know how these stars were once like them, but now transcended. Beyond mortality, beyond death, and beyond themselves.

These two shooting stars used to look up at the night sky, too. Never once did they think they’d join it.

Never once did they think they’d outlive the other specks of light they just joined.

One thing they did think. And they never forgot.

Life wins out, despite everything.

Love wins out. Forever.