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Shadow knew that on such a sunny day, everything would go wrong for him. It was on such a day that people called a day off that he had an adventure. The incident began when his roommate Rouge asked him to get her beloved box of chocolates from the store. Shadow asked about the purpose of the chocolates, but Rouge merely dismissed his inquiry with a careless gesture.
"To keep my immune system strong, honey! Otherwise I won't be able to bounce back and stay the most radiant person in the world!" she responded. Her words were true. Rouge had indeed fallen ill with a severe cold, unable to rise from bed. If she is sick, it's bad.
Shadow, as her devoted companion, remained at her side. The dark hedgehog grudgingly granted her every desire. He had no inkling that her condition would render her even more insufferable. At times, Shadow pondered how the red echidna managed to tolerate the bat. When Rouge fell ill with the cold, she did not want to see anyone, and Knuckles especially.
So, Shadow grudgingly acquiesced to her every demand. Rouge was not to be turned away. Omega was in the kitchen by the stove. He was making soup and tea for their patient. Now, Rouge was reclining on the bed, a damp cloth resting on her brow, and a tablet in her grasp, engrossed in an enthralling tv series.
She cried and laughed. She coughed and sniffed. And Shadow was always with her, giving her a handkerchief and a cough spray. He looked at her angry.
The dark hedgehog frowned when he heard Rouge's reply.
"A box of chocolates purported to keep your immune system strong — how, exactly?" he asked incredulously, crossing his arms over his chest. The temperature in the room was oppressive, yet Rouge adamantly prohibited the opening of windows. The turquoise irises of her eyes flashed with an impish glint, and Rouge paused the episode. She puckered her lips in a pout, like a child who had been wronged.
"What do you mean, how exactly? I'll be happy! Happiness is good for my soul, honey!" she answered in a hoarse voice, coughing a little into the handkerchief. Shadow had changed it for her four times that day.
The dark hedgehog sighed. He had to suffer it for her sake.
"Just try not to eat them," Shadow cautioned without malice, preparing to leave the room. "Otherwise, I'll personally shove these candies down your mouth."
"Oh, I'd love to see that," Rouge smiled and winked.
She was very thankful to Shadow. Therefore, she vowed to herself that, as soon as her health improved, she would prepare his favourite chocolate and coffee cake for the dark hedgehog. He harbored a secret fondness for cakes. Once, she accidentally saw Shadow looking through recipes on his phone for chocolate cakes. Rouge took mental note that she would certainly gratify him with some of these.
Shadow rolled his eyes. Even when she was sick, his friend could not be serious.
"Don't buy the candies with pistachios! They're not good. My candies are in a box and there are five flavors!" Rouge shouted at the departing hedgehog. She got out of bed and grabbed the glass of water on the table.
Shadow inclined his head in assent and departed the room. He was feeling exasperated and uneasy. He was counting the seconds until it would be over. He just needed to be left alone.
He went to Omega's kitchen to tell him to check the Rouge carefully. Omega turned to Shadow. He was attired in a pristine apron adorned with rosy hearts, and in his hand he held a spatula. Behind him was a pan of hot water and some cut vegetables on the table.
"THE TASK OF PROTECTING THE TEMPORARILY INCAPACITATED AGENT ROUGE HAS BEGUN. ANY WRONG VIEW OF HER WILL BE REGARDED AS A POTENTIAL THREAT."
The dark hedgehog grunted approvingly and went outside. The sun was beautiful. A lot of kids were running and eating ice cream. His dark fur didn't help with the heat. He was mentally cursing about it. Fortunately, the afternoon was waning and evening was drawing near.
It was not difficult to walk to the store where Rouge's favorite candies were old. Especially considering his ability to move quickly. But Shadow decided to walk instead of running. He knew that nothing bad would happen to Rouge while he was gone, because Omega was watching out for her. Shadow could trust him. Thus, he was traversing the bustling thoroughfares.
He was right to walk. A few minutes later, his keen eyesight caught the familiar figure of the yellow fox. He was standing next to some mobian and he was asking about something excitedly. Shadow was surprised to see the fox so upset. His tails were whirling with agitation behind his back, and his large blue eyes were brimming with... despondency.
Shadow felt a sudden urge to go up to him and find out what was the matter. It wasn't that he was friends with Miles. They had a close relationship. Superficially, Tails resembled Cream the rabbit, yet in essence, the fox was far more mature than his appearance suggested. It was for his sharp and incredible mind that Shadow respected Tails.
The dark hedgehog doesn't remember seeing the young fox alone. Without Sonic. It seemed strange to him. Typically, the two were inseparable, like true brothers. Maybe Sonic was just busy.
Shadow grinned at the thought. When Sonic wasn't fighting Eggman, he was bored. Or pestered the others. Or he offered to arrange a Shadow race, which the dark hedgehog readily agreed to. He liked to wipe the blue fool's nose.
As soon as Tails finished talking to Mobian, Shadow moved closer to him. It seemed like their talk didn't go well, because the fox looked sad.
Tails saw Shadow and ran to him.
"Shadow!" he greeted excitedly.
"Miles," Shadow nodded.
To the surprise of the dark hedgehog, the young fox spoke very quickly.
"There's no time to explain, Shadow! Sonic is missing," Miles's eyes were sad. Unfortunately, Shadow knew that feeling well. "I haven't heard from him since yesterday. He hasn't even shown up at home or sent me a single messages! I've been trying to track him down via the communicator but he's turned off all his beacons and now I have no idea where he is or how he's doing or what's going on..."
"Calm down, Miles," Shadow lightly squeezed the fox's shoulders in a comforting gesture. Tails pressed his hands to his face, holding back tears. "Where was it that you saw him last? Remember, maybe he said something weird?"
Tails shook a little. He inhaled deeply, composing his thoughts. Shadow could sense the weight of the young fox's emotions. The news of Sonic's missing, to tell the truth, was a surprise to him. It was utterly uncharacteristic of Sonic to vanish. He was usually always in plain sight. The last thing Shadow desired at this moment was to encounter a young fox in such a state of despondency. Miles's emotional turmoil was evident to the naked eye.
Shadow was reminded of himself. How many sleepless nights did he spend before an open window or a field or the sea, pondering his own loss? His Maria, his light of hope...
Shadow banished these thoughts from his mind and turned his attention to Tails, who stood before him. He wanted to help the young fox.
"That evening I saw him at our house. He told me about the polar stars. He looked a little... worried. And since he mentioned the polar stars, I searched the entire North but I was unable to locate him anywhere," his ears drooped and Shadow became increasingly anxious. He raised his humid eyes to the dark hedgehog. "What if he's in danger, Shadow? What if he needs us and can't get in touch? We've got to find him..."
Shadow frowned and sighed. He knew how Miles felt.
Shadow only now observed that there were deep shadows beneath the fox's eyes, his fur bristled. The dark hedgehog was certain that Miles had not eaten since the previous day. He felt regret that the young fox, acting alone, had cleared the entire North in his search for his brother. He was so depressed. If this was some kind of prank by Sonic, he would kill him as soon as he found him.
"Why didn't you tell the others?" Shadow asked, taking his hands off Tails' shoulders.
Tails bit his lip and looked away. He shuffled his foot on the ground.
"To be honest, I was so stressed out that I didn't even think about it... I thought Sonic might come back. I'm going to call Amy and Knuckles right away," he was a bit confused, but the dark hedgehog understood. "Please, Shadow, we have to find him," he said.
"We'll find him. Try to worry less and do more. I'll let you know if I find him."
Tails, overcome by emotion, hastened to embrace Shadow. The young fox still harbored a modicum of trepidation in the presence of the dark hedgehog, but at that moment, he felt like he could trust. He was profoundly grateful to the dark hedgehog for his assistance. Shadow hesitated for a second, but he patted the young fox on the back. It was bad for him to see Miles unhappy and disquieting. He wanted to help and also to know what was wrong with Sonic.
They bid adieu and departed, vowing to maintain contact with one another. Shadow continued walking down the street, heedless of all around. He let his thoughts take him away. Miles told him about the polar stars and Sonic's worried look... What could he mean by that?
Shadow suddenly felt as if he had taken a deep breath and closed his eyes. He understood. He remembered everything. Oh, hell.
Shadow gritted his teeth, recalling their last night together.
It was after another race, when Sonic, panting for breath, turned to Shadow with a cheeky grin.
"You know, Shads, you're not bad!" he put his hands on his knees. "If you want to see a cool picture in the sky, come here. I've never seen so many stars before. Look at that, man!" the hero ran back a few steps backward and gestured with his hand towards the heavens above. He took a deep breath and turned away from Shadow. "Here is so amazing... No one here."
Shadow cleared his throat.
"I'm still here, hedgehog," the dark hedgehog crossed his arms over his chest. He was filled with indignation.
He observed Sonic's activities from start to finish and was unable to comprehend: since when had the blue blockhead become interested in stars? The stars made him think of his "home". They made him think of ARK. They made him remember Maria. Stars had surrounded him for countless amounts of time, so he didn't see anything special about them. However, Maria liked them very much. She frequently rendered them in different hues: first white, then yellow, and finally red.
"Yeah, yeah, but that's not what I'm talking about! Sometimes, you know, you just want to run away from everyone and everything to enjoy the silence and the beautiful... This is such a good place to do it." he contorted his shoulder joint, stretching his weary muscles.
Shadow emitted a low chuckle, mentally cataloguing Sonic's intentions. In his haste to depart, Shadow failed to perceive Sonic's final gaze, which was imbued with a profound and sincere sentiment of hope. Unbeknownst to him, Sonic's countenance softened into a gentle smile as he watched Shadow scurry away.
It was on this night that the dark hedgehog in particular remembered. Sonic was sincere and completely honest with him.
Then Sonic seemed so genuine and real next to him. The dark hedgehog was not sure why, but he felt a need to see the hero in this manner... more often. Without his pompous self-confidence and audacity. Without selfishness and boasting. When Sonic was real, there was a different feeling. The tone of his voice, his eyes... Everything about him was changing. If Sonic had been real around him more often, the dark hedgehog might have begun to regard him in a different light. Not as a fool.
Shadow ran as fast as he could to the place where he was racing with Sonic. He thought this might be the only place the blue hedgehog could be. It couldn't be any other way. And even if he's not there, Shadow will clean out a lot of other places. He will definitely find Sonic. The dark hedgehog would do anything to prevent the young fox from being unhappy.
Shadow didn't run too long. He was going out of the city to go to the forest. Within this verdant expanse, amidst the multitude of trees, lay a vast meadow, bordered by a precipitous cliff. Beneath the cliff, a small lake shimmered. As he neared the forest, the sun had already set, casting hues of vibrant orange and deep purple across the sky.
The paths that led into the forest were well-worn. Not only by the local fauna, but also by him and Sonic, who had engaged in an endless number of contests and races. Their footprints terminated precisely at that precipice.
Shadow did not notice that his anxiety was increasing with each passing minute. He understood that the concern in question related to the blue hedgehog. What is Sonic up to? What made him leave his friends and run away? He probably didn't know how worried Tails was. Sonic would never leave his friends. He couldn't even do it if he wanted to. Sonic was a hero. He would give his life for others. He had a lot of self-sacrifice. Shadow did not understand it. It was a foreign word to him, for the dark hedgehog was no hero. And he would never be able to become one.
The hedgehog hoped that Sonic would tell him everything. If not, he would kill him.
Shadow makes his way through a dense thicket of heavy-branched trees and shrubs, irritably brushing away the clinging branches and leaves as he goes. The meadow is strewn with flowers and verdant grass, and the terrain slopes gently away, yet remains spacious.
Sonic was supposed to be here.
Shadow looked around and didn't see anyone. He ran to the cliff and looked down — nobody was near the lake. Shadow frowned and stared at the sky. Polar stars, polar stars...
Oh, of course. That idiot will be here tonight. He will come here when the sky is decorated with a multitude of stars.
Maybe it was a stupid idea. A really stupid idea. Shadow may have felt like the stupidest hedgehog in the world right now, but he felt in his gut that he had to do it. Even if he squanders his time and deems himself an imbecile, if he executes the plan successfully, he will be able to catch Sonic right here and now.
He managed to contact Miles to ask how the search was going. Knuckles and Rose started to look around the nearby places, the fox said. Knuckles especially on Angel Island. As Rouge was indisposed, Knuckles devoted the majority of his time to the protection of the Master Emerald. The forecasts were disheartening, yet Shadow once again reassured the fox, promising them that they would undoubtedly locate him. The dark hedgehog did not divulge to Tails that he possessed a substantial clue that could lead him to Sonic. He simply wished to confirm it for himself, albeit Shadow harbored a subtle twinge of remorse. Had he imparted this information to Tails, it would have significantly alleviated the younger fox's anxiety. However, if the information proved unfounded, Tails's despair would be exacerbated.
If Shadow is not convinced of this, he will leave here. He will not have any hopes and will start searching in other places. This had to be done as soon as possible, before information about Sonic's disappearance leaked to G.U.N. and Eggman. In the future, it will go to the media, and complete chaos will reign.
Throughout this time, Shadow remained concealed amidst the shadows provided by trees and shrubbery. He started to wait, but the waiting did not prove protracted. Within a matter of hours, darkness had fully enveloped the surroundings, and the dark hedgehog was sure that the bat was cursing him. He had utterly forgotten about her sweetmeats, so he dispatched a terse message to Omega, so that he and Rouge might not await his arrival. At least not for the next few hours, for the dark hedgehog had pressing matters to attend to.
Shadow didn't know that his heart beat faster and faster. He didn't know what would happen now. What if Miles was correct and Sonic was truly in danger? And he has been lurking in the woods all this while, hoping for his damn hypothesis. Then he would be a real fool.
But his heart said he should wait. Shadow took a breath and heard soft footsteps.
Imagine his surprise when the figure of a blue hedgehog suddenly appeared on the horizon before him.
This blue hedgehog figure looked completely different from its usual self. His strong blue shoulders seemed to be drooping, the heroic pose was replaced by a somewhat hunched one. The blue needles, which usually shone brightly in the sun, seemed to be soaked through, and the soft, fluffy fur stood on end. He lowered his head. He looked so weak, feeble. He looked sad and weak-willed. Shadow's initial anger was swiftly supplanted by quick resentment.
Sonic sat down on a lonely boulder and pulled his knees up to his chest. His gaze was fixed on the sky, and the dark hedgehog could discern many emotions in the stars. Fear, pain, longing and uncertainty. It was an ocean of melancholy, an abyss from which it was impossible to escape.
Shadow felt a momentary relief that he could see Sonic. The hero didn't seem to notice him at all. The dark hedgehog sent a message to Tails that he had found a blue hedgehog. Shadow did not deign to disclose either their whereabouts or the hour of their return, for the dark hedgehog sensed that this night was destined to linger for a long time. For a very long time.
The communicator began to be inundated with incoming messages from the young fox, but Shadow disregarded them. He deactivated the device and tucked it away. The most important thing is that Shadow warned Miles. He shouldn't see Sonic like that. First, Shadow needs to figure things out for himself.
Thus, Shadow took a bold stride forward, breaking free from the confines of the towering trees. With each step, a thrill coursed through his being, and Shadow didn't know why.
"Great job, Faker," he began. "Are you sitting here and relaxing while your friends are worried about you and looking for you? Keep up the good work."
Shadow deliberately started with provocative words, hoping that Sonic would get angry. They could have sparred, and then Shadow could have found out everything. He approached Sonic from the side, expecting him to freak out at these words. Close up, the hero looked even more helpless than from far away. Sonic looked like he had lost the meaning of life. It was most unusual to behold him without a smile on his face. He appeared utterly bewildered.
The blue hedgehog heard a painfully familiar voice and trembled all over. He was obviously surprised to see a dark hedgehog here. He stopped looking at the stars and stared at the Shadow with emerald eyes. It would be better not to look at him. And it would be better if he didn't do it.
Because in those emerald, once beautiful eyes, there was so much pain and despair that compared to Sonic, the beaten puppy looked better. There was sadness mixed with real gloom in them.
Shadow's heart gave a little lurch, but outwardly, he remained impassive. What's going on with his rival? What was going on in his ally's head? What could have scared him so much and pushed him away?
"You say they're worried about me... Well, try to imagine how I feel, worrying about every soul I've saved."
His voice... His tone was imbued with a venom that, if not lethal, at least drained away all vestiges of his erstwhile vivacity. Sonic did not take his gaze from Shadow's scarlet eyes for an instant, until, much to his own surprise, Shadow gave up first.
He balled his fists and averted his gaze. He sensed that his ire was rising.
"I don't have time for that nonsense. Get your ass up and get home."
"I don't wanna go back to that place where nobody can hear me. It's like I'm in a void."
Sonic didn't want to go back home. The dark hedgehog was surprised. He didn't care that he was bothering Shadow.
The dark hedgehog frowned and paced about the hero. He stood right in front of Sonic.
"What do you mean 'nobody can hear you'?" he asks straight up.
Sonic sighs and pulls his knees close. Shadow notices that Sonic's fur is dirty. What has this blue fool been doing since yesterday?
"Shadow, listen, don't you have anything else to do? You can see I don't want any racing or sparring right now. You can beat me up if it makes you feel better," he suddenly spread his arms to the sides, demonstrating his defenselessness. "But don't pretend to care about me, buddy."
Sonic pursed his lips thoughtfully and looked up again. Shadow got the impression that he had established a mental connection with the stars. Shadow got the impression that he had just been gently sent away from here.
Shadow wanted to smirk when he heard the blue hedgehog's last sentence. He admitted that it kind of hurt him.
"I only came here because your brother is really worried about you. I don't care about you."
The dark hedgehog suddenly regretted his last sentence. Sonic lowered his ears and sighed in disappointment. This forced the dark hedgehog to settle down, but it was too late. He had already said that phrase and felt cruel. It was one damn time when he really cared about the hero.
"I had absolutely no doubts about this," Sonic said, a little offended. During all this time, he didn't even smile once, which was quite exciting. "Thanks for being honest, Shads."
Once again, Shadow is overcome by a dull ache in the pit of his chest and once again he feels his heart filled with regret. Why do the blue blockhead's words hit him so deeply?
Nonetheless, Sonic's words sounded desperately in Shadow's mind. What did the hero mean when he talked about what it was like for him to worry about every saved soul? To Sonic, heroism was not merely a vocation; it was an integral part of his very being. The essence of his existence was inextricably linked to his heroic deeds.
Gears turned in the Shadow's head. He was overcome by unpleasant, oppressive feelings. Really... Was the hero experiencing emotional burnout now? Did it happen to him that he didn't want to see anything around him? It was unexpected. It turns out that Sonic the hedgehog, the world famous hero, is just tired.
Shadow wanted to find answers to his questions. The nocturnal breeze tousled their fur, causing Sonic to instinctively cower.
"What's going on with you?" he asked, following Sonic's eyes again. Sonic was staring at the sky.
The sky is strewn with white pearls. They were sloppy, of different sizes. Against the background of the forest, this canvas looked especially fascinating.
Sonic took a deep breath.
"Shads, I'm really glad you came and everything, but can't you just go about your own business and not hang around with a stupid and worthless hedgehog in the forest?" Sonic stretched out his legs and crossed his arms over his chest. Shadow observed his whole body beginning to tremble, as if the hero was both fearful and angered.
"And what am I to say to Miles? That I found Sonic, only to be driven away by him?" Shadow replied. "And why do you call yourself stupid and worthless?"
"Isn't that how you always see me?"
There was a sudden silence. Shadow found himself holding his breath without realizing it, and Sonic hugged his arms around himself and turned his head away.
"Am I not like this all the time? Dumb, stupid and worthless? What can you possibly know about what's going on with me if you're always mad at me? I've been trying to make friends with you all the time. Yes, I'm fucking weird, but I've been trying so hard to impress you with something! Have you ever thought about how exhausting it is to constantly save the world from an Egghead? Have you ever thought about how hard it is not to talk to anyone about what is going on in your soul? After all, everyone is so busy with themselves that no one has even five minutes to ask how the hero of Mobius feels! What do you know about all this?! I wouldn't pay attention to anything that others would say to me, but what you're saying to me and how you're killing me with those same words is tearing my heart into huge pieces! Into huge, big pieces, Shadow!"
The hero couldn't stand it any longer. Exhausted, he buried his face in his hands and emitted stifled sobs. A profound tremor overcame him, and he completely turned away from Shadow. An oppressive silence enveloped them, broken only by Sonic's weeping and the howling of the wind.
Sonic's sobs broke the dark hedgehog's heart, as he said earlier. Into huge, very large pieces. Shadow felt lousy. He felt a pang of genuine remorse.
For a moment, Shadow was perplexed, but then he approached Sonic and knelt before him, one knee on the ground. Sonic continued to sob, not paying any attention to the dark hedgehog in front of him. Shadow bit his lip and stretched out his hand, unable to look at the crying blue hedgehog. The dark one suspected that there was still something deep within Sonic that needed to be said. He had never before seen the hero weep. Shadow, accustomed to the ever-irritating optimism and joviality of the blue hedgehog that it was almost unbearable to see him sobbing. It seemed that Sonic had always been wearing a false smile, on his face, knowing how his soul was crying. He simply did not wish to burden others with it. Or else no one wanted to listen to him.
"Sonic," the dark hedgehog tried to call out to the hero.
The blue hedgehog failed to respond to him. Suddenly, Shadow's thoughts were occupied by other matters.
Wait.
Did Sonic truly hold affection for Shadow? He endeavored to capture Shadow's interest, yet the dark hedgehog consistently dismissed him, presuming that the hero's actions were mere playful banter. He had no idea what might be important to Sonic. Shadow rethought what he had said to the blue hedgehog earlier.
'I only came here because your brother is really worried about you. I don't care about you.'
Shadow was a real fool. He began to realize that he was partly to blame for Sonic's current condition.
He had been sitting beside him for quite some time. Until Sonic's sobs began to decrease, until his trembling body began to calm down and until he finally cried out all that was in his soul. Such a tearing moment that the dark hedgehog involuntarily lowered his ears down.
"I'm sorry about what happened, Sonic," he finally touched the trembling blue shoulder. Sonic shuddered. "Tell me what you are worried about. Tell me everything you feel. I swear I won't bother you or hurt you, if you're honest with me. I don't want you to cry, Sonic. I want to help you, because you are not a stranger to me."
He tried to speak softly. He wasn't as open with anyone but Rouge as he is now. He considered it a weakness and vulnerability that a The Ultimate Lifeform should not possess.
Shadow couldn't help but think about Maria for a moment. Her tears were always like a knife in her heart. He hated it. That's why he felt he had to help Sonic right now.
Sonic wiped away the moisture from his muzzle and the tears from his eyes. As Shadow continued to speak, his sobbing grew more faint and fainter. He sniffled. Sonic turned towards the dark hedgehog, his expression one of surprise. The hero was touched by the sight of Shadow kneeling before him, gently squeezing his shoulder. It was as if the dark hedgehog were filled with remorse and guilt. His dark red eyes were brimming with genuine sorrow and regret. At first, Sonic could not believe what he was hearing. Was Shadow serious, or was he merely playing a joke? The blue hedgehog could not deny that he was truly delighted to see the presence of the dark hedgehog beside him. As soon as he realized that he was ready to speak, he slowly began:
"Have you ever wondered how the stars stand up? How do they know where to be? How they decide who will stand in what position?" his voice was hoarse. He still hasn't recovered from the recent tantrum. "Have you ever wondered what it's like to have a broken heart with no hope?"
Shadow sighed. Unfortunately, he knew exactly what it was like. He wouldn't wish this on even his most sworn and disgusting enemy. To lose faith and hope for a person means to lose yourself, your meaning of life. This means the cessation of life and the beginning of a normal existence.
Shadow didn't answer Sonic, but it wasn't necessary. Sonic gave the dark hedgehog a slight smile. For the first time this evening. For the first time that evening, a faint glimmer of light kindled within those emerald and moist eyes. Shadow yearned to ignite this spark anew.
Shadow knelt down, remaining next to Sonic. He had kept his promise and was waiting silently and patiently for the continuation.
"Even the strongest heroes need a little help sometimes, Shads. You know, they might need a hand, even though they're strong." the smile went away from his face and he sighed. He looked around. Sometimes even heroes get tired. Sometimes heroes can cry. Do you understand? I'm so sorry about leaving my little bro behind. He's probably scared out of his mind and lost. I'm such a disgusting older brother. I let him down. I let my friends down." Sonic reached down and picked a wildflower. "Imagine that the whole city and the world are on a flower," he squeezed the stem and the flower broke. "Boom and the weight of the world broke the flower."
Shadow remained immobile. He was incapable of movement, as though bound to the earth. The reason for this remained elusive, yet with each utterance from Sonic's lips, something within him began to fracture.
"Probably, there is no worse feeling when you want to scream, but no one will hear you. I'm afraid to hear something like 'You're a hero, you can't get tired!', 'You're pretending!'. The hell with it!"
Sonic could not restrain himself. He rose from his seat, and when Shadow, observing his every move, turned to face him, it was already too late. The blue hedgehog approached the tree and delivered a powerful blow to its trunk. The dark hedgehog heard only the crack of the bark and a deep sigh. The hero lowered his injured arm. Blood was beginning to seep through the glove, and the wounds on his knuckles were repulsive, likely causing him considerable discomfort.
Shadow woke up as if from hypnosis.
"Sonic."
He approached him while he was tightly clenching his jaw and swaying from side to side. Sonic made a face.
"Sonic, calm down. These sacrifices are pointless. Are you telling me you're getting tired of being the hero?" Shadow began, noticing that Sonic was looking a little thoughtful. "It happens, it's normal. When does this happen, you can share your problems with your friends. Then it won't bother you as much as it does now. Understand that they only wish you well, just like you do for them."
Shadow understood that this was a key point that they should discuss.
"Who can I tell about this? Don't get me wrong, but Tails is too young to hear about my problems. Also..." he stumbled slightly and tried to find the right words. "I want him to think of me as a good and cool older brother. But I utterly botched this one. Knuckles has his own thing going on, we don't see each other much because he's a guard. Amy... Just Amy. It's easier for her to talk about herself for hours than to hear about me for a couple of minutes. I wanted to talk to you, but you brushed me off. Just like everyone else."
Shadow felt a huge pang of guilt. He remembered everything. Their races, sparring sessions and meetings ended with simple monologues from Sonic, which he called "empty chatter." Then Sonic looked happy when he talked. Shadow did not know how important Sonic's words were. He did not understand how important Shadow was for Sonic. Shadow ignored Sonic until now. The dark hedgehog was the last option for the hero, he skillfully buried Sonic's last hope. He felt a growing anger at himself.
"I'm here with you right now," Shadow answers softly, coming closer. Sonic looked at him in surprise. "I'm not leaving here without you."
Sonic found himself in a stupor. His peach muzzle was covered with blush.
Shadow continued.
"When I lost Maria, I couldn't stop thinking about her for a long time. Every day I woke up from nightmares in which her death was repeated. I hid from everyone to hide my longing and pain. I didn't see the point in my existence. Since then, I've been asking myself this question: what could make sense for a being like me? You know, I still miss her and would give anything to hear her voice again." Shadow smiled, looking up. One star was brighter than the others. Now these memories have become pleasant, not painful. "I made her a promise to protect this place. This is what gave me meaning and hope. Your friends and family are alive and happy. You can talk to them anytime you want, if you give them a reason. It's expensive and worth a lot, Sonic. If it's hard for you, if it hurts, talk to me. Talk to me, but don't hide or run away from others. I'm sorry that I didn't pay attention to you when you needed it. Because of your arrogant nature, I thought all the time that you were joking with me and not serious. Don't let the hearts of people you care about feel heartache and lose hope."
With each sentence, Shadow's voice became lower and lower in volume. He paid no attention to anything else around him, except for the sky. It was the first time for him, and all the words seemed to come out naturally. It seemed that no one should ever hear his thoughts, his monologue.
The two hedgehogs found themselves utterly defenceless in the presence of one another. They shared a mutual anguish. In that moment, it would have been possible for the whole world to have paused, even if it were wrong and selfish.
Sonic looked at Shadow in amazement. Suddenly, his heart was filled with a warmth that was so lacking. How grateful he was for the opportunity to share his feelings and thoughts with someone who cared, even if that "someone" didn't want to admit it out loud. Sonic felt relieved, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The cats that had been scratching at his soul were gone. It was amazing to see a dark hedgehog in front of him, devoid of his usual discontent and frown. At that moment, he seemed so peaceful and... beautiful. Sonic would be lying if he said he hadn't missed Shadow all this time. He missed those crimson, mesmerizing eyes, the menacing gaze, the timbre of the voice that drove him crazy. The fact that the dark hedgehog found him, came to him, stayed with him... It was incredible. It was a pleasant discovery for Sonic.
Now, Sonic could see and sense it all. The hero no longer felt like a lone ship in the vast ocean. He had no idea of what Shadow had been through, and he had not broken down until then.
Under the pressure of his emotions, he grabbed Shadow's hand without thinking.
"Huh... Sorry I burst into tears like a girl. It's just, well... It was your indifference that I just couldn't stand. When you came here, I thought maybe I was seeing things or something. You might not notice, but it's so easy to just forget about everything and chill out with you, Shadow."
Shadow felt his mouth go dry. His pulse stopped beating for a moment. That little confession was nice. This touch between them was incredibly warm and soothing. It was full of desire to stay close. Two strands of fate woven together.
The dark hedgehog squeezed his hand reassuringly in return.
"It's OK, Sonic. I'll try to be more attentive."
"Shads, I've always been interested..."
Suddenly, Sonic abruptly ran to the side, running up to the edge of the cliff. Shadow's thoughts raced frantically on the spot as he tried to guess what Sonic was going to do this time. But all the fears and worries of the dark hedgehog evaporated as soon as he saw those emerald eyes. There was a real challenge in them. A challenge that suddenly ignited a flame in Shadow's softened heart, evoking his usual competitive spirit.
Sonic. His Sonic, whom he had known for so long, was back. That cheeky grin that colored the peach face was everything.
"If I wanted to jump off a cliff, what would you do: push me or save me?" he turned playfully to the dark hedgehog and spread his arms to the sides. He winced a little when he raised his injured fist.
Shadow didn't need time to think anymore. He didn't want to waste another minute. He saw that sparkle in her eyes, that red on her cheeks...
He was so afraid of not seeing it again. Not after what he saw.
"I would have jumped with you."
Without a moment's delay, he rushed to Sonic, took him in his embrace, and hurled them both from the cliff. A small, picturesque lake lay in wait below. Shadow was not certain what impelled him in that moment. But he knew he shouldn't have let the blue hedgehog go.
To say that Sonic was in shock is to say nothing. He automatically grabbed the Shadow's overhanging body with his fingers. Adrenaline surged into his veins, but to the blue hedgehog's surprise, he felt no fear. There was no alarm or excitement when he realized that he was falling rapidly. His gaze was fixed only on the scarlet eyes, and more than anything, he wanted to drown not in the icy lake waiting for them below, but in those eyes. They radiated such amazing warmth and confidence that the blue hedgehog was sure he could find solace in their depths. He could really trust them. He no longer felt lonely, no longer felt the despair that had plagued his soul for so long.
They were two pieces of a puzzle, joined together.
Shadow felt the gentle caress of the breeze on his fur and his needles. Before him, he saw only the silent form of Sonic, his countenance radiating tranquility and complete trust. They broke their embrace, they clasped hands, allowing their forms to hover in mid-air. Both hedgehogs experienced a complex array of emotions that defied articulation in a single term. Right now, their priority was to test each other, to be close.
Shadow was able to admit to himself how much he was afraid of losing the old Sonic. How much he was afraid of not seeing those emerald, beautiful and gentle eyes that he was so damn used to. The modern meaning of the phrase "you only appreciate what you have when you lose it" began to play with new colors for him after a long time. Shadow hadn't paid any attention to Sonic before. But when he found the blue hedgehog broken and crushed, he realized that he never wanted to do this again.
Shadow hadn't paid any attention to Sonic before. But when he found the blue hedgehog broken and crushed, he realized that he never wanted to do this again.
At this thought, he squeezed the hero's hands even tighter in his own. They looked into each other's eyes. They didn't say anything, but they showed each other everything they were thinking. Their figures were lit by the moon. The water rippled softly. The height from this cliff was not high, it was small. The fall was short, but it seemed like forever.
A moment later, two hedgehogs plopped into the water. A splash of water doused the entire shore. They both disappeared under the depths of the lake.
Shadow surfaced first. He grimaced, spitting out excess water from his mouth. He quickly shook his head, trying to find the blue hedgehog. Sonic was nowhere to be seen, and the dark hedgehog began to worry.
"Sonic? Sonic!" he shouted, squinting and catching any movement of the hero in the water. The depth of the lake was small, but anyone who could not swim could drown. As far as Shadow knew, the blue hedgehog couldn't swim.
They fell together. Where could Sonic have gone?
Shadow was about to submerge himself in search of the blue blockhead when suddenly something seized his ankles underwater. Shadow let out a gasp of surprise and found himself submerged in the depths. Through the cacophony of the water, he could hear someone giggling on the surface.
"Yeah! Gotcha!" Sonic laughs when the angry Shadow floats up. The exultation of the blue hedgehog was abruptly terminated by a massive wave of water, which completely doused him. "Hey! Not fair!"
"Are you talking to me about fairness? Idiot, I thought you drowned."
"Gee, I'm kidding, Shads! It was unexpected, but fun."
Shadow grinned and didn't answer. He partially agreed with the hero. The hedgehog swam to land and shook the water off his fur and needles. The cold water was running down his body in drops.
Sonic smiled at him and swam uncertainly after him.
"So, when did you learn to swim?" Shadow asked, deliberately shaking the water at the blue hedgehog, who rolled his eyes, cowered and stepped aside.
"Well, literally since yesterday. While I was here," the blue hedgehog replied.
His socks and shoes were soaked through. Sonic grimaced, feeling a desire to return to a warm house as soon as possible.
Shadow grunted approvingly and rummaged through the head needles. Then he took out the Chaos Emerald.
"Wait, did you have this thing with you all this time?! Then why the hell did we fall into the lake?" Sonic asked indignantly and pouted.
Shadow laughed. He laughed so sincerely that Sonic thought that he was ready to fall into the water endlessly for this.
"You wanted to get your answer to the question, didn't you?"
"And by the way, I'm more than happy with it," Sonic suddenly replied softly. Shadow refocused his full attention on the blue hedgehog, water still dripping from its blue needles. And now his fur seemed brighter than usual. "Thank you, Shadow, for everything. Thank you for coming, for listening, and... for being here with me."
The hero had an incredibly embarrassed smile and a blush on his face. It was a pleasant sight. Shadow felt a calmness in his soul that he had already forgotten about.
He came closer to the blue hedgehog. He had the Сhaos Emerald in his hand.
He gently and gently took Sonic's injured hand and held up the emerald. The air around them glowed with a bright yellow glow.
"I didn't think I'd ever be able to say it out loud," Sonic began to feel his knuckles begin to heal, and the pain receded. Shadow then took his palm completely and laced their fingers together again. "But I'm glad to see you, Faker. It's time to go home."
Sonic nodded in agreement, and squeezed Shadow's hand. They pressed their bodies slightly against each other and in a flash of "chaos control" found ourselves in front of Sonic and Tails' house.
Lights were on in the windows. This meant that only one inhabitant of the house was awake. At the sight of the house, Sonic felt his heart fill with trepidation and anticipation. He was overcome by a feeling of longing and love. He was ashamed that he had abandoned all his friends and family to the mercy of fate, even if only for one day. To be honest, he thought he would be away even longer. But how could he refuse it?
Sonic took an uncertain step forward and Shadow let him. They let go of each other's hands.
"He's waiting for you. Come back soon," Shadow said softly.
Sonic stopped. He looked at the house and then turned to the dark hedgehog.
"Come in for a bit. Sure Tails wants to see you," Sonic said. Shadow gave up. He had a look of puppy delight.
They came to the door of the house, and Sonic knocked with a hand trembling with excitement. Hurried footsteps sounded inside. Sonic's heart suddenly sank into his heels, he was worried as if he hadn't seen Tails for several years, not a day.
Shadow was watching a nervous Sonic, and it was pretty cute.
The door swung open in front of them, and hardly had the blue hedgehog managed to say anything, when a yellow fox knocked him to the ground. He wrapped his brother in a tight embrace.
"Sonic! Brother! You're alive, you're back!" Tails was crying as he continued to mumble these words. "I was so worried, I thought I'd never see you again, Sonic... Where have you been? What happened to you?"
"Sorry, little buddy. I promise I won't leave anymore. I'm sorry, sorry, sorry I made you worry. I'm with you, now everything will be fine, as always," Sonic hugged Tails back tightly. He could smell the mints that his younger brother adored.
Shadow watched them with interest. Sonic had a strange but loving family. Which he loved. Two brothers rolling on the ground in an embrace with tears was a touching picture.
He hadn't had such pleasant feelings for a long time.
He didn't notice how distracted he was by his own thoughts until someone's arms hugged him tightly. Tails clung to him, sobbing through his nose.
"Shadow... You found him! You're my hero! I didn't doubt you for a second!"
And again, something in the dark hedgehog's soul cracked. Miles hugged him so thankfully, so affectionately. Some dead part of his soul started to come back to life. It had not happened for a long time.
Shadow hugged the fox back. He did it more boldly than he had in the afternoon. Shadow patted him on the head.
"I promised you, didn't I?" Shadow looked at Sonic. He got up from the ground, and his ears drooped guiltily.
Tails pulled away, but continued to mumble a lot of thanks under his breath. The blue hedgehog came up behind him and put his hands on his shoulders.
"Come on, buddy, let's rest, and then we'll talk about everything, honestly. And then we can watch a movie and eat popcorn!" Sonic offered enthusiastically, and Tails nodded happily. The hero looked playfully at the dark hedgehog. "What do you say, Shads? Won't join us?"
Shadow snorted. He crossed his arms over his chest in a familiar manner.
"I have a pretty angry and sick a cold woman waiting for me at home, who will kill me on the spot for not buying her her favorite box of chocolates. In fact, they were the cause of my being on the street, where I encountered Miles."
Sonic couldn't help but laugh. He shook his head.
"Well, well, buddy."
"Wait, Shadow, are they by any chance in a box with five flavors?" Tails asked with interest.
Shadow thought for a moment and nodded affirmatively.
The young fox started up and abruptly ran into the house. The two hedgehogs looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders, before a few seconds later Tails came running panting with a box of chocolates.
"These?" he asked hopefully, handing Shadow the box.
"These," the surprised dark hedgehog agreed.
Tails smiled.
"When we said goodbye to you, I quickly ran into the store. I wanted to have a tea party in honor of Sonic's return..." he made a pause. "But if you don't mind, Sonic, I'd like to give these sweets to Rouge. Tell her I wish her a speedy recovery."
Sonic gave a thumbs up and smiled mischievously.
"Of course, buddy. You and me, we'll eat a lot of chocolate tomorrow. I know how much Rouge loves sweets."
Shadow nodded gratefully and put the box of chocolates in the needles.
"Then I'll go," said the dark hedgehog.
"If you have time tomorrow, come visit," Tails offered enthusiastically. "I'm just going to test one of my modified inventions on you. It will be very useful for you."
"Of course he will come! I have no doubt about it," added Sonic. He felt sleepy and chilly and began to feel cold all over his body. Shadow grinned at these words. "Say hello to Rouge and Omega. Come on, bro, I need to tell you something..."
What a wonderful feeling it is to know that someone is waiting for you at home.
When the Shadow began to disappear in a golden flash, he was able to catch Sonic's gaze, which expressed sincere adoration and a desire to see him again. The bright fire of life burned in them. Faded feelings that could be rekindled. And Shadow was sure that he would be able to keep this fire in the blue hedgehog for a very long time. Just like Sonic will be able to do it for him.