Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The weather was nice these days. Earth had resumed its daily activities fairly quickly after the planet-destruction scare. It was as if the cataclysmic event became ancient news for everyone. Everyone but Sonic, that is.

All nights since, the hedgehog had woken up drenched in fear before the sun had the chance to rise. Plagued thoughts echoed in his mind after dawn while dark visions tormented his head after dusk.

Tails had even brought it up at some point, but when Sonic only gave a smile devoid of warmth, he decided it’d be best to give him time. Though, time proved to be a difficult promise. It was bizarre for the young fox to see his friend look so off—especially after such a huge win for humanity.

At that moment, Sonic lied on his bed, tossing a ball in the air to distract the thoughts that tried to creep in. His repetitive throws came to a sudden stop when his head painfully paid the price for him zoning out.

“Ah, crap.” Sonic rubbed his forehead. He rolled over to put the ball back in its original place on his nightstand.

Now with nothing to do, his mind inevitably slips into an endless stream of hypotheticals.

What if the cannon had hit Earth?

What if a new threat appears soon?

What if… Shadow survived?

No. Sonic shook his head at the crazy idea. The scene of destruction in space showed no evidence of  life. He had already checked—way too many times to count. Nothing.

He remembers the panic he felt when he first woke up after the fall. Where was Shadow? He asked. Everyone looked at him with some sort of hesitance behind their faces.

When the truth eventually came out, Sonic puked all night. It was agonizing—for Sonic and for his friends.

To have a similar being as yourself, after so many years of thinking you’re the exception, show up in front of you and just as quickly be taken away? It was cruel. It was unjust. It feels as though there’s a void—

“SONIC!” The door swung open.

The blue hedgehog jumped up from the sudden entrance.

“Tails, buddy, you’ve gotta stop barging in like that.” Sonic let out a breath. “You scared me half to death.”

He knew that Tails would’ve played along any other time, but this time, his expression was intense. Sonic’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Sorry Sonic, but we gotta go! Dr. Robotnik’s location has been found.”

The hedgehog froze. “How… how is that even possible? Isn’t he supposed to be dead?”

Tails’ face morphed into one of similar worry. “Yes and no. That’s why we need to go find him immediately!” 

The fox wasted no time dragging his team to Robotnik’s location. On the way, Knuckles and Tails spoke of the plan while Sonic’s brain went a million miles per hour. If Eggman’s alive, then what are the chances that Shadow survived too? Somehow the doctor’s survival was equally the best and worst news he could have received at that moment.

Damn, he sure hopes that Shadow’s alive.

••••••••••••••••••••

“So where is this unfortunate-looking doctor?” Knuckles inquired behind the leading fox.

Tails scratched his head in confusion and continued circling an area marked on his machine. “It says that he should be right here…so why isn’t he here?”

Knuckles barked out a laugh. “Seems to me, he doesn’t want to go against this one million percent muscle.”

Sonic and Tails both stopped to look at the flexing echidna before them, and an exasperated sigh escaped their mouths. “One million my ass…” Sonic mumbled as he turned around.

“What was that, hedgehog?” Knuckles said while picking his ear with his pinky.

Tails stifled a laugh, and before ever allowing Knuckles to catch on, Sonic sped up to reach Tails. “So what does your machine say now? Is Eggman really here?”

“In the flesh, rodent.”

The team spun around at the sound of the familiar voice.

“Eggman.” All eyes were narrowed on him.

In the blink of an eye, Robotnik was airborne by Sonic’s fists. He held him by the collar, spikes glowing and power emanating. “How are you alive right now?”

The doctor grinned. “Take a guess.”

His response only evoked more anger from Sonic. He switched from holding his collar to holding his throat. Robotnik looked in pain. Tails stumbled back at the sight.

“We’re not playing games, Eggman.” Sonic snarled. He actually snarled. “Where’s Shadow?” 

Knuckles tried to step closer. “Sonic, I don’t believe that this is the correct approach—“

“Knuckles, stay out of this. I have to know.”

“I understand, but the doctor cannot even breathe let alone speak.” 

Sonic paused. “Oh.” The grip on Robotnik’s neck was abruptly gone, and as a result, he fell onto the floor.

“Now speak.” He didn’t hesitate to repeat his question. “Where’s Shadow?”

For a moment, nothing but coughs came from the doctor. It was only until he was able to catch his breath that he responded…with a laugh. The sheer sound set everyone on edge. “That redemption seeker teleported me right before the explosion. What tremendous luck.” The cackles continued.

The entire team was stunned at his response. Why would Shadow save him? Nobody knew the answer.

He cut through everyone’s thoughts again. “The chance of his survival is in the negatives.”

Knuckles humphed, Tails winced, and Sonic tensed. That was it. That was the only bit of hope that any of them had been holding onto. If Shadow teleported the doctor, it’s only plausible that it was in a last ditch effort to save any life on the Ark.

Sonic took a final look at Robotnik and his team then began to walk away. 

“Sonic? Where are you going?” Tails asked meekly. No response came from the hedgehog. He stared ahead, unblinking, his face void of any expression.

“Are you really going to leave like this?” Knuckles came forward to grab his shoulder.

Behind the team, the doctor stood up and brushed off the dirt that had accumulated. With a clearing of the throat, he spoke up in an ominous voice. “I didn’t save the world just to stand aside now.”

Every member turned in haste to see hundreds of badniks pointed towards them. Multiple red dots shined on the body of each Slight fear could be felt among the three.

“We were fools to believe you’d leave humanity alone!” Tails exclaimed. 

“Yes you were,” he sneered. “And now with the time chaos emerald, I can take each one of you pesky animals out before you even get the chance to retaliate.” The doctor pointed at Sonic. “You’re first on my list.”

At that, Sonic’s thin control snapped. “…You have a chaos emerald?” He seethed. “Is this what Shadow died for? Did you kill him?”

The edges of his mouth curled. “Maybe I did. Maybe I didn’t.”

He lunged for the man—claws itching for blood. Though to his surprise, this time the doctor didn’t look the least bit scared.

“SONIC, NO!”

A black portal opened where the doctor should’ve been. Sonic’s eyes widened and he inevitably fell into whatever time slot just opened. The impact his body made with the ground was harsh, as he was originally aiming for the man.

“Ah, geez that hurt.” He inspected his knees.

“…Sonic?” A familiar voice appears.

To the side of his tumble, he saw Tails and Knuckles with confused faces. He immediately stood up and took a defensive stance. Where was Eggman? What did the portal do to him?

Knuckles busted out laughing. “How did you eat dirt while walking, hedgehog?”

“I didn’t eat dirt, I was thrown.”

“Yes, just like I’m not one million percent muscle.” He snorted.

Tails let out a sigh while Sonic turned around to inspect his surroundings. “One million my ass…”

“What was that, hedgehog?” Knuckles said while picking his ear with his pinky.

Sonic paused as he recalled the similarities of his current situation. Why did it feel as if he just had this interaction? The feeling gnawed at him. If he repeated what he had said in the past, maybe the rest would fall into place.

After much deliberation, Sonic echoed words he had said once before. “So, buddy, what does your machine say now?” Hands twitched in an anxious manner. “Is Eggman really here?”

“In the flesh, rodent.”

The words hung in the air, an unbearable weight. 

Sonic turned to face the doctor. “You.”

Robotnik smiled, almost knowingly. “Ah, ah, ah. Don’t be rash. One attack and I’ll send you back 2000 years, frizzball.” He picks at his nails. “Say, what do you think happens to a hedgehog that goes back in time where your kind is deemed dangerous?”

“What is he talking about?” Tails, opposite from Sonic, asks tentatively.

Both Robotnik and Sonic looked over at Tails, an idea having appeared simultaneously in both minds. Sonic glared at the man. “Don’t even think about it, Egg brain.”

A chuckle slipped. “What? Not keen on having your little friend be stuck in the past first?” A small remote is pulled out from his sleeve. “Don’t worry, the plan was to kill him.”

At that moment, he pressed a button and hundreds—no, thousands of badniks emerged from their hiding spots and immediately fired bullets toward his friend. 

“NO!” Sonic saw Knuckles already in action, defending what he could from Tails, but it wasn’t enough. Sonic’s inhumane speed could see things that Knuckles couldn’t yet. Such as the two bullets aiming for his abdomen. It was only a matter of time before both would fatally wound Tails since he lacked Sonic’s quick regenerative abilities.

Mustering up all the energy his body is physically able to harness, Sonic broke the sound barrier in hopes of reaching the bullets before any impact. Though with such a high speed, it was impossible for him to come to a halt. He resigned to the only option available. He would have to take the injuries himself.

A streak of blue lightning was the only visual any of them saw before his body tumbled across the forest clearing. Blood stained his abdomen while dirt and leaves covered his quills.

“Uuungh..”

“Quite the show you put on. Those bullets were designed for magical  rats like you.” Robotnik clapped and crouched next to Sonic. “You’re more altruistic than I gave you credit for, reminds me of another hedgehog… you may know him.” He giggled maniacally and Sonic scowled.

“Don’t hurt him!” Tails could be heard panting as he continued trying to dodge the incoming bullets, which had since then lessened.

The doctor groaned. “You’re not dead yet?”

Sonic sat up enough so he could claw Robotnik’s ankle.

“What the—!” He kicked Sonic right where his injury was. “How dare you, rodent.” A couple seconds, and a new portal opens beside Sonic. The hedgehog’s breath quickened. 

“S-stop.” He looked straight into Robotnik’s eyes.

All he received was a harsh scoff. “Give Shadow my thanks,” and another harsh kick was given to Sonic. The hedgehog could feel his body lightly being sucked into the time warp.

As the portal was nearing a complete close, the last thing everyone saw was Sonic’s face scrunching in confusion as he processed what the doctor had just said.

••••••••••••••••••••

Bright lights. Metal smell. Countless footsteps.

Sonic groaned as he forced himself up. His head hurt. His upper and lower extremities were beginning to feel numb. Nothing was making sense in his head.

Tails, Knuckles, and I were looking for Eggman.

He didn’t show up—wait, he did show up.

I think I hurt him, but why am I hurt?

“S-Shit I’m bleeding.” Due to his senses being messed up, Sonic didn’t realize that an entire squad had snuck up on him. 

“Identify yourself!” Someone demanded.

The hedgehog tried focusing his eyes on the unfamiliar voices. He looked absent-minded as memories had just begun coming back to him. 

The same annoying voice as earlier clouded his thoughts once more. “I’m not asking again, alien! Identify yourself!”

“Hedgehog… not—ugh—not an alien.” It was all he was capable of muttering at the moment.

Whispers spread among the soldiers. “There’s another one?”

“This is a top secret underground facility. Care to explain how you ended up here, hedgehog?”

Sonic blinked slowly. Top secret underground facility. Top secret… underground facility—holy shit—he immediately jumped up and grabbed the wall to stabilize himself.

“W-wait! What year is it?”

The man who seemed to be in charge narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “1974.”

It felt like his heart had stopped. There was no way this was really happening.

Oh Sonic was so dead. And before he had the chance to even reply or run, his body gave out. Damn you, blood loss.

Chapter Text

In the laboratory of an underground base, Shadow sat patiently on the table with diagnostic leads attached to his body. The hedgehog’s legs swayed gently, their rhythmic motion brushing against the edge of the table as he tried to ease the burden of boredom.

Occasionally, his ears would perk up to the sounds of whispers among the doctors. They must’ve thought they were being discreet, but Shadow could pick up sounds that any other life form would be incapable of. That’s what it’s like being the Ultimate Lifeform, the only Ultimate Lifeform.

“ Did you see what happened the other day? ” someone whispered.

“ He healed quickly! ” another points out.

But the one that really puzzled him was… “ Don’t mention it to Shadow. ”

The words repeated in his head, over and over again. As the stress began to build, the heart monitor showed for it. The beeps grew more insistent with every passing second. Shadow’s legs started to swing faster as if somehow that would calm his nerves.

What was so important that they couldn’t even disclose it to Shadow? Are they incapable of viewing him as anything other than a wild animal that will react savagely to any unwelcome news? Even thinking about it brought forth feelings of resentment, and that alone disgusted Shadow because he knew that deep down that meant their fears were valid.

“Shadow, what’s with the spike in your heart rate?” A doctor questioned while checking the wires for any kinks.

Shadow let out a breath and halted his swinging legs. “I don’t know.”

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

The black hedgehog lowered his gaze from her scrutinizing one. She’s just asking because I’m an experiment, not because she actually cares. Shadow flexed his fingers, joints cracking from the movement. “If I say I don’t know, that means I don’t know.” He lifted his head to stare at her.

She grumbled, rolling her eyes. “Must be the machine’s fault. There’s no way you’re capable of being nervous.” With a flick of her wrist, she powered off the monitor, leaving Shadow to remove the leads on his own. 

Just like that, everyone dispersed from the finished job, and Shadow was left sitting alone on the table. He stayed put, peeling off each pad before disposing of them. His ear twitched as he heard a slight shuffling behind him, and he couldn’t help the smile that grew on his face.

“ Must be the machine’s fault . Ugh—what does she know?” A lively voice peeked from behind the hedgehog.

He chuckled. “You never know. She could be right, Maria.” Shadow hopped down from the table and looked back fondly at the girl.

“Shadow,” she warned. “You can feel things too. You can be nervous too .”

Maria stepped closer to the hedgehog, her hand gently resting on his shoulder. She couldn’t help but worry for him—deeply. The thought of him being alone, without someone who truly understood him, terrified her. She’d make sure that never happened.

The girl pouted. “What’s on your mind, Shadow?”

He pondered. Is it even worth mentioning—

“Shaaadow….” Maria urged.

“I know, I know.” He fiddled with his hands. “I’ve just been… hearing some weird things today.”

Maria tilted her head. “What things?”

Shadow let out a long breath, lips pressed together hesitantly. It was all or nothing. “I think G.U.N. is hiding something from me.” 

Her eyes widened. “Really? What do you know so far?” 

Shadow scratched his head thoughtfully. “Not much, to be honest. Just some whispers about a human who heals much quicker than normal.” He hesitated, then added, “…I think they’re afraid to tell me because it would mean I’m no longer their only asset.”

She frowned and looked at the hedgehog. “I’m sure that’s not what it is, Shadow.”

The black hedgehog gave a half-hearted nod—not in agreement, but because he had no argument to offer. It was pointless to focus on the unchangeable. It seemed Maria had other plans though.

“C’mon, Shadow.” She sat down and wasted no time lacing up her roller skates.

He was puzzled. “What are you doing?”

She looked up at him and grinned. “ We are gonna do some investigating.” 

As soon as the words left her mouth, she stood and skated out the door without so much as another glance. 

“ What? ” Shadow hissed. His ears were flattened from shock. He stared at the empty doorway for a few moments, debating whether or not to follow her. Finally, with a low groan, he activated his skates and gave in. It took no time for him to catch up to Maria. “So what’s your plan?”

Maria just whistled along the hallways. And Shadow’s eye slightly twitched from her lack of response. “You do …have a plan, right?” He asked with unease laced in his voice.

She glanced back with a playful smirk and sped up. “Step one: eavesdropping.” Before Shadow could refute, she continued. “It’d be best for us to get more information before assuming anything.”

He squinted at her, searching for a reason not to go along with her reckless plan. But the truth gnawed deeply at him—he wanted answers, and he wanted them bad . Shadow felt like if he didn’t do it now, he’d never find out. Urgency pressed down on him, leaving little room for hesitation.

“Okay.”

Maria beamed at his answer. “Perfect, let’s go.”

Shadow nodded.

A couple of minutes passed, and the two found themselves in front of the doors which led to the break room. It’s one of the few locations among the base that all workers were able to let down their guards. Technically there was no place Shadow wasn’t allowed to enter, but it was also an unspoken rule not to in certain areas—the break room being one. His presence would be severely unwelcome.

“Okay, let’s listen.” Maria crouched down and whispered. 

Shadow drew in a deep breath, then mirrored her. They both tuned in, focusing on the muffled voices echoing through the room.

“His regenerative abilities are surprisingly on par with Project Shadow.”

“Precisely! To think he nearly bled out yesterday, yet survived—extraordinary.” 

“I’m dying to investigate his blue hue!”

Shadow and Maria exchanged a sharp glance, their eyebrows lifting in silent surprise. Humans weren’t typically blue…

“Remember, the general said to keep it from Project Shadow until we’re sure the new Project will comply.”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the room.

“The last thing we need is for him to find out there’s another alien like him.”

 Crack!

All voices stopped talking.

The break room doors burst open. Several people stepped out cautiously as they inspected where the sound came from.

Shards of glass covered the entire hallway, broken light fixtures dangling precariously from above. But as they checked both ends of the hall, not a soul was in sight.

•••••••••••••••••••

“Shadow, breathe.” Maria patted him on the back.

“I’m… trying,” he choked.

“This is good, isn’t it?” She tried to distract him with positivity. “There’s someone just like you.”

Shadow started to calm down. “Yes, yes it’s good. It’s really good…” he draws out. “I just don’t know where to go from here. I have so many questions.”

“Then ask them,” The girl asserted. “Let’s go find this mystery being.”

“Right now?” He blurted, incredulous.

Before the girl could respond, a hard gust of wind hit the both of them. Shadow’s first instinct was to protect Maria, but as he caught sight of a blue blur passing, it sparked a curiosity. The speed was incredible, but also seemed unstable. It bounced against the walls in a way that seemed almost accidental, as if its momentum was too much for it to control. 

It wasn’t until the blur paused—from an especially hard hit—that Shadow realized what was behind the speed.

A hedgehog. 

It looked… just like him.

Shadow took notice of the hedgehog tearing off its patient gown. From what he could see, there didn’t look to be any external injuries—he’s relieved. But it also seemed on edge.

Shadow didn’t know what to do next. While he didn’t want to leave Maria, he also felt an exploding urge to approach the hedgehog who resembled him.

He felt a squeeze on his forearm and looked back to see the girl gazing at the blue hedgehog in awe. She promptly turned her head to Shadow and had about the biggest smile he’d ever seen her wear. As they both returned their gazes to the hedgehog, they realized he’s nowhere to be seen.

Shadow’s heart dropped.

Where did he go?

A sudden commotion erupted. Dozens of footsteps came rushing the same way the blue blur did. Men muttering, feet shuffling—getting louder by the second. From a distance, Shadow could hear voices saying “ Capture that damn alien!” or “He’s crazy, don’t let him escape!”

The gears in Shadow’s whirred into action. As he saw a glimpse of the soldiers, he didn’t hesitate to grab Maria’s arm. 

And in an instant, they vanished.

•••••••••••••••••••

It was silent.

Beep.

Well—aside from that annoying beeping. Other than that, it was a comfortable silence. Sonic felt as though he could sleep forever. When else does he go this long without Tails barging in his room or Knuckles pranking him? The answer was never.

Beep.

The only other complaint he’d have is how cold he was. I mean, seriously—did somebody steal his covers during the night? It could not be any thicker than sheets. He shivered just thinking about it.

Beep.

Sonic tried lifting his arm to readjust the covers, but he couldn’t. There was something keeping him from doing so.

Beep…Beep!

Now that he really thought about it, he could feel wires tangled on his chest.

Beep…Beep!

The rhythmic beeping slowly started to pull Sonic from the depths of unconsciousness. Fragmented memories were resurfacing.

Beep…Beep…Beep!

His eyes shot open.

The fluorescent lights above made his eyes sting as he blinked against their harsh glow. It took a second for them to adjust. Sonic shifted his body so that he could process his surroundings.

Beep…Be—

He ripped off the leads attached to his body to stop the incessant beeping.

“Finally,” Sonic muttered. As he tugged on the restraints, a specific memory came to mind. 

Eggman. The portal. The year .

Now fully awake, his mind raced. Sonic took notice of the fact that his abdomen didn’t hurt anymore, probably from his regenerative abilities kicking in. How long has it been? Was he captured? Damn, he really had to get out of here.

As if on cue, the door to his hospital-like room opened and several people with lab coats came in. It made him slightly unsettled. In the back, he could see two men with huge guns. Okay, now he was really unsettled.

“We saw the connection break between the electrocardiogram machine and yourself,” one of the white coats said. “Why is that?”

Sonic’s head tilted in confusion. “Electro—what?”

Someone noted that down, and Sonic rolled his eyes at the action.

“The heart monitor. It’d be best if we continued monitoring you, so let our faculty reattach them—”

“I’m fine, thanks for asking.” Sonic put on the brightest smile he could. “So if you could just unlock these for me, that’d be super great!” He signaled towards the wrist restraints.

Everyone in the room stared at him.

Sonic deadpanned. “Really? You’re not even gonna think about it?”

A man from the crowd cleared his throat. “Let us be clear. We don’t know where you came from, how you came here, and what your capabilities are.” He used a pen to tap the medical chart in his hands. “That’s why we need you to comply.”

Sonic feigned a gasp. “Well why didn’t you just tell me that? I’ll tell you everything you need to know.” He flashed another smile.

A few of them muttered amongst themselves, eyeing Sonic every once in a while. He just hummed and tapped his fingers against the bed railing while waiting.

The conversation came to an end, and a couple white coats inched closer with keys in their hands. “If you follow our orders, we can work together to figure this out,” one of them said cautiously, as if approaching a wild animal.

Sonic’s grin grew wider, but there was a flicker of something sharp in his eyes. “Oh, absolutely. Cross my heart, I’ll be the best little patient you’ve ever had.”

The restraints clicked open, and Sonic stretched his arms dramatically, flexing his wrists. “Ahh, freedom. You know, it really does feel different when you earn it.”

The man with the chart sighed, clearly unimpressed. “Now, if you’d kindly sit still—”

Sonic shot up from the bed, landing on the floor with a lightness that seemed almost unnatural. The two guards with guns shifted uneasily, but Sonic raised his hands in mock surrender. “Relax, fellas. I’m not going anywhere…yet.” He winked, then turned to the group in lab coats. “So, what’s the plan? Hook me up to more wires? Poke me with sticks? Oh, wait—don’t tell me. You’re gonna ‘study’ me, right?”

“We’re here to ensure your safety, as well as ours,” the first white coat said firmly, though his voice wavered slightly.

Sonic gave him a slow, exaggerated nod. “Ohhh, of course. Safety first. That’s why you’ve got the whole SWAT team back there, huh?” He jerked his thumb toward the guards, who didn’t react.

The tension in the room was palpable, and one of the scientists finally broke the silence. “Let’s proceed. We’ll reattach the leads, and then we’ll discuss next steps.”

Sonic sighed, flopping back onto the bed with theatrical flair. “Fine, fine. Do your thing. But if you’re planning on sticking me with any needles, I’m gonna need a lollipop after.”

One of the younger scientists suppressed a chuckle, earning a sharp glare from the man with the chart. Sonic caught it, grinning smugly. “See? Someone gets it. Gotta keep the morale up.”

As the team moved in cautiously to reattach the sensors, Sonic’s expression shifted, just for a second—a flash of calculation, like he was already plotting his next move.

“Alright, doc,” he said, his voice dropping into a more serious tone. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Sonic observed the team to find which of them looked to be in the highest position of power. If he had to take a guess, he’d bet on the clipboard guy. He was a stoic-looking fella.

As one of the scientists began lifting his patient gown to attach the leads, Sonic’s eyes followed clipboard man’s movements. He had come closer to observe his team, and while doing so, the hedgehog utilized his speed to snatch his ID. 

Sonic whistled happily, knowing it was secure in his quills.

Soon, a different woman approached him and started cleaning the area on his elbow. Sonic tilted his head, confused.

“Why are you—OW!” His gaze dropped to see a needle stuck in his arm. He swallowed. The sharp pain made him more queasy than he cared to admit.

“That’s why,” the woman in the white coat said with a smile that made his skin crawl.

He watched as she fiddled with the IV bag, but it was the small bottle in her hand that caught his attention. Sonic wasn’t exactly a medical expert—he’d admit that—but he knew enough to recognize that Propofol wasn’t administered for hydration. Listening to Tails’ little tangents clearly paid off.

“Uh, so—” Sonic didn’t know how to go about this. “What does that little bottle do?” 

The woman’s expression remained unreadable. “It boosts your immune system.”

Sonic’s mind raced, heavily fighting the urge to call her out on her lie. It’s fine , he supposed. He would just have to pay careful attention to when she— holy moly it’s already connected to the bag.

His eyes widened in sudden panic as he saw the IV already threaded into the tube, the small bottle now half-empty, connected directly to the bag. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. She’s already pumped some of it in.

The cold knot in his stomach tightened. No, no, no— He had no idea how much was in his system, but even a little could slow him down, and that was the last thing he needed right now. His heart skipped a beat as the familiar rush of speed started to feel… dulled. His mind was still sharp, but his limbs felt heavier than usual, like wading through molasses.

His pulse quickened in panic. He couldn’t afford to lose even a fraction of his speed. Not now. Not when every second counted. He had to get back home.

Without thinking, his hand shot to the IV, ripping it out of his arm with a sharp wince as the needle tore free. The pain barely registered, but the fear did. His head spun slightly, his vision blurring for a second, and he staggered for balance.

This was bad. This was really bad.

Sonic’s breaths came quicker as he fought to keep his focus. “Not today,” he muttered, but even he could hear the hesitation in his voice. He had to move. He had to move now before the sedation fully kicked in.

As fast as he could, Sonic shot through the door, passing the entire medical team on his way out. He could faintly register sounds of gunshots, but it wasn’t something the hedgehog was capable of pursuing at that moment. He quickly realized that although his power remained strong, it was unstable. Every few seconds consisted of a wrong hit against the walls. 

The amount of sedative wasn’t enough to seriously incapacitate Sonic, but it sure did its job at making his lightning-fast reflexes feel frustratingly sluggish.

Sonic began thinking back on what Shadow had once confided in him. There was a balcony entrance somewhere here. It’s where the black hedgehog said he and Maria would stargaze. The memory somehow made Sonic feel gloomy.

But he focused back to the task at hand when he reached a circular corridor worth stopping at.

“Ugh,” Sonic hit a wall especially hard while trying to stop in the middle. His balance was still severely off. 

He looked down to realize he was still wearing that stupid gown and promptly tore it off. How embarrassing. As he held the wall for support, he took notice of the nice interior of the rotunda. For being a secret underground base, they sure didn’t hold back on the decorations.

His eyes were making the rounds until they landed on a girl and a black hedgehog. Sonic froze. 

That was Shadow. That was 100% Shadow. The same one he spent weeks searching for. The same one he prayed for every night, hoping he was alive. That was Shadow the Hedgehog.

Sonic’s breath quickened, and as he saw the girl looking up at Shadow, he decided that was his chance to book it—so he did. Without a second thought, he bolted out of there. Seeing Shadow alive and well was beyond surreal—it felt impossible. And as funny as it was playing along with those doctors for a bit, Sonic knew that he couldn’t interfere too much within this timeline or else the future would pay that price. The number one thing he needed to avoid would be the exact hedgehog he was running from: Shadow.

The only thing tempering Sonic’s subtle anxiety was knowing that Shadow didn’t notice him.

At least he thinks he didn’t notice him.

Chapter Text

Shadow’s first thought was to bring Maria to a safer spot. As he teleported them to her bedroom, he wasted no time explaining the situation.

“I’m sorry for the lack of notice, Maria,” he started. “I heard a charge of soldiers coming near our direction—probably coming for who we saw earlier.”

The girl sat on her bed, looking slightly shocked. “There’s another hedgehog like you…” she spoke softly.

Shadow paused, but nodded slowly. “Yes…there is.” He lingered on his words. It made him want to say more, but he couldn't find the appropriate words.

She suddenly took Shadow’s hand and started shaking it with excitement. “You have to go find him!” 

He faltered. Maria’s eyes showed no signs of settling down any time soon, and he knew she would urge him until he did. To add on, Shadow wasn’t vehemently opposed to searching for the hedgehog either. Although he didn’t see any external injuries on him, the blue blur was hitting walls left and right, so something had to have been wrong. And if he remembered correctly, the conversation within the break room held talk of him almost dying from blood loss; that couldn’t have been pleasant.

Shadow looked down again at his hand in hers and felt a stir in his heart. He had to find that hedgehog—before the soldiers.

“Okay.” He spoke in a low voice.

“Okay.” She repeated with a tender smile.

Maria let go of his hand, and Shadow wasted no time teleporting back to the circular corridor. This is where it got tricky. Where would a hedgehog run off to? Shadow could think of a few places. The difference, however, was that Shadow never hid with the intention of escaping. And although it hasn’t been confirmed, he felt that this hedgehog was running with the intent of escaping. All the more reason to find him first and calmly explain his situation.

Shadow checked the storage rooms, the laboratories, the server rooms, and even the training areas—but there was no sign of the blue hedgehog. He even combed through the cafeteria, just in case. But to no avail. Where could he be? It’s not as if the mystery hedgehog knew his way around the base. It was enough to add more tension to Shadow’s already racing mind. 

However, there was one place he hadn’t yet checked. 

Shadow stopped, needing a moment to think.

He mentally mapped the distance to the balcony entrance. It was a plausible guess, but a very unlikely one. The door leading outside required a high-level clearance, a privilege no hedgehog like them could ever imagine having. Though, considering everything, it’d be better to verify. 

He darted down a side corridor, taking multiple turns along the way. The black hedgehog skidded to a halt as he approached the base of a familiar staircase. He nearly lost his footing, his eagerness pushing him up the flights of stairs.

His steps gradually came to a stop as he reached the top. What he saw made his heart pound in his chest. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

The door was open .

Shadow’s hand lingered on the door handle for a couple seconds before finally entering. The first thing he noticed was the chilly breeze; it made for a refreshing shift in the night air. 

As he lifted his gaze to the field on the balcony, his eyes were drawn to a recognizable color of blue. Shadow’s eyes twinkled at the sight. He found him. He was still here.

The hedgehog was sitting silently among the field and had his head facing the sky. It reminded Shadow of him and Maria’s stargazing outings. Maybe he would be willing to join them one day— Snap out of it, Shadow. The black hedgehog sighed, clearing away the off-topic thoughts.

From a distance, he saw the blue hedgehog’s ear twitch. Shadow froze. It slipped his mind that he was no longer the only one with enhanced hearing. 

The hedgehog—with lightning speed—jumped up and took a defensive stance. He looked back with a scowling face. But as Shadow met his eyes, all hostility left his face. What was left was a moment of recognition, followed by a flicker of uncertainty. 

Shadow swallowed harshly. This was good, right?

Testing the waters, he took a slow step towards the blue hedgehog.

The other countered his action, taking a step back.

Shadow paused instantly, and a disappointed frown crept onto his face. Was the hedgehog afraid of him?

“What’s your name?” The black hedgehog questioned. He held his breath, having anticipated this moment ever since he laid eyes on the other.

“...”

The blue hedgehog said nothing, keeping his lips pressed tight. From the looks of it, his body seemed to be tense, tenser than it was before. Shadow didn’t know what to do next. He wasn’t typically the type to have confrontations like this. That was Maria’s role, her kindness and resolve filling in where he would remain silent. He never imagined he’d be caught into such a situation of his own.

“Do you speak?” He blurted out. The idea suddenly came to him, and it would make a lot more sense if he didn’t yet know how to talk—

“I do.” The blue hedgehog said, caution laced in his voice.

Oh. 

Shadow’s ears flattened, partly due to the embarrassment of his hidden assumption. But at least he’d finally gotten a response, and there was something oddly fitting about the sound of his voice. He wanted to hear it again, so he quickly asked another question.

“Is there a reason you can’t tell me your name?” 

The blue hedgehog furrowed his eyebrows and lowered his gaze. He seemed to be grappling with his own thoughts.

After a few passing seconds, he asked a question of his own, completely ignoring Shadow’s.

“Can I… look at you closer for a moment?” 

Shadow paused, completely taken aback. He so badly wants to push for his name, but he knew that one wrong move—one wrong answer, and he’d push him further away than he already had. So he nodded his head quickly, no questions asked.

Perhaps from the adrenaline, but Shadow immediately entered the field, aiming to close the distance with him.

“W-Wait, stay there.” The blue hedgehog had his hands up, signaling vigilance.

Shadow obeyed, but tilted his head. “Can I ask why—?”

“Don’t move.” He watched as the other took small, measured steps towards him, never breaking eye contact. “Let me come towards you.”

When he was only a few feet away, the blue hedgehog paused. He looked up at Shadow, standing perfectly still, his eyes searching, lingering. It was as if he was weighing something invisible in the air between them, considering whether to take that final step. A few moments passed just like that, hesitating.

Eventually Shadow couldn’t take it anymore. If the other wasn’t going to do it, he would. Shadow didn’t hesitate as he minimized their distance with a large step forward. His eyes never left the hedgehog, studying the subtle shifts in his expression, the tension in his posture.

He saw that the other’s eyes flickered for just a moment, his expression faltering as he considered Shadow’s sudden move. It was a brief pause, a moment where uncertainty flashed across his face—Shadow thought he was about to bolt—but it was gone as quickly as it came. The unease that had been present in his posture melted away, replaced by something softer, warmer. His gaze softened, his shoulders relaxing, and in that instant, Shadow couldn’t tell if the blue hedgehog was afraid of him… or if he was relieved. He hoped it was the latter.

Both hedgehogs looked into one another’s eyes, neither wanting to break it first. Shadow didn’t understand what the hedgehog wanted to observe. But unlike the uncomfortable gazes of the agents and doctors, this hedgehog’s gaze was warm and knowing, as though he understood more than he let on.

It sent chills down Shadow’s spine.

There’s a long stretch of silence. The other was the first to break eye contact, opting for inspecting his body instead. Shadow stiffened, suddenly realizing he’d never felt so exposed in his life, despite having grown up with permanent stares as a result of the countless experiments and studies. He stayed as still as he could, fearing that the other would scurry away from any unprovoked movement. It wouldn’t be rude, he supposed, to do the same thing to him, right?

So he used this time, being as close as he was, to really inspect the hedgehog’s blue fur. The scientists weren’t exaggerating; his hue was incredibly striking. Shadow used to think that his red streaks were too intense, but he now realized that it was nothing compared to the brilliance of this hedgehog’s color. And his green eyes —they reminded him of emeralds. He recalled the moment when Professor Robotnik had given Maria a bracelet for her birthday, a striking piece of jewelry that had been encrusted with emeralds.

The memory was cut short as Shadow watched the wind carry a leaf towards the hedgehog in front of him. It landed gracefully on top of the hedgehog’s quills. So without realizing, Shadow reached out a hand, intending to take it off.

But the peace between the two was disturbed as soon as he noticed the other’s flinch from the sudden movement.

Shadow stopped mid-reach, internally cursing at the obvious mistake he made.

When the blue hedgehog just stared wide at him, Shadow decided he’d take his chances and continued the action, but this time slowly.

“Look.” Shadow narrowed his eyes. As he picked off the leaf, he brought it into view to show it to him.

“Pffft.”

Shadow’s ears perked up.

The blue hedgehog had covered his mouth in an attempt to keep his laugh at bay, but his shaking shoulders exposed him clearly. Shadow couldn’t help but smile at the sight, a sense of curiosity growing inside him—a need to understand what was going on in that blue head of his.

“Why are you laughing?” He asked, his voice soft but probing

“I just..” he let out another small chuckle, his grin widening. “I feel ridiculous for ever thinking you’d hurt me.”

Shadow was momentarily stunned. “W-What? Why would I hurt you?”

The blue hedgehog’s face scrunched. “Dunno. Instinct I suppose.”

“Well your instincts were wrong. I just wanted to meet you.” Shadow blurted. “I have questions.”

The other’s eyes calmly turned to look at the night sky, as if his mind went elsewhere. “So do I,” he mumbled.

Shadow nodded, figuring he had questions about this place. “And I can help you with—”

“—Look,” The blue hedgehog glanced back with a feigned expression of indifference. “I gotta go now, but it was nice meeting ya.”

Shadow froze. His mind struggled to catch up with the words, taking a fraction of a second too long to register what had just been said. “Wait, what?”

He hurried over to where the other was facing, his balance almost failing him from the rush of urgency.

The hedgehog looked away, clearly trying to avoid any direct eye contact.

At a loss for what else to do, he firmly grabbed the hedgehog’s wrist. “Where are you going?”

The blue hedgehog tried shaking his grip off, but Shadow’s hand stayed firm and unrelenting. He needed answers.

“Why are you leaving?” Shadow desperately asked.

The blue hedgehog couldn’t even return his gaze. “You…wouldn’t understand. I have to return before—”

“—Before what? Return where? ” He sounded pathetically desperate, even from his own ears. “You’re the first one I’ve seen that looks like me. First you can’t tell me your name, and now you can’t even look at me?”

At this, the blue hedgehog’s gaze returned. Finally, he looked at him. “I…I’m sorry.”

That’s not what the black hedgehog wanted to hear. His grip on the situation, and on his emotions, was slipping. He clenched his fists.

The blue hedgehog’s spikes began to glow with a brilliant, electric blue. Sparks scattered in all directions. “I can’t be here—not right now.” His voice wavered slightly. “Until we meet again.” A small, apologetic smile tugged at his lips, and he gave a final salute, as though that would be enough to explain everything.

He was leaving. 

Shadow’s heart slammed in his chest. He was actually leaving.

The words of the blue hedgehog echoed in his mind, but he couldn’t process them. He couldn’t let him go. Not yet. Not like this.

In a flash of panic, Shadow reacted. His legs moved without thinking, his body already reaching the edge of its limits. In a last-ditch effort, he broke the sound barrier in sync with the other hedgehog. They were moving at the same velocity, within the same pocket of time, as if the world itself had paused to give them this one moment.

He surged forward, muscles straining with the effort. Within a heartbeat, he was there, and before the blue hedgehog could blink, Shadow had seized him.

The two of them crashed to the ground with a violent thud, their bodies tumbling through the dirt. Pain shot through Shadow’s limbs, but it was nothing compared to the wild rush of adrenaline flooding his veins. The blue hedgehog, completely caught off guard, struggled beneath him, but Shadow’s weight pinned him down.

The blue hedgehog, stunned by the unexpected takedown, let out a sharp exhale, eyes wide with surprise at Shadow’s ironclad grip.

The wild spark of electricity still hovered around them, his body glowing faintly from the surge of energy. But despite the tension crackling in the air, there was a moment of stillness between them.

“Get off me,” the blue hedgehog finally said, his voice softer than it had been before, laced with surprise but no malice. His gaze locked onto Shadow’s, and for the first time, the frustration and confusion Shadow had seen earlier was gone. There was something else—something that flickered in his eyes, fleeting but unmistakable.

“Not until you explain,” Shadow replied, his voice rougher than he intended. The words seemed to catch in his throat, heavy with a need for answers he couldn’t shake.

The blue hedgehog’s lips parted, but no words came out immediately. “I…” He hesitated, then looked away, as if struggling to find the right words. Suddenly, Shadow caught sight of tears forming. “I can’t be here, Shadow.”

“Wait… What did you just—?” His words stumbled as he froze, eyes narrowing. “How do you know my name?”

The blue hedgehog’s posture stiffened immediately, like a deer caught in headlights. His gaze darted away, suddenly avoiding Shadow’s eyes. “I… didn’t mean to say that.” His voice faltered, like he was trying to suppress the slip-up, but it was already out there, hanging in the air between them.

“You…”

Before he could finish, a sudden burst of movement erupted from the balcony entrance.

“Move in! Secure the target!” A commanding shout cut through the tension in the air, and in the blink of an eye, a squad of G.U.N. soldiers rushed into the fields.

“Shadow,” fear laced within the blue hedgehog’s voice. “You have to let me go!” He was cut short as a dart proceeded to strike him in the shoulder, and then another on his side. Shadow froze as he watched the hedgehog’s body go rigid from underneath him, the effects of the tranquilizer having hit him like a tidal wave.

What has he done…

“Shadow,” a familiar voice called out.

He turned sharply, his eyes landing on a G.U.N. officer who was stepping forward with a clipboard in hand. The officer gave him a tight, forced smile as the soldiers continued their work. “Thanks for keeping the situation under control.”

Shadow’s mind reeled. “Under control?” he repeated, his voice dangerously low. His pulse quickened. “You think I was controlling this? I was talking to him!”

The officer paused, frowning as if confused by Shadow’s response. “Your current position says otherwise.”

Shadow stiffened at the accusation—because he was right. What sort of conversation consisted of someone forcing another down against his will. Shadow’s thoughts were whirling. 

“You did good, Shadow,” he continued, his tone now bordering on patronizing. “We’ll take it from here.”

As all the soldiers moved out, Shadow stood in the clearing, suddenly feeling more alone than ever.

What disgusted Shadow the most, though, was the slight relief he felt in knowing that the hedgehog would be here, yet another day.

Chapter Text

There Sonic sat, atop the balcony, within the flower fields. He was supposed to have left already, but after glancing at the stars, he pondered on what Shadow had once told him. Him and Maria had special moments here. He figured it wouldn’t do any harm to be alone in his thoughts for a few moments, deliberately allowing himself to be distracted by the night view.

Sonic could easily understand why Shadow spoke so nostalgically about it in the future. After 50 years of pollution, only a fraction of these stars would be visible. In this time, the entire sky remained covered. He couldn't help but smile, though the expression was tinged with sadness.

Once he felt that enough time had passed, he had prepared himself to get up. But that’s when a noise was heard. Sonic’s ear twitched. It came from behind him.

Oh great. Sonic internally groaned at the thought of fighting; the sedation’s effects were still lingering. And it’d be wasteful to use up his remaining energy like this. He tried mentally devising a plan to knock out the soldiers swiftly, so that he could then be on his merry little way. Although, it wasn’t something he was looking forward to—considering the entire base was surrounded by water… he’d cross that bridge once he got there.

With a reluctant groan, Sonic gathered his strength and leaped to his feet, turning to face the intruder. His body instinctively took a defensive stance. Step one: give the intruder the most menacing glare he could muster.

But the sight that met him made him freeze.

Shadow?

Sonic’s head tried to make sense of it, the black hedgehog that was looking back at him. Why on Earth was Shadow, of all people, here in front of him? More importantly, was it too late to run?

The answer was yes, yes it was.

Shadow stood before him, his expression unreadable—completely blank, but somehow that made it all the more intimidating. Every muscle in his body tensed as Shadow took a single, deliberate step forward. The movement was subtle, but it struck Sonic like a jolt of lightning. 

What if he came here to fight? Panic surged through him. No, no, no… that can’t happen, not now. Not like this.

So Sonic swiftly countered him, taking a step back instead. Distance is the most crucial thing to him right now. Aside from the fear of the unknown when it came to Shadow, Sonic wasn’t sure if he’d be able to handle it if he saw the black hedgehog closer than necessary. To see what’s already been lost.

Shadow’s voice cut through the heavy silence between them. “What’s your name?”

Sonic gaped at the question, or more specifically, the voice. It felt so long since he had last heard it. Should he tell him? Part of him itched to answer, but deep down, Sonic knew that wouldn’t be wise. Messing with the timeline, wasn’t wise. In this timeline, their paths weren’t meant to cross like this. Shadow wasn’t supposed to know his name. And so, Sonic kept quiet.

“...”

He could see the disappointment on the other’s face. It almost made Sonic want to take it back and tell him anyway. But for now, he had to keep his lips sealed—him and his big mouth.

“Do you speak?” The black hedgehog pressed.

Sonic’s resolve faltered when Shadow’s gaze grew more intense, and his mouth opened before he could think. “I do.”

Damn it. The words were out before he could stop them, and now there was no taking them back. So much for keeping your mouth shut.

Shadow’s ears lowered, which puzzled Sonic. He wasn’t this expressive in the future. 

“Is there a reason you can’t tell me your name?”

At that, Sonic’s eyebrows furrowed. Would playing dumb be too obvious? Maybe he’d be better off deflecting the question altogether.

“Can I…” Sonic’s mind suddenly went into overload trying to find the perfect evasive question. “...Look at you closer for a moment?” He mentally slapped himself. This was somehow even worse than just giving Shadow his name. Sonic was really in for it now.

In contrast, the black hedgehog didn’t seem to notice his inner turmoil and immediately nodded his head. It reminded Sonic of an excited kid, it was kind of adorable. If he weren’t trying to emotionally—and physically—distance himself, he would’ve allowed himself a little grin at the sight. But Shadow cut his thoughts short as he wasted no time trying to enter the field in which Sonic was standing. His thoughts were all over the place as he fumbled for an excuse.

“W-Wait, stay there.” The blue hedgehog put his hands up as warning.

And so Shadow did, but not without a head tilt. “Can I ask why—?”

“Don’t move,” he interjected firmly, truly unaware of what he was even saying. And against Sonic’s better judgement, he began taking small steps toward the black hedgehog. “Let me come towards you .” 

Yeah, Sonic thought. On his terms. He was in complete control of this situation, totally.

He gulped. He was not at all in control of this situation.

As Sonic reached a respectable distance between the both of them, he paused. He could stop here, but something was nagging at him to take another step, the final step. Ultimately though, his brain was fighting just as hard to do the opposite, to take a step back if he would. So he hesitated.

He didn’t think Shadow could be bothered by the internal conflict running through his mind at this moment, but the hedgehog proved him wrong anyway. A barely audible sigh escaped Shadow’s mouth as he minimized their distance with a large step forward. Sonic felt a piercing stare from the other weigh heavy on him.

For a moment Sonic felt the need to reestablish boundaries, to say something in retaliation at his unprovoked movement. But when his eyes met Shadow’s, the words never came. All the tension in his body melted. Standing this close, was making Sonic relive how desperate he was to see this moody hedgehog. Except now, there was a crushing realization that this would be the last time Sonic would ever catch a glimpse of him.

Damn it, Shadow. Why’d you have to go and get yourself killed?

He clenched his fists. There was a long stretch of silence—of observations, of quiet admiration. Sonic slipped into a timeless action of letting his thoughts drift, completely lost in the weight of the moment. It wasn’t until the black hedgehog lifted his hand, that Sonic snapped out of it. Sonic stared wide at the hand nearing him. Maybe it was from muscle memory, but he flinched. His body could vividly remember all those times Shadow had punched him. And let him tell you—they hurt. There were honestly too many scenarios to count.

So Sonic figured that this was just a repeat of history after all. He fretfully watched as Shadow continued the movement, except the blue hedgehog noticed that there wasn’t any malice intent behind it. So then what was he doing?

“Look,” Shadow had whispered.

Using absolute precision, he lowered what looked like a leaf trapped in between his two fingers, and showed it to Sonic. 

“Pffft.”

Sonic laughed slightly, taken aback by what he had just witnessed. He immediately covered his mouth, trying to tame his laughter, but he just couldn’t hold it back.

To make matters worse, he watched Shadow smile at him, which made the situation even more absurd.

Shadow’s voice sounded soft. “Why are you laughing?” As he looked at Sonic, the picture of a puppy plagued his mind.

“I just…” another small chuckle slipped. “I feel ridiculous for ever thinking you’d hurt me.” And it was true. This whole time Sonic had been wary of him partly due to the fact that both hedgehog’s were malicious towards each other in the future upon their first meeting. But he now understood that this meeting, in the past, wasn’t comparable. How could it be?

Shadow looked stunned, though, to say the least. “W-What? Why would I hurt you?”

Sonic’s face scrunched, thinking back at how many black eyes he received. “Dunno. Instinct I suppose.”

“Well your instincts were wrong. I just wanted to meet you.” He looked intensely at Sonic. “I have questions.”

Do you now..

Sonic sighed and broke eye contact with the hedgehog, instead opting for another look at the stars.

“So do I.”

“And I can help you with—”

“—Look,” Sonic turned back to meet Shadow’s eyes. This was gonna hurt a lot more than Sonic had already anticipated, he could feel it, deep within his bones. “I gotta go now, but it was nice meeting ya.” And just like that, he turned around making haste with his steps through the field. His eyes stung. His throat burned. Damn it, this sucked.

From behind him, he could hear a faint, “Wait, what?”

Stay firm, Sonic. Stay. Firm.

Within half a second, Shadow had skidded in front of him, seemingly desperate. But Sonic knew better. He couldn’t make eye contact. Not if he wanted to make a point. It shouldn’t have even gotten to this point. You’re so stupid, Sonic.

Sonic faltered as he felt a hand envelop his wrist. Of all the things for this Shadow to do, he hadn’t expected a wrist grip being one of them. Wasn’t he supposed to be the calmer one? Considering that this was his pre-destruction era.

“Where are you going?” The black hedgehog asked with urgency laced in his voice.

Sonic continued avoiding his imploring gaze, focusing instead on trying to break free from his grip. Though, it somehow felt tighter with each one of his attempts.

“Why are you leaving?” Shadow desperately asked.

Sonic shook his head. He couldn’t even return his gaze. “You… wouldn’t understand. I have to return before—”

“—Before what?” It sounded like a beg, a plea even. “You’re the first one I’ve seen that looks like me. First you can’t tell me your name, and now you can’t even look at me?”

The last words stung far more than the blue hedgehog ever would’ve liked. In a half-baked attempt at an apology, he finally looked up and locked eyes with the hedgehog. “I…I’m sorry.”

Shadow’s face contorted at his words. What else did he want to hear from him?

Sonic shook out all unnecessary thoughts. It was time to go home now. First, he’d planned on visiting where his home would be in this time period, hoping to see some energy fluctuations at the exact place he teleported from. He began harnessing all the energy he was capable of in that moment. Once it was ready, Sonic took one last glance at Shadow, feeling an unspoken emptiness at it being their last meeting.

“I can’t be here—not right now.” He tried to keep his voice strong. “Until we meet again.” And Sonic gave a little smile alongside a final salute to someone he once wished he could’ve called a friend. He hoped it’d be enough, he hoped he’d understand. But deep down, Sonic knew this was more than just a simple goodbye. There was so much left unsaid.

In the blink of an eye, Sonic broke the sound barrier, carrying immense emotions while doing so. But just as quickly, without warning, something slammed into him—hard. His body was jolted, his speed crashing to a halt as an overwhelming force sent him tumbling through the dirt.

The hedgehog barely had time to register what had happened before he hit the ground with a thud.

Confusion and shock rippled through him as he struggled to push himself up. What the hell...? His breath came in sharp gasps as he turned, trying to make sense of it.

And there Shadow was, straddling his torso. Sonic almost didn’t believe his eyes. He would’ve rubbed them to make sure, if his arms weren’t already pinned down by the hedgehog in question.

Sonic cleared his throat of any vulnerability. “Get off me,” but his voice still sounded too soft for his liking. Too weak.

“Not until you explain,” Shadow said with a sharp tone. 

There he was. There was the black hedgehog Sonic knew from the future. Interesting that he made his appearance at the last second. The mere comparison made Sonic’s emotions stir wildly. He tried to open his mouth to explain, but it was useless. He looked up at those red eyes. Nothing Sonic could say would get through to him.

“I…” Damn it. Something felt lodged in his throat. Suddenly he felt overstimulated by the entire situation. “I can’t be here, Shadow.” 

He felt Shadow tense above him, but Sonic couldn’t bring himself to focus on it. The tightness in his chest was growing, and he could feel tears threatening to spill. The pressure of Shadow’s body against him, the intensity of the moment, and the confusion swirling inside him—it was too much. It was all too much.

“Wait…What did you just—?” Shadow seemed to be stumbling over his words. Sonic looked at him in response, trying hard to focus on his next words. “How do you know my name?”

Sonic’s body went completely rigid. Oh, he was gonna be sick. In fact, he already was.

His mind raced as he struggled to maintain control over his own thoughts, let alone his words. This wasn’t supposed to happen— this was exactly what he’d been trying to avoid.

“I… didn’t mean to say that.” No plausible excuse could come to mind.

Shadow’s eyebrows scrunched together. He knew that the hedgehog held countless questions. “You…”

A sudden burst of movement erupted from the balcony entrance. Sonic immediately looked over.

“Move in! Secure the target!” A commanding shout cut through the tension in the air, and in the blink of an eye, a squad of soldiers started rushing into the fields.

Oh hell no.

Panic started spreading in Sonic’s mind. “Shadow,” he started twisting and writhing underneath the other’s grasp. “You have to let me go!” Sonic shouted.

The moment was interrupted when he felt a prick in his shoulder, proceeding with another on his side.

Sonic’s vision quickly began blurring. The only thing he made out, before his eyes closed for good, was the horrified look on Shadow’s face.

Not again…

•••••••••••••••••••

Dreams were quite the mystery. Everynight, people just have to trust that when sleep finds them, the Dream Gods would grace them with a nice one. What kind of system was that? An unjust one, he’d argue.

Take right now as an example. What did he do to be so deserving of a dream that consisted of drowning? Nobody knows. Especially him. Gosh, and why was it so realistic ? It was gross. Dreaming about drowning in a cold, slimy substance—just gross.

In the distance of his conscious mind, he could feel himself beginning to wake up. Thank God. Anything to leave this slimy dungeon. So long, dream. You won’t be missed, not one single bit. Consider yourself a nightmare.

The hedgehog slowly pried open his eyes, but something cold and sticky weighed them down, making it impossible to open them any faster. His mind blanked for a few seconds until he realized the seriously terrifying predicament he was in. That dream was no dream at all, but reality.

He was trapped. Surrounded by what could only be described as some kind of viscous, booger-colored substance. The truth sank in, and panic gripped his chest. He waved his limbs desperately, but to his tragic discovery, the goo stuck to him like tar. He was weighed down, in a tube no less. What was he, an animal? Well, yes…yes he was, but not one whose needs suited a slime stronghold.

He crossed his legs in an attempt to attain some sort of comfort within such a cramped tube. Options were limited. He rested an elbow on his knee and began thinking, hard. 

It wasn’t an immediate concern for the hedgehog, given the bizarre circumstances he woke up in, but who even was he? In fact, what was his name again? A few moments passed as he tried to recall anything that might help. If he could laugh, he would have—because this was insane. This was crazy . Who doesn't know their own name?  

But the imaginary laugh died in his throat.

Holy crap, he didn’t know his name.

Chapter Text

The hedgehog was bored, and maddeningly so.

His body itched to move, to run, to do anything, really. But surprise, surprise—there wasn’t much room for movement when you were stuck in an enclosed tube. It begged the question: Why was he even there in the first place? As far as he could recall, he hadn’t done anything worthy of imprisonment. But you could also argue that he didn’t remember anything at all. In which case, he might have done something worthy of imprisonment.

If the hedgehog could sigh, he would’ve.

There was no solution capable of breaking out either. He’d already tried everything. Any time he attempted to utilize his power, it would immediately go out because of the booger-goo—that’s what he decided to name it. Was fitting if you asked him.

But having been stuck in this tube for awhile, he’d realized a few things:

1. He didn’t need to breathe. It was an odd and slightly frightening discovery at first. But he noticed that despite being unable to intake a breath, his lungs would fill with air on their own, almost mechanically. If he had to guess, that was probably a purposeful mechanic of whatever twisted genius had designed this booger-goo trap.
2. Nobody came to check up on him for weeks. At least, it left like weeks. You know, it might’ve just been a couple of days. He’s not the best at keeping track of time.
3. Doing a handstand for 5 hours was not as fun as it sounded at the time.

Maybe the last one was more of an opinion than an observation, but hey, it was worth mentioning.

He continued the position anyway, this time, only allowing his weight to be held by a single finger. Let’s go for 10 hours.

As one could imagine, times were rather monotonous—something this hedgehog didn’t need memories to already know he hated. He shut his eyes, trying to imagine humming a song because even that he couldn’t do. But after deeming his attempts futile, he opened his eyes once more. As he looked up, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

An upside down hedgehog —wait.

He made a mental note to temporarily pause his handstand challenge. There was no time for that now. He shifted his weight back, carefully bringing his legs down and standing upright once more.

There we go.

An upright hedgehog.

And a very confused one, at that. His eyebrows were all scrunched up—what from? He had no idea. But what really caught his eye was the streak of red running through the hedgehog’s quills.

Damn, that looked awesome.

He stood there, momentarily lost in admiration. Was this some kind of... rockstar hedgehog? Was he supposed to know him? He sure hoped he knew him. The guy looked like he belonged on stage, fronting a band, with the kind of attitude that said he could play guitar like it was his own heartbeat.

And yet, there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn’t talk, couldn’t move freely—couldn’t even hum a single note to break the silence. The only thing he could do was tap on the glass and smile like a dork. So that’s exactly what he did.

The black hedgehog visibly stiffened from the tap. And the other narrowed his eyes in confusion. 

What’s his problem?

For a moment, the hedgehog felt a little twinge of annoyance. As elated as he’d been to see another living being after what felt like ages, he really didn’t have the energy for this. Maybe it was the booger-goo starting to get to him, but he didn’t have it in him to entertain anyone—not right now.

There was no telling how long he’d been stuck in this weird, sticky prison. The passage of time was a blur. And at this point, he just wanted out. Now.

So unless this rockstar hedgehog was planning on releasing him from his goo-filled nightmare, there wasn’t much else he could muster. He turned his back to the other hedgehog, the universal signal of “I’m done with this for now.” It was clear enough: Not in the mood.

He half-way expected the hedgehog to just leave, but that clearly wasn’t happening as he watched him come into his view once again. This time, the hedgehog pointed towards a button, a suspiciously large looking button—his face portraying feelings of hesitation.

That slightly ticked him off.

But hoping that button was the button of his dreams, he nodded as fast as the substance surrounding him would allow for.

The hedgehog gave a slight nod in response and extended his hand towards the button. He pressed it. At first nothing happened. Disappointment started sinking in further. But then he suddenly felt the booger-goo moving; it was draining. 

His heart skipped a beat. His eyes widened as the goo began to shift and slither away from his body. The sensation was strange, like a heavy, sticky weight lifting off him inch by inch. It didn’t feel pleasant, exactly, but it was definitely better than being trapped in the viscous, suffocating mess.

He couldn’t stop himself from letting out a small, relieved chuckle. “Well, about time,” he muttered. Even hearing his own voice could be considered an amazing feat. He quickly moved his arms, testing them, feeling the sensation of movement again. The goo wasn’t entirely gone yet, but at least it wasn’t holding him down anymore.

He had been so distracted by the feeling of freedom, that he had neglected to thank the one who had set him free in the first place. So he looked up at the black hedgehog, who shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

“Thanks.” He offered the smallest of smiles. Because although he was thankful, he had to remain wary so long as he lacked memories.

But the other just shook his head in response. “There’s no need to thank me. Are you okay?”

He glanced down at his body, suddenly reminded of the substance stuck in his fur—his quills. 

Oh dear God.

His stomach lurched, and he stumbled, knees giving out without forewarning.

The black hedgehog noticed the shift immediately. His eyes narrowed, and in a flash of instinct, he reached out, grabbing the hedgehog’s arm as if to steady him.

“What happened?” His voice was sharp with concern, a rare note of urgency in it.

“M-My quills—”

“What’s wrong? Do they hurt?”

“They’re ruined!” He practically wailed, his voice rising with desperation.

The black hedgehog took a moment to inspect the quills, looking them over carefully. To him, they seemed fine. “How are they ruined?”

“I’ll never be able to get all this booger-goo out of my quills. Not even till the day I die!” 

The hedgehog was momentarily dumbfounded. “Booger…goo?”

“Yes!” He grumbled. “That disgusting slime will harden on my quills. I can already imagine it!” 

The image of hardened goo in his quills haunted him, and his panic intensified. Without thinking, he grabbed a handful of the other hedgehog’s chest fur and yanked him closer, almost nose-to-nose. “Where’s the nearest shower?”

The black hedgehog blinked, wide-eyed, unsure how to process the sudden invasion of personal space. He pointed to the far side of the room, his voice strained. “Over there.”

The blue hedgehog looked over to where he was pointing, where indeed, a glorious shower was beheld. He wasted no time, springing into motion despite the lingering goo still clinging to his quills. His feet barely made contact with the ground as he dashed toward the shower area, his mind hyper focused on the sensation of the sticky substance. Each step felt like a weight he couldn’t shake off.

The black hedgehog followed behind at a more cautious pace, keeping an eye on the frantic movements of the other.

As he erratically wet his entire body, aiming to strip every bit of slime he could find, he heard the other hedgehog unceremoniously clearing his throat. 

“You’re rather… hyper today,” he quipped.

The blue hedgehog didn’t look up from his frantic scrubbing of the goo off his quills. “Is that not how I normally am?” he shot back, clearly not slowing his pace.

“Well,” there was a large pause. “I just figured that because of yesterday—”

“—Whoa there, rockstar,” The blue hedgehog interrupted his thoughts before he could say anything else. “Sorry to say, but yesterday doesn’t mean anything to me anymore.”

The black hedgehog blinked, momentarily taken aback. “How is that… possible? Did you change your mind?” He tilted his head slightly, trying to understand the sudden shift in the other’s mood. “And, uh… rockstar ?”

The blue hedgehog shrugged, as if it were the most casual thing in the world. “Yeah! You know, ‘rockstar’—you’ve got the red streaks, the looks. You should be on stage, shredding a guitar.”

A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the black hedgehog’s lips. “That’s…” He paused, processing the unexpected compliment. “Okay, but why not call me by my name? You already know it.”

The blue hedgehog turned the faucet off, and looked at the other—somewhat sheepishly. “That’s because… I don’t know it.”

The black hedgehog’s posture stiffened slightly. “What?”

“Yeah, to be honest, I can’t remember anything about myself.” The blue hedgehog’s voice carried a mix of frustration and resignation, his shoulders slumping a little. “I don’t even know my name. I don’t remember a single thing about who I am. It’s like I’m a blank slate, and I hate it.” He gave a small, bitter laugh. “I’m seriously salty about it.”

The black hedgehog looked at him, silent for a long moment, taking in the other’s words. He clearly hadn’t expected that. “You… you don’t know anything?”

The blue hedgehog shrugged again, his frustration now more visible. “Nope. Not even my name. But hey, that’s fine. You can just tell me what it is, right? Maybe it’ll jog my memory.” He gave an awkward grin, trying to make light of the situation.

The black hedgehog’s face shifted. His expression, once neutral, now flickered with something darker—something unreadable. “I can’t do that,” he said, his voice a little quieter than before, as though he was treading on thin ice.

The blue hedgehog raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden change in the other’s demeanor. “What do you mean? Why not?” He didn’t get the fuss. Maybe he had just been in an accident. For some reason, it didn’t feel like the first time to him.

The black hedgehog’s eyes hardened, a deepening seriousness clouding his features. “Because... I don’t know you.” He brought a hand to his mouth as if trying to cover the horror of the situation. “No one here does. You appeared out of nowhere, seemingly on the verge of death.”

The blue hedgehog blinked, the weight of those words hitting him like a punch to the gut. “What? If that’s true then why was I put into that… gooey prison?” His tone was getting sharp.

“Because you tried to escape,” the black hedgehog replied, his voice low but firm.

“Well now I’m feeling like I wanna escape all over again!” He shook his quills out, sending a spray of water across the room in an almost frantic motion. His mind was racing. None of this made sense. How could he have been locked away and treated like some threat—like a monster —when he couldn’t even remember who he was? Why was he suddenly the villain of his own life?

“Don’t,” the other said, his voice more urgent now.

The blue hedgehog glared at his now former hero. “Is that a threat?”

“It’s a plea,” he said quietly while looking down.

The blue hedgehog blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. “...What’s your name?”

When the black hedgehog looked up at him, there was a strange intensity in his eyes. It was as if the question had cut deeper than expected, as though his name held more weight than it should have. 

“Shadow. My name is Shadow.”

Chapter Text

Shadow felt suspicious.

Something about this whole situation didn't sit right with him. This morning, he was ordered to check up on the tranquilized hedgehog. They claimed he was the only one able to control him if he went berserk. And in a state of panic, Shadow tried arguing that he wasn’t the ideal candidate to do so, not after what he did to him a couple days ago. The scientists merely waved him off, saying something he didn’t quite understand at the time.

“That’s not going to be a problem anymore.”

It was an ambiguous phrase. One that left a bitter taste in Shadow’s mouth.

“Hey—less thinking, more brushing!”

His racing thoughts came to a halt when an energetic voice cut through the air. Shadow looked down at the blue hedgehog sitting in front of him, then to the brush within his hand. He couldn’t recall how he got roped into doing this.

“I apologize. My mind was somewhere else for a moment.” Shadow continued detangling the cobalt blue quills.

“Hpmh.”

Shadow couldn’t help but quirk his lips at the absurdity of it all. He had never imagined, in all his existence, that he’d be combing another hedgehog’s quills. Something about the act itself—something so mundane—felt out of place, almost surreal. Each brush stroke had an unexpected weight to it. 

The blue hedgehog leaned his head back, allowing Shadow to notice his green eyes. “Is all the booger-goo gone?”

Shadow laughed lightly at the name. It was so dumb. “Yes, the slime has been cleared.”

The other jumped up in glee. “I’m booger-free!” He grinned widely, his excitement infectious. Then, with a sudden, pointed finger aimed at Shadow, he added, “Listen dude, don’t you ever get yourself stuck in there. I’d hate for you to have to experience the curse of slimy quills.” He proceeded to exaggerate a shiver.

The words hit Shadow harder than expected. A subtle cringe pulled at him, though he quickly masked it. 

Truthfully, he'd been in that tube plenty of times. More times than he wanted to count.

He simply nodded, his voice steady. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Alright, now it’s your turn!” 

Shadow blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “My turn..?” He looked at the smiling hedgehog, who was holding his hands out expectantly. 

The hedgehog rolled his eyes and snatched the brush from him. “C’mon, sit. Let me brush out your quills.”

Shadow paused, halfway wondering if he had heard wrong. But when he saw the resolute look in his eyes, Shadow sighed inwardly and walked towards the chair anyway. 

Upon taking a seat, he felt hands touching his quills with a steady deliberateness. Shadow’s breath hitched, and he couldn’t help but tense. He no longer allowed anyone, not even Maria, to groom his quills ever since a certain bloody incident occurred because of them.

“Wow,” The blue hedgehog murmured, after a few moments of brushing. “These are sharp. I mean, really sharp.”

Shadow winced at his words. “You don’t have to do this if you think it’ll be a danger.”

“Danger?” He scoffed, “You must not know, but danger is my middle name.” 

“Is it really?” Shadow’s voice became filled with genuine interest.

“W-Well I mean—not literally,” the hedgehog stumbled over his words.

Shadow’s ears drooped. “Oh.”

The two soon fell into a comfortable silence as one continued gently combing through the other’s quills. Shadow’s eyes were closed shut, trying his absolute best not to drift off to sleep at the rhythmic action. 

Why was he so affected by this?

He ought to be using this moment for clear thinking, for questions, not to let small distractions take over. Shadow, against the silent protest of every fiber in his being, opened his eyes and tilted his head back enough, to where he could see the blue hedgehog. What Shadow was met with was the most radiant smile he’d ever seen the hedgehog wear.

Shadow’s mind went blank.

“Shadow?” The other asked, his voice soft but concerned.

The black hedgehog quickly returned his head back to its original position. He couldn’t fight the warmth that rushed to his cheeks abruptly. “S-Sorry, you may continue.”

He heard a small giggle from behind him. “Got it, rockstar.”

God, that was not helping.

Shadow’s cheeks burned even more, and suddenly he was thankful that the blue hedgehog couldn’t see his face. He kept his eyes shut tightly, focusing on the simple rhythm of the brushing in an attempt to clear his mind.

The comfortable silence resumed for a while.

“So,” the blue hedgehog started, breaking the quiet with a tone that sounded unusually serious for him. “I’ve made up my mind about something.”

A shift in the conversation made Shadow pause, his stance becoming uncomfortably tense. "Made up your mind about what?"

There was a slight pause in the brushing, as if the blue hedgehog was considering his next words carefully. “About me.”

Shadow decided against saying anything, instead allowing the other to continue.

“As you know, my memories are gone. But the more I think about it, the more bizarre it seems.”

Shadow held his breath. Is it possible that he knows? Are his memories returning?

“Nobody here knows me," the blue hedgehog went on, a frown creeping into his voice. "So my attempt to flee must’ve meant I had a place to return to.”

Shadow felt the weight of the silence grow between them as the other hedgehog waited for his response. His mind was a blur, caught between the desire to push forward with the questions he had—questions that had been building since this strange situation began—and the unsettling feeling that maybe some truths were better left unsaid for now.

"So what will you do now?" Shadow’s voice was lower than usual, a quiet laced with caution.

The blue hedgehog’s brushing had slowed, and for a moment, Shadow could hear the uncertainty in his next words. “I’m gonna go home as soon as my memories return.”

“Home...” Shadow echoed.

“Yes.” The hedgehog’s voice sounded more firm this time. “I can be lighthearted, but I’m not naive. This place? It’s clear—it’s built on experimenting with beings like us.”

Shadow’s lips thinned at that. No lies could be detected there.

“And what if you get caught?” He asked.

The blue hedgehog carefully lifted Shadow’s quills upwards, guiding them in a smooth, flowing motion.

“Well, that’s where you come in,” the blue hedgehog said, his voice lighter, almost with a trace of excitement—like he hoped Shadow would agree.

Shadow mentally applauded the faith that the other hedgehog had placed unto him. But, to be brutally honest, all he wanted at that moment was to decline, purely in the hope that the hedgehog would stay by his side. Yet, despite that impulse, the events of the past few days gnawed at him, leaving him unsettled, uncertain about what was coming next.

Why did the personnel confidently assume that the blue hedgehog would be tame? 

Where was he trying to go so desperately that night? 

Will something catastrophic happen now that Shadow forced him to stay?

And most of all… was this place even safe for him?

He could have refused. He should have refused. But instead, he found himself wavering. His concern for the hedgehog's well-being outweighed his selfish desire to keep him there.

“Okay.” Shadow whispered after much inner turmoil.

“Okay? Are you serious? Yes! Thank you, thank you, I knew you'd be on my side!" The blue hedgehog cheered, leaping excitedly around him.

His excitement was almost overwhelming, his voice echoing through the sterile room as he bounced around like a pinball. Shadow watched him with a close eye, and felt the sudden urge to secure a good deal for himself despite this unfavorable assistance he had promised.

“But,” Shadow crossed his legs, “I want answers.”

The hedgehog’s enthusiasm died down, and the only thing left on his face was perplexity. “Answers?”

“Prior to losing your memories, you held the knowledge capable of answering my questions.”

“Really? So you just need me to answer your questions before leaving?”

Shadow hesitated for a moment before giving a curt nod, albeit reluctantly.

The hedgehog’s perplexed expression quickly melted into a wide, confident grin that Shadow was starting to get used to.

“Deal,” the other declared.

Before Shadow could respond, the hedgehog darted across the room with a burst of energy. Shadow’s eyes narrowed in confusion as he reappeared, holding a small, slightly scratched mirror.

With a triumphant grin, he placed the mirror in front of Shadow’s face and spoke smugly. “Take a look at how awesome you look, rockstar.”

Shadow stared at his reflection in the mirror, his crimson eyes tracing the sharp lines of his quills. They were smooth, sleek, and impeccably brushed. For a moment, he allowed himself to admire the work, feeling an odd sense of satisfaction. There was something almost therapeutic about the care that had been given to them—something he hadn’t realized he needed.

Shadow’s lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. “You did good.”

“Good? I did awesome. ” 

For once, Shadow didn’t feel burdened by the memories of what others had been through because of those quills.

“Fine, you did awesome.”

•••••••••••••••••••

The blue hedgehog sat on a pristine white bed, his legs dangling off the edge, kicking idly as the lab staff bustled around him. It was a far cry from the cramped, suffocating tube he had just escaped, and he couldn't help but relish the space, despite being surrounded by scientists who were looking at him like some kind of specimen. It took Shadow a hellish amount of convincing to get him here in the first place—he argued that it’d be safest to follow their instructions until his memories returned.

He lifted his gaze to the corner of the room, where Shadow stood currently, speaking to an older man. The hedgehog could vaguely feel it—like there was more to this than just a simple check-up. 

The conversation wasn’t exactly a whisper, but the hedgehog’s hearing—superior as it was—made the words crystal clear.

“Will he cooperate this time?” The old man’s voice was sharp, almost accusatory.

Shadow’s sigh was heavy with frustration. “You knew damn well he would cooperate this time, didn’t you?”

The man’s face twisted into something resembling a grimace. “Are you insinuating that I’m at fault here?”

“I’m insinuating that whoever gave you those orders made the wrong call.”

The blue hedgehog’s eyebrows lifted, intrigued by the sharpness in Shadow's tone. There was something deeper here—something about the way the older man flinched, something unspoken, that made him feel like he was missing a big piece of the puzzle. And he’d be damned if he didn’t get to the bottom of it.

The old man’s expression twisted for a moment before he let out a dry, humorless laugh. "If only you knew who made that call."

The words seemed to hang in the air, thick with a meaning Shadow wasn’t willing to unpack in that moment. His body went rigid, but he didn’t speak. The man walked off, leaving Shadow to eventually join the blue hedgehog at his side.

“You alright?” He curiously asked, eyeing Shadow as he came closer.

Shadow glanced over at him, his lips pulling into a faint smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "Yes, everything’s well," he said, sounding regretful.

Well that doesn’t answer much.

Before he could respond, the door opened, and the head doctor entered, followed by a small group of assistants. The doctor, an older man with wiry glasses perched on the edge of his nose, immediately turned his sharp gaze to the hedgehog. His clipboard was almost like a weapon, and the hedgehog could practically feel the clinical detachment radiating off him.

“I assume Project Shadow filled you in on what your future consultations require?” the doctor asked, his tone flat and businesslike.

The hedgehog grinned, his voice dripping with mock enthusiasm. “You betcha! Take all the little heartbeats you need.”

The doctor wasn’t amused. The air in the room thickened with expectation. “And you’ll cooperate this time, I presume?”

“Of course!” He chirped, throwing a mock salute. “Cross my heart.”

The whole room flinched at the phrase. The familiar words seemed to hit the scientists like a wave of discomfort which left the hedgehog confused.

The doctor sighed deeply, shifting his clipboard in his hands. “Okay then, let’s start by telling you your new handle.”

He perked up immediately. “Oooooh, yes, yes, give it to me!” he said, his voice dripping with exaggerated excitement.

The doctor didn’t so much as flinch at the hedgehog’s enthusiasm. "Project X," he said flatly. “It’s a name suited for an anomaly such as yourself.”

He blinked, staring at the man. The name hit him like a wet towel. Project X? That was it? Well, this was anticlimactic.

He quirked a brow. “I can’t tell if you’re being condescending or kind.”

The doctor’s expression remained impassive. “Take it as you will.”

He was about to shoot back with something snarky when he felt Shadow step in between them, his body a solid wall between the two. “It’s only temporary. Once you remember your real name, we’ll change it.”

A strange silence filled the room, heavy with the weight of those words. The lab coats exchanged glances, some of them looking uncertain. They were taken aback by his sudden intervention. The blue hedgehog could practically feel the weight of their eyes, the unspoken thoughts they shared.

A younger scientist piped up, her voice a little too high-pitched. “Of course… that’s just assuming he’d ever regain his memory—”

“He will.” Shadow’s words were firm and final.

The girl flinched, nodding slowly as if she had seen something terrifying in his eyes. A few other scientists exchanged nervous glances.

The blue hedgehog rolled his eyes. “Oh, come on. Stop staring at him like he’s some feral animal.”

Shadow looked over at him, eyes wide. There was some undisclosed look of appreciation shining from underneath. And a hint of a smile. It made him want to say it again, in hopes of seeing the rest of that smile. But he swallowed the urge and instead brought his attention back towards the lab group.

“So,” he cleared his throat. “Will that be all for your little science project today?”

A few grumbles rippled through the scientists, which, to his amusement, seemed to hit a nerve. Touch a sore spot, did I?

“Yes, that will be it for today. We’ll postpone the heart activities for next time.” the doctor confirmed, his voice tight with professionalism.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he jumped off the bed with ease. 

“But…” The doctor’s voice rose.

The hedgehog spun around to give the man a scrutinizing look, just daring him to continue. “But?” he echoed.

“You’ll need to complete a stress test before the end of the week,” the doctor said, his tone cold.

The blue hedgehog’s ears perked. “So just running?”

The doctor nodded. “Just running.”

He turned to look at Shadow, his mischievous grin widening. Without warning, the blue hedgehog dashed over in a blur of speed, his hand snatching Shadow's arm as he pulled it into a quick, spontaneous hug. Shadow’s muscles tensed at the sudden contact, but he didn’t pull away.

“Wouldn’t that be too easy to do by myself, though?”

The doctor crossed his arms, looking at the duo. “Your point, Project X?”

He rolled his eyes at the name but didn’t let it ruin the moment. “My point being, let the two of us race!”

“...”

For a beat, the room fell silent. All the scientists stared at him as though he’d grown a second head. 

He looked over to gauge Shadow’s reaction and boy, did it not disappoint. Shadow’s lips held a wide grin. The rare smile only spurred him on.

“Come on! Wouldn’t it be useful for your research? Let’s see which one of us is faster!”

The doctor hesitated, but only for a moment, as if the idea had wormed its way into his brain. He seemed to reconsider, his lips tightening. “Alright,” he said at last, his tone still weary, but less certain. He waved the others out of the room. “Let’s do that.”

The moment the staff left the room, the hedgehog was on his feet, practically bouncing with energy. “Yes!” he cheered, throwing his arms into the air in victory.

Before Shadow could react, the other had grabbed both of the black hedgehog’s hands and began spinning them around in a dizzying circle. Shadow didn’t look like he quite knew what he was doing, which made the blue hedgehog smile even harder.

“Don’t expect me to go easy on you, rockstar,” He teased.

But Shadow didn’t look like he was entirely caught off guard either. In a flash, he grabbed the hedgehog’s forearms and stopped the spinning entirely, pulling them both to a halt. 

He blinked, disoriented by the sudden stop.

When his vision cleared, he was staring up at Shadow, who looked down at him with a faint, cocky smile. 

“I wouldn’t dream of it, hedgehog,” he said, voice low, the teasing edge of it sending a shiver down the hedgehog’s spine.

Shadow spoke again, his voice suddenly lighter.

“Come on, I have someone I want you to meet.”

The other raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

•••••••••••••••••••

The two were now standing in front of a door, which was monstrously painted pink. And you know what, he kinda digged it. Color dedication was a hard thing to find these days.

As they waited, the blue hedgehog's ear twitched at the faint sound of a door handle jiggle. A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing the source of all that pink.

“Maria,” Shadow said, his voice soft with something like fondness.

A bright, welcoming smile spread across the girl's face as she swung the door wider. And when he caught a glimpse of her bedroom, his eyes widened. Everything in there was pink.

 “Shadow!” Maria greeted warmly, her face lighting up at the sight of the black hedgehog. But then her gaze shifted, landing on the blue one. Her eyes went wide, her jaw dropping slightly.

“Oh my goodness, you’re that hedgehog!” she gasped, her hands flying to her face in shock. “It’s so nice to meet you!” She practically bounced on her heels, a mix of excitement and disbelief in her voice.

He chuckled, slightly embarrassed by the incredibly affectionate greeting. It was the first genuine one he’d received since waking up inside that tube. “Likewise. It’s nice to meet you.” he gave a little wave.

He peeked his head inside the room, trying to catch a glimpse of some more pink decor. “And can I just say, your bedroom is awesome !” His tone was playful, but genuine.

Maria’s smile widened at that. “Thank you! I mean—everything’s gotta match, right?” She walked in more, allowing both hedgehogs enough space to enter. “Come on in, we can all hang out.”

Shadow intercepted. “Thank you, Maria, but I have a matter to finish first. I’ll return as soon as it’s over.” He signaled to the blue hedgehog. “I figured he could perhaps keep you company while I’m gone.”

Maria clapped her hands enthusiastically. “Certainly! We’re gonna have lots of fun. See you soon, Shadow.”

The black hedgehog gave a small nod to the both of them before leaving.

The blue hedgehog watched, wide-eyed, as Shadow’s form flickered for a brief moment before vanishing entirely with a soft, crackling sound. The air seemed to ripple in his absence. He blinked, then turned back to Maria, his expression one of complete surprise.

“Whoa!” he exclaimed, still processing what just happened. “He never told me about that!”

Maria chuckled, a lighthearted sound that filled the room. “He’s got a lot of secrets, doesn’t he?” She shot him a teasing glance. “But don’t worry, he’s not one to boast about his skills.”

“Yeah, no kidding. I challenged him to a future race without knowing that.” Regretful thoughts began forming in his mind. “I’m gonna get crushed…” he mumbled.

The girl collapsed on the bed in a fit of giggles. “I’m glad you did. Shadow needs some friendly competition.” She patted the empty space beside her.

The hedgehog noticed this, and stepped closer. He carefully lowered himself onto the corner of the bed, though his posture was casual, with one leg hanging off the side.

“But why?” he asked, a touch of curiosity in his voice. “Hasn’t he met enough competition?”

Maria shifted her position slightly, turning so that she could comfortably rest her head on her arms. Her eyes softened, and she took a moment before answering. “You’re the only other being like him he’s ever seen,” she said, her voice quieter, more thoughtful. “In all the time I’ve known him, you’re the first one that’s even come close to what he is.” Her eyes grew distant for a second, as if lost in thought. “Trust me, it was a real shock when we first saw you.”

He couldn’t help the throbbing of his head as he felt like he remembered something vaguely. “I’m pretty sure I’ve met others like me though…”

The girl paused. “Are you saying that you and Shadow aren’t the only ones?”

“Mm,” his head was killing him. “That may be the case? The details are too fuzzy for me to give a precise answer. I still can’t even remember my own name.” 

“Don’t push yourself then. It’ll come back to you eventually.” The girl patted his back.

“I’m sorry, I wish I could be more helpful at the moment.” 

“Don’t say that. You being here is already plenty helpful.”  

He gazed up at the girl and smiled appreciatively. “Thanks, Maria.”

Her eyes sparkled at the use of her name. “Say… do you like movies?”

A devilish grin appeared on his face. "I love movies. Got any with Keanu Reeves?”

She gave a small, confused shake of her head. “Not that I know of, who’s that?”

The hedgehog paused. “You know… I’m not really sure.”

•••••••••••••••••••

A door creaked open, the sound echoing through the dimly lit room.. The flickering fluorescent lights above cast long, uneven shadows across the cold, sterile floor.

Shadow stepped into the room, his boots making a sharp click against the concrete floor. His eyes scanned the surroundings, quickly settling on the figure behind the desk, before fixing his gaze forward, steady, unreadable.

“I was ordered to go talk to the blue hedgehog this morning,” he said, breaking the silence.

A figure, hunched over a cluttered desk, didn’t look up. The only movement was the slow, deliberate tightening of a screw with a small wrench as he carefully examined the machinery in front of him. The air hummed with the low buzz of machinery.

“Is that so?” The voice, silky and calm, belonged to a man cloaked in the shadows of the room. “How’d it go?”

The hedgehog stiffened, his gaze flickering toward the figure, but he said nothing for a moment, as though weighing his words carefully. Finally, he spoke, his voice tight. “It seems his memories have disappeared.”

“Oh my,” the Professor responded, his tone oddly polite. “Well, that’s certainly uncalled for.” His eyes never left the piece of machinery in front of him, but the faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Shadow’s gaze narrowed as he took a step forward, his boots echoing on the cold floor. “Professor, do you know anything about this?”

The Professor’s fingers paused, but he didn’t look up. The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken tension. His next words came slowly, with an almost eerie detachment. “About the order you were given this morning? I’m afraid I don’t. I only dabble in decision-making when it’s for science.”

Shadow’s eyes glinted with suspicion, and he took a single step closer, the room feeling smaller with each movement. He leaned in slightly, his voice lowered, almost a whisper. “Professor… I believe you know what I’m really talking about.”

There was a flicker of something in the Professor’s eyes—something cold and calculating. He lifted his head slowly, the faint light catching the sharp angles of his face, turning his expression into something unnervingly neutral. He met Shadow’s gaze with unnerving calm, his eyes glinting in the shadows.

A dangerous quiet followed. “What is it that you think you understand, Project Shadow?” His voice was sharper now, colder, the weight of those words hanging heavily in the air.

Shadow flinched. The name "Project Shadow" felt like a jagged knife cutting into him. The professor rarely, if ever, used his experimental name.

He fought the urge to step back, to retreat, but the tension in the room was suffocating. He forced himself to take a shallow breath.

“Nevermind, Professor.” His voice was quieter now, more composed, though still thick with a subtle undercurrent of defiance. He backed away, mostly because he had just received confirmation of his suspicions, albeit indirectly.

The room seemed to exhale in his wake, the hum of the machinery growing louder as he reached for the door handle. But before he stepped through, he glanced over his shoulder once more.

“Have a good rest of your night,” Shadow said. 

The Professor didn’t reply. He simply watched as the door creaked shut behind the hedgehog, the faint echo of it reverberating through the quiet room.

The silence that followed was oppressive, like a storm on the horizon.