Chapter Text
It’s been several months since peace had firmly returned to the world.
During the day, a clean golden light shines over the Green Mountains, as if they had never been touched by chaos or destruction. The rolling hills, covered in fresh grass and damp soil, hum with the buzz of tiny insects — and little Chao ready to rest in their tiny nests.
All of it bore witness to a peaceful era no one dared to question.
The cobalt blur, as always, takes advantage of the sunset to race across the world, stopping every now and then to soak in how Green Hill has evolved since it was reduced to ashes by the evil Dr. Eggman.
But that evening... the air felt different.
Even though no anomaly could be seen, only the golden light of dusk gave the ruins of Green Hill a cruel, vivid scene. The lanterns of the nearby village — almost swallowed by the night — glowed brighter and brighter.
The moon hung like a lone lantern in the dark sky, bathing the green mountains in a pale light. Shadows between the trees grew longer, and the floating platforms almost creaked under the weight of the wind.
Sonic stopped at the top of a mountain and gazed at the landscape around him, feeling a strange emptiness in his chest.
Shadow.
He hadn’t seen him since the last battle.
Everyone thought he was missing... or dead.
Even Sonic wanted to believe the darker version of the story — so he wouldn’t have to hold onto hollow hope that Shadow might still be alive.
But deep down, way deep down, he couldn’t let go of that faint spark of belief.
A part of him knew the black hedgehog was still out there, somewhere.
Something told him he wasn’t wrong.
A faint whisper — just the brush of air behind him — made him tense up.
That wasn’t the wind.
This was a presence.
Something made his quills stand on end, his body immediately on alert as he sprang up and took a fighting stance.
—Who’s there? —he asked, spinning around, scanning the dense forest that surrounded him. Sonic’s heart was suddenly pounding in his chest.
From the shadows, a silhouette emerged — one that seemed made of the night itself.
Black fur that swallowed the moonlight, and crimson eyes glowing like embers, betraying fury before a single word was spoken.
—You shouldn’t have come here —Shadow said, his voice low, shadowed, almost pained.
Sonic froze. For a moment, he thought he was dreaming.
He rubbed his bright green eyes with his hands, staring at the figure before him — unable to hide the flash of emotion, the disbelief twisting his expression.
His mind reeled. Just seconds ago, he’d been thinking about the black hedgehog... he could’ve sworn he’d summoned him.
—Shadow…! You’re alive!
The black hedgehog took a step back, avoiding Sonic’s attempt to approach him.
He wasn’t wearing his communicator, nor his light combat armor — only a black stealth uniform with the G.U.N. insignia faintly hidden on the shoulder pad.
His gloves were stained with dirt… and something else.
Burn marks?