Chapter Text
They say hedgehogs are very energetic, understandably so. Shadow the Hedgehog, the weapon of the past is a quick and flawless slash of darkness, one you wouldn’t even see coming until it has already hit you; Sonic the Hedgehog is the blue blur from the present, whose super speed and uplifting carefree behavior manages to give smiles despite how chaotic things may seem; then there was Silver…
Silver was about to hibernate, saving his own timeline was no easy feat and he is on the verge of passing out as soon as his boots touched the grass beneath the open time portal. His tired groan was audible to the animals in the forest right behind him.
Hedgehogs are energetic creatures but some have lazier personalities or have to distribute their power in other ways. That was very much the case for our snowy hero from the future, who after waking up to another crumbling future, had to travel back in time and find the root of the problem. Once again, Eggman was causing issues. Silver would have to stop the doctor just for some semblance of normality.
Not that he was upset about it. He is always happy to come back to the friends he had made from the past.
Were it not for that, he wouldn’t have met the only people he has left in his own time.
BeepBeep! BeepBeep!
The time traveler’s communicator started making noise, forcing the exhausted hero to let out a tired sigh. The peaceful ambience the outskirts of the city provides was now interrupted by his own technology. Silver starts towards the city; that walk quickly becomes a flight, barely gracing the grass with the edge of his boots. As the ray of blue light went towards the cement jungle, he tapped onto his communicator with curiosity.
The floating hologram inbox displayed in front of his golden eyes, just one chat shows a notification.
Shadow:
Call me when you are back. I found something interesting.
“That's.. odd.” - The future's hero said to himself upon reading the message. He wondered if something of his last visit to the past went wrong or if he provoked something in his own time on a much minor scale.
But he wasn't immediate with that call as the ebony asked from him. Rather, Silver took a deep breath and carried himself with fatigue as he approached the city, thinking about what happened on his mission back in time.
When he woke up days ago, his world was slowly shattering as it seemed to open rifts direct to a digital space. The city's inhabitants had been replaced by machines and robots, and the whole place drowned in a shade of blue close to the one from the very skies. Somehow, that light carefree shade of cyan became threatening that morning.
So naturally, he came back to the past.
Sonic's friends and team weren't fighting anything just yet, and Silver was thankful for that as he was able to update them on what he saw in the future. But soon enough the threat he was there to neutralize presented itself.
Sage, with the guidance of her creator Robotnik, took partial control over Metal Sonic and once again he turned Neo, this time his Overlord form was being used as a lethal weapon to take down a city and the Sonic team.
This time around when comparing it to tales from Sonic, Metal was far more ruthless, controlled by Sage's own code the artificial siblings seemed sure to reign over the world in the name of their twisted Father. The snowy hedgehog couldn't help but be annoyed during the fight seeing how Eggman reduced himself to insulting everyone going against his creations, and floating around in his egg mobile.
How can this pathetic excuse of a genius put his world in danger at least once per month?
Neo was going insane; Even while being super, Sonic could only focus on Tails being injured due to one of Neo’s attacks, Knuckles and Amy destroyed missiles along the way and shielded any innocent civilians caught up in the wreck happening in the middle of the city; There was only Shadow and him left to handle Neo.
“No one of you will stop the empire from being built. Surrender! For we have won, we have you where we want you puny rats! It will only be a matter of time before we eradicate our brand new and shiny kingdom from YOUR kind, you PESTS!” - Overlord cursed into the air, spinning with harsh and erratic movements as he swiped both Shadow and Silver through the air, making both heroes crash into a nearby building.
Silver coughed up a few droplets of blood as he hit the wall, grunting loudly as his limbs screamed at him to stop. This fight wasn’t nearly over and he knew it, but right at that moment, the indented concrete felt way too good to get up. He was simply tired, tired of this cycle, tired of Eggman, tired of saving his world…
But it is his only purpose, and he has to be there to fulfil it, right?
Golden eyes reflected Overlord’s head, as between his open maws there was a deathly laser charging from the very back of his throat, taking advantage of an immobilized Shadow and a worn down Silver.
He sighed with annoyance, noticing how the ebony had passed out finally after a long fight.
Right.
“Ohohoh!~ At long last! I will finally get rid of all of you little pests, and my empire will FINALLY thrive over your dead bodies! It’s a shame you won’t even be able to go back into the future to witness my greatness, future boy!” - Eggman rolled over his own achievements like a pig in mud, that sadistic belly laugh making the young hero’s heart ache with hate. The sour man could only feel shivers of excitement at how much hateful looks he was getting from the animals he fought for so long by now, and could almost shed a tear to it; but finally, decided to let the fight end. - “Go ahead, children. I must go ahead and revisit all the blueprints for our new empire! Make sure to leave the blue rat alive for myself..”
“Yes, Father.” - Both Sage’s and Overlord’s voices echoed through the buildings, while the blinding ball of light within the metallic demon’s throat grew bigger and bigger.
Silver’s eyes tried so hard to focus, and when they finally could, they opened wide with fear, as he could clearly see how the sadistic machine was ready to end both him and the onyx hedgehog on the very spot.
“Aw Gaia- IT’S NO USE!” - The porcelain mobian yelled, using one last effort impulsed by frustration to freeze Overlord in place with both of his hands extended out, trembling by the effort needed.
Overlord snarled, a twisted sickening laugh roaring through his throat. - “HAHAH! It would be no use for you, future boy! Nor Chaos control, nor your powers, nor ANYBODY CAN STOP ME NOW! NOT EVEN SONIC, For I am the end of ALL OF YOU, THE REAL SONIC!-”
“Do you two even realize what’s happening?!”
Everyone almost broke their necks turning to look at the sterling hedgehog in bewilderment.
He had unstuck himself from the dented building, some of his quills shining through the cracks they got jammed in as they were ripped off in Silver’s wake. He held neither an angry nor a hateful look. No, rather, a look that made Overlord pause and shake with even more fury and a new feeling, one that Sage knew too well.
“..What are you implying, hedgehog?” - The girl asked from within metal’s distorted body, pushing her brother’s voice to the side as the giant machine shook with unbalance, both AIs within it having enough small differences between their wishes.
While Sage only cared for satisfying her father's wishes, Metal was already enraged enough with being pushed around and used like a puppet for this plan. Even if it was in the best interest of Eggman, or even if it was a direct order his program couldn't avoid but complete or attempt to complete it…
Metal attempted a breakthrough to just scream at the snowy hero, but it was to no avail as Sage blocked any aggressive or non efficient actions. If he could, he would surely snarl at her.
This was humiliating.
Oh how much the little metallic faker wanted to scream, to defy his sister's control to be a rebel like the very first time he became Neo. He wanted not to honor Ivo anymore, he wanted to destroy him. He wanted to kill- kill Sonic, kill Shadow, kill their friends, kill Robotnik for every moment of shame he ever endured- And with that, he would be the only one.
The only Sonic, the true Sonic. The only Hero, the only-
“Are you going to be weapons forever? Are you two just going to allow your creator to dictate your future?!” - The dreamer’s voice came first with an empathetic tone similar in softness to his current look; then coming to a desperate, sad scream.
Silence drowned the streets of the city, as both teams contemplated the hedgehog’s words.
And like so, the blast that was shining a threatening light within Overlord's throat came slowly to an end, as shadows overtook the dragon-like beast's jaws. Silver stuttered but ultimately, decided to focus his energy on being suspended mid air, as the cyan light holding Overlord Metal in place dissipated into the very air.
Sage and Metal contemplated for a couple seconds. Enough so, that Silver took on the opportunity to keep talking.
“You two are made to think! To feel! I know from seeing and fighting you both you are no brainless egg-pawn. I know you've been made to fight Sonic, to fight us but… is this really all there is? In my time, nobody remembers Robotnik. Nobody.”
“What is in it for you to be on the losing side instead of trying to make a good change?”
“The Eggman Empire is a good change.” - Sage protested, while the metallic beast’s body shook progressively more and more, eyes switching between sky blue and red every so often. - “You are just the reason why it hasn't been established. We are just doing the reasonable thing and getting our only obstacle out of t-thE–”
Overlord shuddered intensely in the middle of Sage's words, glitching and shutting down momentarily as the glitchy voice of the girl faded into obscurity. The team looked at the demon, dumbfounded stares witnessing how big clouds of steam emanated from its vents and mouth.
Was… Was that really it…?
Silver turned to look at the team, then back up to the sleeping creature. He sighed with resignation, wishing he got the opportunity to say more.
He flew away, carefully helping lower Shadow's body to the ground using his powers, already assuming the win.
Then the others noticed how Overlord's eyes lit up once again, this time, fully red.
“SILVER!-” - Amy screamed out, but her voice was slower than the hateful robot.
A cold giant hand, with big chunks of teared buildings still sliding off from it flew directly into the pearled hero. His scream and grunts made everyone worry as the metallic claws wrapped around his body, bringing him up close to Overlord's face as hell itself looked into golden irises, as code and the consciousness of the machine were burning with frustration.
“You don't know anything. WE are not made for ANYTHING else. We have no escape, no option, no other mission; and as machines we will fulfill our only mission. There's no avoiding it, you foolish little rat.” - Metal spoke with that deep, hateful tone of his.
Yet Silver's eyes reflected.. sympathy.
Even if his friend's faker was speaking with pure unfiltered hate, something else shone through his artificial voice. Something more organic.
Something more… alive.
But he wasted no time in trying to escape, as his expression twisted into aggression, the future's hero shifted his eyes towards the ground, where the chunks of cement and metal that slid off the demon's hands laid down. Sky blue lights wrapped all of the rumble as Silver sent it directly into the machine's face.
Metal roared in pain as he was taken aback, being forced back a bit as he let go of his hold on Silver, who took the opportunity to be back in the air by his own hand, flying far from the machine.
Bit by bit, what was left of broken buildings came to wrap around Overlord tightly, making any effort of breaking free futile as the snowy mobian sweated and grunted trying to keep his powers at their max.
“G-ghh… I-In the future, it is said you disappear a-after breaking free from Ivo…”
Overlord stopped moving, frozen by what he heard, giving the hedgehog the opportunity to seal him up.
Golden eyes hid behind grey-ish lids, and as they were revealed again, only white was left shining in the hero's eyes. A soft tail of light swishing at the edge of each of his eyes, while fully focusing even the tiniest fiber of his body.
For those few moments, Metal's systems failed for some seconds while looking at the hero containing him, somehow unable to keep hold of his unyielding hate.
Silver's eyes seemed to suddenly be replaced by burning stars.
They were… pretty.
“There's a chance to be more than a mediocre weapon. You can think therefore, you could feel.”
“You are more.”
Shivers ran up Silver's spine, almost hearing the crashing sounds of metal and wires being crushed to dust. He had completely zoned out remembering his fight, and upon refocusing his eyes, he was already at the center of the city.
The telekinetic hog stood right beside the statue in honor of Sonic, built even before he was born. He stared up at that smug expression; it’s bright and confident smile perfectly caught on marble stone.
He snickered, thinking how he tried to play it cool after crying over Tails having a broken arm thanks to eggman. Silver got scared for a second back there as for once, it seemed like the blue blur was about to assassinate Ivo. Thankfully, the fracture wasn't even total, so the speedster was kept at bay.
“Ya think that he listened, Sonic?” - He muttered looking up at the statue, studying its frame. Then a snicker charmed the air, as golden irises shifted. A hint of sorrow in his gaze. - “Heh.. figured.”
He inhaled sharply, releasing the air gently as thoughts ran over and over and over in his headspace.
Lungs giving out, body tired, wounds barely healing.
Yeah, Silver needed a rest.
A hand came to his quills, feeling for the hedgehog's flip phone until he finally found it. Of course he could use his communicator integrated within his inhibitors, but after all it was simply linked to the phone so, it was more reliable to use that directly.
And, well, he liked doing that little thing where he swiftly opened it with just a quick movement of his hand. He smiled smugly as he did so.
After clicking the numbers in, the charms rang as the snowy hog put the flip phone to his ear, and took flight.
“Hey Shadow! I got back some minutes ago, Whatcha find?” - Silver's voice was heard as soon as the ebony legend picked up the phone.
Shadow sighed on the other side of the line, relief washing over him. - “You sure took your time.”
“Needed to, You almost lost back then.” - The younger hog teased, making his role model audibly roll his eyes.
“Don't even start, Silver.” - He snarled, holding back a chuckle. However, quickly his tone shifted to his usual seriousness. - “I found something interesting today, as I said in the message. I was messing around with Omega on one of GUN’s abandoned safe storage units in search of anything related to Ivo and, you can't even fathom what we got here.”
“So? Don't leave me hanging, tell me tell me!”
“I… rather you come here. It's a bit much, Silver.” - The ultimate lifeform said with that tone Silver hated; every time he used that tone, it meant whatever was said it's final.
“A bit much?” - He asked, stopping in his tracks mid air, suspended in the airspace just between the tallest buildings in the city as he held onto his phone.
“Just… come. I'll leave the window open, I suppose you're flying. See you in a bit, Silv.”
“Wait, but–”
As he protested, the obsidian hedgehog had already cut the call off.
Silver stared at his phone's screen for a couple of seconds with incredulity, before he sighed, completely annoyed, stuffing the flip phone back between his quills after a satisfying “clap!” as it was shut.
“I so hate when he's trying to be mysterious…” - He uttered, before shooting himself forward, flying directly in the direction of Shadow's apartment.
. . .
The pearly white hedgehog finally landed on a soft carpeted floor; his boots thumping gently as the sound of a plastic bag also alarmed the ebony hedgehog of Silver's presence.
But somebody else was waiting too.
“Hey Shads! I'm here! I'm sorry I took a bit, I decided to take a quick visit to Rose's and bring you some cak– HOLY SHIT–”
Red eyes made up of led lights looked up, as robotic systems chirped in acknowledgement with that menacing grumble all teams know all too well. The plastic bag with sweets dropped to the floor, as the future's hero extended his hands wide open, assuming his fighting stance.
“Metal! What are you doing here? Where is Shadow??”
With the question lingering, all that the machine did was point at Silver, locking it's red pupils with golden ones; ones that stared in confusion at the gesture.
“I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't try to pick a fight in my living room.” - The ebony's voice echoed right behind Silver, making the snowy one jump as his quills stood on end; now Metal's answer acquired all the sense it lacked in Silver's mind seconds ago.
As the heroes had their own shenanigans, Metal's hand came down, back on his rusty legs.
His eyes only remained on Silver. Seeking for any key to open that blurry memory, that flash of bright stars on the dangerous cloud from the future; a flash so bright that he couldn't even give him the same fighting spirit and sassy attitude that he offered freely to Shadow.
The machine then turned its head, looking at itself, at its hands.
Metal only realized how much time had passed since that memory after Shadow finished connecting him to the internet. It felt... unreal.
“180 years inactive.. and he's still functional?” - Silver's voice questioned, in a shy coy murmur.
“Not only that.” - Shadow started, guiding him through the apartment towards the coffee table in the center of the living room. There, awaited a Tablet with the screen full of data synced to the robot. - “It seems the moment he faced Sonic’s passing, he no longer had an objective and turned almost completely neutral, passive even.”
Silver blinked once, then twice. Now he definitely was confused.
“But- How?? Was he not designed to still be aggressive after that too??”
Shadow looked at the psychokinetic hedgehog, then sighed. Honestly that was a question that he asked himself, but no amount of digging satiated his questions; he knew if his own questions weren't answered, Silver's would only multiply.
“That's something I question myself too. There's really no hint if his aggressive behaviour was even tied to replacing Sonic. Seems like violence was Robotnik’s influence.” - He spoke with a somber tone, once again like he has done a million times already looking through every piece of data he could find in the copy he had made of Metal's systems.
Silver's face contorted with sadness, as his chest ached for the machine. In that moment he finally acknowledged just how painfully right his conjectures about the artificial being were.
Golden eyes raised their gaze, and landed on an extended metallic hand.
Shadow hadn't noticed as he was entranced in another search through the files he copied from the robotic hedgehog, but Silver stared back and forth a few times, seeing how persistent Metal was in trying to reach for the tablet.
The snowy hero's breath cut sharply upon noticing the machine's intentions, and with a swift movement of his finger he gave the tablet to it.
“Hey- what's the big idea?-”
“Sh!” - Silver hushed the older hog immediately, approaching Metal curiously to sit on his side, watching his actions. White ears flapping with each harsh tap produced by Metal's claws. - “I think he might have the answers, after all he's the one who went through everything… And if not, he definitely has something to say.”
The obsidian hero was left speechless, staring blankly at the younger hedgehog who was already distracted staring at the tablet, helping the machine whenever the screen failed to recognize input.
Cogs turned one by one in Shadow's mind, until finally the silence was broken by a snort. Silver's head spun immediately, not knowing what the broody one was chuckling about, but he sure as hell was already offended.
“What?”
“Oh, nothing really. It's just funny whenever you surpass me… Even if it's just occasionally. And out of combat.” - Shadow gave out a smug expression, one that caught both Silver's and Metal's attention.
“Ohoh, You wanna get there now? Mind you I took that kick to the head like a champ! You know I could bend you if I wanted to.”
“I agree with Silver. Your capabilities may be many but - focused enough - You're no challenge.”
“Exactly!... Wait-”
Silver turned astonished, just realizing the robotic voice that supported his position sounded similar. Alas, Metal was looking right at him, quiet and still; but upon looking at the screen on the tablet he somehow had already switched tabs and had a text to speech tool open.
Metal felt a sudden electric charge run up his artificial spine as, for what was a mere second, he saw those stars from the past glow deep in the snowy one's eyes.
“Well that's interesting.. “ - Shadow commented with a raised brow upon the robot's action, rather than its actual words.
“Were you not aware of your own limits? That's the interesting topic here.” - Metal angrily replied using the text to speech tool, his claws tapping against the screen while he gave the dark hedgehog a glare. All Shadow really managed to get out, was a light growl at the machine.
“What’s actually interesting to me, it’s the fact you aren’t attacking… rather you seem quite calm, and even are engaging in conversation. I’d believe it if you were to tell me you aren’t the Metal I know and hate.” - The ebony one finally replied.
Silver noticed how the machine was tensing up, metallic claws threatening to crack the tablet at any second now and swallowed. He’d better change the topic fast or Shadow would definitely sell out the robotic hedgehog for a new one.
And.. well, he had his own question to ask.
“Metal?” - He started, a bit nervous when the robot’s head turned immediately to him. - “Before you try to punch Shadow’s teeth in- may I ask something?”
“Are you encouraging him to fight me??” - The charcoal hog hissed, gaining a furious look that effortlessly said “SHUT UP” from his pale friend.
“What is it? Your question.” - Metal cut the tension without a care in the world, looking directly at the younger hedgehog in that room with curiosity; although hard to notice through the LDS making up his eyes.
Silver fidgeted.. he was scared shitless about the possibility of his question aggravating the bot. Yet his curiosity was the one thing that could lead him towards danger, or towards victory.
“Well I mean.. If Sonic’s dead and, Ivo as well..
Why are you still active?”
Metal looked down at himself, at the tablet in between his cold metallic hands.
He didn’t know the answer to that… He knew that, when he became conscious again after robotnik’s death, he and Sage parted ways but still kept in contact, keeping the eggnet alive by themselves. Metal knew he remembered that very moment he saw stars themselves beating him up and, he wished to reach them again; this time he wished to understand, to embrace the stars and let himself be blinded because it was.. new.
A few taps filled the silence, while both ruby and golden eyes stared patiently, before being presented with an answer.
“I wish to learn who I am.” - The robotic voice said, while metal’s “eyes” averted any glares coming his way.
“..Did you lose your memory? You’re, Metal after all- Sonic’s metallic faker, a menace and quite the weapon.” - Shadow said, before turning to Silver, who was deep in thought. Somehow the obsidian hero felt jealousy of how quickly the snowy one seemed to grasp what the machine meant.
To Metal it wasn’t a surprise. Studying his enemies was an important task back then and, Silver more than anyone would get it… He hoped he would get it.
“..You don’t want to be that anymore, do you?” - Silver asked, his voice filled to the brim with empathy that years ago, it would’ve been received with hostility. Now the machine only felt a sorrow he couldn’t even put into words. - “You don’t want to be a weapon?”
He nodded, quietly.
Both hedgehogs stood quiet, not really knowing how to react. Silver raised his gaze at Shadow.. he himself hadn’t fought much with Metal and expected some sort of guidance from the broody hedgehog. Not much came, as Shadow raised his gaze as well with confusion plaguing his mind; he knew the machine for being hateful, spiteful, a distasteful and cruel copy of his now diseased husband. A moment in their lives where their biggest annoyance in the past came back only to learn to be alive was the least expected thing, there is… really no way to solve this.
Maybe they could… get rid of Metal…?
It was cruel, given his apparent turn around… but nothing really could assure them he wouldn’t be the sole reason Eggman’s influence on the world came back, or even worse, that he and Sage, wherever she was, could bring back the empire. Stronger and meaner than ever.
There was only one question left to ask, or at least one coming from Shadow.
“How do you feel about Robotnik? What he used and built you for?” - He asked, as he could see Silver nervously break a sweat as they watched the machine think and type.
“ H A T E . ”
He didn’t even trigger the robotic voice to speak for him, Metal just turned the screen, his hands trembling as his visors no longer displayed some semblance of pupils; and just as both hedgehogs finished reading, claws dug into the screen eerily slow, before smashing the tablet between Metal Sonic’s hands, turning into useless scraps.
Metal was still shaken, almost mimicking heavy breathing as he stared down to the glass under his feet. Hands shut tightly.
If he could destroy himself, any trace of Eggman’s brilliance for being the very stain on this world, He would.
In fact, it would be better… to tempt the heroes in front of him and die alongside his miserable creator.
“Well then-” - SIlver’s voice broke the awkward silence, as he stood up from the couch. - “That about sums it up… clearly there’s no catch. I’ll take care of him.”
“Wh- Are you nuts??” - Shadow stood up as well, way more concerned and stressed out than the snowy hog. - “He might as well be lying… I know better than anyone that redemption is possible- but I was merely tricked. Metal Sonic is a direct extension of Robotnik’s legacy, we don’t know if he really means what he says.”
Silver stared at Metal as his head was full of doubts and questions. If Shadow had one thing right, it was that… there was really no way of knowing if Metal was telling the truth, or if it was a mere scheme.
He knew, however, that someone else also fought for this very outcome.
“What would Sonic say?”
Shadow froze.
His ears lowered, and his posture straightened up; he hated how since Silver had the upper hand of time traveling, he really knew much about them. About Him.
There was no blame, he thought as he exhaled pinching his brows. That faker could really leave a good ever lasting print of his paw on anyone.
“... At least let me keep a copy of his memories since activation.”
“Do you agree with those terms, Metal?” - The time traveller turned to the machine, who only stared between both hedgehogs in silence as he thought about it.
A nod was all it took before Shadow smiled softly, and Silver gave a fond expression of happiness.
“Also you are buying me a new tablet. It was new.”
Silver sighed. - “Yeaaah I knowww…”