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snowyowlkonnen · 4 years ago

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Sonic x Shadow – Cover Story

(Translator notes: These translations are done by me. I am not fluent in Japanese, but I do speak and know the language well enough. I do my best, so any constructive criticism is appreciated. I hope Sonic fans really enjoy this story with the Ultimate Life Form!)

“Mission Street” is a trendy place for businesses and local shopping. The full moon filled the starry sky and on the roof of the store, there was the figure of Sonic looking up at the night sky.

He came here tonight to see a small celestial view.

Per the norm, Sonic had shown up too early. He decided to watch the hustle and bustle on the busy streets below. –Suddenly, he saw a black hedgehog fighting over something in a back alley. It was Shadow!

Shadow is one of Sonic’s most formidable opponents as he can match Sonic in almost every way.

He isn’t necessarily evil, but his cold-hearted nature and stoic personality sometimes entails a sense of danger that pits him against Sonic.

Why is Shadow here?

Sonic felt something was suspicious and jumped down to land in front of Shadow.

There was the wreckage of the military reconnaissance drone known as a “GUN Beetle.” It was destroyed to bits with black smoke and sparks flying out of it. It was very unusual.

Sonic looked on, knowing what Shadow had done.

“Hey, Shadow. Looks like you’re having fun!”

“This has nothing to do with you. Leave me be.”

Shadow disappeared into the darkness the moment he answered the question. Sonic wasn’t far behind. A high-speed chase unfolded as they ran in and out of Mission Street.

They jumped over the roof of a building and ran across the wall. They exchanged some attacks while in the air as they crossed at high speeds in a tunnel. Shadow’s back kick came out at lightning-fast speeds and Sonic had to throw up his arms to block it.

(Am I able to stop it…?)

(Maybe I can just avoid it…)

After a brief struggle, Shadow made some distance and jumped away. He opened his mouth furiously.

“Why are you following me!?”

“I don’t wanna be blamed again for when you do something wrong!”

“Hmph, aren’t you being overly self-conscious? There’s no time for games. I’ll be leaving now.”

Shadow pulled out a flickering stone and Sonic knew… it was a Chaos Emerald.

“Wait! Hold on!”

“Chaos Control!”

A flashing light shined for a moment and when it stopped, Shadow disappeared from where he was standing.

“Chaos Control” …. Shadow’s special ability. He can use the power of the Chaos Emeralds to distort time and space.

It seemed like Shadow was tired from the previous battle. He pulled off that move with the Chaos Emerald, but it was not in good shape. Sonic, now all alone, looked up to the night sky.

“Shadow…”

–A few minutes later. –

Behind the main road, Shadow was rushing towards an unnaturally large bank. He didn’t make a sound as he created the wreckage of a newly destroyed GUN Beetle right by his feet.

“Hmph, here it is. No doubt.”

Shadow continued to destroy the armored GUN Beetles that appeared from the back of the bank and he made it to the vault on the second floor. He destroyed any guards that fought back. Then Shadow saw something in front of the central vault door.

It was Sonic standing with a smug grin. He was shaking a card key in one hand.

He used the “energy detector” that he borrowed from Tails to locate Shadow. He snuck in from a different entrance.

There were GUN Beetles all over the city. Despite these Beetles being destroyed, it didn’t sound the alarm even though it usually attacks without warning.

Regardless, Sonic thought that something unusual was happening.

Shadow scoffed, “So… what do I have to give you for that card key? Wait… that’s a stupid question. You just want to know what’s going on because this whole situation has piqued your interest.”

With a short, moody sigh, Shadow looked up at Sonic and began to let the details spill.

“This looks like a bank on the surface, but it’s a front. This is actually the source of a weapons research plant. A mysterious power-generating capsule was seized from Doctor Eggman’s base in a previous battle. However, I’m afraid that the weapons aren’t being researched, but rather develop in the city.”

At that point, Shadow continued to slowly walk forward.

“I received a briefing that this capsule was actually a disguised time bomb that would explode at midnight tonight. If this thing goes off, over half the city is going to disappear in the blast. Something seems off here, so I came to check it out. Care you explain why you’re here?”

Shadow stopped in front of Sonic and gave a fierce, questioning look. He held it for a few seconds.

“Do you have nothing to say?”

It was such a sudden development that while Sonic was trying to answer, the energy detector reacted to an abnormally high level of energy. It was coming from the vault.

“I’ll just believe in Tails’ machine!”

Shadow grinned as Sonic swiped the card key through the reader on the door. A heavy metallic noise was heard from inside the vault.

The moment he touched the latch on the door, Shadow stared with an unchanging expression.

BANG!

The door opened from the inside and many researchers rushed out in a huge, desperate panic.

“Get out of here! It’s going to explode!”

People were fleeing or their lives while emergency sirens echoed throughout the building. Every area around the vault was covered in this noise.

When Sonic and Shadow jumped in, it was much larger than they had expected. The capsule-shaped glass body had a diameter over a meter long and a length of 2 meters. It was protected by an electromagnetic barrier while emitting lights from the connections to the laboratory tables in the back.

Just then, a bunch of GUN Beetles placed in the room took aim at the two hedgehog-intruders and fired.

“I see you really get into your job, Shadow! You’re the bomb!”

“…!”

Sonic was able to take care of three nearby GUN Beetles in no time. Shadow ran fiercely into the fray. He was electrocuted and hurt from the electromagnetic barrier, but Sonic was able to find the generator and destroyed it to save Shadow.

“CHAOS CONTROL!”

A ring of light overflowed from Shadow and the Chaos Emerald. It covered the surrounding area. When the flash disappeared both Shadow and the bomb were gone!

Just a few seconds later, a giant explosion occurred far above Mission Street.

A humongous fireball appeared in the sky as if it were another moon. A roaring sound shook the Earth soon after. Sonic jumped out onto a window ledge and saw it while putting out a thumbs up.

Then there was Shadow, who was already outside of the influence of Chaos Control. He looked on with a dissatisfied look. He intended to send the bomb all the way to space. Perhaps he realized the limit of this singular, weakened Chaos Emerald.

Shadow threw the emerald to Sonic.

“Huh? Shadow…?”

“This Emerald is weak! Feels like that fake emerald Tails made. Perhaps if I gave it to a good-natured person, it will get the right powers back.”

Sonic replied with a slightly frightened face while he caught the emerald. He then said, “I’d like to say thank you, but I think I’m gonna pass on that.”

“Why are you still following me?”

Elsewhere from Mission Street, Shadow walked down a deserted road. He grinned as he talked to Sonic, but he didn’t look back at him. Sonic relaxed and put his hands behind his head and talked back to Shadow while gazing up at the night sky.

“I’m the one who needs some answers. When did you become the type of guy who secretly fights for peace for everyone?”

“… I’m not interested in peace, Sonic. Do you know what people are capable of doing to one another? I don’t like the fact that there are such foolish people on this planet. Whether it’s the Doctor or anyone else… and that includes you. Make no mistake.”

They walked in silence for a few seconds as Shadow had a saddened face and Sonic just continued grinning.

“Ok, I get it. I’ll do my best to be careful. But if something like today happens again, I bet there are quite a few people who would wanna thank you.”

“Hmph, that’s crap; that kind of nonsense.”

Shadow reached his boiling point had finally stopped and looked back at Sonic as if to shut him up.

“…!?”

With the lights in the distant city behind them, Sonic stood with his right arm extended and pointing at the night sky while he looked longingly at Shadow. The full moon was shining, but just above it, they could see the “Space Colony ARK” floating by and looking down on them.

Shadow was short of breath when he viewed this spectacle. From under the moonlight, the ARK looked heavenly.

“Ark…”

Hope and tragedy rested there. This is the place where Shadow was born. He gained and learned so much, but also lost a great deal there too. An abandoned ruin floating in a vacuum, offering too many complexities to protect this planet.

There’s a time, once every year, where the ARK perfectly floats above the full moon due to their orbits.

Mission Street is one of the best points to see this view. This is the celestial view that Sonic loves so much. As one gazes upon two “moons,” they’re bathed in a warm sea of light.

Shadow continued to look at the ARK silently.

Nobody can know about the memories that crush his heart when he thinks about what happened in the past. But this silence seemed like a clear answer to Sonic.

Sonic lowered his hand that he kept pointing to the sky and then moved it towards Shadow.

Shadow followed Sonic’s movements and saw that he was laughing!

“Dammit…!”

Shadow threw himself away with purpose as he hopped onto his motorcycle. It was a large military bike. Shadow must have had it prepared in advance.

Shadow revved the engine to drown out Sonic’s laughing and remarks.

“Alright, this whole thing is kind of overkill, Shadow!”

Shadow then rode off, full throttle. Sonic was left grinning, but he seemed somewhat disappointed.

“Mission Street” is a trendy place for business and local shopping. The full moon filled the stary sky above. There was Shadow as he passed through the warm lights of the now peaceful city.

There was one small detail that nobody could ever truly comprehend. That a particular “moon” which sat above this lively city, would keep watching over Shadow for the rest of time…

#Sonic the Hedgehog #Shadow the Hedgehog

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snowyowlkonnen · 4 years ago

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Sonic x Metal Sonic Cover Story!

Translator note: I am not totally fluent in Japanese so please understand that my translations are not perfect, but I hope you can enjoy this fun story. Any constructive criticism is appreciated.

Deep within Dr. Eggman’s abandoned, secret lab… a robot connected to a database booted up made note of the current situation. The evaluation was as followed:

[[Current status… “unfavorable”]]

While this robot was in rest for maintenance, Dr. Eggman was once again defeated by Sonic. Yet again, “he” was unable to rush to protect his master from crisis.

The same amount of bitterness stirred inside him… or perhaps even more.

It longed for the opportunity to defeat Sonic.

This mechanical piece of intelligence was known as “Metal Sonic” and it was created for the sole purpose of destroying Sonic. It continued to analyze the situation:

[[Current status is “unfavorable”]]

☆ ★ ☆

“Speed Highway” is a super-three-dimensional highway that runs through a plethora of high-rise buildings.

It has many acceleration lanes such as the “360-degree rotating loop” that rises to the sky and a corkscrew that stretches into a large spiral. It attracts the souls of speed enthusiasts everywhere!

Sonic was running around in good spirits as he hummed to himself.

CRASH!!

Suddenly, something attacked Sonic head-on! He barely avoided it as the road just ahead turned into a pile of rubble from such a shattering impact. Sonic let out a gleeful grin.

“I’m worried. You didn’t damage yourself with that stunt, did ya, Metal?”

It was, in fact, Metal Sonic that stood up from the rubble.

Metal gave a piercing, sharp gaze towards Sonic. Within a second, he quickly closed the gap between the two of them while pointing his left hand to Sonic.

“Hey! Isn’t that–!?”

It was the flickering of a Chaos Emerald. Metal’s other hand pointed to the innermost parts of Speed Highway. It was unwavering.

Sonic instantly understood what Metal Sonic meant.

“You’re gonna bet that in a competition against me? That doesn’t seem very fair now, does it?”

Sonic then took out his all of the Chaos Emeralds he had on him.

“Alright, Metal! This is for real then. All or nothing!”

In an instant, two blue shadows dashed out onto the street, illuminated by the lights of the skyscrapers at dusk. The race that moved faster than the speed of sound had begun!

☆ ★ ☆

As the sound barrier was broken, the rush of wind echoed through the elevated roads that were cast as a valley between the buildings.

A corkscrew twisted down from a 360-degree loop as it curved to the right and then to the left. It then went into a spiral that took them up and down and all around.

Sonic lightly traced across the road’s surface as he felt enthralled by the difficult course of the Speed Highway. Metal Sonic was able to glide across the road with the use of a jet engine.

The race continued with the two hedgehogs barely gaining a step on each other, but a big change occurred in the middle of the course. A super long and sharp curve came out after a speedy decent. Metal Sonic decided to engage in some close combat before this area.

He boosted forward as his body entered this shocking, electromagnetic state. It was a sudden attack, but Sonic was able to avoid it. He must have read his moves. Metal Sonic’s energy output temporarily dropped at the end of the boost as he slowed down; just as planned. He could clear the curve with just the right amount of speed. Sonic had to slow down here too and Metal Sonic had nothing to lose!

Everything was going fine, but at that moment, Sonic was speeding up and approaching fast. Metal Sonic’s thoughts became fragmented if only for a moment.

[[……!?]]

Sonic, as he started to tumble off the side of the course due to his great speed, had put his hand out and grabbed Metal Sonic’s head, curved inward, and accelerated towards the inner-section of the course. He pushed Metal downwards and perfectly made the curve.

“My bad!”

Metal Sonic, who managed to regain his posture, raised his face, he saw Sonic running far ahead.

Metal Sonic tried to analyze the situation

[[Current status… “unfavorable”]]

☆ ★ ☆

Metal Sonic continued to analyze everything while giving chase. He had never won again Sonic ever since their first battle. He was built for the best performance and had a tireless, steel body. There were many factors of his creation that should have meant he was unbeatable.

But I can never win.

Why? Why… it’s just a hedgehog that runs fast…

Right at that moment,

A buzz of electricity rippled through the robot’s AI and it’s train of thought.

Is it because it’s not just “fast.”

[[…………!]]

Why was this robot made to resemble Sonic?

Perhaps, the creator, Dr. Eggman, created this body simply to not waste time creating it, but to also be a replacement to Sonic.

It was created for that specific purpose. There’s something that had to be done.

Metal cut all non-essential parts such as “fire control” and the “electromagnetic spark capacitors.” All systems were set on full power to “Speed.” Metal sharpened and gutted himself on the inside.

A moment later, a creature of blue steel, which had become the pure concept of a new “Metal Sonic” began to chase after Sonic the Hedgehog.

☆ ★ ☆

Meanwhile, Sonic had already taken notice that something had changed with Metal Sonic. The distance between them was gradually getting shorter.

Metal Sonic was purely a machine. There’s no way to know what it could even be thinking about. However, Sonic could sometimes tell. He could sense Metal Sonic’s joy, willpower, and unhealthy obsession towards victory.

“Looks like things are heating up!”

Sonic sped up even more, with a serious expression, muttered words of amazement while suppressing a grin that was continuously rising to his mouth.

“Heh, you don’t feel like you’re getting burned out?”

It was a straight line from the left-twisting, half-corkscrew to the goal. Below, you could see the surface of the city piercing upwards. The two blue streaks sped up the outside of a vertical skyscraper.

The goal was just around the corner. Sonic was in the lead.

Metal Sonic’s AI became fully aware at this point. It would not win at this rate.

How can it win!? Perhaps it could increase the output from the jet propulsion unit a little more, but where there even enough resources to do so…!?

☆ ★ ☆

“…?”

Just a few hundred meters from the goal.

Right then, Sonic couldn’t understand what happened.

Metal Sonic pulled out to Sonic at an impossibly fast speed! A dazzling seven-colored light erupted from Metal’s chest as a bright red flame with black smoke gushed out of the jet exhaust hole on his back. Parts and debris flew off of him in a violent roar.

“Metal…!?”

That’s right. Metal Sonic absorbed and utilized Chaos Energy! However, the power of the Chaos Emeralds was not stable and was very uncontrollable.

While speeding ahead, Metal lost his balance and collapsed.

Upon seeing this, Sonic tried to call out…

In a single moment, Metal was swallowed the the seven bright lights as they were then engulfed by smoke. Metal Sonic turned into a glowing red bulb.

The explosion sent an impact out that knocked Sonic back. As he looked up to the sky…

Against the backdrop of the night sky, Metal Sonic’s scattered body parts, which drew a trail of red flames alongside shimmering shards of window glass seemed to fly by in slow motion.

For a single moment, Sonic thought it was strangely beautiful.

Immediately after, Sonic got to his feet while being shocked at the explosion sounds that came soon after. When suddenly…

Metal Sonic’s upper body, which only had the torso, head, and right arm attached had crashed to the floor. As it made attempts to crawl towards the goal. The efforts proved too exhausting as he soon stopped dead in his tracks… just 10 meters away.

Shortly after, Sonic begrudgingly crossed the finish line; putting this little game to an end.

A Chaos Emerald flew towards Sonic. As he caught it, he looked back with a unique and serious expression. Metal Sonic had tossed the emerald with the last of his power.

[[……!!]]

Metal Sonic jumped to restrain Sonic as he approached with his fiery eyes.

Sonic felt as if Metal Sonic was saying that it’s impossible for two people to have crossed the finish line.

The damage that Metal Sonic had taken wasn’t as bad as Sonic had expected.

Sonic spoke in his usual tone, feeling uncomfortable with how relieved the situation felt.

“It was a good race.”

As Sonic let out his remarks, he never turned back and said,

“I’ll be waiting for a rematch.”

☆ ★ ☆

The defeated Metal Sonic was analyzing the current situation.

This time, it was an utter defeat.

Metal tried to re-calibrate all of his resources, but still couldn’t win.

Metal Sonic tried to sharpen his strengths, but it was all too late. In the end, he lacked a way to channel his resources and self-destructed.

….However,

it should be noted that an unprecedented performance was achieved this time.

Even with the final Chaos Emerald, considering that the race would have been lost regardless, it wasn’t necessarily a bad move… but a more detailed analysis is to be postponed.

A rescue signal was already issued. Aid was available and recovery could be achieved at Eggman’s base. If Metal connected to the base’s main computer and analyzed today’s data, he can definitely win next time. There is room to not only improve speed, but also inhibitory behaviors and attack patterns.

I can still reach a tier of being and there will others who can surpass or fall victim to that tier!

At the moment, Metal Sonic was forced into a deep sleep mode due to a drop in his voltage energy. His ability to think dropped rapidly and Metal Sonic obtained an analysis result that was unbiased and unemotional.

[[Status is… “favorable.“]]

#Sonic the Hedgehog #Metal Sonic

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