#anyway. i realized he kind of looks like shadow the hedgehog

[mysticalcats]

human foxglove for funsies

[dragonfromthewoodlands]

Sonic Movie 3: It's Not About Shadow

I am probably going to catch hate anons for this, but I've promised a few different people that I'll post one. So, here's your spoiler warning for Sonic Movie 3, and also a warning that this is going to be Long.

Getting my personal feelings about this movie out of the way first- it feels like a dramatized AU someone wrote. It had fun moments, and it had scenes that were done very well! But even if I take a look at the movie from that perspective, ignoring the canon from the game it supposedly drew so much inspiration from, ignoring the games that came after and Shadow's canonical lore, the movie has plot holes in its own canon. My personal views are that the movie did Shadow's entire story and supporting cast wrong. The only good part about it was Maria's innocence, and even she had her story nuked. I'll get into that later.

Let's start where the movie does, with comparing Sonic and Shadow. Sonic states that he doesn't know where he'd be without his family, and the movie cuts to Shadow waking up from stasis. This is a part that I both really liked and at the same time feel iffy about.

The cinematic choice of doing a flashback to Maria playing the baseline of Live & Learn as Shadow wakes up was perfect. The song's message about learning from what happened and living on anyway was essential to Shadow's character arc in Sonic Adventure 2, essential to closing out a story in which a character that is always hunting the truth realizes that what he thought was the truth was actually a lie. The Sonic Adventure games' final boss themes, both Open Your Heart and Live & Learn felt like they were messages from Sonic to the respective characters of Chaos and Shadow. Chaos opened his heart and it was alright. Shadow may never find his way, but he lives and he learns.

At the same time, Sonic isn't that kind of character. He's a kind person that never opted for revenge until it was his only choice in the world, and even then he would never take that route. The movie addressed this in the end, but it drew a dynamic that just... isn't there. The comics, whether it was Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog both before the Sega Genesis Wave and after, or if it's IDW's Sonic the Hedgehog comics, have had multiple instances where other characters press Sonic to kill Eggman. They bring up the traumas he's gone through and the crimes Eggman has done, the fact that Eggman killed people- and Sonic always, without fail, says that there has to be another way. Not just Eggman, either- Sonic does this for everyone. Emerl. Shadow. Merlina. Silver. Metal Sonic. It's been beaten into our heads time and time again that Sonic doesn't take revenge.

Shadow escapes from Prison Island, and here's another beat that I actually really liked about the movie. Shadow moves like a speed skater. I've had my issues with the updated way Shadow skates and how cartoony it is, and usually when I play the other games I preferentially look for mods that make Shadow skate like he did in SA2 because the little scoot scoot is so silly. SA2's animation looked fluid and natural in comparison.

Skipping ahead a little bit, another beat that was on-point for Shadow's characterization was when Sonic's team and Shadow meet for the first time. Shadow doesn't attack until he is pushed. That's not who he is. He just wants to be left alone and to process for a minute.

That is accurate. Without a driving force (Maria's promise, Rouge hunting for treasure, Eggman messing around with Emerl, the Black Arms invasion), Shadow spent his first few games just trying to process. We like to make fun of him and call it brooding, but when he's standing there with his arms crossed he's thinking. When Shadow gets a moment of peace- on board the ARK after saving Rouge, on the ship up to the ARK with Sonic- Shadow is going through the information in his mind and trying to make sense of it. He won't take an attack lying down, but he isn't going to just beat someone up for standing there.

And that's where Sonic Movie 3 stops feeling like it cares about Shadow as a character or his dynamic with Sonic. To explain that, I have to talk about Gerald Robotnik and Maria.

Stepping back for a moment, I spoke with someone who did not know the "deep" lore or anything really about the characters' backstory. They loved the movie and said it was enjoyable, and I agree that it was enjoyable. There were a lot of funny ha ha moments and witty lines. They also said that they agreed with my complains, but it didn't affect them as much because they weren't a die-hard Sonic fan.

I have a problem with that statement.

I try to avoid using the term "ableist" as much as possible, since I am not physically disabled and have no claims outside of mental health problems, but the simple truth is that the movie erased Maria's illness. Maria Robotnik was terminally ill. That's why Shadow was created in the first place. He wasn't a government project or an alien from space, he was something created as a medical cure.

This isn't something small in part for Shadow's backstory, it's a major point to his character. It's as major a part for Shadow as it is for Amy to admire Sonic, or for Knuckles to protect the Master Emerald. It's part of the entire plot of Sonic Adventure 2. Shadow would do anything for Maria, and her dying wish is his driving force in the subsequent games. He fully believes that the reason he has to destroy the planet is because Maria wished it. The only reason he stops the ARK from crashing into the planet is because the truth is that Maria didn't wish for that.

Sonic Movie 3 erases that critical aspect of Maria, of her being so kind that she would sacrifice herself for the sake of the very thing that was supposed to save her. It erases her disability. And it erases her dying wish. She just dies.

(By the way, you can find most of this out from the Wiki pages. I don't feel like this is about me being a die-hard Sonic fan so much as it is that the creators of the movie made a conscious choice to remove these critical aspects in favor of Ivo's story. You could argue that Sonic has also had many, many different versions of his backstory, including the one that movieverse has, but I will also reply to you that not in the universe in which Sonic was a ghostly force of good erased the presence of someone's disability.)

The lack of Maria's wish would normally be interesting to me, since Shadow now would have no direction to go off of, but the distinct shift in Gerald's character and the alteration of Shadow's backstory had me struggling throughout the movie. There's nothing of Gerald's original character present. The only similarities between Gerald Robotnik from the games and the Gerald Robotnik in the movie are the name and the fact that he was a scientist.

I know, Ivo is also very different from game Ivo. Like Sonic, we've had many different iterations of Eggman. The old Eggman from SaTAM and Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog was called Julian Robotnik, or even just "Doctor Robotnik." There was even a period in the old Archie comics where Eggman died (issue #50) and had to be replaced with a Julian from another universe for the sake of balance. A lot of the changes over the years were due to either lawsuits (thanks, Penders) or continuity problems, but the comics generally tried to follow the game canon.

But, again, the movie's directors were trying to follow Sonic Adventure 2, so we have to take a deeper look at who Gerald was. And Gerald wasn't kooky from the get-go, nor was he kooky when he was hell-bent on revenge.

Gerald Robotnik wanted to help mankind. He was one of the greatest scientists known, which was why he was asked to lead Project Shadow, a project to discover means to immortality. He wanted to use this as an opportunity to cure Maria. His first attempt produced the Biolizard. He managed to make Shadow after the intervention of Black Doom offering his own DNA. He realized his mistake and recorded a video of himself to eventually help Shadow when the Black Arms came back, but he was always trying to help mankind. He even gave Shadow a "heart" and a "soul" modeled after Maria's in hopes that Shadow would never become a tool for mass destruction. It was Maria's death that changed his personality from a kind old man to bitter and vengeful. He even says in his diary that losing control of his mind scared him.

Movie Gerald is just Movie Ivo, but older. He's insane from the get-go. The man is shallow and emotionally manipulative, playing as a kind of Deadpool-like character as the actor makes blatant references to the fourth wall. We get no explanation of his relationship with Maria other than he "brings her everywhere" and him telling Ivo that he is "no Maria." The subtleties of how he went insane are lost and his brilliancy in creating life is thrown to the wind in favor of the script just telling us that he's smart and that he supposedly loved Maria so much he wants to destroy the world.

There's no Space Colony ARK- that Gerald designed- with the Eclipse Cannon that was designed to destroy the Black Comet. There's no Black Arms or illness at all in the movie- Shadow is just a creature from a "black comet" and the term "the Ultimate Lifeform" is just a throwaway comment. Gerald's devotion and brilliancy is undermined in favor of cheap jokes and a frankly really strange montage between an actor and himself.

Once again, Maria's character- and Shadow's backstory- are reduced. We get more time going into Ivo's feelings than we do about any of the nuance that was in the original work.

Which leads me to the title of this rant: Sonic Movie 3 was not about Shadow the Hedgehog, it was about Ivo Robotnik.

We've been watching Ivo's journey from movie 1. Ivo is working for the government as a brilliant man, but everyone else sees him as a "dumpster fire." He's crazy, he's got no respect for others, and he has a sidekick that he doesn't really treat as a person but still somehow has a very sexually tense relationship with.

(I don't care what you say, nobody straight pins themself to a wall with a gasp like Stone does.)

Ivo outright states that he got bullied in school. Nobody likes him, so he lashes out at the world. With no one to talk to at the end of the movie, he starts descending into madness, where he's at with movie 2. Neato, they gave his mustache a backstory. He's back purely for revenge in movie 2, because he's lost his home and his position now too. We start movie 3 with Ivo's paunch having backstory, because he's fallen into a depressive state. He has no money, no power, no fame, and all of one person that hasn't left his side, and on top of that, the cause of his downfall shows up in the one place he can stay, which has to have caused him no end of emotional rollercoasters.

The movie then leads us on a story beat for Ivo. Someone wants his technology, someone thinks it's useful. (Hang in there, Stone.) It's been stated multiple times over the past few movies that Ivo has no family, which makes the appearance of his grandfather a pretty poignant moment for him.

Or. It would be. If it wasn't so weirdly done. I know, I know, I'm harping on a movie made for kids. But they could have made it fun while keeping the intricacies, and for all the hype, I personally was disappointed.

Again, this removes a lot of Eggman's canon dynamics with his family. In Sonic Frontiers, Eggman's diary entries talk about how he felt about his grandfather and how he never knew his cousin Maria. Sonic Adventure 2's Eggman states that he used to look up to his grandfather, and his plan for the ARK and Project Shadow just made Gerald look even more brilliant to Eggman. He is canonically attention-starved from his own family.

After a montage of Ivo finally having a grandfather, someone who needs his genius and thinks he is smart, we see a story beat about a neglected person realizing their true friend was right beside them all along. Stone doesn't give up on him the entire movie even though Ivo throws him aside because his grandfather could do him no wrong. Then at the end he realizes how insane Gerald is, that he doesn't want the planet destroyed- which is canon to SA2- and chooses to save it, even if it costs him his life.

This is more set up than the entirety of Shadow's story. The actor's dynamic with himself is focused on quite a bit, and with the additional phenomenal sad puppy eyes of Agent Stone's actor we have the kicked aside supporting cast we need. Of all the character "deaths" in the movie, Ivo is also the only one mourned for.

I'm bitter about that. But my personal feelings are another rant.

This is why Sonic Movie 3 is not an adaptation of Sonic Adventure 2. It is not a story about Shadow, or a way to set him up as a man-made powerhouse to contrast against Sonic's force of nature. It's a story about the Ivo Robotnik of the movieverse and his emotional journey with family.

There's so much more I want to say. I want to complain about how they only used Live & Learn for about five seconds, about how the stars twinkled on the moon, about Shadow not being mourned at the end despite the unskippable cutscene after the Finalhazard fight in SA2, about Tails the sweet 8 year old child cheering as an old man gets launched into what's basically a nuclear reactor-

But that's another rant, and if you've made it this far you're probably tired of reading for the minute. I'm doing my best not to bash the movie as it is.

All in all, I am glad I went to see it. But it is not Sonic Adventure 2. And I'm currently coping by envisioning it as a dramatized AU.

I look forward to deleting the hate comments from my inbox.

[writingtraumaforever]

Crushed Lavender/Sonadowtober Day 29: False Alarm

Okay so two things.

1. I know it’s the 1st of November, but I saw and started this the 29th. So it still counts. I don’t make the rules.

2. The prompt was ‘false alarm’, but this turned more into a ��close call’ or ‘saved your skin’ kind of thing. But it’s close enough.

Anyway!! Here’s my mediocre and belated addition to Sonadowtober!!

Takes place after Sonic Frontiers! Also, TW for thoughts of unaliving oneself/depression. c:

One shot:

It’s not that Shadow is a worrier or a pessimist. He’s a realist.

And the reality is that Sonic is one of the most danger-prone Mobians Shadow has ever met.

And ever since he returned from Starfall Islands, he hasn’t been quite himself. He’s not all there in his head. It’s as though sometimes he doesn’t know where he is at all, somewhere else far away.. or not there at all even.

It doesn’t help that Sonic’s usual group of misfits seems to be awol at the time. Apparently they’ve all gone off to “find themselves” in some way.. or at least that’s what Rouge has told him. She was pretty torn up Knuckles wouldn’t be around to irritate anymore— though Shadow thinks she’s more upset over the fact he didn’t ask her to come with him on his journeys.

Either way, Sonic is not seemingly on his own most days now. His support system now gone and leaving him to deal with whatever has begun plaguing his mind all on his own.

So what other choice did Shadow have but to take it upon himself to occupy the blue hedgehog’s time?? Otherwise, Gaia knows what trouble that dumb faker would’ve stirred up.

It began with Shadow happening to be in the same place as Sonic on a run. They raced, naturally. And that was that. The hedgehog seemed in good spirits after that.

This happened regularly for a month or so.

Until once after the race, Sonic didn’t seem so happy-go-lucky and smug like he usually does. No banter being shot for Shadow to bicker with on who won or who cheated. No victory dances or laps or anything. Sonic simply finished the race, Shadow turning to him and finding him staring off at the ocean they had ended at. Staring down at the waves from the cliff he stood on. Emerald eyes glistening from the reflection of the moon but there was no light behind them.

It was one of those moments.

He wasn’t there anymore.

Dull and absent eyes stared down at the crashing waves, Shadow watching and feeling an uneasiness settle over them with every passing moment. He frowned. It was like Sonic was drowning and he hadn’t even touched the water far below yet.

Shadow knew that look…

He use to stare into space like that..

Shadow’s brows furrow, arms crossing as he turns a bit more towards Sonic. Standing only a few yards from him as he tilts his head just slightly and observes him a long moment. Unsure what to do. What to say. Should he even say anything?? Maybe he should leave..

No one ever helped him through his own moments of dissociation, and he wasn’t sure what he would’ve wanted them to do even if they had.

But before Shadow can dwell on it much longer, he watches Sonic lean a little more over the edge.

A little too close for comfort.

He steps forward, arms uncrossing to reach a hand towards the blue hedgehog,

“Sonic..?”

Sonic’s flinches at that, blinking emerald eyes before turning them to look at Shadow a bit too wide for Shadow’s liking..

Then Sonic’s blank expression turns to a slow, wobbly smirk as he gives a thumbs up to Shadow, “Heh—“

And then the world stops.

Or— the edge Sonic stands on crumbles just enough to make the hero lose his footing. And Shadow watches as Sonic’s face goes from surprise, to horror… then to nothing.

Sonic’s eyes shut, and he falls back. The fastest thing alive has plenty of time to regain balance or dash out of the danger zone.. but he doesn’t move.

And Shadow watches in shock and then heavy realization. Realization that’s abrupt enough to snap him out of said shock and send him rocketing to Sonic as he watches him disappear over the cliff side.

Shadow skids across the ground, sliding onto his stomach to grab at Sonic’s hand only to miss by a breath. His gloved fingertips graze the hero’s, Sonic’s eyes never open.

He falls.

Shadow doesn’t think.

He doesn’t even breathe.

He just jumps.

Lunging off the edge, sending himself surging down towards Sonic’s plummeting body. The waves beckon them closer, gravity paves the way. Shadow’s eyes are locked on cobalt blue as ocean blue approaches in the background. His arms are outstretched.

Reaching.

Grasping.

Touching.

Gripping.

Holding.

Cradling.

“Chaos Control!”

A bright light reflects just above the salt water and then flashes again far away.

Somewhere no cliffs are near and in their place are simply rolling hills of lavender.

The safest place Shadow could think of.

They crash against the ground as they had been falling, rolling as a fumbling ball of red, black and blue until they crumble and skid to a stop on plush flowers.

Shadow is groaning from the impact, having taken most of it due to practically curling around Sonic protectively in his arms. Sonic laid on his back with emerald eyes wide open once again, his chest rising and falling with heavy and desperate breaths.

Drowning again.

No where near the water.

“What the hell were you doing?!” Shadow snapped, shoving himself off the ground onto his knees to glare over at Sonic unabashedly.

Sonic doesn’t answer.

He doesn’t acknowledge Shadow.

This just boils Shadow over.

Shuffling on his knees over to hover over Sonic, he scowls down at him disapprovingly, “You blue idiot— don’t just lay there ignoring me! What the hell was that??”

Shadow’s hands move to grip Sonic’s shoulders, this seeming to knock the hedgehog out of his daze. Sonic’s wide eyes snap to Shadow with a hard flinch, seeming shocked and bewildered by the ebony hedgehog above shaking him.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you had a damn death wish, you—!!”

Shadow’s shaking halts.

He stares down at Sonic who is still breathing concerningly quick. More like gasping for air than actual breaths, swallowing huge gulps as if they’re not enough.

Shadow’s anger slowly stifles, eyes losing their heat and instead melting into something of concern and discomfort..

Seeing Sonic like this..

It was.. unsettling.

“Hey.. hey, Faker..,” Shadow’s voice rasps, removing hands from Sonic momentarily before repositioning them to place one on Sonic’s chest over his heart to feel it pounding against his gloved palm and then moving his other to grab Sonic’s wrist and bring the hero’s hand to his chest so Sonic can feel it rise and fall,

“Breathe..”

Shadow’s breaths are slow and easy. Steady and deep.

Sonic’s own breaths stay panicked, not quite computing what Shadow is even saying for a long moment. But eventually, his eyes lock with Shadow’s, and he steadies himself. He begins trying to even out his breaths, matching them with Shadow’s so that his chest rises and falls with Shadow’s own.

This seems to do the trick. Sonic’s previously tense and terrified disposition easing into relative discomfort. Which still isn’t ideal but it’s progress.

Sonic’s raised quills slowly flatten and his wide eyes grow more tired and calm.

But with that calm exposes something vulnerable and scared too..

And before Shadow can even think of what next step to take..

Sonic’s ears flatten back and his frown trembles.

He doesn’t cry. He doesn’t shatter and break.

But he cracks.

Just a little. Just enough.

Taking a shaky breath, Sonic slides his wrist from Shadow’s grip and lets his arm fall over his eyes as he shuts them.

He blows a long, uneasy breath out, and his trembling mouth slides into a forced grin, “Man!… That was a close one, huh??”

His sideways smile and jittery, breathy chuckle makes Shadow feel ill..

Shadow sits back on the backs of his heels, his hands retreating to his sides as he looks down at the cracked hero. How he tries to hide from what just happened behind his arm and a mask.

Shadow can’t look. He turns his head away with a frown and furrowed brows.

Sonic just breathes a few moments longer before pushing himself up with a grunt. Leaning back on his arms, he looks around with his casual smile and his glossy eyes at their environment.

“Where even are we??? I don’t think I’ve ever been here be—“

“You wanted to fall.”

“Huh??”

Sonic looks at Shadow.

Shadow is looking straight back at him.

It’s not anger. It takes Sonic a moment to place it.

Disappointment.

And.. something else.

“You wanted to fall. You were gonna let yourself go.”

Betrayal.

Sonic looks like a deer in headlights for a pause before he rolls his eyes and looks way with a shrug and grin, “What kind of dumb accusation is that— I slipped, Shadow. The cliff crumbled under my feet, and—“

“You were standing way too close to the edge—“

“—I didn’t have time to catch my footing again—“

“—you had plenty of time to jump out of the way or grab onto the ledge—“

“—and I don’t have a chaos emerald so I couldn’t flash myself to safety like you—“

“—you shut your eyes like you didn’t even want to bother with your own life—“

“I don’t even know my own life!!”

Sonic’s smile is gone.

He’s glaring at Shadow with those glossy eyes.

Shadow frowns.

“What does that even mean—“

“I don’t know— I-,” Sonic fumbles for words, hesitating on if he even wants to be saying any of this. If he even can say any of it.

“I haven’t felt like myself— I’m not even sure what myself is even suppose to feel like anymore! I think— I think I’m still on those stupid Islands! Like parts of me were pulled out and hacked into pieces and scattered all over that place and I’ll never fully get them all back!!”

Shadow stares. Trying to understand. Trying to process and listen and take in.

He doesn’t speak.

Sonic keeps going.

“I didn’t even know my own name for a minute! I didn’t know who I was— what I was!! And now— now the only people I trust to tell me and remind me of that are gone! And I’m— I’m so, so happy for them! I’m so proud for them! But I’m still confused and lost and feeling like I don’t even know myself anymore so what’s the point, ya’know?!”

“Yes, I know.”

Sonic blanks and then huffs at that, looking away as if offended by Shadow’s simple and quick answer to his outburst. He opens his mouth.

…

Then he shuts it.

Realizing that Shadow’s simple answer was… honest.

He looks at Shadow again, his offended glare turning to something a bit more sad. Ears folding back and raised quills relaxing as he looks at his counterpart with a hesitant gaze..

“…You do know, huh?”

Shadow doesn’t speak. He just looks at Sonic a long moment and then looks down at the lavenders he’s knelt down in.. his gloved hand rubbing over one as he gives a single nod of confirmation.

Sonic watches him. Tired and scared and open.

“…How do you deal with it??”

Shadow shrugs. Sonic huffs at this, immediately impatient that he doesn’t have an answer only for Shadow to speak quietly.

“You.. are confused for a while. You try to remember who you were and who you were created to be. Who you worked so long and hard to become. You think of who made you into this person you are and why you must be that person for them because of it. And when that doesn’t work, you-.. you’re angry.”

Shadow’s fist closes around the flower, pulling it up from the ground and lifting it with a grip of vice. Sonic’s eyes follow it, hearing the ever so subtle sound of tiny purple petals being crunched together.

“And you try and point that anger somewhere.. give yourself a purpose. A validation. A justification.. Fighting battles, protecting,… revenge.”

Shadow’s palm opens and reveals the crumbled flower in it.

“But in the end, you realize you’ve done more harm than good.. and you wonder if you yourself are more harm than good..”

Sonic’s brows knit up, a hopeless frown on his muzzle as he eyes the obliterated lavender in Shadow’s palm and then averts his gaze. Unable to look at the damage done any longer.

“…But there’s something inside you still. The very essence of your being. The reason you exist. The reason you’re even here..”

Sonic’s eyes return to Shadow at that, exhausted and with a slight and reluctant glimmer of hope.

“… to just live.”

Sonic’s brows furrow at this, seeming unsatisfied with this answer.

He opens his mouth but before Sonic can say anything, Shadow turns more towards him and continues.

“You don’t have to prove anything, Sonic. You may feel like you’re obligated to be some perfect being. That you have to match some prophecy or legacy left to you. That you have to be some sort of Ultimate Lifeform..”

Sonic’s head tilts a bit at Shadow, hanging onto his every word.

“..but you only have to be what you deem worthy of being. Past or future, you are only what you choose to be. You are all of you, forgotten or not. And right now, if being alive is a battle, it’s a damn worthy one to fight for yourself in my opinion.”

Shadow’s gaze meets Sonic’s and Sonic’s own emerald orbs hold slow understanding in them.. revelation.

Shadow gives a tiny smile. He holds the crumbled lavender out to Sonic, the blue hedgehog slowly holding his palm out for Shadow to pour the tiny petals into his cupped palm.

“Even crushed lavender is still lavender.. and it can still have purpose when crushed..”

[catiecat1320]

Sonadowtober Prompt 30: Heist

Sonic and team break into a GUN facility to steal Project Shadow's confidential files. They're probably justified, but it doesn't stop them from hitting a road bump

Sonic Movie 3 Spoilers!!

Read Below🔽

“So, we all know the plan, right?” Sonic tented his hands in front of his face, smirking behind his fingers. “Are we good to go?”

Tails peered up from his tablet and gave a silent thumbs up while Knuckles punched his fists together with a crackle of chaos energy. “I am ready to break glass in case of emergency.”

“Great! Emphasis on emergency, okay big guy?” Sonic doesn’t wait for an answer, turning to the other hedgehog in the room. He was the one they were doing all this for, after all. “Shadow?”

Shadow glanced up at him, arms crossed over his middle. He looked… hesitant. The three brothers wait for his answer expectantly. “...You don’t have to do this,” he finally settles on. 

“Aw c’mon, Shadow! It’s not like we don’t wanna. It’ll be fun!” Sonic immediately exclaims.

“Fun?” Red eyes sweep around the room. “Last time you stepped foot in a GUN facility, Mr. Wachowski came out half-dead. That’s not fun.”

“Well, that was only because y—” Sonic stops himself short, realizing what he was about to say might not be the best choice of words. Everyone knew what he was onto though; Tails shot him a look that he was not about to decipher. So in an epic save, Sonic says, “Well, he won’t be there this time!”

Knuckles huffed. “That is true, more impressive Hedgehog. You don’t have to worry. I will crush any threats with my fists.”

“In case of emergency,” Sonic adds, putting a hand on Shadow’s shoulder. “It’ll be okay, I promise. Besides, we have you this time, don’t we? Instead of just me breaking in, you’ll be there with your cool teleporting and stuff!”

The striped hedgehog lets out a sigh. Then he nods, just once.

“Alright! Time to steal files and kick butt!”

“The objective is to go in and out undetected, Sonic,” Tails reminds him, rolling his eyes. 

“Shhhh, don’t be a killjoy, Tails.” 

…

“Aw yeah, this is happening!” Sonic giggled, dizzy from teleportation. Chaos Control. Whatever you call it. It was sure handy for getting places they aren’t supposed to access. “Hmmm… Ya gotta teach me how to do that sometime.” He stumbled, then draped himself over Shadow, the only stable thing in vicinity.

Crimson eyes looked over him with an unreadable emotion. “Focus.”

“Alright, alright.” Sonic shook his head clear and let go of the other to bop his communicator. “Tails! We’re in! Where are we headed?”

A crackle of static, then the kit’s voice came through. “Okay. Turn left down the hallway. Follow it to the end. You should find a locked door. Stop there, plug in the green drive,  and I’ll unlock it for you.”

“Awesome.” Sonic then promptly turned right. In his defense, he kind of forgot which side was left. It was a common mistake!

Anyway, Shadow caught his arm before he could accidentally go the wrong way, wordlessly dragging the other hedgehog with him while the mistake caught up. “Oh! Oops. Right, right.”

“No. Left, left.”

A second’s pause, then emerald eyes snapped up in shock. “Excuse me? Was that a joke?”

The smallest smile quirked on Shadow’s face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“That was totally a joke!” Sonic couldn’t stop himself from grinning. But the moment was over once they reached the aforementioned door, that smile of Shadow’s dropping as quickly as it took place.

There was a tense silence as they plugged in a device allowing Tails to hijack the door remotely. The silence remained even as the kit gave them the green light, the only noise a stilted hum of acknowledgement in response before communications were cut.

The room was dark. Or more accurately, the little hallway was dark. There was nothing in it but another door on the far side.

Sonic cut through the tension as they both stepped in, unable to handle any more quiet. “This place is creepy,” he whispers. His voice echoes.

Sonic jumps as the door slams shut, leaving just the light of keypads and buttons and the natural glow of the hedgehogs’ chaos energy. Suddenly, he feels a hand in his, giving a gentle squeeze. Emerald eyes meet carmine red as Sonic squeezes back. In the dark, he hopes Shadow can see his smile. “Ready?”

Shadow answers by walking over and opening the other door.

Inside is a whole array of technology that neither hedgehog knows the function of. But luckily they have a certain fox who can figure it out for them. Sonic whips out another handy-dandy USB and sticks it in the nearest, most important-looking port. “Hey Tails, did I do it right?”

“Yes! Just a little work and then… got it!” His excitement is audible even with bad connection. “Thanks Sonic!”

“No problemo, buddy. All in a day’s work or whatever they say. Right, Shadow?” Sonic looks up to find the other hedgehog spacing out, focusing on something that didn’t seem to be in the room. “Uh. Tails, I’ll get back to ya. Shadow? You alright there?”

Crimson eyes spark with energy. “I can feel it. It’s somewhere near.”

“Buddy, you gotta tell me what it is,” Sonic huffs in mock frustration. Apparently his act is stupid enough to warrant attention, because it brings Shadow back down to Earth with a slight eye roll.

“Chaos energy. A lot of it. I thought you would be able to tell.”

Sonic opens his mouth to say something, then clamps it shut, then opens it again. “I… y’know what, let’s just go find whatever this is. Lead the way, chaos detector!”

“Don’t call me that,” Shadow grumbles, but he takes the lead regardless. 

The closer they get, the more Sonic realizes that he does in fact feel chaos energy from this mystery source. He just hadn’t known the buzzing in the back of his head was that.

The more you know, he supposed.

Preoccupied with his thoughts, some of which may or may not have pertained to how tightly Shadow was holding his hand, Sonic nearly ran into the other when they stopped. 

“Didya find it?” Sonic piped, looking over Shadow’s shoulder to peek at whatever it was. Golden orange energy sparked in cylindrical containers, calling out to his own neon blue. It was… familiar.

Shadow suddenly squeezed his hand, not unlike how Knuckles gives handshakes. As in, so hard it hurt.

“Ack! Shads—!” Sonic scrabbled at the other’s fist with his free hand. Miraculously, Shadow loosened his grip before breaking any bones. 

“S-sorry…”

The blue hedgehog waved it off. “It’s fine! So what is that?”

“My energy.” Shadow growled. Electricity flies in his quills, and Sonic sees the similarities. He opens his mouth to ask how in the world GUN got such a thing before being interrupted with his answer. “They used to collect it from me. Back then. They… I thought it was all gone. I-I have to get rid of it.”

“Okay,” Sonic said, a hesitant lilt to his voice. “What do we do?” He moves to grab one of the canisters, only to be stopped by Shadow yanking him back.

“NO! Don’t touch it. Don’t touch them.” Crimson eyes flicker with panic as he gasps, looking around the room in desperation. “If it breaks we’re all… we’re all dead.”

Something tells Sonic that it was experience speaking. He didn’t like that. “Hey. Calm down. I won’t—”

He never gets to finish his sentence. Because right then, his communicator lets out a burst of static and goes offline, just as alarms screech to life overhead. Both hedgehogs freeze, turning at the same time as they hear the door they entered through slide open, introducing heavy footsteps that manifest as at least a dozen soldiers bearing glowing guns. One of them carried Tails’ flash drive.

“Oh crap,” Sonic spat, just as the front guy shouted at them, waving his weapon in threat.

“Stand down! On the floor, both of you!”

“I can’t stand and sit, y’know,” the blue hedgehog quipped. He hoped his irritation was clear. The gun in his face glowed just a bit brighter as the hand of the trigger tightened. Beside him, Shadow let out a distressed noise as his claws dug into Sonic’s palm with a new intensity.

“On the floor!”

Shadow dropped immediately, his body stiff. Sonic bit his cheek lining, then slowly followed, putting his hands up in appeasement. The guns stayed trained on him. He wondered if he could…

“Shadow, you gotta let go of me,” Sonic whispered, shaking the hand still tightly in the other’s grasp. The guy that had been shouting, likely the higher up in this stupid squad, narrowed his eyes. The blue hedgehog shot him a sheepish smile and nudged Shadow again.

All he got in return was a shaky exhale and a tighter grip. Sonic winced at the pain and spared a glance at Shadow. The other hedgehog wasn’t faring well, to say the least. His eyes were blown wide with fear, staring right past all the GUN soldiers in front of them; his mouth hung open, yet he seemed to barely breathe. 

Well, Sonic would have to solve this himself. Go figure.

Someone new came in. Several someones. With handcuffs and tasers. Sonic’s quills raised in disgust. 

Oh, screw this. We’re breaking out the old-fashioned way. 

Silently noting a sorry to Shadow, he stabbed his own claws into the other’s hand and pulled away while shock set in.

Everything devolved into chaos as Sonic curled into a spiky ball of chaos energy and launched himself at the closest agent, knocking their gun away before they could blink. He kicked off them and crashed into someone else, causing a domino effect that took down half the group. Everyone started yelling at the same time: orders, swears, and general panic mixed into one loud mess, with the occasional zip of a shot haphazardly fired.

The only thing Sonic heard clearly was the almost painful way Shadow cried out his name, pitched and panic-laden.

He faltered, looking over his shoulder to make sure his mission partner was okay. Bad idea: a gun butt immediately swung into his face, knocking him to the floor. White static flashed as his head cracked on cold metal, and his vision returned half a second later to a glowing barrel aimed between his eyes.

“Wait—” was all he managed to choke out before the world flipped inside out.

…

Sonic opened his eyes to blue. Blue and fluffy white. Grass blades beneath him tickled his fur funny and he sat up, his surroundings coming into view. “I’m… I’m alive!”

Sleek black and bright red assaulted his vision next as he was enveloped in a crushing hug by none other than Shadow. He buried his face into the crook of Sonic’s neck, trembling as he ran his gloved hands up and down the curve of the other’s spine. “Wha… hey? I forgot you could teleport, huh. Nice save!”

It took a moment of awkward silence for Sonic to realize that Shadow was crying.

Oh. Oh.

“...hey,” he whispered after processing that information for a good minute, nuzzling the sobbing hedgehog in his arms gently. “Are you… okay?”

Stupid question. Of course not. But it made Shadow peel away, giving Sonic a good look at the wreck that was his face, with hot tears streaming down his cheeks and devastation dancing in his sunset-red eyes. 

“...are you?” Shadow croaked instead of giving an answer, squeezing the other’s shoulders like his life depended on it. 

Sonic blinked owlishly. “Well, yeah. You’re the one crying.”

That did it. “You’re the one who almost died!” Shadow choked, and the tears came a little faster. “They… they almost shot you! When you attacked—! I almost lost you. J-just like her. She died like that, Sonic. In a room with my chaos energy. She…they blew it all up. With a gunshot. They… when they were shooting in there I thought you’d die, Sonic, I’m not ready to lose you.”

His ramble stopped when Sonic pulled him into a hug again, tucking the striped hedgehog’s head under his chin as he rocked them both back and forth. Shadow buried his face into Sonic’s chest and sobbed as the latter whispered assurances into his ear. “You didn’t lose me, it’s okay. I’m here, I’m here. I’m okay. We’re okay.”

“You… never do that again, Sonic. Please,” Shadow hiccuped, lifting his head up enough to meet Sonic’s eyes. “I don’t like being scared.”

“...No promises,” Sonic murmured, and the other stiffened in his arms. He quickly added, “But I’ll try. You know I die hard, Shads. I’m not leaving any time soon, alright? I’ll be okay. We’ll be okay. I can promise that.”

Shadow sniffled, tears tapering off. Slowly, he nodded, and Sonic smiled at him.

The moment was ruined when garbled static crawled out of Sonic’s communicator.

“...break the glass?”

“No, wait! I’ve got it! They’re coming through! Sonic? Shadow? Are you alright?”

Sonic looked to Shadow, who stared right back with a minute nod. “Yep! Had a close call but we’ll be back in a moment!”

“Alright! The mission was a success, by the way. I stole all the files from Project Shadow and wiped them from GUN’s database!”

“Good job, buddy!” Sonic smiled widely at Shadow, who returned it with a soft one of his own.

At least they got what they came for.

[livewireprojects]

Sonadowtober 2024 Day 8

Day 8 was surprise This is kind of based on the fact a recent interview with Takashi Iizuka had him mention Shadow & Sonic are jobless(or Shadow is jobless then later mention Sonic is too) which is weird because Shadow was offered a job in the good end for Shadow the Hedgehog 2005, is shown to do missions for GUN & the commander is even shown in Dark Beginnings which is a 3 or something episode prologue to Sonic x Shadow Generations. I'm guessing it wasn't a permanent job or he quit or someone forgot shit.

I guess you could say in my version Shadow works for GUN still & Sonic has a job too. Sonic keeps it on the down low but he plays at bars & small places earning money playing music as the night's entertainment. He likes his privacy so he hides that he's Sonic when he's playing, it's an amazement that no one trying to look for Sonic has found him because he looks similar to before he went missing.

Anyway the surprise is that Shadow got dragged somewhere to relax after work one time & realized to his surprise that the person playing tonight is Sonic in disguise. Sonic is a little surprised Shadow looks to have recognized him but he needs to start playing soon so he can pay the bills on Tails's house.(Sonic pays the bills & makes sure Tails gets a good education but he has the house setup to belong to Tails should anything happen to him so Tails still has a home)

Also I'm aware I didn't plan out the writing in "LIVE REACTION" so "reaction" doesn't have enough room.

Link to Sonadowtober theme list

[verdemoth]

im happy to note that if i accomplished nothing else in 2024 the Year of Shadow, i did become autistic abt Shadow the Hedgehog

im adding a readmore so i can ramble to my hearts content. anyway yeah im a Sonic fan confirmed as of the past year. it’s been a long time coming and mostly very gradual, then in the last few weeks of 2024 i found out Shadow Gens existed and watched Penny Snapcube’s whole stream vod and. upon seeing the animated prologue i realized i was obsessed with this hedgehog

This Shadow plush comes from my grandma :D she’s had him + i think sonic, knuckles, and tails, for a good like 2 decades. A couple years ago my kid brother had a sonic phase so she gave them to him, but he’s over it now and let me have Shadow when i asked :]

The Sonic series has always been very nostalgic for me, having grown up playing Sonic & Knuckles at my grandma’s house on the sega genesis (in the same room i now live in actually!), and many hours of Sonic Heroes at home on the xbox. But I was never able to complete either game, and I hadn’t gotten the impression that it was a series that told big compelling stories. That is, until i got to watch a bunch of Snapcube videos and experience the series vicariously through people with a lot of love and passion for these characters and games! I was still kind of on the outside looking in when Frontiers came out but i was very excited for everyone that sonic games were getting good again. But by the end of 2024 i’ve realized that i myself have Become a genuine fan of the series. So thanks Snapcube :D I would have never reconnected with the series were it not for the very fun dubs and then the very fun stream vids as an entry point !

[theshadowandhislight]

[ @silver---linings ]

((Hope you don't mind a Christmas one-off separate from the roleplay. If you do mind, you can ignore this. This is directed at both of them gay boys.))

Two small presents pop into existence from nowhere. One present was colored blue, and the other was colored black wrapped with a red ribbon, making it obvious which present belongs to who. The tags on the gifts say these are from Silver.

In Sonic's present, there were five chili dogs.

In Shadow's present, there was a bag of chocolate coated coffee beans.

Both of their gifts contained a note from Silver. His handwriting... wasn't exactly the best, but it's still readable.

Sonic's note read: "Some chili dogs from the future! One of them is a "chilly" dog, a specialty chili dog from Holoska! Merry Christmas, Sonic! - Silver"

Shadow's note read: "I thought you could sweeten up your bitter palette a little bit. Merry Christmas, Shadow! - Silver"

// Of course I dont mind! I was kinda hoping for something like this too! the lore thing with my s/o takes place before christmas day/eve anyway so this is perfect :D // The day was a cold winter day. one of those kinds of cold winter snowy days that kept Sonic from being allowed to run in the snow. even if he could just pile drive through the snow, that'd require having to be able to exactly leave.. which uh.. wasn't the case with eight feet of snow covering the door. so Sonic and Shadow were spending their christmas together, even if Shadow didn't seem the most enthusiastic about the season.

The two Hedgehogs were cuddled up on the couch, mainly just talking between theirselves with Sonic cuddled up against Shadow's chest fur and overall not seeming as worried about being stuck at home as you'd think. Both of the hedgehogs however seem to immediately notice the Presents that suddenly appear, especially since the two landed with polite little thuds on the coffee table infront of the couch. Shadow seemed Skeptical, but his Expression relaxed when Sonic sat up and pulled the Presents closer for them to see.

Shadow only sits upwards, making sure the blanket they shared was still wrapped over both of their backs, when Sonic begins to atleast read the note on the present marked for him while gently pushing the other one closer to Shadow.

' ' Oh Sick! Chili dogs from the FUTURE! They could only get better! ' '

' ' Who are they from? ' '

' ' Silver of course! I'm- actually surprised he can send stuff from the future.. but hey! I'm not gonna complain. ' '

' ' Are you sure this wont affect anything--? ' '

' ' Noooooo.. but I'm sure he tested that out somewhere else first before he uh- risked that. I atleast hope so. ' '

Shadow merely gives a low grumble at that, furrowing his brows in natural suspicion as Sonic seems to take a double take at the writing before chuckles while pulling the Present into his lap.

' ' What's funny, Hedgehog? ' '

' ' Silver says these are make from the Holoska in his future! a specialty chilidog of his. I remember him actually, he gave me something similar when I helped him out with a couple problems. during my werehog year I think? it's been awhile ago, but to know he's still making these even in the future is great! I'm gonna find a way to give Silver some presents, one way or another. ' '

' ' I'll help. ' '

Sonic gave a confused sound at that, though as he turns his head to look towards the dark hedgehog, he sees that he too had taken the other present when realizing it was directed to him. Sonic softly grins as he watches Shadow open up the present and pull out the chocolate coated coffee beans, already taking a handful.

' ' Is that a smileee? ' '

Shadow's smile drops and he immediately narrows his eyes, turning his back to the hedgehog as if he was defending the sweets for his life. lightheartedly, of course.

' ' Relax! I'm not gonna steal your snack! not this time.. what are they? chocolate? ' '

' ' Chocolate covered coffee beans and no, you may not have one. ' '

' ' love ya too shads. ' '

Sonic chuckles. he properly opens up his present and takes one of the chilly dogs out, leaning against Shadow's back as he enjoyed the lovely snowy evening with the gifts they were given By Silver.

[hugsandchaos]

Arthadow concept/AU???

I made this last summer and realized I never shared it. So here you go! While I work on the oneshot! And the rest of my WIPs, which I think is… 3? I’m bouncing between fandoms like a dang ping pong ball machine, so please forgive me for my all-over-the-place-ness.

Anyways, after Little Shadow was launched in the escape pod, his emotions got really out of control and started affecting his chaos abilities. When it all burst out of him, Little Shadow was transported back to Arthur’s time. More specifically, when Arthur was a kid as well. He just sat and cried as the pod crash landed somewhere in a forest just outside of Camelot. After the crash was over, Little Shadow curled up into a ball and cried himself to sleep.

He remained there for days, ignoring the hunger biting at his stomach and relying on the chaos energy to sustain himself, until he finally went outside and started to explore. More days passed and Little Shadow had learned, much to his horror, that he wasn’t on Earth. At least, not that he knew of. Last time he learned, Camelot was a kingdom from centuries ago, and magic wasn’t real. There was chaos energy, but not magic. Little Shadow also took one look at the knights and instantly feared that they’d be just like the G.U.N. soldiers. He didn’t know why they were after him, but he’d heard Gerald saying that he was scared they’d experiment on him or use him as a weapon.

Little Shadow became something of a petty thief, but could you blame him? He was starving! Besides, they’d literally left the food behind, and it was only about 8 times! He always returned to the crash site. The pod may not be in its best shape, but that and the stars were the closest thing the young hybrid had to home now. Every night, he’d look up at the stars and cry. He was supposed to see them with Maria. They’d spent so much time excitedly waiting for the time they’d look up at the stars from Earth, and now, he’d give anything to return to them.

One day, Young Arthur finally managed to sneak out of the kingdom unnoticed and made a dash into the forest. He just had to investigate that fallen object from weeks ago! The knights hadn’t decided whether or not to go yet for whatever reason, and Young Arthur had grown tired of waiting for the news.

He approached the crash site with great curiosity and some caution, but mostly excitement. He looked at the wreckage in awe and confusion. Metal and glass? What kind of strange object had come down from the endless cosmos above? Was it made by unknown divine beings? Young Arthur soon noticed that the cylindrical structure was hollow near the ground. He got down on his hands and knees, something he’d most likely never do if he wasn’t alone, and looked inside.

He came face to face with Young Shadow.

•Shadow has a near irrational fear of thunder and other loud noises, especially sudden ones (Arthur started to cover his ears with his hands if things got loud or if he knew things were about to get loud. At some point, Shadow started going straight to Arthur during thunderstorms for comfort.)

•Arthur is terrified of being submerged in water, so when he has to attend swimming lessons, Shadow tries to be as close as he can be (Shadow is an amazing swimmer as it’s one of his favorite activities, and he once tried teaching Arthur how to float on his back, which worked. When he first saw Arthur fall into the pool and heard him scream, he bolted into the water and got him out as fast as he could. Arthur still hates and fears having to swim, but Shadow being in there with him helps.)

•Most look at Shadow’s obvious, not-so-hedgehog-like features with disgust or fear, but Arthur is fascinated by them (He has so many questions and is one of the few people allowed to touch Shadow’s tail. Shadow also stays still to let Arthur look at his second row of teeth and forked tongue.)

•Shadow is grieving the incident and tends to cry a lot, and Arthur has no idea why because he hardly ever speaks, also thanks to the incident (The last time anyone tried telling Shadow to shut up and that it’s not a big deal because they didn’t know why he suddenly started crying nearly got really hurt when Shadow screamed and lunged at them. They got away with a few cuts on their arm from where Shadow grabbed them and dug his claws in, but they wouldn’t have been able to get away at all if Shadow hadn’t been pulled off. Shadow disappeared for two weeks after that.)

•Arthur is absolutely in love with him and doesn’t realize it yet, but everyone else besides Shadow sees it (The knights made a bet on when he’ll realize it and when he’ll confess.)

That’s all I’ve got 😐

[theiblistrigger]

knuckles&rouge quick fic💜❤️

(placed sometime after heroes; knuckles and rouge ranting about each other to their respective besties. they’re in love, ofc! everyone knows it but them. no warnings)

When Knuckles ran out of heated words, he realized he had barely looked at his listening friends. He got lost in the haze of recalling the day. A frustrating day, that is, he spent bantering with Rouge the Bat.

As soon as he focused up… Sonic was chuckling. Even Tails seemed to be holding in some laughter, but he was mostly looking at Sonic instead of him. How irritating!

“What?” Knuckles asked. He raised his fists in exasperation and frustration. “What’s so funny?”

“You-” Sonic caught himself laughing again, so he brought a finger under his nose in that pose he does. “You are an echidna in love.”

“What?!” Knuckles couldn’t believe what he was hearing. 

“I think so, Knuckles.” Tails chimed in. He twirled back and forth in his workbench stool.

Knuckles scoffed. “I just told you how much she was bugging me!”

“Yeah, but then you kinda said you loved it.” Sonic responded dryly.

“No…” Did he?

Rouge was in his vision again. Sure she was beautiful, but she was conniving! And when she flirted with him, it irritated him. That was it. 

“You two would be great together.” Sonic said earnestly, but he could only be serious for so long. “Imagine all the treasure hunting.” 

“Oh, can it, hedgehog.” Knuckles sat down with a huff, arms crossed. But he couldn’t get Rouge’s mischievous smile out of his mind.

–

“Oh, that echidna!” Rouge had been ranting for quite a bit now. Her face was flushed.

Shadow was sat on the couch, occasionally nodding along. It wasn’t particularly difficult to side with Rouge, but this was one of those times where chiming in didn’t seem necessary.

More and more, about his red hair and his punching and his purple eyes. Then finally she took a deep huff. “It was a long day. That’s all I’m saying.” With that, she fluttered up and onto the couch beside him.

Shadow took in the silence momentarily. Rouge was pursing her lips and not-so-nonchalantly checking her nails.

Shadow cleared his throat, “Is it maybe you aren’t just teasing him?”

She looked at him in a flash. “What does that mean?”

“You want him to like you back, to take the hint.” He raised an eyebrow. “Am I wrong?”

“Oh, what do you know.” Rouge seemed to be hiding a pink smile, since she was still looking down. She shook her head playfully.

“I don’t think people talk about someone they don’t like for hours.” Shadow noted.

“Maybe not most people,” Rouge agreed, bumping her shoulder to his. “Good thing I’m one of a kind, sweetie.”

Shadow rolled his eyes. Rouge’s love life was not something he gave a lot of thought to. But he did want her to be happy. 

Maybe it was time to vet Knuckles some more. What did he really know about the guy, anyway?

[tenebraevesper]

Sonic the Hedgehog Analyzer, Issue #59: Urban Warfare (Part 3)

Finally, it’s here! You guys have no idea how much I had been looking forward to this Issue, and for a good reason, but let’s first admire the art by Nathalie Haines, which was actually drawn like a classical painting. It’s magnificent!

*clasps hands*

Anyways, Urban Warfare (Part 3); what is there to say about it? Holy Hell, what isn’t there to say about it? Honestly, I had been losing my mind the moment I read the summary for it, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. But, before I start, a little recap since it has been a while.

Sonic and the Diamond Cutters (Tangle, Whisper and Lanolin) arrived at Eggperial City to figure out what is going on, and have found out that the city is expanding by itself. As they plan their next move, the Diamond Cutters end up in a different dimension due to one of Eggman’s portals featured in The Test Run Arc, while Sonic calls for reinforcements. Tails, Amy, Blaze and Silver show up and as they progress through the city, they run into Team Dark destroying Badniks left and right.

So, I’m not even one page into the story and I’m already picking up Sonadow energy from this moment. Trust me, I had a field day with this one.

Sonic is genuinely shocked to see Shadow... and only Shadow. I can’t blame him though, considering how their last encounter went.

Yeah, I’m not sure how many of you remember, but Shadow’s last appearance was in The Chao Races and Badnik Bases Arc, where he made some rather questionable decisions, but not as bad as what happened during The Crisis City Arc (aka the Zombot Fiasco), based on how SEGA wanted him to be written in the story. Fortunately, regarding the writing, we had actually gotten some good news in the weeks leading up to Team Dark’s, and especially Shadow’s, reintroduction to the comics.

To keep it short, all that talk about Shadow having a bunch of locks and chains placed on him to keep him in line with their vision... well, they started to break. From what I understood, SEGA gave more workable guidelines for him that allow for more liberties with writing his character - or in other words, Vegeta!Shadow is finally gone!!! As a matter of fact, while reading through the story, the improvement in his character was remarkable. Admittedly, it might not be for everyone, but goddamn, I’m loving it!

Not to mention, this is the first time since The Crisis City Arc that we see Team Dark working together once again. Also, Rouge, why are you calling everyone else kids when you’re only 18? (And yeah, I know SEGA removed the ages for all the characters, but let’s be honest, who pays attention to that?).

Sonic quips how he’s flattered that they’re here to rescue him, but they’re late to the party and... Silver, what the hell are you doing with Blaze?

*laughs* Even Tails and Amy have noticed that Silver is holding Blaze upside down, while he didn’t register any of it. I suppose Silver is too focused on Team Dark’s reappearance to realize what he’s doing.

Shadow just leaps off the scrapped Badniks, replying to Sonic how he has no idea what he’s talking about, nor does he care. Sonic, on the other hand, looks a little disappointed with that answer. I suppose he had been hoping for some banter.

Rouge then quickly brings him up to speed, explaining how she called in “her boys” (I see this as another win for everyone who say Team Dark are friends!) to see what they could do about Eggperial City - aka destroy everything in their path, foil Eggman’s plans and maybe steal some kind of treasure.

Sonic figures that makes sense, but I’m still convinced he’s disappointed they (or rather Shadow) weren’t here to help him out.

Cue Amy shoving Sonic away to talk to Rouge. I saw people saying how she’s just being overprotective of her crush, but I was questioning where Amy’s line of sight is. Amy notes how this is awfully altruistic of Rouge, but as I said above, she’s in because she wants to raid Eggman’s private vaults for a handsome reward.

Tails and Silver are hyped up to work with them to destroy the city though.

Omega notes how the conversation is irrelevant to their mission, and Rouge notes how Team Sonic would just slow Team Dark down and they’d be going off on their own, with Omega also promising to not hit anyone in the crossfire. Honestly, I think this is the nicest thing Omega could tell them.

Meanwhile, Sonic looks so done with everything. We don’t get annoyed Sonic often, so it’s neat to see him like that, and it makes sense, considering how in a (I assume) very short time-span (depending on when Scrapnik Island takes place), he had discovered Eggperial City and was chased by Metal Sonic while keeping Tails, Kit and Belle safe and having his leg injured, fought Surge at least three times, discovered what Starline had done to them, got separated from the Diamond Cutters and is now trying to foil another of Eggman’s plans while being on his territory and having to deal with Badniks.

That, and Rouge said they were slowing Team Dark down.

Never tell Sonic he’s slowing you down. Never.

Oh, and as the cherry on top, Eggman decides to make an announcement. But instead of talking about how he’s gonna blow up the moon, he decides to explain to everyone how the Eggperial City works. It is a self-replicating and self-repairing metropolis. Anything they destroy, dozens more will rise to take its place. Eggman also figures that this would be a nice time to rise the stakes a little, so he calls in for a little surprise.

IT’S THE SHADOW ANDROIDS!!!

To note, we haven’t seen these guys since Whisper’s backstory way back in the Tangle and Whisper Miniseries and before that, we haven’t seen them since Sonic Heroes and Shadow the Hedgehog.

Going by Shadow’s reaction, he’s clearly shocked to see them again, and Eggman’s obviously going to use the Shadow Androids to their fullest potential.

Hell, Eggman has already the popcorn ready, all to happy to watch the carnage unfold. He calls it a stroke of genius in regards of building robots that mimic Shadow’s skills and holding onto them for the right moment (and that’s not even accounting for the mindscrew Shadow had to deal with when he encountered one for the first time).

Metal Sonic, though, is not happy about the Shadow Androids being dispatched. I’m certain that he wants to be the one on the battlefield.

While this is happening, the Diamond Cutters have infiltrated the control room, Lanolin and Whisper sneaking in, while Tangle just strolls inside like she owns the place, much to Lanolin’s chagrin, and points out how no one’s gonna spot them as she places her hand through Metal’s head. Lanolin just sighs, figuring this should make checking the room out easier, while Whisper stares in the screen in pure shock, realizing that the past is about to repeat itself.

She breaks down, and honestly, I really love the backgrounds in this page. We can see the darkness surrounding Whisper as she tells them how everyone’s going to die. However, the moment Tangle reaches for her and comforts her, the darkness slowly fades away, replaced by a ray of light. Tangle hugs Whisper, promising her how things will be fine, and even Lanolin joins in on comforting Whisper. While these three are still learning, they do make a great team.

Speaking of the Shadow Androids, we see Team Sonic fighting them, everyone being clearly in shock to what they are, with Tails being unable to get clear readings about them as they’re too fast. Even Blaze’s fire is not enough to keep them back and they’re strong enough to deal with Amy’s hammer.

Now, I’ll stop here to put a reminder. On the heroes side, no one but Shadow, Rouge, Omega, Whisper and Tangle here knows about the Shadow Androids. Whisper’s encounter with them is obvious, and Tangle saw footage of that, while Shadow, Rouge and Omega ran into them in Sonic Heroes, and Shadow had another (dubiously canonical) encounter with them in Shadow the Hedgehog.

Realizing just how dire the situation is, Sonic calls Silver for help so they can escape. Silver, being the awesome psychic he is, lifts the ground into a ramp and with Blaze frying the Shadow Androids that are after them, Sonic grabs everyone to get away from the robots in pursuit (also, nice Sonamy moment with that little blush).

Team Sonic finds Team Dark after the groups have been briefly separated, with Blaze grabbing Sonic and Amy’s hands and rushing over to help Team Dark. Yeah, there is an error in the panels, as both show Blaze grabbing hands with rings around them, suggesting she was grabbing only Amy’s hand. I suppose the artist forgot to erase the ring to make it clear she was also grabbing Sonic.

Back with Team Dark, Shadow assesses how Eggman’s trying to overwhelm them with sheer numbers and how there’s no strategy to their movements, meaning they can be easily manipulated. He figures that, once they move to a better position, they can take them out.

Cue Blaze throwing Sonic and Amy (another error, both are blue instead of being blue and pink) with Sonic spin-dashing and Amy smashing the Shadow Androids that were about to attack Shadow.

With a nose flick, Sonic is right back to quipping, asking Shadow whether he had some cousins he never told them about, while Shadow responds with “Please. These cheap copies don’t deserve to wear my place.”

Have I told you how much I love these two together? (≧◡≦)

As the battle continues, Shadow explains how the Shadow Androids are cheap copies created by Eggman, and how he’ll pay dearly for this insult. Unfortunately, Omega loses his footing and is being brought down by the Shadow Androids, but he keeps on fighting. Realizing how things are getting dire, Rouge asks Shadow to use his own powers against the Shadow Androids, but he responds how it is impossible without a Chaos Emerald (makes me wonder what happened to the Chaos Emerald Rouge stole in the Sonic Annual).

Tails rushes in, telling Shadow how the crystals are also generating Chaos Energy, with Shadow agreeing, but notes how the energy is distorted.

“Fake Emeralds... I hate to stoop to using such a pale substitute, but... it will do.”

Okay, can I say that this panel is absolutely amazing, and what’s about to happen is jaw-dropping!

I swear, this was my reaction to seeing this page:

Not only is the art absolutely gorgeous, but it finally shows Shadow as a pure badass who has the skills to support his title of The Ultimate Lifeform! Honestly, words cannot describe how much I love this! Bow your heads low, all hail Shadow!

And to add a cherry to the top of this moment of awesomeness:

Absolutely badass! It’s really great to see Shadow let loose from time to time. Hell, even Team Sonic is amazed!

Tails, Amy and Silver are starstruck, Rouge is proud of her boy, Blaze is... stunned, to say the least (I suppose she never saw what Shadow was truly capable of), while Sonic figures he should too give it a try.

And yeah, I saw the Dark Sonic jokes floating around. Are you guys forgetting that Sonic was the first to use a Fake Chaos Emerald for Chaos Control back in Sonic Adventure 2? He knows how to handle them.

Shadow then points out that they’re not done yet and goes for another Chaos Control, only for something to happen...

A giant crystal shoots out of the ground, throwing everyone off, while Rouge asks Shadow what’s happening. Shadow is crackling with Chaos Energy, warning her that it’s too much and...

Holy frigging Hell! Shadow unleashes a blast of Chaos Energy, nuking everything surrounding him. Everyone escapes, and when Rouge tries to get back to Shadow and Omega, she’s stopped by the crystals, which are now shooting out from everywhere.

Eggman quickly attempts to regain control of the situation, figuring Shadow would cause trouble. Tangle wonders what happened, with Whisper answering how it was Chaos Overload (how does she know that?). I suppose Shadow used to much of the surrounding Chaos Energy and it was too much for him to handle since the Fake Chaos Emeralds were spread out all over the city. He may be a Master of Chaos Control, but even this would overwhelm someone like him.

Eggman activates the emergency limiter, rebooting the system, noting how it’ll take more to take out his city.

Team Sonic and Rouge observe the destruction Shadow had caused, with Tails figuring it was some runaway feedback loop. Rouge is worried about Shadow and Omega, but Sonic, Silver and Blaze assure her that not only are the two tough, they also know what they’re up against and they can deal with Eggman. Rouge is cheered up, while Sonic looks forward to Shadow’s expression when he saves him.

Yeah, Sonic will never let Shadow live that down.

Back with Eggman, the power has returned, the system got rebooted... and Eggman lost Sonic and co. Lanolin points out how the power surge nearly crippled the entire city, so if they trigger another bigger one, this should destroy it. But in that moment, all three of them become suddenly visible, with Eggman spotting them.

In two magnificent panels, we get an Eggman obscured by shadows, really creeping me out, as he figures they ran into his spatial-displacement trap. He explains how they almost got out when the power dipped, but he has a way of dealing with them, summoning another model of the portal and telling them how this will scatter their atoms into oblivion.

Whisper takes the shot, and honestly, if she still hadn’t been trapped in that other dimension, she would’ve killed Eggman then and there. The blast went right through his chest. Like, this was probably the fourth time she attempted to kill someone in cold blood (first Mimic, followed by another attempt at Eggman’s life, then Surge and now Eggman again).

What’s even more chilling is how calm Eggman is, well aware what his trap had done. It then surrounds Whisper.

Tangle screams for her as Whisper is trapped inside the device, and then spots another one flying for her, only for Lanolin to ram her out of the way and tell her to tell everyone what happened and what to do before getting captured herself.

Tangle is cornered, but she suddenly phases through the window, falling out of the command tower. The story ends on a literal cliffhanger.

Holy Hell, I absolutely loved this Issue! It was beyond awesome for all the reasons I already talked above, but there is one specific thing I wanted to discuss in the ending of this analysis - Shadow’s portrayal.

Honestly, I had absolutely no complaint with how he was written in this Issue. People might not agree with me, but I think Urban Warfare really redeemed him, as rather than being prideful and arrogant, he was more business-like and focused on the mission, pragmatic and patient in explaining to everyone what is going on, as well as having his moments of banter with Sonic.

As for him being taken out of the battle, alongside Omega, I’m actually fine with it, as it’s the manner with how he was put out of commission.

Seriously, compare this:

To this:

It’s not about pride, it’s about saving everyone with his own power, and that’s what I had been missing from IDW!Shadow for so long.

I really hope we’ll see more of this in the future.

Links:

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#Sonic the Hedgehog Analyzer (Masterlist)

[midnightshard06]

Flufftober Day 15

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/50489362/chapters/128516482

Summary: Sonic and Shadow managed to get captured while fighting Eggman. Sonic apparently decides that's a great time to confess to Shadow.

Pairing: Sonic the Hedgehog/Shadow the Hedgehog

Warnings: None

Word Count: ~900 words

@flufftober

“Look out!” Shadow launched a chaos spear at an approaching badnik that Sonic hadn’t seen coming. The other hedgehog gave him a thankful nod before going back to smashing robots. The attack had been pretty sudden, though to be fair most Eggman attacks were. Eggman had already destroyed a large chunk of forest, clearly looking for something before Sonic had apparently showed up. Shadow would be willing to bet he was looking for an emerald since he himself had only been in the area because he was also looking for an emerald. If the doctor wanted an emerald it was bad news, so of course Shadow had jumped in to help when he’d seen Sonic fighting.

The two wove around the battlefield in a pretty familiar way. The two had plenty of experience both fighting with each other and against. With all that experience it made it easier to work together without communicating. Of course sometimes that familiarity led to complacency which is what Shadow is going to blame for both of them missing Eggman slipping off and getting the emerald.

Sonic and Shadow were back to back, ready to take out the remaining badniks when both of them fell to the ground, some sort of electricity coursing through them. The last thing Shadow saw before he blacked out was Eggman holding the emerald in his hand.

When Shadow woke up the first thing he realized was that he couldn’t move. The next thing he realized was that Sonic was right next to him, bound in the same way Shadow assumed he was and very much awake. The two were in some sort of cage and Eggman stood in front of them.”Well, good morning rodents. Awake just in time to see my brilliant plan fall into place.” The doctor looked smug as he pulled out the emerald from before. “With this last emerald there won’t be a thing either of you can do to stop me, or your little friends. Enjoy your last moments.” With that Eggman turned on his heel and walked out of the room, presumably to go enact his plan.

“Well, this sucks.” Sonic sighed and he tested the bonds. Shadow didn’t say anything because he felt like at the moment if he did whatever he said wouldn’t be kind. Mostly because he was frustrated with the situation. “Any chance of a chaos control?”

“Not without an emerald.” Shadow huffed, pushing down his frustration as best he could. “We’re going to have to figure out a different way to get out of this.”

“Eh it’s never fun if it’s easy anyway.” Sonic was clearly forcing a more chipper tone. Shadow could tell he was worried.

“Relax faker. We’ll get out of this.” Shadow did his best to look over the things that bound them. It was hard because of the angle.

“I- yeah we will.” Sonic didn’t sound sure. “Hey Shadow? Mind if I tell you something?”

Shadow paused in his examination of the bonds for a moment. “Be quick about it.”

“Heh, easy enough for me.” Sonic cleared his throat. “I uh… like you.”

Shadow gave him a confused glance as he started working on the bonds; he might have found a way to get out. “I… like you too?”

“No not like… a friend.” Sonic emphasized the word. “Like more than a friend. I’ve liked you for a while now but I never had the courage to say anything.” He sucked in a breath. “Tails and Amy have been trying to get me to just say something to you but I’ve just… not had the courage.” He sighed through his nose. There was silence for a while and Shadow could feel Sonic squirm. “I uh- don’t worry if you don’t feel the same or anything I just wanted to get that off my chest.” More silence. “Are you… going to say anything?”

Finally Shadow managed to get their bonds off. He threw a chaos spear at the cage before turning around to offer a hand to help Sonic up. The other hedgehog took his hand, an embarrassed look on his face. “We can talk about this later.” Shadow looked away. “But know that your feelings are returned.”

Sonic gave him a massive smile. “Got it. Stop Eggman now, chat later. Cool. I can do that.”

The two ran through Eggman’s base, taking out any badniks in their way. Eggman jumped as the two burst into his control room. “How did you two escape!?”

“You should have tried harder to contain us.” Shadow scoffed and looked behind him to spot the emeralds slotted into some sort of machine.

“What do you say we handle this super sonic style?” Sonic smirked at Shadow, cracking his knuckles.

“Let’s do it.” Shadow nodded. The two rushed forward and called on the power of the emeralds. From there it was pretty simple to send the doctor packing. Clearly Eggman hadn’t planned for them to escape. After thoroughly destroying the doctor’s base they let their super forms drop.

“Soooo.” Sonic slung an arm around Shadow’s shoulders. “Can we talk now?”

Shadow huffed as he looked at Sonic. He gently shoved Sonic’s arm off before smirking. “If you can catch me first.” He took off and he could hear Sonic not far behind.

[myymi]

You could write a about shadow seeing a ghost/image of maria in tails. Like their hanging out and tails like does something that maybe Maria would do too. Or he just looks into tail eyes and just see an expression she did once like tails is in pain or happy.

word count-781 ------------------

Shadow knew he’d never see her again. He knew he’d never hear her stories of Mobius, never hear her laugh or whisper goodnight to him. He’d never get to see those bright blue eyes shimmer with that were framed by that beautiful gold. Or; That’s what Shadow thought. “Hey, Shadow!” Tails chirped, waving after the door had opened. The hedgehog forgot the kid was coming over today. “Hi.” He greeted, stepping to the side so the younger could walk inside. If he was being honest, Shadow wasn’t all that sure why he enjoyed the kid’s presence. He wasn’t the biggest fan of being around people, especially children. Most kids don’t understand personal space, they hardly ever stop talking, and they always ask the dumbest questions. But Tails was different. Sure, the kid still talked like crazy, but it never seemed to annoy the hedgehog. He didn’t understand why, but he welcomed the younger’s rants. “I brought the tools you asked for,” Tails smiled and shrugged off his yellow backpack, unzipping it to show the older its contents. Sure enough, there were all kinds of different tools stuffed inside it. Shadow nodded and nodded his head to the garage, “Come on.” He said before walking off, leaving the fox to scamper after him. “What’s going on with the Dark Rider, anyway?” The younger asked as they entered the garage, the motorcycle in question leaned against the far wall. “Something with its engine,” The hedgehog grumbled, leaning against the wall as the kit went over to the bike, setting his bag on the floor, “I can’t figure it out.” Tails hummed as he pulled the Dark Rider off the wall, carefully flipping it onto its back. He pulled a screwdriver out of his bag, quickly taking off the panel that hid the engine. Shadow kept quiet, content to just watch as the fox dissected his motorcycle. “Hey,” The kit mumbled about 5 minutes later, “can you tell me what was happening when you realized it wasn’t working?” He asked, peeking his head over the bike. “Well,” The teen sighed, “it sounded normal, but it kept spinning without doing anything.” “Then the issue isn’t your engine,” Tails said, sitting back on his knees, “it’s your fuse.” “The fuse?” Shadow raised a brow.” “A wire is probably in the wrong place,” The younger shrugged, ducking his head back into the motorcycle while using his communicator as a flashlight to check the main fuse. The hedgehog tsked, looking to the floor. He guesses he’s buying a new fuse today. “Yeah, that’s blown,” Tails grumbled, pulling his head out before getting to his feet as he brushed off his gloves, “easy fix. I’ll just need to run back to my workshop to grab a multimeter and circuit breaker.” Shadow gestured to the workbench he kept, “there’s some in there.” The kit smiled but waved it off, “Mine are custom built to help make the process faster, plus I’ll need a new fuse first. The Dark Rider seems to use twenty-nine amps, which I think I’m out of. I do have a shipment coming in tomorrow, if you don’t mind waiting?” The teen gave a curt nod, “That’s fine.” “Great!” The fox beamed, his tails gently wagging and the older could’ve sworn his eyes shined a little brighter. And, at that moment, Shadow could no longer see the fox. Instead, he saw those same bright blue eyes, framed by that familiar gold. The hedgehog could feel his breath stop for a half a second. Because, finally, it all made so much sense. She was why he let the fox in. She was why he listened to the fox. She was why he liked the fox. It was all her. “Shadow?” The teen blinked, his brow furrowing at the gloved paw that was suddenly waving in his face, “oh, sorry–” Tails quickly retreated his hand, taking a few steps back. “Sorry,” Shadow coughed out an apology, taking a deep breath, when will the shipment arrive tomorrow?” The kit studied him for a few seconds longer before answering, “Should be early afternoon.” The hedgehog nodded, “I’ll leave the door open. Let yourself in.” He grumbled before walking out of the room, leaving a very confused fox behind.

He just needed time alone. Just long enough so he could figure out how he feels about the similarities between the fox and his lost sister. They were far too alike one another. But.. maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe this is a second chance. A second opportunity to keep his promise. He’s not her, sure, but Shadow thinks he doesn’t mind. He’s rather fond of Tails, even without connecting him to Maria.

[kingofsummer93]

Ex Luna Scientia

Summary:

Lucien Vanserra, seventh son of the Minister for Magic, is as loved by his peers as he is hated by his family. But behind the charm and irreverence hides a secret, as dark and menacing as the scar on his face.

Elain Archeron, middle sister in a trio of muggle-born witches, has only one wish: for someone to truly see her. Because when she sleeps at night, she can see it all.

Or- an Elucien at Hogwarts AU.

Chapter 12: The Unexpected Task

Ao3 Masterlist

Lucien flicked his wand, concentrating on the non-verbal spell as he stared at the cushion in front of him. The cushion shuddered, the red velvet fabric splitting as a tail sprouted from one of the corners. The back, however, remained perfectly smooth, looking decidedly more like a throw pillow than the hedgehog he was meant to be turning it into.

“You stink at this.” Vassa smirked as her own hedgehog wobbled across the desk and climbed onto Lucien’s pillow, setting down for a nap.

“I don’t know why anyone would need to turn a cushion into a hedgehog anyway,” Lucien grumbled.

Tamlin grunted his agreement. His own attempt had been slightly more successful than Lucien’s- his cushion had sprouted not just a tail, but also spikes and legs. The effect, however, was far more horrifying, as the creature’s lack of eyes made it a walking menace.

“You should get that thing under control,” Vassa warned as the spiked creature pattered blindly around the floor.

“You know what,” Lucien declared, “I kind of like him. We should keep him.”

“He can be our fifth,” Tamlin added with a smirk.

“Yup, that’s exactly what we need. Honestly, sometimes I don’t know why I’m friends with you guys.” Vassa rolled her eyes and flicked her wand, smoothly transfiguring her hedgehog back into a bright pink cushion.

“You mean other than how simply dashing we all are?”

“You mean simply dung-brained,” Vassa quipped drily. She flicked her wand again and this time her cushion flew straight to Tamlin’s head.

“Speaking of dashing friends,” she continued, ignoring Tamlin’s yelps. “Have you spoken to Elain lately?”

Lucien’s stomach flipped with guilt. He kept his focus on his almost-hedgehog, schooling his features into a neutral expression. “Why do you ask that?”

Tamlin and Vassa immediately stopped their bickering and smirked at him in unison.

“You tell us.” Tamlin drawled. “You finally kiss her and now you can’t even see her in the hall without tripping over your own feet.”

Vassa snickered, earning a half-hearted scowl from Lucien. “Seriously, you were more smooth back in fourth year when you convinced Jes to go to the greenhouses with you.”

“That was pretty smooth,” Tamlin agreed, a faraway look glazing his eyes. “Snagging a seventh year, what a legend you were…”

Lucien smirked slightly at the memory. Elain liked gardening, didn’t she? Maybe he should ask her to come for a midnight greenhouse stroll with him…

“Don’t even think about it,” Vassa warned, crossing her arms. “I can see the wheels turning in your brain.”

Lucien sighed, flicking his wand again. His cushion shuddered and sprouted a few spikes.

“Did something happen that you aren’t telling us about?” Tamlin pushed. “You went from talking to her every chance you could get, to avoiding her…”

Lucien shifted uncomfortably under his friends’ searching looks. There was no hiding anything from them. They knew him too well.

“Yes,” he admitted, dropping his voice to a whisper. “But I can’t tell you about it.”

“What do you mean you can’t tell us about it?”

“Lucien Vanserra, what have you done?”

“I didn’t do anything!”

Lucien suddenly fell silent as he heard a noise near his feet. Too late he realized that the classroom had gone quiet, and that everyone was now staring at them. He stiffened as something slithered past his leg- a snake, thin and black like a whisp of shadow. It slid up the leg of the nearest desk, and with a brief flash of light Professor Amaratha appeared. The teacher crossed one leg over the other as she perched on the edge of the desk, regarding him with utter disdain.

“If I had a galleon for every stupidity that’s been said in the past five minutes,” she started unceremoniously, “I might actually be able to retire. Imagine what you could all achieve if you put half as much effort in your spellwork as you do with gossiping.”

“Sorry, Professor…” Vassa muttered.

Professor Amaratha ignored her and picked up Lucien’s half-hearted attempt at transfiguring his cushion, her lips curving into a sneer. “Since Mr Vanserra’s private life is of such dire importance, why don’t you go ahead and share with the class what you were discussing?”

Tamlin and Vassa shifted uncomfortably, glancing between him and the teacher. Lucien flashed a grin, though he knew it wouldn’t get him out of trouble with Amarantha.

“Surely you wouldn’t want me to spill my darkest and most dangerous secrets, Professor?”

Idiotic. It was a simply idiotic thing to say, but seeing Amarantha’s eyes flash with irritation was worth whatever punishment was coming his way. The entire class was still staring, most students looking like they didn’t know whether to cringe or laugh.

Amarantha’s silence was heavy and loaded with threat. “Fifty points from Gryffindor, Mr Vanserra, for mouthing off and for using my class as your gossiping time.”

An audible groan rippled around the classroom. “Next time please remember that in this classroom you are no more special than-“

“I don’t think I’m better than anyone!” Lucien interrupted, his temper flaring.

Amarantha smiled in wicked delight. “And another 10 points, for interrupting me.”

Lucien clamped his mouth shut.

“Since you’ve already interrupted the class, why don’t share some more?”

Why don’t you go back to the shit-hole from hell you crawled out of…

A bell sounded in the hall, announcing the end of class. There was a collective sigh of relief as everyone dove for their book bags, eager to escape.

“Not so fast!” Amarantha demanded, sliding off the desk and making her way back up to the front of the class. “I have an announcement. The school will be hosting a ball on December twenty-first, the night of Winter Solstice.”

The students, who had been inching their way towards the door, suddenly perked with interest.

“The Solstice ball is a traditional part of the Tri-Trials Tournament. The ball will be open to fourth years and above, but you may invite a younger student to accompany you if you wish.” The teacher paused and huffed as a few girls giggled at the back of the class.

“Dress robes will be worn, and there will be a feast followed by dancing.” Lucien had a sudden, horrible vision of Professor Amarantha dancing and visibly winced. The teacher sneered at him, evidently misunderstanding the gesture. “Yes, Mr Vanserra, dancing. I would suggest you change your attitude, seeing as the four champions and their partners will be opening the ball.”

“And here I thought you just said I wasn’t special?” Lucien quipped with a grin. As soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted them.

The look Professor Amarantha shot him was nothing short of scathing. “Another ten points from Gryffindor. Class dismissed.

Lucien ignored his friends’ glares as he grabbed his book bag and hauled ass out of the classroom before he could get docked even more points.

“Well, there’s your opportunity,” Vassa declared.

“My opportunity for what?”

Vassa rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. “Your opportunity for a grand gesture with Elain! Ask her to the ball, you dummy!”

Lucien swallowed thickly, trying and failing not to imagine himself dancing with Elain at the ball. Or how stunning she’d look in her dress robes, or how it would feel to hold her in his arms.

“I can’t.” As difficult as it was to admit, he knew it was true.

Somehow he’d triggered that vision. If she kept getting close to him, what else would she see? And how soon until she figured out the truth? It wasn’t just his future at stake, but his friends’ as well. They risked getting expelled if someone found out.

He had known it all along, of course. People like him weren’t meant to lead normal lives. He wasn’t meant to be a normal teenager, with a girlfriend he could bring home and introduce to his parents.

This is the chest of drawers my assholes brothers once locked me in, this is my childhood bedroom, oh, and this is the cage where I get locked up once a month.

Elain wasn’t someone he could just have fun with and not get close to. She deserved better than that.

She deserved better than him.

---

“A ball!” Nuala held out her arms, twirling down the corridor as if she were dancing with an invisible partner. “I can’t wait, it’s going to be magical!”

“Do you think we’ll get asked by someone?” Cerridwen asked, biting her lip.

Elain huffed indignantly. “Of course you will, what are you talking about?”

“Easy for you to say when the most attractive boy in school is practically your boyfriend.” Nuala stopped prancing and stuck out her tongue.

“Lucien is not my…boyfriend!” she sputtered, feeling her face growing hot.

She hadn’t spoken to him at all since the first trial. It seemed like every time they so much as locked eyes Lucien would turn and walk in the opposite direction. He even managed to ignore her in Divination class.

Every time she thought about it her stomach clenched with regret. No doubt whatever interest he had before had vanished when she had babbled about visions and werewolves. He must think her insane, and she didn’t really blame him.

Her friends shared a knowing glance and Elain rolled her eyes at their antics. Still, she’d be lying if she hadn’t pictured being at the ball with Lucien ever since hearing about it. Not that she would ever admit that to them. She’d never hear the end of it.

As they walked down the marble staircase towards the entrance hall a familiar flash of red hair caught her attention. Lucien was standing in the middle of the hall, talking to a gaggle of seventh year girls.

No, not talking- flirting was a better word. The girls were giggling and twirling their hair, clearly fighting for his attention. And, most probably, hoping that he would ask one of them to go to the ball with him.

The sight of it made Elain feel idiotic for thinking he might ask her at all. Of course he wouldn’t. He hadn’t even spoken to her in weeks. There was no chance he would want to go with her and not one of these pretty, flirty girls, who looked at him like he was a god and none of whom were a freak of nature.

She felt a fresh wave of embarrassment as she remembered what she had told him the summer before, as they rode his flying bike. The ball would be the perfect opportunity for couples to sneak off to dark, private corners of the castle. No doubt he’d have more fun with one of those girls than with someone who’d gotten dumped for being prudish. Maybe that was why he’d lost interest. He’d realized she wasn’t worth all that effort.

“Elain? What’s wrong?”

Elain blinked, realizing she had frozen in the middle of the staircase. Her friends were peering up at her with identical looks of concern as students jostled their way around her.

“Nothing,” Elain squeaked. To her horror she felt tears pricking the back of her eyes. “I’m fine I just…I forgot something in the classroom, I’ll see you guys at dinner!”

Without waiting for them to reply she turned and bolted up the stairs. She fought her way through the throng of students making their way to the Great Hall, not bothering to apologize as she shoved her way through. She ran up the stairs and down corridor after corridor, until finally she was alone. With a heavy sigh she slumped onto a window ledge, and only then did she allow the tears to fall.

Stupid. She was so stupid and naive. Of course she wasn’t special. Lucien might have insinuated that she was but obviously he would say that. Of course the Pygmy Puff wasn’t the only gift he’d ever bought for a girl. He might have bought a whole cage of them, for all she knew.

Her breathless sobs echoed around the empty corridor. Elain hugged her legs to her chest and dropped her face onto her knees, hating herself for feeling this way. This was why she had kept her distance, even if part of her hadn’t wanted to. Because she’d known how badly she could get hurt if she let herself fall for someone like Lucien.

“Elain? Are you alright?”

Elain gasped in fright, her sobs catching in her throat as she realized she wasn’t alone. For one wild second she dared to hope that it might be Lucien- and then her hope crashed into bitter disappointment. It wasn’t Lucien, but Azriel. He was frowning, looking supremely uncomfortable as he scanned the empty corridor.

Great. Another boy who had avoided her like the plague for weeks. Just what she needed. Elain wiped her tear-streaked cheeks with the cuff of her robes, hoping she didn’t look like as much of a mess as she felt.

Are you alright. As if he hadn’t caught her sobbing in an empty corridor. She almost wanted to laugh.

“I’m fine.” Her voice was still slightly choked with tears.

Azriel looked unconvinced. He shuffled awkwardly, a slight flush staining his cheeks.

“I’m fine,” she said again, with more conviction this time. “I was just…upset about something.”

“Something? Or someone?”

Elain huffed in irritation. “I’m not quite sure how that’s any of your business.”

Azriel’s blush deepened. He held up his hands, wincing slightly. “Sorry, obviously it’s none of my business…” He trailed off awkwardly.

“What are you doing here anyway?” Glancing around the corridor Elain realized she had run almost all the way to the North Tower. Probably as far away from the Slytherin common room, down in the dungeons, as you could get.

“Oh!” A slight grin tugged at Azriel’s lips. “I was, uh…I was looking for you, actually.”

Elain frowned suspiciously. “How did you know I’d be here?”

The grin widened. “Got lucky, I guess.” His hazel eyes, usually perpetually trained on the ground, were bright and sparkling. He looked more animated than she had ever seen him.

“Are you drunk?”

Azriel laughed, the sound brighter and merrier than any sound she’d ever heard him make. “No. Why would you ask that?”

“You seem…strange. Happy.”

“Ouch. Don’t spare my feelings, Elain.”

Elain winced apologetically. “Sorry, I didn’t mean…sorry.”

Azriel only grinned at her, and it was Elain’s turn to shuffle awkwardly. “Um. You were looking for me?” Suddenly she remembered that their last conversation had been an argument in the middle of potions class. An argument about Lucien. Her wariness returned, accompanied by a bone-deep longing for her bed, where she could hopefully wallow some more. Uninterrupted, this time.

“Yes.” Azriel cleared his throat, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. “I wanted to apologize. For what I said to you, when we had that argument. It wasn’t fair…or very nice. I’ve felt bad about it for weeks but I’m terrible at this kind of stuff…”

Some of the tension eased off Elain’s shoulders. “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. It’s his fault, he always finds a way to get under my skin.”

She knew she didn’t have to specify which he she was referring to. She expected Azriel to sneer, but he only smiled at her knowingly. “Friends?” he asked, extending a hand.

Elain laughed, shaking his hand. He was definitely a little bit drunk. “Friends,” she agreed. “You know, I think this is the most I’ve ever heard you talk.”

He blushed again, dipping his chin. His floppy dark hair fell over his eyes with the motion. He was really quite cute when he smiled. And when he talked.

“There was something else I wanted to ask you.” He took a deep breath, as if bracing himself. “Willyougoballwithme?”

Elain blinked in confusion and huffed a laugh. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“Will you, um. Will you go to the ball with me?”

“Oh!”

Elain felt a flush bloom up her cheeks. She thought of Lucien and that gaggle of girls, all swarming for his attention.

Azriel’s eyes were wide and hopeful, his hands clenching and unclenching, as if he didn’t know what to do with himself. Maybe this was what she needed. Someone quiet and kind, whose interest in her might last longer than one kiss.

“Unless someone already asked you, or you don’t want to, it’s totally fine…”

“Oh, no. No one’s asked me yet. Um. Sure, I’d love to go with you.”

Azriel grinned broadly, looking like he couldn’t quite believe it. “It must be my lucky night.”

She’d have fun, she decided. She’d dance with Azriel and make sure Lucien saw, and she wouldn’t care about whatever girl he danced with.

And maybe she didn’t quite believe it yet, but she told herself that by Winter Solstice she would.

---

Lucien lay slumped on the dusty four-poster in the Shrieking Shack, the weak light of dawn filtering in through the grimy windows. The pastel-colored light illuminated the dust motes and dirt that covered the place, but in the light of day the shack looked no more menacing than what it truly was- a dilapidated old cottage, no ghosts or otherwise evil creature in sight.

Every inch of his body screamed in pain. His bones creaked and ached, and his muscles were sore and stiff as if he’d spent an entire night running through the woods. Which, of course, was exactly what he had done.

He stood up gingerly, his head swimming with a rush of dizziness. There was a foul taste in his mouth that he chose to ignore for now, though it made his stomach churn. Blood, flesh, and the unmistakable texture of feathers. He gritted his teeth against the sudden rush of nausea. Probably just a pheasant. He’d certainly eaten stranger things before.

Just the thought of it was enough for his stomach to give another mighty lurch. He barely managed to stumble to the bathroom before retching violently. This was another reason he strictly forbid his friends from staying with him when he transformed, however much he longed for their company. Seeing your friend retch up firewhiskey was one thing, but seeing them retch up a half-digested woodland creature was another business entirely. Not that they would do anything but tease him for it.

His legs shook as he made his way down the underground tunnel back towards the Whomping Willow. More than once he had to stop to catch his breath, leaning against the damp earth walls as he fought the lingering nausea. The Whomping Willow stirred as he finally crawled his way out of the hidden entrance.

“Calm down, you ridiculous tree…”

Great. Now he was talking to trees. He desperately needed sleep. He was so exhausted that it was an effort to lift a stick and press the knot to silence the Whomping Willow. All he wanted was to stop by the infirmary, drink a whole jug of pain tonic, crawl to Gryffindor Tower, and pass out in his bed until at least mid-afternoon. Thankfully it was Saturday and he wouldn’t need to come up with an excuse for missing any lessons.

The heavy wooden front door groaned as he pushed it open and walked into the warmth of the Entrance Hall. He raked a hand down his face, wishing he could simply apparate up to the infirmary.

“Lucien?”

He froze, his blood running cold. That voice was familiar enough that he knew who it was without a doubt before even looking. For a few moments the Entrance Hall appeared deserted, and Lucien frowned, his heart racing.

But then, sure enough- there she was, stepping out of the shadows next to the door that led to the kitchens and Hufflepuff dormitory.

“Elain. Hi.” His voice was hoarse with exhaustion, and he knew without looking at himself that he must look as wretched as he felt. “What are you doing?”

Elain looked him up and down, her eyes widening slightly at his appearance. Merlin, what must she be thinking? He only hoped there was no blood on his face. Or feathers, for that matter. Scratches and bruises could be explained, but…

“What are you doing?” she demanded.

“Quidditch practice.” The lie came easily, though he hated himself for it. “I couldn’t sleep, so I figured I’d get some extra practice in.”

She frowned, doubt written all over her face. She didn’t move from the other side of the Entrance Hall, and Lucien didn’t dare step closer. He didn’t need her to take a closer look at him. The faster he ended this conversation and the less questions she asked, the better.

“What are you doing up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday?”

“Herbology project. I’m growing Venomous Tentaculas, they flourish best if you transplant them at dawn.” Lucien relaxed slightly. That sounded definitely plausible. Just a coincidence, then. A terribly unlucky one, but still just a coincidence. “After a full moon.”

Those four words seemed to take an eternity to click into his consciousness. “What did you just say?”

Another frown. “I said Tentaculas need to be transplanted at dawn after a full moon for them to grow properly.”

Shit. Shit shit shit.

“I didn’t want to go outside until after sunrise since, you know…”

“Oh. Right, of course. Shit, I didn’t realize it was a full moon…” Did he sound convincing? He looked over his shoulder at the front door and widened his eyes for good measure. “Well, I didn’t see anything while I was out there...”

When he turned around Elain was still staring at him. He cleared his throat, inching his way towards the marble staircase. “Well, I should go take a shower, I probably stink.”

Elain was still hovering near the edge of the entrance hall, still looking at him with a mixture of emotions he couldn't quite place. It almost looked like she was waiting for him to say something else.

Lucien could practically hear Vassa’s voice screaming inside his head.

Ask her to the ball, you dummy!

The words were on the tip of his tongue. Even if this was not the way he would have gone about it- sore, exhausted, smellier than the bottom of the Great Lake and probably just as slimy.

But then he remembered the look on her face when she told him about her vision. That look had been nothing but pure fear. She might not agree with his father on his policies, but that didn’t mean she’d be willing to date a werewolf, either.

“Um. I’ll see you later, then.”

“Right. Sure.” With that she strode across the hall, keeping her gaze on the floor so her long locks hid her face.

“Wait!”

She paused with her hand against the front door. When she turned to look at him her eyes didn’t quite meet his. She bit her lip, and the sight of it (and the memory of how those lips felt against his) was almost enough to obliterate his resolve.

“Did you bring your gloves?”

Her gaze did meet his then, her lips parting in surprise. “What?”

“Venomous Tentaculas are dangerous, aren’t they? Make sure you use gloves.”

He felt her eyes on him as he turned and hurried up the stairs, practically running away from her before she could say anything.

Or before she could spot the pain in his eyes that had nothing to do with his sore body.

[writingtraumaforever]

Sonadowtober Day 1: “I found you, Faker!”

Okay! So I know it’s November 1st. But I’m feeling super angsty, and I just joined tumblr a few days ago. So I joined right as all this Sonadowtober stuff was ending and I WANNA DO SOME!! So I will continue to unapologetically write these prompts despite them being late. Sorry not sorry.

Though.. I may be a little sorry for this one. c:0

TW: major character death, depression, grief

Summary: What if Shadow didn’t get to watch Sonic grow old??..

Oneshot:

He never thought about this.

It never even entered his mind.

When Sonic and Shadow made the choice to commit to one another all those years ago, it was understood that it was a win-lose situation. Sonic would grow old and Shadow would stay with him through it and eventually watch him pass with time, grateful for the moments they shared and the love they created.

The adventures they had.

Shadow would lose Sonic, but carry him in his heart forever. A lesson Maria taught him.

Sonic was never taught that lesson.

Sonic has lived in blissful assumption that he’d be the one to go. That he wouldn’t have to live without Shadow. He’d die of old age with Shadow holding him in his sleep and his face buried in his partner’s chest fur and the scent of lavender lulling him to an after life of peace.

But here he is at the ripe age of fifty…

And the monument reads ‘Shadow the Hedgehog’.

His eyes are lifeless. He doesn’t worry about being recognized. No one would spot him like this, so drained and broken. And even if they did, they wouldn’t dare approach..

His ears are folded back against his quills. His quills are longer and duller in color from maturity, going from a cobalt blue to a more muted, dark, cornflower blue. His muzzle is scruffy, the tan fur having messy tufts here and there.. Shadow no longer being around to lick and groom them neat. And Sonic doesn’t bother without him..

Emerald eyes that use to shine with adventure and the promise of tomorrow are now dimmed to orbs that hold no reason. No joy.

He’s never experienced this kind of loss. Even when he has watched other pass into another life, it was always euphoric or riddled with closure and peace.

Shadow’s death was sudden. Unexpected.

Sonic could still see his face. The way the world stopped moving. The way Shadow’s gaze immediately searched out Sonic’s. The way Shadow looked so much like he wanted to speak. Reach out. Say something. Touch him. Even in his final moment, Shadow was just trying to get to Sonic..

There were no words though. No moment of goodbyes where Sonic got to hold his beloved in his arms, cradle him as Shadow weakly smiled up at him and assured him everything would be alright. That they’d meet again someday. That Sonic had to keep going for him. Take care of himself.

No. Anything that hadn’t been instant wouldn’t have been able to kill the Ultimate Lifeform.

Anything less than abrupt and sudden wouldn’t have been sufficient enough to do him in. Shadow was the epitome of perfection. He was powerful. He would’ve gotten through. Would’ve healed. Would’ve recovered.

No. Instead, all Sonic got was a moment of realization. An instant of the two fastest beings alive in the world being able to share a fragment of time measuring less of a second where they knew this was it. Nothing would stop what was coming.

He got a look.

He got a glance.

He got Shadow’s eyes going wide and filling with dread. Not a smile of reassurance. Not peace with his death.

No. Shadow was regretting the fact he wouldn’t get to take care of Sonic anymore.

Shadow was hating himself for not being more careful. For leaving Sonic alone.

Sonic wasn’t fast enough.

And Shadow was gone.

He stares at the memorial.

He had to fight with himself to come here. He hadn’t shown up for the grand reveal. The ceremony. He couldn’t.

It wasn’t for any of those people anyway. It was for him. And maybe that’s selfish of him, but he doesn’t care. They didn’t know Shadow. They didn’t love and appreciate him how he should have been. They only wanted him when they needed him. Sonic always needed him. Even before he wanted him.

‘Shadow the Hedgehog: The Ultimate Lifeform’

That’s all they knew of him. What they made him to be. Not who he was. Not all of him.

It makes Sonic more angry than anything. Honestly, that may not be the worst thing. At least he’s feeling something.

He’ll be okay. It’s all still fresh, he’s broken. Freshly butchered into shattered pieces and unsure what he’s suppose to do now. Where he’s suppose to go from here. What his endgame is anymore.

But time will heal.

It’s a hard battle: time. But it’s doable.

There’s moments of hardship where Sonic wonders if any of this is worth it. If he even wants to be in a world anymore without Shadow. If he even wants adventures anymore if they can’t be shared with his other half.

But he has his friends. Gaia knows without them he wouldn’t have made it far.

Sonic eventually has the strength to pack up and move… and it’s an experience.

Sonic had moved to the guest room after Shadow’s death. Unable to sleep in their bed alone, he moved to the lumpier, smaller one for one miserable night before realizing that he couldn’t possibly sleep there and he moving back in with Tails and his little family. Tails didn’t mind. Anything to help Sonic cope. And Tails’ wife and two adopted kiddos love Sonic. Kept him occupied.. his mind busy with them rather than death. This works for a long time. A little over a year, in fact.

Eventually, though, he does return to his and Shadow’s home.. only to pack up things to move out. He won’t sell it. He can’t. But he can’t live there either. And he can’t stay in Tails’ workshop forever so.. moving it is.

Inevitably, this means Sonic has to deal with Shadow’s belongings as well.

He wears his clothes again, smells his scent for the first time in a long time due to him not touching any of it. Keeping it closed and put away. Shut out. Untouched and unbothered. Still the exact same as Shadow left it all despite everything being different.

But change was inevitable, adjustments needed to be made. And Sonic couldn’t dwell in a home anymore that was meant to be shared.

During this adjustment, Sonic finds Shadow’s journal one day..

It’s filled with entries about Maria.. entries about his nightmares. About how helpless he was. About how he’s suppose to be the Ultimate Lifeform and yet he wasn’t enough to save her..

The entries of nightmares dwindle into entries about his past. Pieces being put together. Then more about his present. His hobbies, things he enjoys.

There’s ones about Sonic. How Sonic confuses Shadow. How he’s annoying and awful and unbearable, but then that’s immediately followed up with ‘must continue thorough and close observation of blue hedgehog’ and Sonic can’t help but smirk and chuckle to himself at Shadow’s oblivious crush.

Entries of Rouge and their missions. Entries of more flashbacks here and there, pieces still being filled after years of waking up again.

‘The blue hedgehog smiles at me too much. I hate when he smiles. It makes my insides twist, and I instantly feel like I could be ill.’

‘Rouge brought home more stollen jewels today. Her unyielding loyalty to her thievery is admirable.’

‘Omega shot me in the leg by accident. He insists it was my fault because he isn’t programmed to make mistakes. I told him the same for myself and then shot him in the leg as well. He found this acceptable. We’re now even.’

‘I ran into the blue faker today. He winks too much.. I’m beginning to wonder if our chaos energy doesn’t mingle well. My muzzle grows heated and my heart hurts with how hard it beats in my chest when he stands close to me. Why does he think he can stand close to me???’

‘Rose invited me over to teach me how to make macaroons today. The texture is interesting. We even made lavender ones. Turns out, lavender doesn’t taste as good as it smells. Like an off-vanilla… the coffee ones were best. Recipe as follows—‘

‘The faker came over today. He asked me to go to lunch with him. I hate him.’

Sonic snorts at that, his smile wide as he reads through the entries. Reading Shadow slowly realize he’s in love with him. Reading Shadow slowly realize he’s gonna be okay. Reading Shadow slowly realize he doesn’t need to remember who he once was, just figure out who he’s gonna be from here on despite all he’s lost. Despite how it sometimes feels too hard to go on.

Maria would want him to.

And so would Sonic.

Sonic cries for a long time that day..

Life goes on.

Sonic moves into an apartment since he isn’t home much anyway. Amy likes it because when he is home, he’s in the city like her and she can visit him often. Sonic likes the company. She takes care of him. She never really hasn’t since he’s known her, honestly.

Sonic goes on adventures still. Even when he’s so old he gets cramps from running, he doesn’t quit. He stays in shape the best he can. He watches his friends grow up. Their families grow. Their lives flourish. It’s everything Sonic ever wanted for all of them.. happiness.

But Shadow isn’t there, so it’s never complete. Never filled full. Never perfect.

Sonic and Amy eventually move in together when Sonic’s adventures aren’t doable anymore. It’s easier that way once they’re older. They take care of one another and have adventures in the city. They’re two of the most rambunctious old people one could ever meet. True hoots.

They have their routines. Sonic waking up and going out for a walk while Amy sleeps in in her room, and every time he comes back, breakfast is ready for him at the table with her sipping her tea by the window with a book. Every Monday is yoga. Every Wednesday is Amy’s book club. Every Thursday is Sonic’s cooking lessons with Cream. Every Friday is the day they get together with their friends and have dinner and game night at someone’s house— typically Knuckles’ and Rouge’s since it’s the biggest. They’re a lively bunch of geezers. But Sonic is happy.

He is..

He thinks about this as he goes to bed one night.. brushing his teeth and wishing Amy goodnight before going to his room to call it quits for the day.

He lays there watching the sky outside the window near his bed. The stars are too dim due to the city lights, but the moon is there.

He fiddles with the inhibitor rings Shadow once wore— having kept them since his death and carrying them everywhere as a comfort of sorts— a content smile on his face as he sighs and shuts his eyes.

He’s had a good life.

Not the best. Not perfect. But it’s been good and real. And he’s happy. He’s been happy for a long time.

Shadow would be proud..

He’d be happy for him.

He’d be—

“Of all places..”

Sonic’s lips part with a quiet gasp, his heart stopping and leaping straight up into his throat, “I found you..”

“…Took you long enough.”

Sonic’s eyes open, looking up to see Shadow standing there with a small quirk of his brow and unimpressed look at Sonic.

Sonic smirks in response, slow and easy, “I wasn’t aware it was a race.”

“Hmph,” Shadow huffs, arms crossing as he cocks his head at the blue hedgehog, “I was under the assumption that everything was a race to you.”

Sonic moves a hand to push off the ground, standing himself up with ease and no aching knees or back, “Yeah? Well you know what they say about people who assume.”

Sonic’s smirk stays. Cocky and filled with anticipation. His toes are tapping on the grass under his feet.

Shadow’s eyes narrow, looking at Sonic a long moment as if to just take him in. Observe him. Size him up.

And then his muzzle curls upward, a slow smile growing on his lips as he shakes his head and looks down with a chuckle.

Sonic beams as he watches him, feeling elated and floaty inside. Itching to touch. To reach. To feel.

Shadow looks back to him, an endearing smile on his face as he gazes at his other half, “…C’mere.”

Sonic doesn’t hesitate. A small gust of wind and Sonic’s body is pressed firm and tight to Shadow’s. Tan arms wrap tight over the ebony hedgehog’s shoulders, squeezing him hard and desperate. Not a breath of air between them.

Shadow just chuckles low in his ear and hugs him right back, arms around his waist and bare fingers rubbing through Sonic’s back quills soothingly. Sonic melts into him. Safe. Secure.

Home.

“I’ve missed you..,” Sonic whispers quietly through tears, feeling Shadow’s kiss press and hold to his temple.

“I’ve missed you,” Shadow murmurs against his fur, his ruby eyes shutting as he clings to Sonic a bit tighter.

He’s so tender with his touches. As if Sonic is so delicate. So fragile. Like he’s trying to make up for all the lost time he couldn’t mend him himself..

His hand rubs along Sonic’s back quills while the other moves to cup the side of Sonic’s head and cradle it to hide Sonic’s face against Shadow’s neck protectively.

Sonic just nuzzles against him, rubbing into him and sighing shaky as silent tears fall and tiny sniffles come from him.

“You’ve done so good, darling..,” Shadow says quietly into his ear, a whimper croaking from Sonic.

He didn’t realize how much he needed to hear that..

“But it’s time for you to come with me..”

Sonic’s head lifts then, looking at Shadow and nodding profusely, “Yes—“ he reaches a hand up to wipe at his own tears as he continues, “Yes, please.”

Shadow hums a chuckle at that, smiling sympathetically as he moves his hand rubbing Sonic’s back to cradle his opposing cheek. Bow cupping Sonic’s face in his hands so delicately, he presses their foreheads together, “I’m so proud of you, hedgehog..”

Sonic sniffles, taking a slow breath and sighing it out as he looks at Shadow achingly sweetly.

Shadow���s head tilts to press an ever so small kiss to Sonic’s lips, Sonic returning it on instinct and longing.

It’s been so long..

They part their kiss and Shadow pulls away to instead simply take Sonic’s hand in his and give a small squeeze,

“Let’s go home..”

“I’ll race you there.”

[dracarialove]

📄 F it, I'm posting my finished fics here, too 📄

*Check the 'rouge's heart' tag if you haven't read previous chapters

[Chapter 4: Romance]

Shadow went to work with no expectations that the eye-catching bat would show up, the hedgehog knowing very well how many people skipped out on plans. She hadn't even confirmed a definite desire to visit him, so he went about doing his job as usual.

But every time the bell on the door chimed, his ears perked up and his eyes darted hastily towards the entrance. Still hoping to see her walk in, his heart beat rose for a second before returning to normal when he realized it was just another stranger.

After hours of pouring coffee and serving pastries, he'd gotten caught up in the flow of steady customers and the mysterious woman had slipped his mind. It wasn't until her white Corvette pulled into a parking space – glimmering under the setting sun – that he remembered again, briefly being distracted from the order he was taking.

The customer – an older, orange bobcat – asked in a gruff voice, "What's the total?"

Shadow turned back, looking down at the register. "$7.50."

His gaze wandered to look out the big glass windows again while the customer paid, and he saw Rouge step out of her car. His eyes didn't linger once he knew it was her, handing the bobcat his food and beverage. A faint smile pricked at the corners of his mouth, his heart rate rising again. As the older man left, Shadow watched him in an effort to naturally catch the bat's eye when she entered.

The customer kindly held the door for her, Rouge thanking him and immediately looking at Shadow with a smile on her face. The hedgehog's eyes widened a bit, enraptured by how happy she looked to see him; it was something he wasn't used to, let alone from a beautiful woman. Part of him didn't trust the way she was making him feel, unsure of how to act when his demure nature was being challenged.

"Hi," she greeted, her eyelids lowering slightly. "Told you I'd be back."

Her playful opener made him react a bit awkwardly, Shadow not quite ready to respond in kind, but trying anyway. "You said you might come back."

Her smile didn't change – a sign he hadn't messed up yet. "Well, how could I not? The service is so good here."

Instinctively, he let forth a breathy chuckle. Another thing he wasn't used to – compliments, even from clientele. He wasn't skilled enough at witty banter to continue, so he instead asked, "What'll you have?"

"Just a hot chocolate this time," answered Rouge, refusing to break eye contact even as he put in the order and gave her the total.

"I'll take my lunch break so we can talk," he offered, handing her the drink, then nodded toward the front door. "Outside – it's more relaxing."

She nodded, taking the steaming cup and turning to walk out. The hedgehog removed his apron on the way to the back room, leaning in and addressing the coworker who was unloading inventory. Once his place had been taken, Shadow prepared a cup of coffee and met Rouge at one of the parasol-covered tables directly outside of the shop.

The bat's left elbow was resting on the tabletop, her cheek leaning into her palm. "Hopefully your afternoon wasn't too crazy."

"It never is," he replied, pulling his chair up to the table and setting down the coffee. "I don't think this place is popular enough to get that busy."

"It's a cute little shop," Rouge commented, glancing at the building. "They'd better be treating you well."

His eyes moved up from his cup as he took a sip, admiring the twinkle in her turquoise irises; her ivory hair looked soft, curling cutely behind her shoulders. He swallowed the scalding coffee, feeling the warmth hit his stomach, and managed a half-smile.

"It's an easy job," came the calm response. The intensity in her gaze strangely intimidated the hedgehog, forcing him to look away.

Rouge took the opportunity to sneak a peek at his figure, noticing lean muscle that meant he took care of himself; she liked that his fingers were anxiously tapping against his cup, finding it endearing that such a mysterious man would be nervous around her. She followed his gaze to study the darkening sky, running her eyes over the clash of orange and purple as the sun slowly sank.

Shadow suddenly spoke, drawing her attention again. "Dusk is my favorite time. Something about the harsh brightness of the orange meeting the melancholy indigo..."

He trailed off – Rouge raising an eyebrow at the poetic observation – then shook his head. "I don't know."

"No, I agree," she said encouragingly. "It's sort of like opposites attracting, or one piece completing another – even when they don't look like they go together."

His face slowly turned back to hers. "Yeah... I don't usually meet people who appreciate this time of day. Everyone seems to like dawn better."

He chuckled and added, "For some reason."

Rouge liked the way he laughed; it was soft, relaxing. A nice change from her boisterous ex, as Shadow seemed much calmer overall. Still, he had a certain alertness about him, quickly turning to look at the street when a car loudly zipped past. Raising his cup for another sip of coffee, the hedgehog could see a level of interest in her eyes that made him feel like she really was having a good time.

"Crazy people," she said, chuckling as well and shaking her head. "Although, I'll admit, I would have thought a guy like you would enjoy nightfall more."

Shadow shrugged and looked down, briefly cocking his head to one side as he did so. "Well, I used to. Not anymore."

His expression looked to be in reaction to a negative memory; Rouge thought about asking, but decided it wasn't worth it to prod at something that might be unpleasant for him to explain. Besides, then she would be obligated to do the same – and she was not ready to talk about Knuckles. So, she went to change the subject, when the hedgehog spoke up again and did it for her.

"What do you do for a living?" he asked. It was a safe question, an easy transition to a new conversation, and something that the bat was much more comfortable discussing.

"I'm a jewel hunter," was her answer, the woman gracefully sitting up straight and cupping her drink with both hands. The motion naturally brought her chest forward, which she didn't mind if Shadow glanced at – but his scarlet eyes remained on her face. "Well, I guess career-wise, I'm a government agent. It's what pays the bills, but that's not exactly what I'm passionate about."

He nodded, his half-smile returning. "So, you serve the people, in a way."

"In a way, sure – when I'm not doing my own thing. If I could just travel and take vacations for a living, believe me, I would."

"Well, anything to get away from the mundane world, right?"

She smirked and nodded definitively, then picked up her cup before asking, "What're your own desires in life?"

It was his turn to raise an eyebrow, pausing for a few seconds as she sipped her hot chocolate. His mouth opened slowly and he stated, "I'm not sure I really have an answer for that."

She lowered her drink again. "Really? You don't have a big goal you're striving for?"

Shadow shifted awkwardly, then leaned forward and rested both arms on the table, crossing the left over the right. After thinking for another second, he said, "I guess I don't. Maybe that's a problem."

His sentence sounded more like a statement of fact rather than a prompt for her to disagree, but Rouge felt inclined to reassure him anyway. Reaching her arm out, she rested her gloved hand on his forearm.

"Not at all! Actually, it's potential for lots of opportunities! Think about it: you could do anything you want just for the enjoyment of it. Not having to worry about working towards something... that's not all bad."

Her grin brightened his mood a little more, the hedgehog's own smile growing. He pulled his right hand out from under his arm and placed it on top of hers, feeling warmth in his chest while their gazes lingered on each other. Then Shadow's buttery smooth voice broke the silence and sent a light shiver down her spine.

"Would you like to go out to dinner? Perhaps tomorrow night?"

Rouge almost immediately said yes, but remembered that she had already made a promise to Blaze. Her excitement settled and she answered, "I would, but I made dinner plans with my friend and her boyfriend for tomorrow. Could we do it the night after?"

The hedgehog nodded, his curved quills flowing with the movement. "Sure."

Before he could continue his thought, the other barista opened the shop door and called out, "Hey, Shadow, is your lunch over yet? My shift's almost done."

Shadow turned – his right hand leaving Rouge's – and replied, "Yes. Just a minute."

The coworker walked back inside and he looked to Rouge with his resting, neutral expression. "Does 8pm sound alright?"

"Perfect," she answered, slipping her hand off of his arm. "Let me give you my phone number so we can set up a location."

They both stood and pulled out their cells, Shadow programming her number into his and sending a text to make sure she got it. Then they wished each other a good night, the bat taking her drink with her to finish on the drive home.

Rouge smiled to herself as she saved the handsome hedgehog's contact, taking her phone off of silent before opening her car door. She looked back once more and allowed herself a moment's glance at Shadow through the window as he donned his apron, then climbed behind the wheel and backed out of the parking lot.

***

When the jewel hunter arrived home, she felt more energized than when she'd woken up, pulling out her phone again and opening up the near-empty message history under Shadow's name. She suggested an upscale restaurant, revealing it to be her favorite establishment and offering to pay her own way.

He responded, "I've never been. But I trust your taste," making the bat bite her lip as she subconsciously swooned over the compliment.

Soon, she was preparing a meal to fill her grumbling stomach and tapping her foot to lively jazz music. Her melodic voice harmonized with the instrumental while she cooked, shutting out any detrimental thoughts and preventing her previous worries from ruining the evening. After dinner, she went up to her bedroom and began preparing an outfit for the following night out with Blaze and Silver, putting on calming classical tunes to wind down.

The stylish bat didn't spend too much time ruminating on what would look good enough to wear on a casual friend-date. Instead of her typical heart-shaped chest piece and purple bodysuit, she chose a dark blue blouse with long fanned sleeves, deciding to drape it over simple black leggings. She would couple the ensemble with plain black boots, opting to skip wearing any gloves.

Once she was happy with her choices, she hung the outfit on the outside of her wardrobe and went through her nightly routine before throwing on a thin black night gown. She briefly thought about going through the pictures on her phone again, but denied herself when the idea still caused a tinge of hurt to rush through her chest. Instead, Rouge let her body sink into her soft mattress, calming her mind before drifting off to sleep.

***

After the captivating woman had told him goodbye, Shadow stole a glance as she walked away; he couldn't help but swiftly run his eyes over her curves before turning and entering the coffee shop to let his coworker go home.

After the hedgehog put on his apron, he looked through the lobby and at the front door to make sure there were no customers around. The headlights of Rouge's car shone through the window shortly before she pulled away, Shadow disappearing into the back room as soon as she was out of his sight.

He leaned his back against the cold cement wall and let out a deep sigh, tilting his head up and closing his eyes. His hand raised to press against his chest, feeling the heart inside thumping firmly against his palm.

Trying to steady the pulse, he took a few deep breaths and opened his eyes again. The bumping slowly subsided until his heart rate was back to its resting state, the hedgehog confused at the shaky feeling fluttering through his body.

He got back to work, soon addressing a customer while thoughts of Rouge still lingered in his mind. A little while later, he received a message from the bat telling him about a fancy restaurant; the name was unfamiliar, but he skimmed the reviews and decided that it was a good choice. His lips curved into a smile more naturally as he typed out a response, the reserved man finding it easier to compliment her through the screen.

His gaze scanned over their short conversation for a moment before he slipped his cell phone into the pocket of his apron, continuing the evening shift with little enthusiasm until it was time to lock up for the night.

When he did, he contemplated texting Rouge with a good night message, wondering if it would be rude to leave their exchange where it was; but he concluded that he was overthinking things. Shadow closed out the night by taking one last look up at the stars, silently thanking the universe for letting him meet her.

[duckwithablog]

Hey duck! Little update! I’m feeling better. Thank you for the kind words! The good vibes were very much appreciated. <333

As a follow-up to your response, I also liked happy wheels back in the day! I never played it myself, but I loved watching happy wheels on YouTube. Furthermore, I too enjoy the Sonic franchise… despite how terrible I am at playing the games heh… I’m starting to realize that we have a lot of the same interests. 🙃😅

Anyways, I’ll leave you with a few questions as always. <33

What’s your favorite sonic character? As edgy as he is, Shadow is my favorite. (I’m sorry, but like- guy actually has a good backstory with Maria.)

Also, have you seen Sonic Prime, or Sonic X? 👀

-🍑 anon

Man, it's like we're the same person frfr,, Insert spiderman pointing meme here

Honestly, valid!! I can see why Shadow is such a fan favorite, he's such a silly and traumatized little blorbo. His backstory with Maria is so tragic, like.... Bro sees his sister figure get gunned down in front of him, and not only that, ever since waking up from the pod he is literally alone. Everyone on the ark that he knew, the only family he's ever had, they're all gone. RAHH HES SO TRAGIC!!! BUT HE ALSO OWNS A GUN IN HIS OWN GAME AND THATS FUCKING HILARIOUS

I can't believe u got me thinking about Shadow the Hedgehog at one in the morning LMAOOO

Anyways!! You are NOT ready for my fav sonic character. He is literally peak blorbo to me. I love him with all my heart.

Are you ready. Are you ready to be fucking blown away with how AMAZING my blorbo is. (/lh)

THATS HIM. THAT IS MY BOY. HIS NAME IS IAN JR AND BEFORE YOU SAY ANYTHING, HE IS AN OFFICIAL (YET VERY MINOR) SONIC CHARACTER AND I LOVE HIM HE IS SO FUCKING SILLY RAAHGHHG

His lore and how he became official is honestly very simple, but it's like 1am so I'll just link a video if you want to know more abt him!! (The Sonic OC That Became Official - YouTubewww.youtube.com › watch)

But aside from Ian Jr, my other favorites has GOT to be Knuckles (he is my babygirl) and Chaos Sonic from Sonic Prime (my fav beepo ever)!!!

Man.... Blorbo, Babygirl, and Beepo.... It's like the Holy Trinity of my brainrot

As you can tell, I've seen Sonic Prime! It's one of my favorite pieces of Sonic media, and one I'm looking forward to the most, bcs I think s3 is coming out somewhere around early 2024. I haven't finished Sonic X, but I've watched a majority of the first season and I loved it! I've been planning to go back to it and watch the sub version instead, because I wanna see any cut scenes the satan of censorship (4Kids) left out in the dub.

That's all from me!! Hope you continue to do well, 🍑 anon!! Until then, do you have a fav piece of sonic media? Are there any games youve played?