#he was broken and being manipulated by gerald

[writingtraumaforever]

Something I’m Made For: An Uncontrolled Chaos Prequel

Notes: Hope you enjoyed this! Was listening to this song and INSTANTLY thought of these two. <3 I wanted to provide some further background for their story in that universe without giving away too much detail, and figured this was a good way to do it. Check out the Uncontrolled Chaos series for more of their story!

Summary: A song fic prequel of sorts to the Uncontrolled Chaos Series. This takes place with Alternate Universe’s Shadow and Sonic, jumping through events like when Shadow fell from the ARK to after Sonic found him alive and more..

UC Series Masterpost!

Link to my AO3!

Start:

I use to float 

Now I just fall down

I use to know

But I’m not sure now

What I was made for

What was I made for

It was all so surreal in the moment.. so rushed, so sudden. Never had he stopped to think that perhaps he had been manipulated. Confused. Used. Never had he stopped to think his maker, a man he considered his father at one point, Gerald Robotnik, would ever do something as heartless and cruel as to take Shadow’s mind and reprogram it to misremember everything he once had with his granddaughter. With his family. 

But Shadow supposes one will do crazy things for revenge. His own actions leading up to this moment are proof enough of that..

If not for that pink hedgehog, he would’ve watched the world burn with nothing but pure contentment. Contentment that he had fulfilled his promise to his sister. Contentment that he had fulfilled a promise that was never real. A promise that had been instilled and installed into his head as though he were a simple machine. A weapon. A means to a brutal and vengeful end. Merciless.

Everything Shadow had done up to that moment was nothing. He was a failure. Built only with the purpose to cure and save, and he had done neither.

But he could do this.

He could save this.

With a newfound purpose, Shadow rushed to the aid of the blue hedgehog— the one he had learned and accepted he had been created to mimic. His creation’s inspiration. His reason of being made. His prophecy. His predecessor that somehow came after.

Space was cold. But they burned gold with the stars, fighting off absolute destruction to the best of their abilities. It was exhausting. It was taxing. But it was the most sure Shadow had felt of any of his actions since waking up from that tube. He had to save this world. He had to fulfill his true promise..

Sonic fought with determination, fueled by power and the need to protect those he loved. Shadow lacked where he didn’t. Shadow wasn’t made for this. He was a copy of what Sonic naturally possessed.

But the thing that held Shadow back the most was simply his will to live slipping slowly from him…

Sonic repeatedly warned him through the battle.

“Get back to the ARK! Your powers are weakening!”

“Don’t push yourself too far!”

Shadow ignored this and pressed on.

He’d give his all to make up for all he’s done. All the pain he’s caused. 

He’ll destroy the monstrosity the doctor created.

Nothing came after this. This was it for him.

The final blow was given and gloved, golden hands rise above their heads with a final and definitely “CHAOS CONTROL!”

The Biolizard was gone.

ARK was once again put into a steady orbit of the planet.

And Shadow could rest..

He had fulfilled his purpose.

He had no reason to be anymore..

He couldn’t save Maria.

But he could save her home.

And that’s all he had left.

Maybe he could be with her now.. wherever she was..

He found comfort in this as he plummeted through space, pulled by the earth’s atmosphere to its surface.

The last thing he remembers seeing was a shooting star reaching out to him, desperate to catch him…

He never reached back.

Then there was nothing.

Taking a drive

I was an ideal

Looked so alive

Turns out I’m not real

Just something you paid for

What was I made for

Shadow stood quietly as they stared at the broken robot before them, a shamble of a battle they just portook in. 

Sonic walked up beside him, a knot in his brow and and frown on his muzzle.

Shadow’s arms were crossed, looking the scraps over that resembled himself.

It’s funny, in a way. How this broken thing was a perfect simulation of how Shadow felt. Shattered pieces torn apart. Detached. Lifeless.

A hand rests on his shoulder,

“..Shadow..?” 

Shadow’s head turns ever so slightly in acknowledgment, his crimson eyes never leaving the crumbled Shadow-bot before him.

“…That’s not you,” the hero’s voice sounds firm, definite. Far more confident than Shadow is feeling in that moment.

He had been found months ago by the blue blur.. apparently being stashed underground in a base of the professor’s grandson. 

He didn’t remember much of anything back then, but he remembers some now.

And when they had received a worrisome invitation from Eggman himself, they had leapt into action. Never would Shadow have guessed the doctor had managed to acquire enough information on him to begin cloning him..

And yet here they were. Horrified at the sudden existential crisis before him.

Was he just one of them??

“You’re you,” Sonic insists as though reading Shadow’s mind, squeezing his shoulder a bit tighter.

“I don’t even know what that means,” Shadow hisses out, voice barely a mumble but bitter and confused. 

Sonic’s hand on his shoulder eases, feeling the hero step up beside him now and slide his palm up to cup the side of Shadow’s neck, “Hey..”

Shadow doesn’t move, still looking at the clone.

“Look at me,” Sonic instructs gently, the palm on Shadow’s neck pulling just enough to make the hybrid finally look at him. 

Emerald and ruby.

“…It doesn’t have to mean anything right now. You’ve got time to figure that out.. but you’re real. You’re alive. You’re you.”

Shadow looks at the hero who says these things with such conviction, such earnesty.

He looks back to the clone.

“…We should go.”

He needs answers.

They have a date with Eggman.

And it’ll be one to die for.

Cus I don’t know how to feel

“Stop it, just— stop!”

“Why??? What are you so afraid of, Shadow?! Why do you always pull away from me?!”

“I don’t need your saving, hedgehog!”

“That’s not— I don’t want to save you, I just want you!”

They had been on a run. Typical for the pair on late nights where neither could sleep. They’d inform Tails, who was usually working on something in his shop or nodding off at his workbench, that they’d be back in a bit and they’d go out for a run. Which would inevitably turn into a race. The two playfully jeering their other on, mocking and coaxing reactions out of the other with rival banter. 

But this time had ended differently.

This time when Sonic pulled ahead of Shadow at the end, he turned around rather than skidding to stop and spread his arms just in time to catch Shadow as they tumbled onto the ground. They rolled down a small cliff side that dipped into a valley of lavender and forget-me-nots. A place they had found a few weeks ago that they now cherished as a secret place for them.

They laughed, at first. Shadow pinned under Sonic and Sonic cackling over him as Shadow’s chest rumbled with a low chuckle.

Sonic’s smile was brighter than all the stars in the sky. His laugh was better than any wish any of said stars could ever grant..

They ended up becoming entranced with one another’s smiles. Enthralled by one another’s gaze. Laughs faded and left them in a compromising position, tension filling the minimal space between them..

And then Sonic’s eyes had dipped down to Shadow’s mouth.

And Shadow’s breath hitched.

And Sonic leaned down.

And that’s when everything went wrong.

Shadow had shoved Sonic off, immediately defensive and panicky and scared. But he hid all this under a mask of anger and disgust, one he often used as a defense mechanism..

But Sonic had learned to see through it, much to his dismay.

And here they were.

“You can’t want me!” Shadow shouts back, his eyes angry and stern on Sonic’s. The person who found him, the person who never gave up on him.

He couldn’t ruin him, too.

“Could’ve sworn I could do whatever I want!” Sonic huffs in disbelief, looking at Shadow like he’s crazy. Like he’s making no sense. Shadow knows he’s making no sense, but it all makes sense to him.

“No, Sonic, not this time!”

“Why?! What is it, huh?? I know it’s not that you don’t feel the same!”

Sonic’s voice cracks, but it still holds confidence in his works. Shadow doesn’t know how to respond to that. Doesn’t know how to even begin to deny it.

“I-.. I don’t,” Shadow insists. But even he knows his attempt to sound as sure of himself as Sonic does is absolutely pitiful. Pathetic, really.

Sonic scoffs, a humorless chuckle escaping him as he shakes his head and looks away, “Unbelievable.. Shadow, you can’t keep lying to yourself—“

“So what if I do?!” Shadow caves, diverting to a different tactic, “So what if I do, then?! It doesn’t change the fact that you can’t—“

Sonic opens his mouth to protest, but Shadow cuts him off by correcting himself.

“—shouldn’t want me!! You don’t need me!”

“Shadow— you’re everything I’ve ever needed!” Sonic argues, snapping his head back to Shadow now with a desperate need to make Shadow understand in his gaze, “Everything! No one meets me like you do in every way! No one challenges me! No one makes want to be the best version of myself I can be like you! No one!”

“You don’t understand—“

“Then make me understand!” Sonic demands desperately, his anger subsiding now for just pure desperation, “I want to understand! Why can’t you let yourself be happy?!”

“Because I don’t deserve it!” Shadow snaps out through gritted teeth, growling it out and making Sonic’s eyes widen as he takes a small step back.

Shadow breathes heavy as the steam in him slowly subsides into nothing, leaving him to deflate with a sighed, “I don’t deserve you, Sonic.. that’s what you don’t get..”

Sonic doesn’t speak, but his eyes look heartbroken. Not at the rejection, but at the fact Shadow really thinks that..

Shadow continues anyway, determined to make Sonic see. 

“I have done.. terrible things. Things I can never atone for. Things-.. things I’d do all over again if it was you..”

Sonic’s lips part with a shaky gasp.

“I’m not— I’m not strong enough to go through that again.. I can’t lose everything again. If I do, I-.. I don’t know what I’d do.. what I’d become..”

Shadow lives his hands shakily, looking at them as though they’ve slaughtered millions when in reality, he simply blames them for the death of one.

Maria. 

“You can’t want me, Sonic.. because I want you,”  he whispers as he lifts watery crimson eyes to find glossy emerald ones, “…and that’s too dangerous.”

Shadow is shaking now. Trembling as thoughts of bloody carcasses scattered throughout ARK flash through his mind. The echoes of screams and gunshots. Maria’s light fading as she sacrifices herself for him..

Whatever Maria was made of, Sonic is made of the same thing. Pure hearted selflessness.

Shadow isn’t made of that. 

Where Sonic would go on to be the hero he truly is if Shadow were to be gone one day, Shadow would burn the world and then himself after.

Sonic approaches him with a quiet, “oh Shadow..,” undeserved sympathy drenching his voice.

Shadow doesn’t realize it when his body collapses, knees giving in as he falls to the ground with a sob. He never feels the sting of his knees hitting the earth, though. Sonic is right there in a flash to catch him, gently lowering him to the ground to cradle and hold. Rocking back and forth as he pets his head slowly. Shadow cries against his chest, feeling pathetic and weak and absolutely disgusted by how much he hasn’t earned Sonic’s affections and receives them nonetheless.

He feels like an imposter. A fake. 

He is a fake, really.

But I wanna try

Sonic’s hand rubs down Shadow’s quills, shushing him as he cries and comforting him with gentle touches.

“…Danger has never stopped me,” Sonic mutters against Shadow’s ear, his lips pressing to the hybrid’s temple as he holds him.

Shadow just cries harder and selfishly soaks in all Sonic can offer.

When did it end

All the enjoyment

I’m sad again

Don’t tell my boyfriend

That’s not what he’s made for

What was I made for

“And you’ve felt better this week?”

The room is bland. Warm in tone but very much not stimulating to those who are easily overstimulated. This is a good and bad thing, but currently bad since Shadow can’t distract his gaze with something other than the therapist siting on the seat across from him. Her legs are crossed with a notebook on her lap, her eyes forever attentive to only him. It’s unsettling to have so much attention, sometimes. Especially from a stranger who is being paid for said attention.

He grunts, a small shrug as he averts his eyes to the corner of the room. If he stares at the line long enough, sometimes it’ll disappear.

He wants to disappear.

“It comes and goes..,” he eventually answers.

It took several sessions for him to even speak to her in general, the first three consisting of them each staring at each other:Shadow with his arms crossed stubbornly and skeptically and the therapist with a soft smile that encouraged him to take his time.

The only reason he ever spoke is because he had come home to a very distressed boyfriend who had gotten a call from his therapist saying Shadow wouldn’t talk.

‘For me, Shadow.. just try.’

And who was Shadow to ever deny Sonic anything??

“I saw on the news that you defeated another scheme of Eggman’s,” she prompts, head tilting with a small smile, “Surely you felt good after that?”

“You mean after foiling the plans of a man who only lives in my head as a reminder of all the failures my creator made?? Sure. Absolutely,” he replies sarcastically with an eyeroll.

“But you’re different, remember?” the therapist reminds, “You have to separate yourself from that. You’re not just his creation, you’re your own person—“

“I know, I know,” he sighs, shrugging as he looks back to her, “..I’m not a failure. I’m a person.”

“Good,” the therapist nods, sighing as she leans back in her seat, “..how are you and Sonic?”

“Good,” he says quietly, some of the tension leaving him at the mention of his boyfriend, “We.. saw a movie Thursday.”

“That’s good, I’m sure that was fun! What movie?”

“‘Chaos In Space’. It was terrible, but he loves the franchise.”

“That’s sweet of you to watch it with him despite not being interested in it yourself.”

“It’s bare minimum, doc,” Shadow remarks with a huff, “he’s done much more for me.”

“And that’s okay,” she reminds, “He doesn’t want you around because you owe him anything..”

“I know..,” he agrees a bit reluctantly. It had been a hard realization to convince himself of. “…Sometimes he looks at me though and I can tell he worries.”

“Well, he loves you.”

“Yes, but.. I don’t want to worry him. I don’t want him sad because I’m sad.”

“That’s why you’re here, right??” she asks with a little smile, “It’s okay to need a reason that isn’t yourself. And if getting better so you can be better for Sonic is your reason, then it’s a good one.”

Shadow nods at this, sighing as he leans back on the couch he’s sitting on, “..He’s a very good reason.”

Think I forgot

How to be happy

Something I’m not

But something I can be

“You should just live here.”

Sonic’s hand halts in the mirror, wide emerald green eyes meeting Shadow’s from where he stands behind him leaning against the doorframe looking at him through the reflection. Slowly, Sonic puts his toothbrush down, wiping his mouth and never breaking eye contact with Shadow.

“What??”

“You should move in,” Shadow reiterates with a small and hesitant smile, “You’re here all the time since I moved out of Tails’ workshop. You sleep here most nights. I don’t sleep well anymore when you don’t… you should live with me.”

Sonic turns to face him now, Shadow recognizing that look on his face as one that wants to be excited but is holding back for caution’s sake.

“Shadow, I—“

“I’ve thought about it,” Shadow interrupts, “I know this seems sudden and random, but I’ve thought this through. It’s all I’ve thought about for weeks. And.. I want this.”

Sonic slowly smiles, his eyes holding so much proudness in them that Shadow nearly melts on the spot,

It’s a big deal for Shadow to voice things he wants so clearly without guilt or shame. To voice them without feeling as though he doesn’t deserve them.

He wants this.

And that’s okay.

“.. I want that, too,” Sonic answers finally, his tail wagging rapidly behind him as he steps closer to Shadow.

Shadow’s own smile grows at this, reaching a hand out to take Sonic’s and gently pull him in, “So that’s a yes?”

“It’s a heck yes,” Sonic giggles, their noses brushing as their foreheads gently bumping as they wrap their arms around one another.

Shadow’s own tail waves back and forth in a slow wag, eyes half-lidded as he reaches a hand up to cup Sonic’s cheek. Holding him like the treasure he is, he tilts his head to press their lips together.

Something I wait for

His person. His purpose. His happiness.

Something I’m made for

[underratedgrapeju1ce]

You mentioned Sonic and Rouge are technically Shadow’s caregivers and he needs supervision. You also mentioned he hates it, how does he cope later on ? Does it change their relationship with them ? How do they learn to go through it ?

warnings for suicidal ideation and mentions of throwing up/gagging, proceed with caution!

this got long.

Shadow has always been hard headed. Stubborn. Independent. Insistent that he can handle himself even when he's falling apart. That was how he lived his life: show no weakness, take care of yourself.

So when he was left blinded, unable to trust his own thoughts, and scrubbed raw from the inside out, his every memory exposed and no longer his own, he didn't exactly know how to cope.

Sonic would say he had it easier. Shadow disagreed. Though he knew what Black Doom had done to him was likely worse, Shadow was, depressingly, somewhat used to it.

The manipulation, being seen as both worthless and a perfect target for blame--- it was all second nature by now.

Subjectively, he tries to argue, Sonic losing his freedom is a more novel, and thus more terrifying occurrence. Omega tells him he's intellectualizing his feelings again. Shadow doesn't answer.

Rouge usually stays with him. They were close before, for their standards. Sometimes mission partners, roommates for their collective financial benefit, trusting enough that Shadow smiles around her when he can muster it. Sure, they weren't arm-in-arm, ruffling each other's fur and throwing get-togethers, but they felt connected. And that was enough for them.

Shadow missed that now.

Now, Rouge watched over him like a nurse rather than a companion. Sonic wasn't nocturnal, so she had "night shift" as they called it. It made Shadow nauseous with guilt, how exhausting his presence was now. He was forcing his closest companions to do the equivalent of care for an infant, and he voices it as such.

They assure him they do it because they cared. Sometimes Shadow screams that he knows they're here because they pity him. A few hours later he cries to them and begs them not to leave.

After that, he feels the sickening dread that he's let himself be seen vulnerable and weak. Sometimes he gets sick from it, and Sonic has to hold his quills back. The cycle begins anew.

Technically, Shadow doesn't need to sleep. He voices this repeatedly. Sure the insomnia makes his useless eyes throb and his head feel as if it's being drilled with an ice pick, grinding his skull to dust, but he prefers that over the possibility of dreams.

He does not want to relive the altar. He does not want to see his father wearing his own face and using it to torture the ones he loves. He does not want to remember the collective of the hive embracing his every thought.

Black Doom is dead. He knows this deep in his soul and in his bones and in his mind. He knows this, because the deep, humming buzz in the back of his head for his entire life---an oddity he never took note of---went quiet when he was blinded. His mind is silent. Shadow sobs, quietly so Rouge does not hear, so he doesn't have to explain how utterly lonely he feels in his own mind. The guilt makes him choke and cough and gag. The Ultimate Lifeform was meant to cure sickness.

Of course Shadow had considered killing himself. All of Gerald's creations had a kill switch, right? If he simply knew.

Logically, it made sense to him.

He attracted threats to the planet. He was prone to violence and impulsivity. His father's blood rotted in his veins. He was a weapon. He was dangerous. And now he was a burden on his companions lives.

He had explained this calmly and simply, as if proposing a craft project. Even without sight, he could see Sonic's horrified disbelief. It only made Shadow confused.

Shadow was stubborn. Independent. Cold. Now, he doesn't know what he is at all. Weak, burdensome. About as good as a broken gun. He does not know how much longer he can logically allow himself to go on living.

But in the fleeting moments his hatred of himself and his weakness and his contempt towards his friends dissipates, and he clings to Rouge and lets himself cry, allows himself to sob and tell the empty room that what happened to him wasn't fair, he was a child, he didn't deserve this---god, he didn't deserve this, none of them did---and when his sobs turn to shaky hiccups and he allows himself to be seen,

Shadow does not want to die.

His last final "fuck you" to his father.

Shadow will keep living.

[randomthefox]

What is Gerald’s game characterization if I may ask? I’ve never seen the game and while I know he was butchered in the movie I’d like to know the degree in which he was butchered

Gerald was the most brilliant genius of his era who wanted to improve the world and make people happy through the power of science.

However after the tragedy of Maria his beloved granddaughters death, Gerald was imprisoned and locked away in isolation and evidently very malnourished during that time as a prisoner. He was left to stew in grief and despair until he began to lose his mind. He was very aware of how his sanity was slipping away and it terrified him, but ultimately he succumbed to madness. His final act was to implement a plan of unthinkable vengeance that would ultimate wipe out all life on planet earth.

His character was expanded on in future games, like in ShTH2005 and most recently Shadow Generations where we get to see more of Gerald when he was still sane and a good man. But that was his story as it existed in the self contained narrative of Sonic Adventure 2 when he was introduced. Gerlad's story is a tragedy of a man with great gifts and who sought to use those gifts to better the lives of all of humanity, but loss and grief and guilt tore him apart from the inside out and by the end of his life he was left a broken shell of a man. A shadow of his former self. Fueled by a hollow and self destructive desire for blind vengeance.

To that end, I actually don't think Sonic 3's depiction of Gerald is 100% ruinous to his character. It's only 99% ruinous. So much of Gerald in this movie is unfunny Jim Carrey shenanigans and it's so frustrating. It's once again the character that existed in the source material being sacrificed at the alter of Jim Carrey Comedy. BUT occasionally the character of Gerald Robotnik does shine through.

The Gerald that exists in Sonic 3, what little there is beneath the blubber of Jim Carrey Bullshit, is the Gerald who has lost his mind to grief in the aftermath of Maria's death. The Gerald who wants to burn down the world to make them all feel the pain of his anguish and loss. The scenes where Gerald manipulates Shadow by weaponizing his pain and grief against him to get him to carry out the plan even when Shadow starts questioning it are actually very good Gerald moments in my opinion.

Shadow:"Professor, is this really what Maria would have wanted?"

Gerald:"It doesn't matter what Maria would have wanted. Because she's gone. They took her away from us."

THAT is a fantastic "evil Gerald" scene in my opinion. It's very true to the character we see in the Firing Line recording in the Last Story of SA2. I also like the scene where he finally comes clean and reveals to Eggman that he intends to destroy the world, with Eggman being aghast because he wants to RULE the world and also not die. I DON'T like when Eggman tries to appeal to Gerald by saying "but you have me now, we're a family ='c " but I DO like Gerald's response of him telling him "you're no Maria. When she was taken from me my family was destroyed. So now I want to burn it all down."

So there's two little moments in this movie that feel like authentic Gerald Robotnik in my opinion. Two little nuggets of gold in the septic tank. It's disappointing that so much. So. So. SOOOO much of the movie is just Jim Carrey not at all being funny. Just clown shoes bullshit. Because Gerald Robotnik (evil) did exist in this movie, for maybe twenty collective seconds of screen time. And those fleeting glimpses of potential are what leave me disappointed most of all.

[estellardreams]

Black Arms Sonic AU [Info Post]

Okay, the story is in it's rough stages but here's what I got so far:

Black Doom discuises himself as a Mobian (Doleon) and ends up finding Sonic, who had recently met Tails after the bullies. But before Tails could follow him Sonic suddenly vanishes without a trace.

Doleon had taken an interest in the blue hedgehog, seeing that his power was similar to Project Shadow. And knowing that Gerald was conspiring against him, he needed to find a way to prevent the Black Comet from being destroyed, along with a way to match Shadow in sheer power.

And the blue hedgehog felt like the perfect key to his idea.

So he manages to get ahold of Sonic without anyone noticing, bringing him to the Black Comet. And unfortunately the paralysis gas keeps Sonic docile and unable to escape.

With his limited knowledge in human technology, Doom attempts to experiment on Sonic and try to use his own DNA on the kid. He kept trying to monitor his vitals so he wouldn't die on him and made sure he couldn't escape by scarring his legs.

Eventually, Doom made a breakthrough by establishing the hivemind's connection to him, and it was all up to some careful manipulation and gaslighting to bring Sonic to their side.

More DNA is brought in, and Sonic's coat darkens as red pigment fades in, the DNA molding itself in the form of claws and spikes at his quills, arms, hands, and feet. The information from the hivemind also let Doom scew Sonic's old memories back on Earth to make him forget who he's supposed to be.

And once the finalization is complete and he proves stable... Doom brings Sonic out and begins to train him in the way of the black arms. Sonic was molded into a super weapon for the alien race, rivaling the king's own son in sheer power.

It wasn't until the final test that proved just how capable he was.

The Black Arms initiated their invasion the moment Doom sensed Shadow being reawakened from stasis. He brought Sonic back to Earth and told him everything he needed to know about Shadow and how to bring him to his side.

Shadow's first encounter with Sonic... Was a reverse situation from the original SA2 encounter. Shadow himself was startled by Sonic, who seemed to find joy in taunting and playing with the ebony hedgehog and his broken memories. However, Shadow resisted and fled the scene before the cops caught up with him.

Shadow then met Amy, Tails, and Knuckles who were trying to both stop the Black Arms invasion and figure out what was going on (Knuckles was after the shard pieces, along with Rouge). Amy was very quick to remind Shadow of his actual memories and he decided to align himself with their cause, bringing Rouge and Eggman to their side as the new team teamed up to stop the Black Arms.

The rest is... Similar to Shadow 05 in how everything goes down. Once the black comet was destroyed, only Sonic and Eclipse survived the disaster, hiding out on Earth ever since.

The two "brothers" eventually drifted apart and went their seperate ways, plotting their own form of revenge.

Extra details of the AU I wanted to fit in but didn't know how:

Amy and Tails are actually the sibling duo. Tails ended up finding Amy in danger and rescued her, still inspired by Sonic and his bravery. At this point he had no idea where the blue hedgehog had gone but hoped to find him again eventually (He never did)

Sonic CD, 2, 3, and Adventure did not happen. At least... Not normally. Tails became the main character after Sonic's departure land he brought along Amy from 3 and over. Knuckles wasn't met until Adventure when Eggman unleashed Chaos.

Sonic does not know Tails. His memory of the fox he saved is completely wiped.

Sonic does not consider Eclipse his brother. At all. Eclipse doesn't think the same thing about him.

Sonic's name was actually kept the same, however he ocassionally goes by "Aeron" which sound's similar to "Doleon" in a way

Shadow and Sonic are very intense rivals/enemies. Sonic is known to be incredibly relentless, even willing to team up with Eggman to make Shadow's life a living nightmare.

Sonic doesn't have any recollection of his old life, only general but vague knowledge. His personality is somewhat intact, though.

Sonic actually has a lot of powers to his new self. As seen here.

[ogradyfilm]

Villains That Love Being Bad: Gerald Robotnik, Sonic the Hedgehog 3

[The following essay contains MAJOR SPOILERS; YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!]

At first glance, Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s Professor Gerald Robotnik is the quintessential children’s media antagonist (i.e., comically ineffectual): like LazyTown's Robbie Rotten or Pokémon's Jessie & James, he quips, dances, contorts his rubbery body, cackles maniacally, and performs various feats of spectacular slapstick, awe-inspiring acrobatics, and phenomenal flatulence. But despite these initial impressions, Jim Carrey lends the role a surprising degree of nuance (more so than you might reasonably expect from a series in which cartoon critters frequently look directly into the camera lens and explicitly discuss the story’s central themes, anyway), striking a delicate balance between absurdist humor and genuine menace—and even pathos.

Contrary to the traditional depiction of the mad scientist archetype, there is no ulterior motive behind the elder Robotnik’s nefarious schemes, no disingenuous effort to manipulate our heroes’ sympathies. While he certainly isn’t above trickery and deception—enlisting the aid of the gullible Doctor Eggman (also portrayed by Carrey) under false pretenses, exploiting his skills and resources, and callously discarding him once he’s served his purpose—the tragic backstory that he reveals approximately halfway through the film is both accurate and unembellished (though his personal interpretation of the “objective truth” is obviously biased in his own favor). He is exactly what he appears to be in his most vulnerable moments: a broken, vengeful man so utterly devastated by the loss of his beloved granddaughter that he’s compelled to eradicate all life on Earth—himself included!—in a misguided act of petty retribution. Granted, genocide on a global scale is hardly an unconventional goal for a rogue of Gerald’s caliber—but in this particular case, the otherwise generic trope actually feels emotionally authentic, anchored by a universally recognizable (albeit exaggerated) human experience: grief.

This modicum of sincerity, however, never diminishes the fact that Gerald Robotnik is, at his very core, a clown; indeed, his exit from the plot is an unapologetically anticlimactic (and legitimately hilarious) joke. During the explosive finale, the villain meets his well-earned demise when he is poked in the ass by one of Sonic’s supercharged quills (complete with a fart sound effect); propelled like a ruptured propane tank, the fiend rockets straight into the unstable power source of his doomsday weapon—whereupon he instantaneously disintegrates with a barely audible zap.

An appropriately unceremonious end, considering he's essentially nihilism incarnate. To quote his younger counterpart, who gets in one last pithy barb before delivering the coup de grâce:

Who said life was pointless? Oh, that's right, you did!

[ragingphantom666]

Sonic World project plan: Shadow the Hedgehog (Vol. 2)

This series is not an assured project. It is a concept that can still be changed or scrapped.

Synopsis

After the event of "Shadow the Hedgehog" volume one, Shadow has decided to reunite with Team Dark. The rocky reunion is broken up by the impossible return of Mephiles the Dark. They must team-up to stop the new threat of Nominatus, master of technology.

Characters

Shadow the Hedgehog - The ultimate lifeform created by Gerald Robotnik in the Earth dimension. He was brought to Sonic's home dimension by Eggman sometime following his battle with the Biolizard on the Ark. Rouge was the first person he met following his reawakening. For a time, they had quite the bond and formed Team Dark with E-123 Omega. Sometime prior to the battle where Eggman disappeared, Shadow left to be on his own. During the events on this volume, he attempts to repair his status with Team Dark while chasing after the evil Mephiles.

Rouge the Bat - A master thief, treasure hunter, and leader of Team Dark with a flirty personality. She had a close relationship with Shadow and was hurt when he left the team. When he returns, she no longer trusts him enough to lower her guard again.

E-123 Omega - The most powerful robot built by Eggman. He loves to destroy enemies and cause destruction. There is a kinder side to him that only Shadow and Rouge have seen. No matter what, he will always protect his friends.

Mephiles - Dubbed "the Ultimate Lifeform Destroyer," he was created by Infinite the Jackal through the power of the reality-altering power of the Phantom Ruby to torment Shadow. Although the ruby was destroyed and the false reality was torn apart, Mephiles somehow impossibly survived. In a "glitchy" form, he releases Nominatus as part of a plan to destroy Shadow.

Nominatus - An ancient, alien being from the Nero dimension. He can manipulate electronics and radio signals. He was sent eons ago to conquer the world for Black Doom, but he was defeated and sealed within an object known as the "Nominatus Sphere." He morphs Badniks into his demonic minions. His drive is to finish his mission and return home as a champion.

Recap

Other Information

The plan for the Nero dimension is for it to take inspiration from the Shinigami realm from the anime "Death Note." The domain of Black Doom is based on the Black Comet.

I got the name "Nero" when I put "Black Doom" through an Italian translation. It's fitting because I've seen two evil characters who were called "Nero." It's a long story though about how I got to using Italian though.

Although there is no romance in the Sonic World universe, the "bond" between Shadow and Rouge is meant to suggest that they were dating once. Officially though, they were just really, really, really, really good friends 😉

[neometalsilver]

Anne Carson, Tragic Heroes, and Shadow the Hedgehog

this started as a silly ramble about shadow as a tragic hero on the gay hogs server but by god did it evolve.

-----

"Now that the big war is over, focus shifts from the victors to the victims [...] They seem to be caught in an inertia where any significant action, should it occur, has to be motivated by ghosts.” - Anne Carson, Grief Lessons. 

Shadow is, in all senses of the word, a victim. Of circumstance, of fate, of violence, of manipulation. From the very moment he was created, his life had been chosen for him- by G.U.N to be a weapon, by Gerald to be a saviour.

Maria is Shadows ghost, metaphorically at first and then very literally. For the first portion of his life, his goal is to protect and care for her- and then she dies, and now his goal is to avenge her. In both of these stages, his goals are his only focus, and the only reason he is alive. 

Shadow is supposed to die during the ARK massacre. As a tragic hero, this is the natural way of things- his goal is to protect Maria, and so he should die doing so. He should be the one saying goodbye as he helps Maria into the escape pod, G.U.N soldiers on their heels. Maria is supposed to survive and live her life on Earth thanks to Shadows' tragic sacrifice. This, undoubtedly, is what Shadow was thinking as he plummeted to Earth with Maria’s handprint still staining the glass of the escape pod.

“The tragic hero is complete. You can call him unhappy (miserable, utterly broken) even before he is dead. For an instant he is something like divine. And then he dies, because there’s nothing left to do. The centre of every tragedy is the image of a human being who has already died but keeps talking, someone whose face is a mask.” - Micheal Kinnucan, The Gods Show Up 

Luckily for Shadow, he now has a new character goal- revenge. Gerald reprograms Shadow to avenge Maria, reverting him to his original state of Weapon. 

And then he does avenge her, in his own way, and he should die. His war is over. There is nowhere left for him to go. He has served his purpose as both a character and a literary device, as a weapon and a saviour. 

Except he doesn’t die like he planned. He lives, and now he has to continue living. His myth is over, but he is still living in it. What do you do after you’ve served your purpose but carry on living?

"To live past the end of your myth is a dangerous thing" - Anne Carson, Red Doc>.

This is the limbo that Shadow is now living in. In ‘Grief Lessons’, Anne Carson discusses how Euripedes frees Hekabe from her torment in the only way that is left for her- by physically turning her form into a dog. She has passed the limit of human suffering, so much that the only direction she can now go in is to simply become something other than human.

What else can Shadow be? Now he has breached the limits of his own suffering, his own limits as a character, he has to become something else. There is nothing else he can do but undergo a change at such a level that he breaks through the confines of his character and becomes something new. He has been a saviour, he has been a weapon. What comes after?

It’s interesting to note that both of his ‘deaths’ occur after he falls from the ARK, the centre of both portions of his life. Falling is symbolic, the physical distance forced between him and the centre of his existence. It’s both his place of birth and of his death, and its destruction further forces this inevitable change of self. 

“We are all going forward/None of us are going back.” - Richard Siken

[rkwritingprojects]

Wakabe's Project List

Wakabe has had a number of projects over the years, and as such, has them logged and their notes kept safely away where, hopefully, no one will ever find them. The projects are the following, in the following order:

0-Z - Known as Project Broken Mirror, it was an attempt to split off all of himself that he did not like, nor want to be within him. Unfortunately, it developed it's own will and goals, leading it to become an irritation. Still an absolute "favorite" of Wakabe, leading to consistent torment.

1-C - Project Enchanted Vessel, this project was intended to be a puppet vessel with which Wakabe would lured in subjects for testing, as well as to manipulate events without being directly involved. Subject's body is permanently female, and found to be impossible to change, regardless of attempts and circumstances.

2-R - Project Lunar Love, created to see just how far a beings drive for affection, attention, and sexual curiosity can go. While not an immediate favorite, and considered a useless side project, still is tested upon on the side. Basis for some tests performed on 3-F, as well as basic imitation of the Mobian species to be used.

3-F - Also known as Project Willpower to anyone who asked him about it at the time, was meant to try to understand and control the souls of something not manmade. The first project to use a Mobian instead of a creation of their own. Also considered one of the 'favorites' of Wakabe.

0-Z-(A-N) - Collectively referred to as Project Shattered Prism, these are an attempt to recreate project 0-Z after it's escape. Relatively the same as 0-Z, but noticeably less powerful than the original subject. Unaware of the fact that they originate from a much more powerful project. Highly suggestible, and easily molded to fit set personalities and tendencies.

4-G - Considered a failed part of the 0-Z-? Project, and as such, useless to them. They gave them their own specification and made sure to keep them away from what it considered its 'parents' to keep it from becoming a potential issue in the future.

5-W - Known as Project Techeart. As they are unable to use cameras directly to their advantage, they wanted to create a being that could manipulate and further advance the capability that they have on technology. An orphaned child who was alone and unable to leave their home, it was the perfect choice for this kind of project.

6-M - What was going to become Project Fallen Angel, to which they would be considered a test for what a normal, everyday Mobian could use in regards to energy. From the Chaos Emeralds, to Time Stones, anything that could be thought of, she was supposed to try and use it all, finding her limits and then breaking them over and over until there were no more limits to surpass. Unfortunately, she didn't stick around long enough for many of these plans to come into fruition, much to their annoyance.

7-B - Project Inverted Light, a small separation of his material, and given a new color and personality. Found to be less powerful than hoped for. Still highly useful, and similar capacity for form shifting, immersion, and assimilation with/of organics.

7-B-(A-N) - Project Inverted Prism, an offshoot of Inverted Light, when discovered that 7-B could actively create children, or 'sister' subjects on her own. 14 minor subjects were then created, and had new personalities and tendencies forced upon them and their mental processing.

Notable mention: Project Shadow - Was not directly involved, but rather an outside influencer that quietly put the idea into Gerald Robotnik's head. Watched from afar, and silently pushed Gerald into fine tuning and changing different aspects as the project progressed. Eventually pulled back all influence once G.U.N. fully seized and took over the ARK, and it's projects, to avoid detection.

[nightmaremp]

Tina's parents lore/facts

Let's start with Serena, Tina's mother.

but first-

WARNING: mentions of abuse, horrible acts, cheating, toxic behavior

Serena. Tina's mother

  Serena is Tina’s mother and Ashton’s wife. She isn’t a good mother to Tina, in fact, she is a horrible mother.

Serena would be manipulative, mentally abusive, and sometimes physically abusive. She would favor Tina’s three brothers and twin sister over her. 

Serena wasn’t abusive to Tina’s siblings and showed them love but with Tina, she didn’t care. She believes that Tina was a failure of a daughter and offen says how she should be like her siblings.

Serena would use a ruler to hit Tina’s wrists when Tina makes a C or D on anything in school. She does worse things which I’m not going to say. 

Serena has cheated on her husband multiple times but never got caught by her husband. Her kids have caught her a few times and she would threaten them to keep this a secret.

When she meets Gerald, she hates him because he shows her daughter love and care.

Serena tried to get Gerald to leave Tina or to cheat on her, but Gerald would call her out and would threaten her by putting a restraining order against her and Ashton. 

Her voice claim is The Administnaton from Team Fortress 2. She was inspired by the grandma from Turning Red. 

Gerald actually put her in a nursing home and did it with the most passive aggressive way ever. Serena is still in the nursing home to this day.

She doesn't ever know about Teeth since she wishes to never see the kid that Tina has with Gerald. Teeth did try to visit her and it went to horrible.

Serena just went off on how he shouldn't exist. She would also rant on the fact Tina is successful when she didn't want Tina to be successful like her siblings.

That is it. Now on to Ashton, Tina's father

 Ashton is Tina’s father and Serena’s husband. He isn’t a good father. Ashton wasn’t physically abusive but mentally abusive to Tina.

He only wanted three sons and one daughter but got two. He favors Tina’s siblings and forgets about her. 

Ashton has left Tina outside in the snow because he forgot that she was real. He would often body shame Tina when she was eight and up to adulthood.

Ashton hated Gerald and wanted him to leave Tina. One day, he and Gerald got into a fight after months of Gerlad and Tina being married. 

Ashton had a broken arm and leg after the fight while Gerlad only got a bloody nose and a black eye.

Ashton would die by the time Teeth was born. He died from a heart attack on the news of his daughter being pregnant with a man’s kid who he hated. 

His voice claim is the Medic from Team Fortress 2. 

Relationship with Gerald:

they both hate Gerald for being nice and kind to Tina. They try to break them up. Tina's parents even try to ruin the wedding, but Gerald's family didn't even allow them anywhere near the wedding.

Gerald hates them with his whole soul. If you mention or ask about them, you're going to get a rant about them from Gerald.

He only deals with them because he loves and cares about Tina. He didn't let Teeth around or near them. Teeth didn't know that he had grandparents on his mother side of the family beside Valerie, Serena's mother.

Teeth did ask Valerie about them, and he couldn't believe that his mother had parents that was trying to get rid of her. He wonders if that why Tina treats him like she did. She only wants the best for him.

Teeth is happy that he never met them after talking to Valerie, his father, and visiting Serena.

[estellardreams]

Okay, the story is in it's rough stages but here's what I got so far:

Black Doom discuises himself as a Mobian (Doleon) and ends up finding Sonic, who had recently met Tails after the bullies. But before Tails could follow him Sonic suddenly vanishes without a trace.

Doleon had taken an interest in the blue hedgehog, seeing that his power was similar to Project Shadow. And knowing that Gerald was conspiring against him, he needed to find a way to prevent the Black Comet from being destroyed, along with a way to match Shadow in sheer power.

And the blue hedgehog felt like the perfect key to his idea.

So he manages to get ahold of Sonic without anyone noticing, bringing him to the Black Comet. And unfortunately the paralysis gas keeps Sonic docile and unable to escape.

With his limited knowledge in human technology, Doom attempts to experiment on Sonic and try to use his own DNA on the kid. He kept trying to monitor his vitals so he wouldn't die on him and made sure he couldn't escape by scarring his legs.

Eventually, Doom made a breakthrough by establishing the hivemind's connection to him, and it was all up to some careful manipulation and gaslighting to bring Sonic to their side.

More DNA is brought in, and Sonic's coat darkens as red pigment fades in, the DNA molding itself in the form of claws and spikes at his quills, arms, hands, and feet. The information from the hivemind also let Doom scew Sonic's old memories back on Earth to make him forget who he's supposed to be.

And once the finalization is complete and he proves stable... Doom brings Sonic out and begins to train him in the way of the black arms. Sonic was molded into a super weapon for the alien race, rivaling the king's own son in sheer power.

It wasn't until the final test that proved just how capable he was.

The Black Arms initiated their invasion the moment Doom sensed Shadow being reawakened from stasis. He brought Sonic back to Earth and told him everything he needed to know about Shadow and how to bring him to his side.

Shadow's first encounter with Sonic... Was a reverse situation from the original SA2 encounter. Shadow himself was startled by Sonic, who seemed to find joy in taunting and playing with the ebony hedgehog and his broken memories. However, Shadow resisted and fled the scene before the cops caught up with him.

Shadow then met Amy, Tails, and Knuckles who were trying to both stop the Black Arms invasion and figure out what was going on (Knuckles was after the shard pieces, along with Rouge). Amy was very quick to remind Shadow of his actual memories and he decided to align himself with their cause, bringing Rouge and Eggman to their side as the new team teamed up to stop the Black Arms.

The rest is... Similar to Shadow 05 in how everything goes down. Once the black comet was destroyed, only Sonic and Eclipse survived the disaster, hiding out on Earth ever since.

The two "brothers" eventually drifted apart and went their seperate ways, plotting their own form of revenge.

---

Extra details of the AU I wanted to fit in but didn't know how:

Amy and Tails are actually the sibling duo. Tails ended up finding Amy in danger and rescued her, still inspired by Sonic and his bravery. At this point he had no idea where the blue hedgehog had gone but hoped to find him again eventually (He never did)

Sonic CD, 2, 3, and Adventure did not happen. At least... Not normally. Tails became the main character after Sonic's departure land he brought along Amy from 3 and over. Knuckles wasn't met until Adventure when Eggman unleashed Chaos.

Sonic does not know Tails. His memory of the fox he saved is completely wiped.

Sonic does not consider Eclipse his brother. At all. Eclipse doesn't think the same thing about him.

Sonic's name was actually kept the same, however he ocassionally goes by "Aeron" which sound's similar to "Doleon" in a way

Shadow and Sonic are very intense rivals/enemies. Sonic is known to be incredibly relentless, even willing to team up with Eggman to make Shadow's life a living nightmare.

Random Story Idea I just thought of:

Sonic gets kidnapped when he's really young by the Black Arms and, seeing the potential of mobians and wanting to have their own Project Shadow, decide to modify Sonic to be part of the Black Arms.

He is unleashed right when Shadow is reawakened, seeing as they planned their invasion at that date.

👀👀👀

By "reawakened" do you still mean Shadow 2005? Or did this cause some sort of change in the timeline and they invade during sa2? (I may be stupid) Either way this sounds SO INTERESTING.

Oughhhjvdsbkfhjsb Sonic being raised by Doom. Sonic NOOOO

Would Eclipse still be made? Since he was created after the destruction of the original Black Comet? DO HE AND SONIC MEET?!!?! I NEED TO KNOW MORE /GEN

[shadamyheadcanons]

((In reference to this story, for some reason.))

This...this pisses me off. I don’t *think* you’re trolling, so I’m choosing to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you don’t know how rude you’re being.

(I don’t want anyone else to go and harass this person, either.)

First off: my inbox is temporarily closed for a reason. I was feeling burnt out on answering questions. I worked my ass off for that story. I took AGES writing all 6000+ words of it. I was excited when I got a couple replies for it...only to be met with someone insulting my ship and making ignorant claims about characters’ ages.

The reply section is for sharing your thoughts on that post. It’s not there so you can make off-topic criticisms and accusations. I didn’t put in all that effort for free in my spare time in the hopes that random people would waltz in and insult the entire purpose of this blog. You have your own blog for that. The reply section is NOT an inbox.

Now, the age thing. Short answer: No.

Long answer under the cut, because although it took longer than I expected to get my first instance of Shadamy Age Discourse, I want to have all of this in one place in case I get any more of it.

I don’t know which bootleg wiki that number was pulled from, but there has never been one shred of evidence in canon that refers to Shadow as 18. Not a single one. Whoever told you that is either accidentally spreading misinformation or flat-out lying. Always check the source if you’re pulling something from a wiki.

As a side note: some people are calling Shadow 17 right now because when you google “Shadow the hedgehog age,” you get this...

....but that isn’t Shadow’s age, either. It’s the age of the 2005 game named after him. You can see the ages of some other games and the synopsis of ShTH right underneath. People said he was 15 two years ago because of this. I wish Google would format it differently. It gets worse every year. This is a good example of why telling a legitimately curious person to “just google it” is not always a good idea.

As for canon analysis, traditional numbers do not work for Shadow’s age. The official word is that he is ageless. His timeline goes like this:

1. Created 50 years before the events of SA2 by Gerald Robotnik. Gerald is able to enlist the help of Black Doom by promising he’ll deliver him the seven Chaos Emeralds 50 years in the future.

2. Maria seals him in a stasis pod and sends him to Earth, where he’s released 50 years later by Eggman.

3. Black Doom arrives on schedule and demands the Emeralds.

This means Shadow was alive for less than a year on the ARK, yet he was already perfectly capable of having deep thoughts and carrying on full conversations with Maria, as shown in flashbacks. Whether it’s because he’s the ultimate life form or it’s a side-effect of his Black Arms DNA, his chronological age simply doesn’t operate the same way other Mobians’ do. He wasn’t affected by his time in stasis, either; he behaved as if he’d lost Maria yesterday. If he’d been conscious and aging all that time, his psyche would have been broken beyond repair. It’s an Aang/Captain America kind of situation.

So Shadow isn’t a middle-aged man. He’s not an infant. He’s not 17. And he’s definitely not 18. He is canonically ageless.

I personally care more about mental maturity with regards to this. It’s subjective, of course, but my opinion is that he’s mentally about 15, for these reasons:

- Sonic, who’s supposed to be his equal/foil, is 15. Sonic’s rivals are also consistently very close to him in age: Knuckles is 16, Jet is 14, Silver is 14, Blaze is 14, etc. I don’t think Shadow is presented as more mature than Sonic is, either. They typically have valid but opposing viewpoints on how to deal with problems.

- Shadow is often naive and easily manipulated (Gerald in SA2, Black Doom in ShTH, even Eggman if you count Sonic Boom).

- In his self-titled game, he displays various immature behaviors like having mood swings and constantly peppering his speech with minor curses like “damn” and “hell,” as if he’s a typical 14-year-old trying to sound cool and mature on his first day of high school.

Shadamy is fine. A three-year age difference is perfectly normal for adults. Anyone who actually reads that story you replied to will know it takes place many years after current canon. Just like almost all of my headcanons, it focuses on the potential future they have together. They don’t need a relationship right now.

And you know what’s even more important than all of that? Sega recently removed the ages from the characters’ bios on their website. Every single one. This could mean one of two things:

1. Frontiers takes place after a time skip. Sonic’s voice is noticeably deeper, and Ian Flynn seems to know something we don’t:

[Source]

Maybe all the ages will be retconned. It wouldn’t be the first time. Amy was originally 8. Knuckles was originally 15. Rouge was 17 in Sonic Heroes. I assume Sega then realized their “sexy” femme fatale character was a minor, so they panicked and hastily bumped her up to 18, something that will never not be funny to me.

OR...

2. They could be ditching canon ages altogether, which I wouldn’t be entirely opposed to. Some fans feel it was a mistake to include them in the first place, and when you get right down to it, most of them don’t make sense.

- Sonic had a birthday, but his age didn’t change.

- There are basically no adults. Rouge is only 18, but she’s somehow a secret agent who also runs a casino. You have to be 20 to drink, gamble, and enter a casino in Japan! She has to break the law every time she goes in there!

- Jet’s 14, but he leads the Babylon Rogues even though Wave is apparently 18 and Storm is 19.

- Tails is a homeowner. He is eight. Charmy is a professional detective. He is five. These are hilariously nonsensical.

Soooo...yeah. Shadow’s an ageless enigma in a franchise where exact age doesn’t seem to mean anything. You can personally think of him as being one age or another in terms of vague maturity, but you shouldn’t go around nagging real, hardworking people about made-up numbers.

If you’re actually interested in Shadamy, you can read some of my stuff. Try this cute headcanon. Or this AU. Or this little friendship ficlet.

If you don’t like Shadamy and you’re only here to talk down about the ship and my work, then go literally anywhere else on the internet. Up to you.

[beevean]

Imho there is a difference between just being edgy and putting things in for cheap shock value that serves no purpose in the story beyond getting a reaction. My rule of thumb for example would be if certain games like Shadow the Hedgehog or Jak 2 were to have their corny 2000s edge shaved down would their stories not only fundamentally still work but would it still also feel organic? As far as I see it, yes. People are fond of and wish for more of a return to the "edgy" period of Sonic, but not because of the aesthetic or the novelty of cute G-PG characters cursing or beating the shit out of each other.

Dark elements can work. Very few people would complain about Sonic Adventure's darkest moments, like a girl being trampled to death by the army leaded by his own father or Chaos destorying a whole city in great detail, because they're treated with the seriousness and care that they deserve.

Gerald's diary is a little more questionable in the context of Sonic, but it's still genuinely creepy thanks to the outstanding work of both his English and Japanese VA who really sold his broken mental state.

On the other hand, ShTH's edginess is limited to its aesthetic and curse words in English - Black Doom's terrible mental manipulation isn't explored in detail, for instance.

'06 tried to be deep and emotional, with Silver's dilemma and Elise's tragic story, but... well, the writing was clearly troubled, let's just say. I like Elise's concept, but we spend too little time humanizing her. And Silver just comes off as dumb.

As for Omens... I can't feel bad for the Maria boss weeping that she can't open her eyes when her whole role is reduced to "that dead girl Shadow angsts about", disrespecting both characters - ShTH actually tried to humanize her! I can't feel bad for Sonic crying as he breaks Chip's bracelet because Chip literally comes out of nowhere. I can't feel bad for Chris' tombstone because he's pretty much Sonic's Maria, he's only mentioned to say that he's dead and did some stuff. What's the point in pretending to be deep and emotional if the emotions are so shallow and derivative?

It shouldn't be hard to understand - the same fans who cry for the good ol' Adventure days also endlessly make fun of Lost World for being "comically edgy" and of Forces for lines like Sonic being tortured and "none of this is good, that's why it's called war", because it wants to be serious but they don't feel that the writing is good enough to give those moments meaning :\

[fearthebadgers]

New52 CoV Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow headcanons!

          Ok, New52 Jon does not get enough love in the community because of how he was written. He is the more controversial Crane out there but I for one have New52 high on my list of favorite Jons out there. From what I can recall correctly, his story was the first with Jon’s father actually actively being around in his childhood albeit not in the best way.                                                                                                                    My own personal Jonathan Crane shares a very similar history to New52 as this specific version is a heavy influence for my own. I do enjoy a more grotesque and gory Scarecrow so New52 is certainly right up my alley. Anyway, apart from that here are some headcanons for New52 Jonathan Crane! 

Enjoy!

(Headcanons are actually below the cut cuz there are some triggering topics along with some spoilers if you have not read New52: CoV, triggers included mouth trauma, childhood trauma, smoking, anxiety issues, poisoning, bullying and death. Reader discretion is advised)

-You can blame Jonathan’s stuttering on his father. He developed it after a particularly bad experiment at a young age and even though he’s worked thoroughly to cover it up over the years, when stressed, emotional or excited it just sort of slips out.

-He’s one of few Cranes that did not grow up in Georgia. He’s Gotham born and raised although he did not grow up in the city itself but more in the surrounding rural area.

-The house that he canonically kept Batman and the 2 girls trapped inside is the same house he grew up in, just years and years later.

-After his eventual apprehension and recovery from being exposed to his own toxin, he was sedated and had the stitching to his lips removed and his broken bottom jaw treated. There are still small scars from the stitches surrounding his upper and bottom lip and has regular jaw pain as a reminder of what he did to himself.

-Any and all mirrors that have or do hang in any of his living spaces have either been smashed or completely shattered.

-He does have anger issues and can get very emotional at times.

-Jon had a black cat hanging around his childhood home that he named Binx but one day she mysteriously went missing from the second floor of the house where she usually stayed. Jon went looking for her one day and found her in the back shed with kittens. He found an old cardboard box and made a little kitty shelter for Binx and her new kittens.

-One of few Cranes that enjoys scaring birds. When no one is watching he’ll sneak up on a flock of pigeons and scare the crap out of them. Bonus points if it’s a murder of unsuspecting crows but often times he’ll pay for spooking crows as they often try to fight back.

-The diamonds that he brought to Penguin near the end of the comic actually came from a amateur robber. He kidnapped them, took the diamonds that they had just stolen and later of course experimented on them before letting them go with no recollection of what happened.

-Master manipulator and can make any lie believable but he’s also extremely blunt when he wants to be.

-If asked to do something, he’ll do it..eventually, just on his own time. If not he just won’t do it at all. You can’t expect New52 to immediately go through with your desires for any reason unless it benefits him as well. 

-Was the type of kid to build and practically live inside a tree fort. He’s oddly fond of the outdoors as it can often provide an eerie atmosphere to be in, especially if he’s alone. 

-Don’t ask for advice from him. He’ll often give you the most sarcastic advice ever, the worst ever or just say nothing at all. Again, he doesn’t like busying himself with someone else’s affairs if it doesn’t affect him.

-Jon is actually a bit..afraid to sleep. Anytime he closes his eyes to rest for a period of time, at some point he’s going to jolt awake almost screaming bloody murder because of nightmares and sleep terror.

-Do not touch him without permission first. Many Cranes don’t like being touched without giving their say so in whether or not they can be touched but New52 takes it a step further. If you were to touch him without asking to do so, he will inject you no matter who you are. You could be his best friend and he still would. This stems from the years of bullying and trauma that he suffered as he almost always associates any kind of touch as being of harmful intent. 

-Going back to the previous headcanon, he does not care who he injects. All he cares about when he does is the reaction he’s going to see from his chosen victim. 

-Jon is actually half to blame for his father’s death. He doused his father’s most recently bought pack of cigarettes in bleach so whenever he lit up a cigarette to smoke, he inhaled burning chlorine gas. This coupled with the coincidental heart attack is what caused Gerald Crane’s death. 

-He swears that his father’s ghost haunts him. Ever since Gerald’s death, strange and inexpiable things happened around Jonathan. His glasses going missing for extended periods of time later being found in the strangest places, his freshly made bed being found a mess for no known reason, doors opening right back up when he closes them, lights inexplicably flickering, just the usual run-of-the-mill paranormal activity. The one thing that makes Jonathan believe that his father’s ghost haunts him is the smell of cigarette smoke that lingers in various and random spots around the old, decrepit house. It usually gets stronger whenever something strange occurs.

[hollenka99]

Now He’s Gone Forever

Summary: Anti decides to strike but realises Jack might still have his uses. He should get the doctor and the magician to fix this. Inspired by this piece of art by TurquoiseMagpie.

Warnings: Character death, discovering a body, brief description of said body

This pumpkin carving was boring, no matter how enthusiastic Jack was. The demon would just have to bide his time. There had to be a window of opportunity coming up.

"There's his eyes." Jack checked the monitor. "Now comes the mouth. The mouth is gonna be hard but I'm gonna make it look like he's got-" he bared his teeth and made a sound to suggest a goofy grin. "Like he's got a load of teeth. Not sharp, jagged teeth. That's lame. That's not scary. Even though that's what I did last year. I'm a diff- I'm a changed man! I'm a different person."

He saws at the pumpkin, grunting from the effort.

"Gerald, you should go see a dentist. The teeth are coming out nicely. Well, at least I think they are, I haven't been able to follow the lines properly because the knife is like... sometimes it's a bit too big. Sometimes I'm terrible at this. Um, okay, almost there, almost there. Last one. Last one." He rotates the pumpkin to face the camera. "Did it work? Is your mouth gonna come out? Come on... yeah!" The sliced pieces slide out from the slight pressure he subjects them to. He continues to cheer as the rest of the mouth is removed. "Now I have to wipe off all the marker because, when you can see the outline, and then you see where I didn't follow, it looks stupid. You gotta see the pumpkin for what it is. Tada!"

After furiously wiping the black marker off, Jack presents Gerald the Pumpkin to the camera. It shines from the artificial light that lies off screen. He admires his work, grabbing the nearby pumpkin top so that he may complete the activity. Jack expresses his concerns that the top may not fit and cheers when it does, proclaiming Gerald is a fully formed pumpkin.

"Okay, so the last thing you wanna do is get your knife and you're gonna have to do fine-"

This seemed like the perfect opportunity to strike. Anti had been corrupting the footage throughout the video. Now it was simply a case of taking what he wanted. Jack is unsuspecting as Anti whispers instructions. All he needs is a gateway.

He coerces the man to lift the blade to his throat. His way in was open now. Anti forces himself into a position of control. The human's mind has no defences and struggles to resist the attack. Either way, Anti gains full command of the body with barely any fight back from his victim.

He giggles at his easy victory. Should he mock the video's audience or simply leave? No, they were only beginning to pay true attention to him. Some even argued he didn't exist. He'd show them.

"His body was weak. You all said my name. Kept me inside too long. I am here now. It's all your fault. Listen to me, you all made this happen. You could have stopped me. But you just watched as this happened! Now he's gone forever. Say goodbye."

With his message done, he didn't need this body any longer. Who was Jack but yet another pawn? Anti wasn't going to deny he was an influential pawn. However, when all was said and done, Jack wasn't needed anymore. Anti was a little hesitant. A guy like this had the potential to be useful again later. Jack had slit his throat; he was dead as soon as Anti stop possessing him.

He knew that doctor and magician were friends of Jack's. How about they try save him? It would be fun, watching the heartbreak, their desperation. If he played his cards right, he could get them involved. Manipulate them so subtly that they weren't even aware he was in control. He could make them into his puppets. If they couldn't save Jack, oh well. He'd move on to his next target. Although, he had to admit, the lost potential would frustrate him. There was so much he realised he could do with Jack. Why did he let his host slice his neck like that?

He makes an attempt to prepare the video for uploading. Everything glitches and refuses to function. Great. He spent so long working to reach this point. All this taunting of millions gone to waste. Plus a dead body on his hands now too.

That settled it. Jack's friends would have to come to his rescue and revive him. All that he needed now was to come up with a way to team them up. He spots a post-it note reminding Jack of social plans set for the following day. He writes his own note. At least pen and paper didn't involve technology.

Anti cut out the bottom of 'Gerald'. He figured it was a large enough hole for his plans. Carrying it to the recording room, he positioned himself and forced the pumpkin down on Jack's head. This would be something interesting for his next visitor to find.

He abandons the corpse, leaving a smudged Happy Halloween! on the whiteboard and blood he refuses to deal with.

---

Henrik stood outside the pub. Jack was half an hour late by now. The doctor's phone claimed he had attempted to call Jack seven times. Seven missed calls and three ignored texts. Henrik was willing to give his friend the benefit of the doubt at first but by this point, his patience was long gone. Jack was the one who suggested a catch up over drinks in the first place. Where was the asshole? He didn't seem to have the decency to let Henrik know he was going to be incredibly late. He wished they had never organised a night out. Jack's behaviour was unacceptable. It wasn't like him to blank his friends.

Yes, this was certainly odd behaviour. Jack was usually the type to apologise if he was 30 seconds late. He would definitely contact Henrik if he was stuck in traffic. So why hadn't he?

Something wasn't right. Maybe it would be a good idea to visit Jack at his home. He sent him a text to give Jack some warning, not that he expected it to be seen. If he didn't answer his door, Henrik was sure a spare key was left somewhere. Jack was always locking himself out of his house due to being disorganised.

Henrik knocks on the front door, praying for Jack to answer. If he forgot about their plans to meet, Henrik could live with that. He would be angry, of course, but he'd live. He is unimpressed when he finds a spare key lying under one of Signe's plants. Obviously, Jack was willing to have his home broken into. At least his wake up call would be from a friend and not a potential thief.

He searches, calling Jack's name multiple times. The front door had been locked so maybe Jack had left for the pub. No, he would have contacted Henrik if he was going to be late. Besides, he had already gone through that line of argument. His dread was only building. Maybe Signe knew where he was? No, she was away, visiting friends. That's what Jack had told him.

He enters a room, only to be greeted by blood. It's on the table and the floor. This blood can belong to only one person. Henrik begins screaming Jack's name as he races up the stairs. No, please no. He doesn't want to find what he's expecting.

The recording room door was ajar. With the rest of the house empty, this was the last possible place Jack could be found. He pushes the door and turns away immediately. This couldn't be happening.

Jack was there, slumped in his recording chair. His position must have slipped because he was half off the seat, only his arms and a knee keeping him on it. The pumpkin he had been carving was covering the majority of his face. His green hair looked a little like it was part of the plant. Henrik didn't like that.

The worst part was the blood. It was all over. The back of the pumpkin had a good proportion of red. Jack's hands had dripped some on the floor as well. When he forced himself to look closer, he found Jack's throat had been slit. It was clear he'd been killed downstairs then brought up here for some reason.

When had this happened? They'd only spoken yesterday. Granted, the conversation was only to confirm their plans but they had still talked. Last night, Henrik had walked around his neighbourhood with his children as they demanded sweets from local strangers. Jack had mentioned he was going to film a pumpkin carving video, similar to the one he made last Halloween.

It seems Jack barely finished his video before being attacked.

The pumpkin was degrading. Clearly his murderer didn't care about leaving Jack respectfully after death. Who would even want to murder a person like Jack? Removing it from his head was the first thing Henrik did. Jack didn't deserve to be found like this, to be mocked in death. With the mask gone, Henrik could see his friend's face. Jack had often joked about being pale but this was no comparison. A touch of his arm confirmed rigor mortis had set in. It had been at least eight hours then.

He has to know what happened. The police, they would need evidence. Jack had been filming a video, right? Maybe the attack had been captured on camera. Henrik looks at the computer desk, searching for the camera or anything useful. There's a note addressed specifically to him and it's certainly not Jack who wrote it.

H̸̕ȨN̵RI̧K̷

̶T͜a͞l̢͏̴k҉̷͢ ̕҉t̛͜o͘͞ t͝h̕e̸͘ ̷m̸a̸gi̴͟c̛i̶a̕͢ņ҉.͠ ̛S̵̢͟a͟͞ve͞͏̧ ̧̧͜y͢o̸͘͟u͘҉͞r̛͜ ҉͞fr̕i̛͘e̡n̛͢d҉̸.̷̕ ̴I̷f͡͏ ͡͏y̢o̴͡͏u̕ ̕c͝͏a̕n.͟

The magician? Henrik thinks he recalls Jack mentioning being friends with one. He'd have to search through Jack's contact to find this guy. He hates invading his friend's phone but it's necessary. He sees a Marvin and the name rings bells. He thinks this is the one. He skims through their texts to make sure. There are mentions of magic shows. That settles it, he's ringing this Marvin.

"Hey Jack, I can't really talk right now. I'm just leaving a kid's party. Call me back in an hour?" "Wait! My name is Henrik. I'm a friend of Jack's. You're a magician, correct?" "Uh, yeah." "Do you know how to bring back the dead?"

[nobodycantearyou]

Personal headcanons / notes about Shadow (no1canbreakyou)

under a cut because potential to be long

Shadow speaks politely, he doesn’t use a lot of slang, but when he does it’s kind of more like... maybe a bit childish. “Cool city.” Very 90s. His voice is soft, though firm when necessary. He doesn’t often speak a lot, growing kind of self conscious. He tries to keep things concise, for convenience. 

Shadow is autistic, it manifests in his more withdrawn behavior. Eye contact is hit or miss with him, sometimes he can meet another’s gaze so intensely they look away, but most times he’ll be the one to look elsewhere. He’s an observer, first and foremost, and he has a very wide eyed look about him. Quiet, always looking around. He has a difficult time expressing his emotions outwardly, and his resting expression often looks very serious and grumpy, which can be off putting for others. He can’t help it and feels frustrated when people struggle to understand him. He hates being called edgy just for existing. 

He fixates on things quite strongly, usually things that others might find mundane or common, he becomes vastly interested in them. He was given plants by his dear friend Mari the Dragon, and he really wanted to nurture them, learning all he could about plants and how to take care of them. When his apartment in Station Square was destroyed during Eggman’s Takeover, his plants all died and it hit him very hard. Change is already hard for Shadow to deal with, especially change that comes from his inability to protect something... 

It wasn’t his fault that his plants died, and yet he blames himself. It wasn’t his fault that Eggman took over, and yet he blames himself.   It wasn’t his fault that Maria died, and yet he blames himself.

Shadow’s memory has suffered greatly from being manipulated by Gerald, to the subsequent amnesia he received after his fall in Sonic Adventure 2. Because of this, he will sometimes wake up with no memory of who he is, or what’s going on. These episodes can last anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours. To help with this, Shadow has post it notes all around his apartment with key information to keep him grounded and aware.  During missions, Team Dark is usually with him to keep him aware, but if he’s solo, he has recorded messages for himself that he can listen to to help him calm down. 

These episodes are few and far between, but flare up more frequently in times of great stress. It doesn’t help that Shadow feels very ashamed of them, and is afraid of others finding out that the Ultimate Life Form may be broken. A part of him is always worried about losing control and attacking those he cares about. 

Shadow is genderfluid, though uses mainly masculine pronouns. His eyelids are red because he wears red eyeshadow. He likes to dress up sometimes, but ever since the events of Forces, he’s been less likely to do so. Only Rouge really knows about this interest of his, and she supports it, but now that Shadow no longer lives with her, she doesn’t get to encourage it as much. 

Shadow tries to be a good host when friends are over, but would prefer to get out of the apartment and go elsewhere. He enjoys reading and listening to music. He loves to cook, especially bake. He’s super interested in botany, and he’s totally fascinated by bugs and birds. Whenever bugs get into his apartment, he tries to capture them and release them safely outside. 

His favorite flavor of sweets is strawberry, and if any of his friends are eating something pink, he will glance over at them repeatedly, but never ask to taste it because he’s shy. 

His goal in life is to figure out his reason for being, by his own choice.

[queenie435]

Exemplore»

Magic

Storm Callers - The Art of Weather Magic

Updated on April 16, 2017

Pollyanna Jones

"Many tales were bruited about the power of witches and wizards over storms, weapons, spirits, love, and death. I have been assured that at this day the country folk, some of them at least, tremble at the sight of one of these gifted persons, or persons of such repute, lest by some chance the sorcerers eye lighting on them should kindle in him a dislike." – Rev Oswald Cockayne, 1864

The weather. Most unpredictable, and most important to those living off the land, efforts have been made throughout the ages to predict and even control the sun, wind, and rain. Good weather would ensure a plentiful harvest and safe travels, whilst a wet summer or particularly harsh drought would doom a community to starvation and suffering. Even today, extreme weather events affect us profoundly, claiming lives each year. So it is no wonder that throughout the ages, man has tried to influence the elements around him.

Tales of magical manipulation of the weather appear all over Europe, and appear in the Sagas as well as Saxon records. Even today, we utter charms to ensure good weather.

"Rain, rain, go away.

Come again another day."

~ Traditional English proverb, charm for good weather.

Appeasing the Sea

It would seem that some of Britain's earliest superstitions around the sea and weather came to our shores with the Norsemen.

The goddess Rán, one of the deities who ruled the domain of the sea, would catch any who fell overboard with her net. The Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar Edda describes how she receives those drowned at sea, luring men into the water and sinking ships with her daughters, the waves. As a result, many Norsemen would carry gold with them on a voyage, to appease Rán in the unfortunate event they drowned. 

This superstition was carried through right up to the present day; it is believed placing a gold coin under the mast will bring good luck and works as a talisman against stormy weather.

Rán's Embrace | Source

Taming the Tempests

The goddess Rán was the least of their worries though. With the sea being the main transport route of the time, the Norse were vulnerable to the elements, and many accounts speak of how magical forces were at work as a weapon against those sailing the seas. Snorri Sturluson wrote, in Heimskringla:

"King Hakon lay in the Southern Isles, the Hebrides, St Michaels mass fell on a Saturday and on the Monday night, that is, the night before Monday, came a mickle storm with wild fury, and drove a cock boat and a long ship upon the coast of Scotland. On Monday the storm was so fierce that some cut away their masts and some ships drove. The kings ship drove also into the sound, and there were seven anchors out, and at last the eighth, which was the biggest, but she drove notwithstanding. A little later the anchor held fast. So mickle was this storm that the men said it was the work of enchantment, and one made upon it these skaldic verses:-

"There met the much scarching

Maintainer of war

The sorcerers arts

Of Scotlands warlocks.

Roaring the raging sea

Drove with its fair sails

Many a proud ship

Of the beah giver

Broken on land.

Blew with its loud blasts

On the brine skimmers

Full fraught with warriors

Fiercely the sea storm

Stirred up by the wizards.

Up on to Scotland

Scattered and tossed

Broad barking billows

Threw brave men of battle

With shields and war gear

Shivered and torn.""

The weather magic of the warlocks of Scotland was at play, denying many a brave warrior his place in Valhalla.

In this piece entitled "Vikings", a ship of Norsemen battle through a storm at sea. | Source

Another instance of Scottish magic being used against the Norse can be found in the folktale, "Pitchpine: The Norse King's Sorcerous Daughter":

"As they reached the shores, the women of Lochaber used incantations of their own to destroy the vessel. The boat was wrecked at the entrance to Loch Eil, and all souls lost. More ships were sent, and met the same fate.

Finally, the Norse King sent out his most powerful fleet; an armada of sea stallions filled with his best warriors and most experienced sailing men. Their first mission was to weaken the magic of the Scottish folk before moving inland to recover the Norse King's daughter's remains.

They headed to the island of Iona, where it is said that magic was drawn from the fairy wells upon the hill there. The waters of these wells held a power that could call a wind from any direction when needed. In peaceful times this would help the fishermen sail out to the herring shoals, but in times such as these, they could be used to whip up a tempest wherever it was wanted. The islanders just needed to draw water from the wells and empty it in the direction that the wind was needed. The Norsemen knew of this place and its magical waters, and the likeliness that they had been used to ruin their kinsmen before them. If these wells were dried up, then safe passage would be secured, not just for their fleet, but for invaders thereafter.

When the islanders saw the viking ships approaching, they hurried to the fairy wells and began to draw up the water. Nearly emptying the wells themselves, the storm that was called up was so violent that Norse fleet was tossed about and ripped to pieces. The ships were torn apart and hurled onto the shores beneath Fairy Hill on Iona. The power and might of the Norsemen was broken."

"The Finns made in the night violent weather with their cunning sorcery and a storm at sea."

~ Saga of Saint Olaf, anonymous

As Christianity spread throughout Europe, many of the old observations and rites changed to become superstitions. Evil magic could be found everywhere, and the newly converted Norse, fearful of the ire of the shunned Gods, would not dare set sail on a Friday for fear that they would be easy pickings.

This is observed by some sailors even today, and the superstition is thought to have its origins with the Norse Goddess, Frigga. Friday is thought to have been her day, and as the Old Gods were viewed as being evil, a theory has been put forward that priests in Scandinavia preached that Frigga was an evil hag, and she and her witches would whip up storms on Friday. Friday became branded as an unlucky day, so any ship due to sail would be doomed.

"The Spanish Armada and English Ships in August, 1588", artist unknown.

Weather Witches

In Elizabethan England, Sir Francis Drake was said to have sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for success as skilled seaman. He later earned victory in 1588 against the Spanish Armada heading towards England, with great luck on his side.

A terrible storm swept through the English Channel, which hampered Spanish warships. It is said that the Drake had the help of the Devil and witches in the sea battle, who called the storm to aid the English fleet. Folklore tells how the spirits of these witches still haunt the coast around Devonport, at a spot known as Devil's Point.

"Rain" | Source

By the time that Queen Elizabeth was on the throne, magical ways were deemed dangerous and evil, and steps were taken to hunt out witches and warlocks by the Church. What would once have been a useful skill was now seen as a tool of the devil.

This account of weather manipulation was recorded by a "witch hunter" in Swabia, which is now modern-day southern Germany.

"A strange thing lately happened, as has been ascertained in Swabia: a little girl, eight years old, was led by her father, who was a bailiff, to visit the fields, and when he complained of the extreme drouth*, she said she would soon get up some rain if there were need of it. Her father, in wonder, asked whether she knew how to do it; she declared she could get rain, or even hail if she chose. When asked where she had learn this, she said from her mother, and that instructors in these matters were at hand when required. To learn therefore by trial whether the child told the truth, he bid her call for rain upon his farm. For that purpose the daughter said she should want a little water; when then he had brought her to a small stream just by, the child, in pursuance of her mothers instructions, stirred the water with her finger in the devils name; hereupon the air was agitated and the rain descended as she had predicted. Her father told her to fetch some hail upon another field, and when she had done it the man denounced his wife to the authorities. She was burnt alive, and the child was reconciled to the church and made a nun." [3]

*drought

Angela Lansbury as Miss Price, leading a spectral host of warriors to battle, defending Britain from invading foes! | Source

A Magical Battle

Witchcraft also made an appearance during WW2. Whilst Disney's Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a work of fantasy, there is truth in the account that witches in the England and Scotland were working against the powers of the enemy to prevent invasion.

Operation Mistletoe was a magical strike, organised by a lady named Dion Fortune. Gathering some of Britain's more prominent magicians including Dennis Wheatley, Aleister Crowley, and Ian Fleming (yes, the author behind James Bond!), a Cone of Power was directed against Germany.

During the rite, spirits of ancient heroes of the British Isles such as King Arthur, St. George, and Merlin were called upon to protect the UK's shores. A cabal of magic workers gathered in the New Forest under Gerald Gardner, and some accounts tell how witches gathered directly on the Cliffs of Dover to stop a Nazi invasion and assist the British airmen during the Battle of Britain.

Bad weather caused a much smaller Luftwaffe force to take to the skies, and with the skill of British airmen, the enemy was turned away. Victory in the skies was granted to the RAF on 31st October, 1940. It is worth noting that this date coincides with Halloween, or the ancient festival of Samhain; a day of power for many witches, where the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is at its thinnest

Wind Magic | Source

Modern Beliefs

Of course, we live in an age of reason and logic. The weather is produced through varying factors such as sea currents, air pressure, and many other variables. Whilst our technology allows us to track weather fronts, it is still very difficult to predict the weather seven days from now, let alone control it.

We now have technology such as cloud seeding, which enables us to encourage clouds to drop rain in areas of drought, and there are many conspiracy theories about how technologies exist to create more severe weather events.

None of this could be described as being magic though. For this we need to look at our customs and supersitions. A handful of these from England include:

"When you've eaten a boiled egg, always smash a hole through the bottom of the shell. If you don't a witch will ride it out to sea and cause a storm."

Sea hags could often stir up a storm. Best not to help them by leaving your eggshells intact!

"Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day."

Our best known charm for improving the weather.

"If you pull a face in the wind, it'll stick!"

The demons that ride with strong winds were thought to have disfiguring powers.

"If you sing badly, it'll rain."

Enchantment has it's origins with "enchante", or "singing". Witches and sorceresses would use magical songs and chants to perform certain spells. Some of these would no doubt have been used to call the rains.

"Tread on an ant, you'll make it rain."

Ants tend to come out in good weather, on the hunt for foods to take back before the weather turns.

"To end a drought, dip an effigy of a saint in water."

This may have also been done as a punishment to the saint for ignoring the community's prayers! Possibly originating with the custom of leaving holy pre-Christian effigies in springs or lakes, i.e. Nerthus' wain.

"Ring bells during a gale, to scare the demons away."

Church bells were often rung during a storm to frighten evil forces.

"Gales come to take a great spirit away."

Some people believe this is the Devil come to claim a soul, but this superstition is likely to have its origins in legends of the Wild Hunt.

So do any of these hold any truth?

See for yourself. Let me know if you have any results to prove or disprove any of the superstitions above!

Are you superstitious about the weather?

Yes, stop singing already!

No, don't be absurd!

See results

Sources

[1] Rev Oswald Cockayne - Leechdoms, Wortcunning, and Starcraft of Early England, 1864 - ISBN 978-1298592057

[2] Pitchpine: The Norse King's Sorcerous Daughter

[3] Caesalpinus Daemonum Investigatio, 1591