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hadesknockedupintheunderworld · 3 months ago

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I have some Shadow and Maria thoughts to ramble about in regards to the recent Shadow content. It's a bit long and spoilery, so I've included it under the cut.

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⚠️Spoilers below for Sonic x Shadow Generations (particularly Shadow Generations), Sonic x Shadow Generations Dark Beginnings, Gerald's Journal, and the Shadow the Hedgehog Manga!!⚠️

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Honestly, I have to say. You've gotta respect the dedication of Ian Flynn, Evan Stanley, Shadow and Maria's vas, other creators for Dark Beginnings/Shadow generations, and the people working on the Shadow manga

To never labeling Shadow and Maria's relationship as sibling‐like

Like, okay. Sure. English Sonic official posted an art piece of them with the "long lost sibling" in the alt text/caption.

They're never said to be siblings in any of the youtube descriptions for the official postings for the Dark Beginnings episodes, including the full compilation. (You can check the descriptions here, here, here, and here)

They're never said to be siblings at all during Dark Beginnings (you can check the full compilation of the episodes here).

In the first episode of Dark Beginnings, there are a few things we can see while Shadow is having a combo memory/vision. First, as Maria excitedly presents Shadow the aurora borealis, she begins to faint. Luckily, Shadow rushes to catch her, concerned, and tells her she should know better than to exert herself. Then, once he sets her back down on the floor, finding her to be okay, she starts talking about how excited she is to go back one day to Earth. In response, Shadow starts despairing over having failed to be her cure and how he doesn’t know if there's a place for him on Earth. Then, Maria hugs his head tightly, only to stroke his face before cupping his cheeks (yes she pointedly strokes his face. Fun fact, if you check the stream of the Dark Beginnings teaser presentation from Anime Expo (here at 29:36) you can hear the audience get quieter for a while after she strokes his face). She reassures Shadow, telling him that she's just as happy to spend time with him here on the ARK. (This scene with Maria during Dark Beginnings episode 1 can be found here at the timestamp range 0:33–2:03)

During the second episode of Dark Beginnings, Shadow stands in front of a glass containment tube, watching the black arms larva inside. Though he says nothing, Maria can tell that Shadow is upset. She places a hand on Shadow's shoulder and leans into his face (both putting herself on the same eye level as him, and quite literally eclipsing his view of the thing which represents his grief over who he is). She asks him if he's okay, and Shadow opens up, telling her how he feels no different than the evil heartless creature in the tube (the black arms larva). Maria throws her arms around him, hugging him tightly, before explaining that he has a big heart. She places a hand upon his chest (very lightly strokes it too), tells him that she knows he cares about everyone despite how hard it is for him to express it, and explains that it's one's actions that defines them (as opposed to blood or dna). (This scene with Maria during Dark Beginnings episode 2 can be found here at the timestamp range 5:30–6:44)

The previous episode sets the two up as having a bit of a close relationship, but this flashback from episode 2 emphasizes the closeness of their relationship further. It presents multiple additional examples of Maria seeking to comfort Shadow through physical touch. And not only that, but also her being able to sense when he needs comfort even if his face doesn't show it. These two episodes combined present us the kind of relationship where Shadow is often at Maria's side (he worries about her health, he rushes in to catch her when she begins to faint, she teaches him about Earth), and Maria likes to spend time with Shadow too (she loves to teach him about Earth, to fantasize about going there with him, to spend time with him on the ARK, to comfort Shadow and reassure him if he feels angry at himself or sad). If Shadow watches out for Maria physically/health wise, then Maria watches out for Shadow emotionally. There's no relationship label placed on top of these scenes to tell the audience what they should think about it. Rather, the scenes speak for themselves, laying bare how close the two are, how they care for each other (and I'd even argue that some of those moments of physical touch on Maria's part even convey a sense of longing. There's something very intimate feeling about these scenes).

Then, we get more tidbits with episode 3. During the episode, Commander Abraham Tower implies (from his perspective at least) that Maria had always been the only person who could talk Shadow down, an ability of hers that is explicitly shown in Shadow Generations (when Maria convinces Shadow not to fight Black Doom or the black arms out of anger or hate).

Commander: You could have talked him down, Rouge!

Rouge: There's only one person who could ever do that.

Commander: True...and she was lost to us a long time ago...

(This scene with the commander during Dark Beginnings Episode 3 can be found here at the timestamp range 11:19–12:05)

Shadow: He's right. No more mistakes. This time, I will crush every last one of them!

Maria: Shadow, no!

Shadow: Maria?

Maria: It breaks my heart to see you so full of anger. This isn't who you are. Do you know why I named you Shadow? Because without light there's only darkness, but a shadow will show you where to find the light. Do you understand? I don't want you to be driven by darkness. I want you to be happy. Stand in the light with peace in your heart.

...

Maria: Shadow...!

Shadow: It's alright, Maria. I'm letting go of that destructive anger. But I will continue to fight.

Shadow: Fight...with your wish in my heart. Your wish for everyone to have a chance to be happy.

(These scenes from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp ranges 46:37–47:33 and 49:57–51:00)

Ironically, though Abe and Shadow are on better terms now, he is also never used as a vessel to outright state the nature of Maria's relationship with Shadow (though the commander does see Maria as a sister to himself per Shadow the Hedgehog 2005). And though Rouge (as well as Omega) is presented as the closest friend to Shadow at this point, she doesn't outright state the nature of the relationship either.

Finally, later in episode 3, Shadow experiences an amv fantasy in his head of he and Maria spending time together in Earth's flowers under the stars, and tries to banish the thoughts away. It hurts him so much because such a fantasy will never be fulfilled, because when Maria was alive she dreamed of them going to the planet together. (You can check timestamps 12:05–12:28 of this video for Shadow's vision/fantasy)

During the Dark Beginnings teaser showcase, when asked the nature of Shadow and Maria's relationship, this is how Shadow and Maria's voice actors described it:

Question: How would each of you describe the relationship between the two?

Kirk Thornton (Shadow): W-Well– To speak in– To speak in actor's terms, um, Maria is my—super objective—she is my reason for everything I do. Um, so...she's just everything. And so, I was created to protect her and when I...failed that mission it...devastates me– er, Shadow. I-I'm... Devastates Shadow.

Kirk: And, so that's why, you know he-he dedicates his life to uhhhh to protecting...Earth because of that, so she is– she just– Yeah. Everything to Shadow.

Kirk: Yeah. Complete driving force behind his life.

Stephanie Sheh (Maria): Okay, so, in my mind when I was thinking about it I was like "She grew up very isolated. She had, like, nobody." You know? And, um, other than Shadow, and the thing that I could relate to is that, like...during the pandemic when we were alone in our houses, I had my dog. And I'm not like– And check it– This is gonna sound weird I'm gonna say comparing Shadow to my dog. But, um, my dog is also black and reddish-tan, so, um...but, um, and– and my dog is super sweet, but he also gets a little too aggressive when he's trying to protect me. S-See? And so, like, anyways. Anyways. It-It's just the parallels. Anyways. But I do think that like, you know, and I- and like I'm the driving force. I ground him. You know, [s]he brings him back to, like, the less rabid stage.

Stephanie: You know, when he gets worked up. Um...but, yeah, that's how I kind of, like, uh– at– relate to that.

...

Stephanie: Yes, yes, totally. Like moral compass.

From that point forward, the host (Zeno Robinson) sort of went back and forth a bit with Stephanie, sort of playing off of her words to which she answers in turn. He describes Maria as Shadow's moral center, he goes on to explain how Shadow is this incredibly powerful being, him having the wrong moral center or with him being in the wrong hands can cause him to go out of control (and Stephanie going on to clarify that Maria helps rein Shadow in). Towards the end of this question, the host also goes onto say how he loves how in depth everyone's answers are and sort of half summarizes what Kirk and Stephanie said/half gives his own input:

"Maria gives Shadow purpose and direction and I'm sure they both were each other's only friend. Uh, their bond is integral to their characters as well as the story."

(At the end of the day, I know Zeno Robinson's opinion is no more important than any fan opinion, since he's neither a sega staff member, someone who worked on Dark Beginnings, or Takashi Iizuka/Shiro Maekawa. I just couldn't help but add his words here after Kirk and Stephanie's.)

(This q&a from the 2024 Anime Expo "A New Era of Shadow" panel can be found here at the timestamp range 26:16–29:18)

Both Kirk and Stephanie describe their relationship in vague terms (never once using the term "sibling"), but their views are clear. To Kirk (who also revealed in this very same q&a that he's only recently been given a more in depth understanding of Shadow as a character and his backstory at the timestamp range 16:39–21:30), Maria is everything to Shadow. She's a precious person, he was made to protect her, he lives for and builds his purpose around her. She is the reason for everything he does. To Stephanie, Shadow is like Maria's only companion, a loyal dog type character (who can get too aggressive sometimes when it comes to protecting Maria), while Maria is Shadow's moral compass and keeps him grounded.

Although we know Maria wasn't completely alone on the ark (there was still the other scientists and Abe after all), just from Dark Beginnings alone (much less Gerald's journal or Shadow Generations) it's clear how important her relationship with Shadow is. In Dark Beginnings, Maria is someone who grounds Shadow, and someone who influences his purpose. Shadow is someone who protects her and cares for her in turn. Shadow may not be her only choice for friendship, but he's clearly a dear one. But for Shadow (so far as we can gather as the audience) she really was his closest and only friend.

And in Gerald's journal, we even get to see Professor Gerald's perspective on their relationship.

(This is an image from the physical version of Gerald Robotnik's Journal included in launch day copies of Sonic x Shadow Generations. It can be found on page 14 of the physical book, and depicts entry #620)

"But then ⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️ looked upon the unfinished specimen and put things into a new perspective. 'A shadow tells you which way to go to find the light.' In an instant she cut through all my pessimism and doubt and filled me with hope."

– Gerald's journal, Entry #620

Here, although Shadow had not yet been completed, Maria took to calling him a name (which we can only assume is "Shadow"). Before he was even finished, she’d treated him like a future living, thinking being, and her reason for naming Shadow this way was profound enough to inspire Gerald with hope in the project's completion.

Gerald's thoughts on Project Shadow evolve throughout what we can read of his journal. Originally, he starts the project because he can no longer ignore the president of the United Federations' request for the secret to immortality, naming it project Shadow out of spite. He finds the idea of immortality perverse and discovering it to be impossible. But this project eventually becomes his only hope for potentially curing Maria, almost like a lifeline. In desperate pursuit of Maria's cure through Project Shadow, Gerald's choices become harder and harder, challenging even his own morals. So although he may have attempted to bring the project to fruition no matter the cost, hope is still a powerful thing.

"⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️ as she's come to call him, will not be some dark creature but a champion of life and hope. I would not have seen that if not for ⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️ She is truly a remarkable person who can do great and wondrous things for the world."

– Gerald's journal, Entry #620

Without Maria's words, Gerald never would have been able to see real hope or worth in this project beyond potentially curing his granddaughter. Without this change in perspective (thanks to Maria), perhaps Shadow would never have become the kind of hybrid hedgehog he is today—more than just a weapon destined for destruction.

(Although I didn't include a picture here, on pages 17–18 of the physical copy of Gerald's journal (entry #651 to be exact), Gerald notes how Maria assisted him in crafting Shadow's limiter rings (allowing him to handle and focus his power) and rocket shoes (to improve his mobility). There's also a colored image of the rocket shoes and limiter rings, which Maria signed her name and a blue heart upon. It's not terribly important to this post, I just wanted to mention it since I found it to be a cute addition, and indicative of how invested she was in making sure Shadow would be able to, well...exist in a decent manner.)

(This is an image from the physical version of Gerald Robotnik's Journal included in launch day copies of Sonic x Shadow Generations. It can be found on page 20 of the physical book, and depicts a portion of entry #670)

"But all successes of the physical and mental prowess comes second to his relationship to ⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️ I had hoped they'd get along, but it's far better than that. She is his guide to the world, and he is her stalwart companion. Never have I seen such instant, mutual friendship and trust between two beings. I am truly moved. They remind me why I've been working so hard. They bring me hope."

– Gerald's journal, Entry #670

And the way Gerald describes Shadow and Maria's relationship in his journal is highly interesting to me. He describes this pair as two people that clicked as friends instantly, came to trust each other instantly. He describes Maria as Shadow's guide/teacher and Shadow as her stalwart companion. The way he describes them implies a very strong bond and attachment to each other.

Where Gerald had only hoped they'd get along, his hopes were blown out of the water.

Compare this to the entry where Gerald talks about Maria's relationship with other people and the only other kid on the ARK.

(This is an image from the physical version of Gerald Robotnik's Journal included in launch day copies of Sonic x Shadow Generations. It can be found on page 8 of the physical book, and depicts a portion of entry #428)

"Despite everything, she remains the most positive person in the room. Most of the staff here left their families back on Earth, so I worried she'd feel lonely. Instead, she's become the adoptive daughter of every researcher on the ARK! Moreover, she's become like a big sister to little ⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️, the ARK's "happy little accident" over the past few years.

– Gerald's Journal, Entry #428

He's very quick to say that Maria is like the adoptive daughter of every researcher on the ARK, and like a big sister to the (younger) Abraham Tower.

Yet, later once Shadow is complete, he insists on calling them friends. And beyond calling them friends, he describes the level of trust the two have, describes Maria as Shadow's guide to the world and Shadow as her loyal companion. He never labels their relationship from his point of view as siblings.

And Gerald Robotnik's own journal isn't the only recent piece of media to portray Shadow and Maria's friendship.

In the last couple months, two chapters of the recent Shadow Manga ("The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog", by Imada Yuki, and published by Corocoro Comic) have been released. So far, it seems to be a (non-canon) adaptation of Shadow's backstory and Shadow Generations. It depicts Shadow the Hedgehog struggling over having failed to be a cure for Maria as well as the meaning of his existence.

(This screenshot is from Chapter 1 of "The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog" by Imada Yuki, published by CoroCoro Comic, and translated by Azure Wind Productions)

When Shadow is despairing over the point to his existence, this version of Maria is presented as a bit more playful. In contrast to Maria in Dark Beginnings, who is often shown hugging Shadow during flashbacks/visions when he begins to feel negatively about himself, Maria from this manga attempts to draw him out of his thoughts/break the tension by playing a prank on him.

Shadow's words in the above screenshot are pretty telling too.

"You're the only one who'd play a prank on me."

– Shadow, "The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog", Chapter 1 (translated by Azure Wind Productions)

Just from the start of the manga, one learns that this Shadow sees curing Maria as his initial reason for existence (a mission he'd failed). Perhaps, at first, he only contextualizes the time he spends with Maria something akin to a job, something necessary for him to do. From the beginning, after all, she is intrinsically tied to his reason for living. For Maria, though, with the casual way she acts around him (coupled with the statement that she's the only one who would treat Shadow this way), it's clear that she does treat Shadow as a close friend.

After playing her prank, Maria takes Shadow by the hand, pulling him into the room where the two can see the Earth below, and all the stars glittering above. This scene is presented very similar to Dark Beginnings, as Maria shows Shadow a natural phenomenon on Earth from their place on the ARK.

(This screenshot is from Chapter 1 of "The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog" by Imada Yuki, published by CoroCoro Comic, and translated by Azure Wind Productions)

As in Dark Beginnings, Maria begins to faint, to which Shadow moves to catch her, concerned that she pushed herself like this. However, upon learning what it is that's bothering Shadow, Dark Beginnings!Maria and Manga!Maria handle it a bit differently.

(This screenshot is from Chapter 1 of "The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog" by Imada Yuki, published by CoroCoro Comic, and translated by Azure Wind Productions)

It's Maria in the manga who reveals exactly what Shadow is going through, but she cups his cheeks and presses her forehead to his, making it clear that she wants him to be able to enjoy life and believe that even his existence has meaning.

"I want you to see...and someday feel...many things that are...beautiful, kind and strong. I want you to believe that there is a meaning to being born into this world."

– Maria, "The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog", Chapter 1 (translated by Azure Wind Productions)

It's so very clear just how deeply manga!Maria cares for Shadow. She wants him to feel better about his own existence, to be able to experience all kinds of beautiful things in this world, to live his life further than his (failed) mission.

As for Shadow, after the screenshot above, he thinks to himself about how everything he does (dealing with Maria's antics, suppressing dangerous lab animals, etc) he does for the purpose of killing time. He doesn't do them for the sake of doing them, or even because he enjoys them. But...he does come to realize through a montage of memories of Maria smiling at him and calling his name that although he's currently killing time in this world, he's come to realize that dealing with Maria (out of all that he does on the ARK) perhaps isn't so bad.

After this, Maria pulls him along to the same room again (this time to watch the stars), when G.U.N.'s raid of the ARK suddenly begins. Shadow and Maria are separated briefly as Maria commands Shadow (who'd intended to ensure her safety first) to worry about protecting everyone else on the ARK.

Here begins an important parallel in this first chapter. At the beginning of the chapter, the audience is privy to both Shadow's relationship with the ARK's scientists and Maria. With the ARK scientists, they praise Shadow after he subdues one of their out of control lab animals, making note of his title of "Ultimate Lifeform". With Maria, we see her worry about his emotional state and express that she wants him to believe there's a meaning to his existence in this world, as well as explicitly hang out with him.

However, a shift occurs in both sets of relationships as the ARK raid occurs.

ARK Researcher: Please save me!

Shadow: I'll let you escape now, so stay put.

ARK Researcher: Help me! I'm a human just like you, aren't I?!

Shadow: ?!

ARK Researcher: Why should I be killed because of a mere lab animal?!

Shadow: Huh?

ARK Researcher: For us, this thing is worth nothing! I swear I'll never do research again!

This is an impactful moment to manga!Shadow, who seems to have learned what he truly means to the ARK's scientists. Or, in other words, Shadow learns that the ARK's scientists are so fickle as to change their tune about him (go from calling him "ultimate life form" to "lab animal") the moment their own lives are at stake. And this moment impacts him so heavily that he desperately turns to thoughts about Maria. Because, if no one else cares about him, sees him as a person, Maria would, right?

(This screenshot is from Chapter 1 of "The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog" by Imada Yuki, published by CoroCoro Comic, and translated by Azure Wind Productions)

And so a similar scene transpires between Maria and the G.U.N. agents.

Maria: I know a lab animal? That's disgusting.

G.U.N. Agent: Don't lie to us! We know from our intel that you are often with that Shadow!

Maria: I said, I know nothing like that.

Shadow feels crushed instantly. After Maria's words, he starts to think that he really never should have been born. But then...Maria begins to talk about the one she loves.

(This screenshot is from Chapter 1 of "The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog" by Imada Yuki, published by CoroCoro Comic, and translated by Azure Wind Productions)

Maria loves Shadow so much that she's able to look death in the eye, describe Shadow as the living, breathing, person she cares about, and proudly proclaim that she'd suffer any torture (even death) before she'd say a single terrible thing about him. As opposed to the ARK Researcher, who was willing to quickly consider Shadow as no more than an animal and hand him over for the sake of his life, Maria was ready to give hers, even just to make it clear that she'd never badmouth him (much less give him up).

No matter the nature of this bond manga!Maria shares with manga!Shadow, her actions and words speak for themselves. One cannot deny that she must care about him so so so deeply.

And in response to Maria's confession of love and devotion, as Shadow rushes in to protect her, he finally discovers the meaning of his birth.

(This screenshot is from Chapter 1 of "The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog" by Imada Yuki, published by CoroCoro Comic, and translated by Azure Wind Productions)

All this time.

The meaning of his existence in this world was standing right in front of him.

Maria.

Chapter 1 alone solidifies their relationship as strong, intense. To Maria, Shadow is her friend, her companion, whom she loves dearly. To Shadow, Maria is his very reason for existing in this world (even though he failed to be her cure, he still wishes to live for her in particular), someone who he's only recently come to realize just how deeply he cares for.

And chapter 2 continues to present the intensity of Shadow's feelings, as chapter 1's ending and chapter 2's beginning each portray the moment where Maria is shot by a G.U.N. soldier.

(This screenshot is from Chapter 2 of "The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog" by Imada Yuki, published by CoroCoro Comic, and translated by Azure Wind Productions)

I think saying "this pissed Shadow off" is more than a bit of an understatement. As it so goes with the trope of "person loses a loved one/their precious person or this person gets hurt right in front of them, causing them to go apeshit", Shadow begins fighting the G.U.N. soldiers, demanding answers for Maria's shooting. He even screams that he will kill them all (them being the soldiers and black arms).

And honestly, it's highly likely Shadow may have really tried to "kill them all" if Maria hadn't spoken up at that crucial moment, indicating that she's still alive.

(This screenshot is from Chapter 2 of "The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog" by Imada Yuki, published by CoroCoro Comic, and translated by Azure Wind Productions)

When Shadow turns away from the soldiers and black arms to move towards Maria, he begins to come down from his adrenaline high. He visibly looks more tired and dazed, though he still tries to put whatever energy he has left into focusing on Maria's safety. Likewise, Maria (who is visibly running on her last vestiges of energy), tries to put everything she has into one thing: saving Shadow.

Computer: TEN SECONDS TO EMERGENCY LAUNCH OF ESCAPE POD!

Shadow: What are you...

Maria: Never...let yourself be consumed by anger or resentment. You could easily end up all alone.

Shadow: Open this up, Maria!

Maria: So just as you did for me, give everyone on that planet a chance to live happily. That way, even when I'm gone...

Shadow: OPEN IT, MARIA!

Shadow, who was only feeling the exhaustion that came with slight relief just moments ago, is high on adrenaline and emotions once more. He bangs on the glass of the escape pod, demanding Maria open it up.

And Maria, after delivering her speech where she tells Shadow just what he wants for him and his future on Earth, gives him her last words.

(This screenshot is from Chapter 2 of "The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog" by Imada Yuki, published by CoroCoro Comic, and translated by Azure Wind Productions)

"Hey, Shadow. Thank you so much for being born. I love you."

– Maria, "The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog", Chapter 2 (translated by Azure Wind Productions)

In Maria's last moments, she makes it as clear as she possibly can (to Shadow's face this time) that she wants the best for him, and that she loves him so, so much. And this confession of love to his face is what finally causes Shadow to stop banging on the glass. There's a moment of calm as Maria smiles, Shadow's eyes go wide, and the two's hand's meet at the pane of glass which separates them.

And then, it's over.

(This screenshot is from Chapter 2 of "The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog" by Imada Yuki, published by CoroCoro Comic, and translated by Azure Wind Productions)

Just like earlier in the chapter when Maria was shot, we see how Shadow reacts upon losing Maria.

She was shot because she put her life on the line for him. He tried to save her, but she locked him in the escape pod, which he couldn't escape from. Then, in her final moments, she lays everything out on the table. She thanks him for being born, she says that she loves him, and, finally, she ejects him from the ARK.

He does not get to witness her final breath, he gets no further chances to save her.

And so Shadow begins to go apeshit once more after losing his very reason for existence right before his eyes, screaming and taking out his frustration, anger, and all manner of intense feeling in the confines of the pod he cannot escape from.

Somehow after this, the escape pod (with Shadow inside) and the whole ARK get pulled into white space. Once Shadow (now freed from the pod) processes what happened, he zeroes in on his goal, tearing through white space to get back to Maria on the ARK.

(This screenshot is from Chapter 2 of "The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog" by Imada Yuki, published by CoroCoro Comic, and translated by Azure Wind Productions)

During the end of chapter 2, Shadow is fueled by anger, loss, stubbornness, and desperation. When the little black arms creature promises that he can bring Maria back to life, he attaches to it like a lifeline, vowing to save Maria this time.

(These screenshots are from Chapter 2 of "The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog" by Imada Yuki, published by CoroCoro Comic, and translated by Azure Wind Productions)

In the end, the Shadow manga (so far) tells a story of a human girl and her closest friend. The girl wants so desperately to give her closest friend a good future, to make him believe that his life has meaning. Her friend, an alien hybrid and anthropomorphic hedgehog has failed at the very thing he was created to do, and does not see any meaning in his existence. However, after the human girl, whom he watches over and protects, shows him just how much she loves and cares for him, he finally realizes his own feelings, naming this very girl as the meaning of his entire existence. Tragically, he fails to save her in a critical moment. She confesses her love for him just before she saves him, and he loses her. Now, stuck in an unfamiliar place/zone, he's decided he will do anything to bring her back to life and to save her this time, to get to her.

This manga lays their entire relationship (a depiction of it at least) out on the table, showing you just how close they are to each other, how much they love each other, and all of their actions. Their hearts and feelings are both put on full display during this manga, allowing the reader to determine what it all means for them and the nature of their relationship without ever telling the reader what label to brand it with.

Not one time are they ever called "siblings" on top of any of those major character moments.

And while not quite as explicitly focused as the manga about it, Shadow Generations also presents Shadow and Maria's bond to the audience.

Beginning with "Shadow's story", the narrator describes the two thus:

"Shadow was raised alongside Gerald's ailing granddaughter, Maria. They were inseparable."

...

"Fifty years later, Shadow was awakened. Filled with anger and sadness, he was haunted by Maria's final words to him.

'Shadow, I beg of you... For all the people...on that planet...'

Shadow was bent on revenge and sought to destroy the world.

At the last moment, Shadow remembered Maria's final wish...to protect her beloved planet and all who lived there."

(This scene from Shadow Generations's "Shadow's Story" can be found here at the timestamp range 24:04–25:01)

Although "Shadow's story" itself functions better as a quick recap of events in past games rather than a true summary or explanation of those events, the narrator's words on Maria are important. As Sonic x Shadow Generations was also created with new fans in mind, hoping to prepare them for Sonic Movie 3 with basic knowledge of Shadow's character and backstory (as well as introduce them to the modern Sonic games themselves), this means that for many prospective Shadow fans (or those just becoming interested in Sonic as a series), Shadow Generations is likely to deliver them their first real impressions of characters such as Shadow, Maria Robotnik, Gerald Robotnik, etc.

This is all to say that Shadow having a strong bond and connection to Maria is integral to imparting even the most basic plot beats from his backstory. The usage of "inseparable" paired up with his memories of Maria's wishes heavily impacting his actions once again makes it clear that they have a very strong bond without the writer (Ian Flynn) jumping to label their relationship for the audience.

Though it's not necessarily integral to this post, I also would be remiss not to mention one of the opening cutscenes of Shadow Generations. Shadow Generations (which starts up about an hour after the ending of Dark Beginnings) also presents something of a flashback. During this scene (which cannot be a memory of Shadow's), we see Maria incredibly excited about the possibility of meeting the newly completed "ultimate life-form". She's so excited, in fact, that she dashes straight up to his pod at the start of the scene and excitedly asks Gerald if they can wake him up yet. (This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 25:40–26:27)

Maria's importance to Shadow is expanded upon just a bit further during a scene where Shadow begins to look out into white space. Upon spotting Maria in the distance, Shadow gasps loudly, saying her name as he begins to reach out for her. He reminds himself that she's not real, only to experience a flashback of Maria's last words to him.

"I need to stay focused. Deal with the problem at hand. Not chase...dreams."

– Shadow, Shadow Generations

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 29:16–26:27)

Coupled with the scene from Dark Beginnings Episode 3 I talked briefly about earlier (namely, Shadow experiencing visions of a fantasy of he and Maria spending time together on Earth), Shadow Generations presents a Shadow that is not only still attached to Maria, but actively considers the idea of being able to be happy with an alive Maria a "dream" (one that he must push down, lest he forget reality or become caught in nostalgia). While on one hand, Maria is intrinsically connected to his reason for protecting the Earth (or part of his purpose), on the other, the idea of her makes for an emotional distraction.

Which is also why, later in the game, Rouge attempts to remind Shadow that he's already moved on from his past. She encourages him to cherish his time with them, yes, but reminds him he's not the Shadow that Gerald and Maria knew fifty years ago. (This conversation from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 29:51–30:18)

And this also leads the audience into one of Shadow's internal conflicts during the game. Despite trying to remind himself initially that the past is the past, that there's no use in chasing dreams (namely those impossible to fulfill), he changes his tune upon meeting Gerald and Maria in white space. Though Gerald warns him against altering the timeline like Black Doom already is (or punching holes into it like the Time Eater), Shadow is determined to figure out some way he can defeat Black Doom, AND save Gerald and Maria.

Shadow: They must be from a point in time before the ARK disaster. Perhaps I can change their fate.

...

Gerald: You're still not convinced about changing your destiny, mm? Think of it this way - if you changed our past, it would rewrite your future.

...

Shadow: I'll stop Rouge! Use chaos control! Stop this moment in time and...!

(These scenes from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp ranges 36:51–37:16 and 55:36–56:22, as well as here at the timestamp range 25:21–25:50)

And on top of trying to save Maria and Gerald, in Shadow Generations, Shadow is yet depicted as focused on Maria's well-being as much as he can, in contrast to Maria, who is largely cognizant to how Shadow's feeling emotionally.

Maria: Shadow? You look grim. Are you all right?

Shadow: I'll be fine. We'll all be fine. Find somewhere safe to hide. I'll take care of everything.

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 37:00–37:16)

Maria: Shadow? Are you in pain?

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 38:41–38:49)

Shadow: He's right. No more mistakes. This time, I will crush every last one of them!

Maria: Shadow, no!

Shadow: Maria?

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 46:43–47:33)

Maria: Shadow...!

Shadow: It's alright, Maria. I'm letting go of that destructive anger. But I will continue to fight.

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 49:45–50:12)

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp 50:12)

Maria: It's hard not to be scared of everything going on, but I've never been afraid. Not deep down. Because I know you're here, doing your best to protect us.

...

Maria: Don't look so sad, Shadow. I don't know what will happen after you win. Maybe we won't see each other for a long while. But I love you and nothing can change that.

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 28:50–29:49)

Omega: I will cover you from here when you engage Black Doom.

Omega: What? Protect prof. Gerald and Maria at all costs?

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 08:04–08:28)

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp 55:37)

As I had said much earlier in this post:

"If Shadow watches out for Maria physically/health wise, then Maria watches out for Shadow emotionally."

Beyond Dark Beginnings, we get to see this in play in Shadow Generations. We see Shadow take on the burden of protecting Maria and Gerald and getting rid of the black arms himself. We see Shadow worrying and rushing over to Maria when she falters. We see him stress the importance of keeping Maria and Gerald safe, even when he cannot be around to do it himself. And (not that Maria doesn't worry about Shadow physically as well, but...) we see Maria worrying when Shadow looks grim, or seems sad or angry. We see her express her wish for him to be happy, try to give him solace when he worries over her or her fate, and even express her own positive feelings in response to Shadow's care.

But this is not all Shadow Generations has to show the audience in regards to Shadow's bond with Maria. After all, you may be wondering, what do characters themselves have to say about it? What else does Shadow Generations show us through characters' words and actions?

I'd like to present to you more scenes from Shadow Generations that stand on their own, without the writer telling the audience what to think.

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp 36:27)

Maria: Yes, I know you're part alien. That's not important. What's important is who you are and what you do.

Maria: I was a little surprised you turned out looking like a hedgehog, though! I think the way your spines go "swoosh" is really cool!

Maria: Shadow...are you blushing!?

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 20:48–21:16)

Maria: It's been wonderful having you around on the ARK, Shadow. The staff is lovely, but I was very lonely before you joined us.

Maria: I miss my family. I miss my baby sister most of all. I do hope Grandfather finds a cure for me soon so we can all go home together!

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 21:47–22:13)

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp 45:16)

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 46:37–47:33)

Maria: Shadow... I don't want you to listen to Black Doom. You may share his DNA, but he is not your true family! Your real family loves you and wants you to be safe and happy.

Maria: That's us, Shadow. Me and Grandfather. Please remember that.

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 23:19–23:39)

Maria: So it seems like we've been apart longer than I thought. Have you made many friends?

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 25:51–26:04)

Maria: My condition...can't be treated yet.

...

Maria: It can be very scary and frustrating. But you've always been so patient and kind with me. Thank you, Shadow.

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 26:06–26:35)

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 49:45–50:50)

Maria: Shadow... I'm so proud of you! You've been through so much, but you've stayed true to yourself.

Maria: I know you can do this. Go, Shadow, go!

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 28:35–28:50)

Maria: Don't look so sad, Shadow. I don't know what will happen after you win. Maybe we won't see each other for a long while.

Maria: But I love you and nothing can change that. No matter how far apart we are, my love will always be with you. Please always remember that.

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 29:15–29:50)

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 55:25–57:26)

I had wanted to include the scene of Shadow running away, his final tear flying back and hitting Rouge's cheek as his feelings go unsaid. However, I've been taking screen recordings of the cutscene compilation I've been sourcing for this post on a mobile device. With that, sadly, video annotations would have obscured the end of the scene had I kept them in the recording, and I wanted to keep to as few different videos sourced on this post as I could.

In the end, Shadow Generations depicts a hedgehog who still has yet to discover what exactly he is going to live for (not just survive in this world). He tries to remind himself that he's completely moved on from his past, that visions/fantasies of being happy with this one person in particular are not something that life has granted to him (are just distractions). But this hedgehog becomes trapped between the past, the present, and what's to come next when this person he'd cared so deeply for is alive for a minute. He wants to protect this person, his natural instinct is to handle everything so they do not have to risk themselves. He worries so palpably for this person's well-being, often seen reaching out to them or rushing over to them when they falter or are in pain. Despite being stubborn, often sticking to his own plans no matter what, he values this person's words and opinions so dearly. Rather than use it to fuel his actions, he chooses to deal with this overwhelming anger and frustration simply because this person wants him to be happy and can't stand to see him in such a state. He also visibly blushes upon receiving compliments from this person (ironically, it's this blushing comment in particular I saw someone use on this site to spread misinfo that it was about Shadow blushing over Sonic rather than Shadow blushing over Maria). Even now, he is patient and kind with this person (something that one cannot say in regards to his attitude towards most of the Sonic cast). And although he never says "I love you", to this person, his actions speak louder than words. The protectiveness he has, the care, the patience, the willingness to listen and improve. And, above all, this is someone he is able to be more intimate with (if any of his scenes while in physical contact with this person are any indication).

Shadow Generations also depicts a human girl who has to come to terms with the fact that the hedgehog she's faced with has changed from the one she knows and cares for. Yet, she makes it just how clear that (time? space?), none of this matters to her. She loves this hedgehog no matter their dna/biology, no matter how many mistakes they make, no matter how much time has passed. In the past and present, she appreciates how patient and kind this hedgehog has always been to her. She spends plenty of time reminiscing about the past with them, harkening back to fonder memories. She is not shy about throwing her arms around this them, pointing out their blush, or taking their hands as she comforts and/or reasons with them. She's often visibly so so happy to see them, even after only being separated for a short time. This hedgehog's happiness is very important to her, so she's sensitive when they're angry or frustrated or sad. It makes her emotional to see them driven by anger and hate, so much so that she just cannot sit aside. She begs this person not to listen to someone who claims that bonds of blood and DNA determine one's future and loyalty, and has always believed that they can choose their own future—one of light and true happiness. She praises this person for their improvements, for staying true to themselves, for just how worried they are. And although her actions, care, and worry for this person do a great deal in showing it, she is able to tell this hedgehog how she feels outright. More than once she tells them just how much she loves them—so much so that her love will always be with them and shall never change no matter the distance between them.

These two are better together than apart. Where Maria fails physically, Shadow is there to worry about her health, physical well-being, and protection. Although Shadow is very physically capable and driven to protect, he tends to neglect his emotional state or keep his feelings/thoughts inside. So where Shadow has a harder time dealing with his emotions or has an easy time getting caught up in his anger, Maria is there to physically and emotionally comfort him. She is there to keep him from succumbing to anger and hate. The two each want more than anything for the other to be alive and happy. Although Shadow had only been created to be her cure, and although Maria was not alone on the ARK, it is implied that their instant relationship of mutual friendship and trust is a profound one. Where Maria had not been alone or unhappy on the ARK, it was Shadow who eradicated the loneliness that had been growing inside her. The two were inseparable back then, and it took a lot out of Shadow to let her go once again (again, only finding the strength to let go of such impulse because she asked him). The two love each other dearly, and this is made explicit.

And yet, with all of their actions, with their discussion of wants and feelings, and everything pertaining to each other in Shadow Generations, (as I've said multiple times now) Ian Flynn never tells the audience what label to brand this relationship with. As in the Shadow Manga, Maria clearly says she loves him, they both have their feelings on full display through their actions and words, yet it is more important for the audience to come to their own conclusions (especially in the lead up to Sonic Movie 3) than it is to 100% and strictly label the nature of their relationship. They just simply love each other and are important to each other

A fact which is...also ironic, given how easily and casually Maria discusses her relationship to Abraham Tower.

Maria: Have you seen Abe? You know, little Abraham Tower? I'm worried about him. He's the only other kid on the ARK with us. Sometimes he feels like my little brother, hee-hee!

(This scene from Shadow Generations can be found here at the timestamp range 21:16–21:47)

She confesses to seeing Abe as a younger brother sometimes (something Gerald, too, had pointed out in his own journal), and yet never once calls Shadow her sibling throughout Shadow Generations, even while reminiscing.

And while Maria does, perhaps, call Shadow a part of her family (a family of her, Shadow, and Gerald), I don't know what to tell you if you believe such a thing can only refer to/be interpreted in the most strictly nuclear family way possible. Well, other than that to do so is limiting and reductive. I have never more clearly seen a case of found family than I have with these three, especially given their unorthodox relationship (a guy, his beloved granddaughter, and the guy's son/creation, who is a stalwart companion and forever friend to his granddaughter).

Shadow and Maria are inseparable, they are friends, they are family, they love each other, but despite their relationship being highly featured in this game, the fact that Sega and the writer himself do not use this chance to strictly clarify the nature of their relationship is telling.

And you might be saying: "Tumblr user hadesknockedupintheunderworld, what about that alt text from that image of Shadow and Maria that's on the English Sonic social media?"

To which I say: "What of it?"

In the face of so many recent depictions of their relationship as highly ambiguous, with there being clear romance parallels to draw from if one wanted to, what does one single piece of evidence mean against that?

One can't look at that dedication all creators around these two have to make their relationship ambiguous (while also presenting them as having a very very strong bond) and simply say that they're clearly only ever meant to be read as sibling-like. And to say that they are 100% only meant to be siblings "or you're wrong" is to go against (at least one of) the creator of these characters own stated intentions to allow people to draw conclusions and interpret as they wish. Period.

I think I've made it pretty clear that means you can interpret their relationship however you want. It doesn't even have to be either siblings or lovers! Personally, I take a qqp approach myself (where the exact nature of their relationship is confusing, and all that is clear and solidified is that the two have an intensely strong bond, want as much time together as they can, and wish to make the other happy).

But it's wrong to act like one of many possible interpretations is 100% obviously canon when the facts themselves contradict that kind of thing (just as it's wrong to harass people over something so trivial as that).

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

#sonic the hedgehog #shadow the hedgehog #maria robotnik #shadaria #shadow generations #sonic x shadow generations #dark beginnings #sonic x shadow dark beginnings #sonic x shadow generations dark beginnings #gerald's journal #the jet black hedgehog shadow the hedgehog #shadow manga #a new era of shadow anime expo panel #shadow generations spoilers #sonic x shadow generations spoilers #gerald's journal spoilers #Dark Beginnings spoilers #sonic x shadow dark beginnings spoilers #sonic x shadow generations dark beginnings spoilers #shadow manga spoilers #shadow manga chapter 1 #shadow manga chapter 2 #the jet black hedgehog shadow the hedgehog spoilers #gerald robotnik #essay time #fandom wank #I just be ramblin #haha I must admit the original purpose of this post was to prove that there is overwhelming evidence that their relationship is intended to #be ambiguous and able to be read multiple ways and that one caption means nothing in the face of all the evidence #But it accidentally became the Shadow and Maria moment showcase 😂😂😂

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tenebraevesper · 6 days ago

Text

Sonic Cyber Revolution, Entry 78: All Hail Shadow

''All hail Shadow, heroes rise again! Obliterating everything that's not your friend! Nothing can stop you now, no ghost to bring you down! When there's nothing left to lose, you win! (Bow your heads low, all hail Shadow! Bow your heads low, all hail Shadow!) Suffer long and it will set you free! Only through trial do we find the strength we need! It's never over, just another day! All hope and tragedies and everything that comes our way! Determination of the strong! Found the meaning that you've searched for so long! All hail Shadow, heroes rise again! Obliterating everything that's not your friend! Nothing can stop you now, no ghost to bring you down! When there's nothing left to lose, you win! (Bow your heads low, all hail Shadow! Bow your heads low, all hail Shadow! Bow your heads low, all hail Shadow! Bow your heads low, All Hail Shadow!)''

– All Hail Shadow by Sonic X Shadow Generations (Symphonic ver.)

xXxXxXx

''Welcome home, brother.''

Eclipse's voice sounded almost like a cackle to Shadow. His bright crimson eyes turned dark as he scanned the room, widening in horror when he saw the person Eclipse was standing next to. Touka, his sister, was attached to the wall by a purple and black biomass, almost looking like she had been crucified. She was slumped over, not even reacting to the sudden presence in the chamber. Shadow's heart almost stopped beating at the thought of Touka not being alive anymore.

''Touka!'' He tore away from the group, his hands digging into the biomass and reaching for Touka's cheek, shuddering when he saw a half-healed cut across it. He wanted to feel some sense of life, some sign that she was still there. Relief washed over him when he felt her breath. She was just unconscious. Shadow then stepped back, turning towards Eclipse who watched his actions in silence. His quills bristled, eyes now glowing in a dangerous dark crimson as he glared at the person responsible for this.

''What did you do?''

''What I had to.''

Eclipse's response was cold and calculated. He wanted for Shadow to attack him. He relished in the pain and vulnerability Shadow just displayed and he hated that his affection was directed towards that pathetic human instead of him. Emotions swirled within Eclipse, but he did his best to bury them deep inside. He had desired so long for Shadow to finally acknowledge him as family, and the fact that Shadow not only refused, but also completely detested him hurt. It hurt that he couldn't have the family he wanted, it hurt that Shadow cared more about some human than his own flesh and blood, it hurt that Black Doom sent him to his own death.

It hurt so much – and Eclipse was willing to bear all that hurt with a smile.

If he was hurt, then he would make Shadow feel hurt. He knew he couldn't leave any lasting physical injuries on the hybrid, but he could leave emotional scars. The more, the better, and targeting Touka was his best bet. Not only that, but he also knew he defied Black Doom by using Touka as his personal energy source instead of leaving her to his leader. It didn't matter anymore. If he survived this, it would be a miracle, but Eclipse knew he was marching into his own death.

''What's the matter, brother? You don't like what I have done to the human you call your sister,'' Eclipse taunted him, with energy crackling in Shadow's hand, the dark hedgehog gritting his teeth. ''As you can see, she's not dead, at least not yet. Instead I absorbed enough of- I believe you call it BioEnergy, right? Yeah, I absorbed enough of that just to keep her alive, because I wanted you to see her die at my hand.''

Shadow suddenly charged at him without a word, but Eclipse warped away via Chaos Snap, dodging the attack and running down the corridor. The chamber they were at was too small for a proper battle, but he knew that there was one close where they could go full out. He glanced behind him, noting the dark figure chasing after him and warped away, luring him towards his chosen battlefield.

Meanwhile, Lucas, Sonic, Rouge and Omega turned towards Touka. They didn't even need any word of acknowledgement, knowing that Shadow could handle Eclipse on his own, and were more focused on getting Touka out of her restraintments. Lucas tugged at the dark biomass, but he had no luck. Fortunately, Omega managed to do more damage with his claws, but even then, he managed to get off the biomass trapping her arms.

''I wish to launch explosives, but I don't want to hurt Touka,'' Omega stated, stepping back. Even though the robot had no way of displaying his emotions, it was clear that he was frustrated by the result.

''Leave it to me,'' Sonic stepped up, with Lucas and Omega backing away. The hedgehog then curled up into a ball, spin-dashing into Touka and performing a precise cut that freed her from the biomass. The teenager fell, with Lucas catching her. Rouge appeared next to him, helping him to place Touka's arm over her shoulder as a form of support.

''Com'n, Touka, you need to wake up now,'' Rouge said, hovering before the teenager and gently tapping her cheek. ''Shadow needs you.''

She sighed in relief when the teenager stirred, forcing herself to open her eyes. She was in a daze, clearly weakened due to her lack of BioEnergy.

''Rouge… Lucas… What?'' Touka tried to feebly lift her head, her blurry vision slowly clearing. ''H-How?''

''We got the Chaos Emeralds and Shadow used Chaos Control to get us here. He's currently fighting some alien who hurt you,'' Sonic quickly explained.

''His name is Eclipse…'' Touka muttered, trying to step forward, but her legs felt like jelly and the only reason she didn't fall over was because Lucas still supported her. ''I need… I need to stop them…''

''Hon, I don't think it would be a smart idea to get between those two,'' Rouge said.

''I don't care… Eclipse is just a bait and Black Doom is using him to exhaust Shadow,'' Touka explained.

''Then we'll go find them,'' Lucas said firmly, helping Touka walk. Sonic and Omega walked ahead of them, ready for any kind of violent alien encounter, while Rouge was at the back, keeping an eye for any ambush attack.

xXx

Shadow skated through the corridor, his eyes fixated on the elusive alien. He wasn't certain where Eclipse was even leading him, eventually coming across a large, open cave-like area with a purple hue and gray stone walls. The floors were lavender-colored and formed a pattern. Some surfaces were made out of a bright, canary-colored material that lit the area. He could see in the distance large stones, thick, long tentacles, and even several large incubators containing Black Arms. Above him were several flying aliens, clearly waiting to swoop down and attack him. However, they didn't. Shadow wasn't certain why, but he assumed that it was because of Eclipse. This was their battle, so no other Black Arms soldiers would interfere.

''You will pay for what you've done,'' Shadow growled, orange energy crackling in his hands. However, it stopped as soon as it started, with Shadow furrowing a brow. Chaos Control, Chaos Spear and Chaos Blast were still not an option due to Eclipse's presence, but he didn't care anymore. He still had his Doom Powers, and his fears of using them and allowing Black Doom to control him had vanished the moment he saw what they did to Touka. He was here to protect his sister, and if he had to become a monster to accomplish that, he would do it.

''I had so much hope for you… It would've been nice to have a brother who I could talk to like this. I could've taught you everything about our kind,'' Eclipse said in a somber tone, his expression crestfallen. ''I really didn't want Black Doom to take complete control over you.''

Shadow rose an eyebrow. ''You're calling Black Doom by his name.''

Eclipse's eyes widened at the realization, but he didn't respond. Instead, he clenched his fists, and to Shadow's surprise, started to grow taller and more muscular. It was some kind of metamorphosis, allowing him to transform into an enhanced state – known as his Monster Form – with heightened durability and strength. Shadow wasn't certain just how strong this form was, deciding to remain cautious. He made the first move, not allowing Eclipse to even register what happened.

He charged up his Doom Spear attack, firing five energy bolts at the alien. Eclipse blocked them with ease and lunged for Shadow. The dark hedgehog leapt back, with Eclipse punching the ground, leaving a crack in it, only to be met with more Doom Spears. It didn't appear to be very effective, but Shadow wanted to keep his distance from Eclipse until he could get a good hit in. His ears twitched when he suddenly picked up on voices from behind, and saw the Black Arms aliens flying towards the source of it.

He turned his head to see Sonic, Rouge and Omega fighting against them, but before he could even react, he was suddenly grabbed by Eclipse by his neck and slammed into the ground. His vision turned black as he felt a bolt of pain shooting through his head, but the scream he heard forced him to open his eyes, throwing another Doom Spear at Eclipse. Fortunately, he landed a hit, forcing Eclipse to back away, with Shadow leaping on his feet and following it up with a kick. Eclipse attempted to grab him by his leg, but Shadow curled into a ball, performing a homing attack on Eclipse. He was grabbed and thrown back, only to uncurl and land safely, then dash towards the alien. Eclipse prepared to counter the attack, but Shadow swerved, leaping towards the nearby biomass on the wall before turning into his Doom Morph form, boosting up. He spotted Eclipse charging after him, which was exactly what he wanted. He then detached from the wall and boosted right into Eclipse, piercing through the Monster Form and knocking Eclipse right out of it.

The small alien flew back, tumbling on the floor before stopping, waves of pain spreading through his body. His Monster Form, or rather, what remained of it, collapsed on the ground like some kind of bio-exoskeleton. Shadow landed on the ground, his Doom Morph form disappearing, and he took a sharp breath to collect himself and glanced back at the group, who had already defeated the aliens that had attacked them.

He then turned towards Eclipse with a sharp gaze, walking towards him with a murderous intent, hands clenched into fists. Eclipse's eyes widened and he trembled in fear as he realized that this was it – this was his end. He gritted his teeth, trying to at least face death with some form of dignity as he awaited the final strike.

''Shadow, don't!''

Shadow was stunned when Touka managed to tear away from the group, somehow getting between him and Eclipse. She was breathing heavily, still not having fully recovered from the lack of BioEnergy, only to fall on her knees. ''Shadow, please… Eclipse isn't the enemy here! It's Black Doom who- Eh?'' When Touka glanced at Eclipse, she was met by a look of disgust that confused her. ''Eclipse?''

The little alien barred his teeth, glaring daggers at her. ''You're giving me that look again- I don't want it! Stop it!''

Shadow was a little taken aback but this sudden conversation, wondering for a moment what kind of interactions Touka and Eclipse had while she was stuck on the Black Comet, but he focused on Touka's words. If Eclipse was indeed just a distraction, then…

He felt a sudden chill, followed by a flash of light and quickly turned towards the one responsible for all of this chaos. Shadow gritted his teeth, glaring at his so-called father. ''Speak of the Devil…''

''Black Doom…'' Eclipse muttered, at this point not even sure how to react to his father anymore. He knew that Black Doom would rather see him dead, a soldier fallen in a battle, than at the mercy of his enemies.

''You again…'' Touka stood up, despite the weakness she felt in her legs. Frankly, she had enough being helpless, and even if she couldn't do anything without Chaos Surge, she still refused to show any fear towards the leader of the Black Arms. ''You're here for the final challenge, aren't you?''

''I am here to collect a debt,'' Black Doom responded, holding out his arm, only for a flash of light to suddenly stun everyone. It felt as if time stood still, with a sudden force spreading through the entire chamber. Shadow, Sonic, Lucas, Rouge and Omega found themselves flung back, while Touka suddenly appeared behind Black Doom, wrapped once again within the biomass. Black Doom then turned to Eclipse, who shivered under his stern gaze. ''First, to cull the weak. Eclipse, you have proven your uselessness several times. For that, your punishment will be to perish alongside all of those foolish and weak humans.''

''Wh-What?! No-!'' Eclipse tried to scramble back on his feet, but he was suddenly gone in a flash of light.

''Eclipse!'' Touka cried out, but there was nothing she could do. He was gone. Black Doom then turned to the group on the far side of the chamber, his gaze fixated on Shadow.

''I have given you the mission to find the Chaos Emeralds, and I am pleased with your success… even if your sense of loyalty is lacking,'' Black Doom growled, with Shadow glaring back at him. He knew that if he attempted to attack the alien warlord, he would most certainly kill Touka. Black Doom knew that too, be it because he read his mind or because of Shadow's reluctance. ''Hand over the Chaos Emeralds, and I will refrain from hurting your precious human.''

''How do I know that you will keep your word?'' Shadow hissed. Black Doom laughed darkly, his voice echoing through the chamber.

''Consider this a reward for succeeding in your mission.'' Black Doom then scoffed. ''Humans are willing to sacrifice their own when overcome by greed. They are a foolish race, destructive by nature,'' Black Doom started, with Shadow's eyes widening as a memory of him and Touka at ARMS flashed in his mind, realizing that Black Doom was referring to that part of their life. After all, they were both created and modified to be weapons for the humans they were trying to protect. ''We're here to save the humans from their own demise. We offer salvation.''

''Says the guy who just sent one of his own soldiers to his death,'' Sonic grumbled under his breath, but only Lucas, Rouge and Omega heard him. It was obvious that none of them believed Black Doom, but nevertheless, seven glowing lights appeared around Shadow, forming into the Chaos Emeralds.

''I will never take an offer of salvation from you, Black Doom. I carve my own path,'' Shadow told him, watching the Chaos Emeralds fly over to Black Doom, who kept his word as Touka was released from her restraints.

''Defiant until the bitter end. I shouldn't have expected anything else from you. Deny your heritage all you want, but the blood of the Black Arms flows through your veins,'' Black Doom said. Shadow couldn't care less, as he dashed towards Touka, making sure that she was safe.

Black Doom just frowned at this display, warping into the center of the chamber with the Chaos Emeralds surrounding him. There was a wave of energy, an immense power the whole group could sense, shielding their eyes from the bright light.

''Let us begin our ritual of prosperity! Chaos… Control!''

xXx

Surge grinned as she fried another alien to a crisp, its charred remains falling over, letting out a whistle of satisfaction. ''Woo! I could do this the whole day!''

Suddenly, Amy charged at her, startling Surge when she leapt and hit another alien that attempted to sneak up on the tenrec. ''If things continue like this, the battle will last long into the night.'' Amy glanced at the crimson sky. ''I just hope Sonic and the others are fine.''

''Tch, are you that worried about your boyfriend?'' Surge asked in a snarky tone, only for Amy to scowl.

''He's not my boyfriend!'' Amy shouted in annoyance, glaring daggers at the tenrec. ''Why do you keep bringing that up anyway? Are you jealous?''

''What?! Why should I be jealous of that blue imbecile?! I'd be happy to bury him 6 feet under!'' Surge growled, hands sparking with electricity as she unleashed her frustrations on another alien.

''They've been at it like this the whole day,'' Minami muttered, having partnered up with Kit a bit further away.

''If Surge wants to argue with Amy, that's her business,'' Kit replied, forming a water barrier around them as more of the flying aliens swooped in. At first, he was annoyed that Amy dared to stand up to Surge whenever the tenrec made a snide comment about Sonic, but at this point, he got used to their constant bickering, focusing instead on fulfilling his role as Surge's unit and protecting her.

However, things soon went into an unexpected direction as a there was a flash of green light in the sky, with a massive celestial object floating above the area close to Cosmo River. It then shoot out roots which burrowed deeply into the earth, securing its position.

''That's the Black Comet!'' Minami gasped, quickly opening her AR Visor as she entered a group call with Lily and Makoto on the other end. Lily was with Knuckles and the Chaotix, while Makoto was with Silver, Ferra, Metal Sonic and the Babylon Rogues. ''Guys, have you-?!

She couldn't even finish her sentence as Lily suddenly answered. ''Yeah, we saw the Black Comet! That would mean that Black Doom has the Chaos Emeralds!''

''If Lucas and the rest are still on the Black Comet, there is still hope,'' Makoto interrupted, noting the reactions.

''I hate to say it, but you're right,'' Ferra said, exchanging glances with Metal Sonic who had reverted back from his Metal Overlord form after Iblis' defeat. ''But they should hurry the hell up if they still want to have a planet to save!''

xXx

''The Black Comet has been removed from its confines. Now, there is nothing you-'' Black Doom suddenly dropped the Chaos Emeralds, forced to move when a Doom Spear came flying right at him. He glared at Shadow, his hand crackling with energy. ''I gave you those powers, yet this is how you show your gratitude? Disgraceful!''

''You have no control over me, Black Doom! I will destroy you!'' Shadow snarled.

''Have it your way, Shadow.'' Black Doom's eyes narrowed, and he held out his arm. ''Even if you defeat us, the Black Arms will live on!'' Black Doom then disappeared in a flash of light, but his words still reached Shadow. ''Come. Face me. I shall claim you – mind, body and soul!''

Shadow's eyes narrowed as those words echoed in his head. He was ready to finally put an end to this for once and for all.

''Shadow…'' The dark hedgehog turned to Touka, but instead of concern, he saw an expression of resolve and trust.

''Wait for me just a little longer, Touka. I will make sure that you can return to a world where you can live a normal life, just like we promised to each other,'' Shadow told her in a gentle tone, a small smile forming on his lips. Touka grinned in response, nodding happily. Shadow then glanced towards Sonic, Rouge, Omega and Lucas, noting the look of encouragement from them, with Sonic giving him a thumbs up.

Shadow simply nodded, then dashed towards the Chaos Emeralds, reaching out for them and then getting enveloped by a burning sensation as flames suddenly rose from the ground.

''Shadow!'' Touka and Sonic's screams echoed in the chamber, their eyes wide in the shock at the inferno that formed around Shadow. None of them had seen the rather familiar crystals embedded in the ground, filled with the fire only one person could conjure – this was Mephiles parting gift to Shadow. ''SHADOW!''

Touka and Sonic ran towards the swirling infernal vortex, not caring whether they'd get injured themselves, only to stop when a bright golden light broke through the fire, destroying them from the inside. At the flames dissipated, the light revealed itself to be a golden ivory hedgehog with ruby red eyes, keeping the red streaks in his quills and enveloped in a flame-like aura.

Super Shadow was floating above the ground, his expression showing a confident smirk.

''You need to leave this place,'' he said, raising his hand towards his friends. ''I will handle Black Doom!''

The chamber was enveloped in a bright golden ivory light, with the group disappearing.

xXx

There was a bright golden light on the streets, albeit at a safe distance, away from the Black Comet. Touka, Sonic, Lucas, Rouge and Omega immediately looked up at the sky, finding a tiny golden figure floating above the Black Comet, confronting the alien overlord.

''Time to unleash the ultimate power!'' Super Shadow said, clenching his hands into fists, the golden aura surrounding him becoming even stronger.

Black Doom was then surrounded by a dark mass of energy, growing in power as he transformed into a massive monster, flying high above the city and unleasing a wave of dark energy. In this form, Black Doom had two gargoyle-like heads on either side of his torso, the first of which had Black Doom's horizontal horns and the second which has one vertical horn, and two large and thick round wings. The lower half of his body was rooted to a large boulder-like object, and his torso had strange spines pointing down. He also had horizontal mouth parts, with the exception of a jaw on both sides. Doom's Eye floated up, etching itself right into this new form's head, giving the monster sight.

''Embrace your fate!''

Super Shadow frowned as he floated before Devil Doom as he roared at him. The ivory golden hedgehog then charged at Devil Doom, only for the latter to form orbs called ''cells'', sending lasers flying towards Super Shadow. The hedgehog swiftly avoided them, managing to get past Devil Doom and then called down a barrage of Chaos Spears from above, raining upon the alien overlord. Devil Doom roared, even though there was no damage, and sent the cells after Super Shadow, who kept his distance from them, using Chaos Snap several times to dodge the lasers.

Meanwhile, at a safe distance, Touka, Sonic, Lucas, Rouge and Omega could only watch the battle in awe. They soon realized they weren't alone when they heard someone shouting.

''Bow your heads low, all hail Shadow!''

They turned around, only to see Minami, Amy, Surge and Kit running towards them, their group having been the closest to where the battle took place. Surge and Kit briefly glared at Sonic, but their attention was drawn again to Minami.

''What was that? A battle cry?'' Omega asked her.

''Actually, it was just a lyric from the song All Hail Shadow. I had figured it was appropriate for this situation,'' Minami said, grinning. Amy, on the other hand, looked exasperated by her partner's behavior. ''In any case, Makoto and Lily said they'd be arriving as soon as possible.''

''We have done everything we could to defend Neos City from the Black Arms. Now, it's Super Shadow's turn to finish this by defeating Devil Doom,'' Lucas said, his gaze wandering towards Sonic.

The blue hedgehog didn't even pay attention to any of them, instead watching the battle between Super Shadow and Devil Doom in awe, captivated by what he saw. He couldn't help but smile, proud of Shadow for coming so far. ''Heh, I knew you could do it, Shads.''

Above them, the cells focused their lasers into one blast, which was blocked directly by Super Shadow. The ivory golden hedgehog had his hands outstretched, pushing the blast back from causing more damage to the city below, directing it into the sky instead. He then summoned a barrage of Chaos Spears, sending them all flying towards the cells and destroying them. He could hear Devil Doom growl, the alien overlord suddenly summoning and sending debris hurling towards him. The hedgehog dashed between the debris the size of buildings at super speed, using Chaos Spear to destroy a particularly large one, followed by a Chaos Snap to get as close to Devil Doom as possible.

''Chaos Blast!''

Super Shadow suddenly unleashed an immense blast of energy, satisfied to hear a cry of pain as he inflicted damage upon Devil Doom's wings. Suddenly, a purple platform rose right in front of him, crashing right into him and sending him flying away. Super Shadow managed to collect himself, only for Devil Doom to fire a fire breath in the form of a concentrated beam right towards him. Super Shadow shielded himself, being invulnerable in this form, but also knowing that he couldn't remain in his Super State for too long. He needed to defeat Devil Doom as soon as possible, and if his memory served him correct, his so-called father did have one particular weak spot.

Super Shadow smirked, flying towards Devil Doom once more, who laughed at what he saw as a pathetic attempt at an attack.

''You were made to serve my will!'' Devil Doom growled, unleashing a barrage of fireballs towards Super Shadow. However, the superpowered hedgehog countered with his own Chaos Spears, destroying the fireballs.

''Did you think I wouldn't surpass you?'' Super Shadow suddenly vanished, then appeared right in front of Devil Doom with a massive Chaos Spear in his hand, launching it directly into Devil Doom's eye.

Devil Doom roared in pain, his roar shaking the whole city. He backed away, allowing Super Shadow to continue the offensive, launching another Chaos Spear at his enemy. However, Devil Doom swung his massive arm, blocking it and almost catching Super Shadow. Realizing that things were about to get more difficult, Super Shadow instead relied on his super speed to distance himself from Devil Doom before he could come up with a way to launch another attack. He started to fly in circles, Devil Doom always keeping a close eye on him.

''Perhaps I have underestimated your power. Perhaps I should actually start trying!''

Devil Doom summoned more of his cells, launching both lasers and fireballs at the same time, forcing Super Shadow to focus solely on dodging the attacks. However, what the alien overlord didn't anticipate was that the hedgehog took advantage of his attack flying straight towards the Black Comet, forcing Devil Doom to stop. As much as he wanted to destroy his offspring, he couldn't allow himself to cause damage to the spaceship. Unfortunately for him, Super Shadow took advantage of that, managing to appear right before him and launching another barrage of Chaos Spears right into Devil Doom's face.

''Gahhhrr! You-! Chaos Control!'' Devil Doom stopped time, a green light coating his surroundings. The alien overlord then swung his hands, this time managing to close them around Super Shadow as he was frozen in time. ''HA HA HA HA HA! There is no escape for you, Shadow!''

To Devil Doom's shock, he could feel Super Shadow moving, his Chaos Control cancelling his own. This was followed by a sudden blast of energy, knocking Devil Doom back as Super Shadow emerged once more, firing another barrage of Chaos Spears at Devil Doom.

''This ends now!''

Super Shadow enveloped himself in a fiery golden aura, charging at Devil Doom at super speed. All the alien overlord could see was streak of golden light, with Super Shadow piercing right through his eye and through his head. Devil Doom cried in anguish, trashing around and reaching for the hole where his eye once was.

''N-No! Shadow- Gahrr!'' Devil Doom flailed, roaring once more, ''I will return! You- This world- It will fall!''

Super Shadow stared at Devil Doom as he self-destructed, his body exploding into pieces. Super Shadow allowed himself a moment to breath, processing his victory, only to suddenly hear a voice from nowhere.

''Shadow! Hurry! Chaos Control the Black Comet back to where it originated from!''

''Doctor Eggman?'' Super Shadow was confused to hear the Doctor's voice, looking around for a brief moment.

''Just do it, hedgehog! The Eclipse Cannon is ready! Bring the Black Comet into the portal that connects to the space above!''

Super Shadow looked up at the vortex Black Doom had used to send his army through to invade Neos City, determination filling his ruby red eyes. He looked below at Neos City, then held his hand up high, a golden light spreading across it. He could sense them, all of the Black Arms, through the hive mind, and used Chaos Control to warp each and every single one of them back into the Black Comet. He then flew towards the Black Comet, his eyes glowing as he lifted it up.

''Chaos Control!''

Super Shadow and the Black Comet then vanished, only to suddenly appear in space. Super Shadow flew away from the Black Comet, spotting the Space Colony ARK in the distance, the Eclipse Cannon charging up.

xXx

''We have a lock-on!'' Warren said, observing the monitor before him.

''The Eclipse Cannon has charged up!'' Tails added, observing his own monitor.

''Excellent! Time to show those Black Arms who the boss is!'' Eggman grinned as he observed his own monitor.

The three had arrived earlier at the AR Field separate from the ones surrounding Neos City, finding themselves on Space Colony ARK. They quickly went to work to prepare the Eclipse Cannon, with Eggman using the energy he had gathered from the Chaos Emerald to hopefully charge up the weapon to what was needed to destroy the Black Comet. They saw the spaceship disappearing at some point, realizing Black Doom managed to Chaos Control it to Neos City, and decided to monitor the situation, with Eggman using the AR Fields to send a message to Super Shadow once Devil Doom was defeated. Now that the Black Comet was back in space, there was only one thing to do.

''FIRE!!!''

All three of them shouted as the Eclipse Cannon fired a powerful laser blast at the Black Comet, completely destroying it.

''Hah, we did it!'' Warren exclaimed, him and Tails hugging in joy as they watched the Black Comet's erasure. ''We did it!''

''What the hell do you mean, 'we did it'?'' Eggman sneered. ''I was the one who came up with the plan to use the Eclipse Cannon and providing it with the necessary energy. Unfortunately, I could only use it for this… Too bad, because I wouldn't have minded using it to conquer Starpoint Area.''

''Do you also want to make an announcement?'' Warren snarked, him and Tails grinning.

Eggman huffed, grumbling as he walked away, ''Wrong game, kid!''

xXx

''Hmph… So Black Doom has failed… First Perfect Chaos, now the Black Arms… It's kind of disappointing they couldn't last longer.''

There was a figure in the chamber, sitting on what appeared to be a throne and observing a holographic monitor, surrounded by red cubes. The figure sighed, leaning on their hand.

''There is still one more obstacle with powers even greater than those two. I wonder how they will handle it.''

xXx

Back in Neos City, everyone was celebrating the final defeat of the Black Arms, with Makoto and Lily's group having reunited with the rest of their friends just in time to witness Devil Doom's destruction at Super Shadow's hands and the environment slowly returning to normal. Just as the vortex above the city had closed, Warren, Tails and Eggman had appeared, the Doctor still annoyed about not getting to use the Eclipse Cannon for his own plans.

''I hope that you're happy now! This is the last time I offered to protect Neos City! Next time, I'm going back to conquering it!'' Eggman said, glaring at Team Neos and their allies, who didn't seem to be particularly convinced by his speech.

''Oh, but what about if something like Dark Gaia emerges?'' Minami suddenly asked, surprising the Doctor.

''Or The End? You can help us with that, right? Right?!'' Lily quickly added, leaving the Doctor startled.

''No!'' he shouted back, grumbling as he walked away, with a rather amused Ferra and Metal Sonic following him back to the Egg Base. The group exchanged glances, only to start laughing and enjoying seeing Eggman's reaction to this request.

''Man, I'm glad that this is over,'' Silver said, with the rest of the group agreeing. They all took notice of the sky remaining dark and crimson, but this time because of the sunset.

''You know, I don't think this is over yet,'' Lucas said, drawing everyone's attention. ''There will be some kind of aftermath given the damage the Black Arms had caused.

''How bad is it going to be?'' Knuckles asked. Lucas shrugged.

''Well, that's not our problem!'' Surge suddenly said, drawing everyone's attention. She placed her hands behind her back, turning on her heel and walking away. ''Let's go, Kit!''

Amy sighed, watching as Surge and Kit as they left. ''At least they didn't start another fight.''

''You okay, Ames?'' Sonic asked.

''Yeah.'' Amy nodded tiredly, only to look around. ''Hey, where are Touka and Shadow?''

''I don't know. Touka was right behind me when the whole fight started,'' Rouge said.

''Well, wherever they are, I think we should leave them be. They've been through a lot,'' Sonic said, only for Jet to shove Touka's hoverboard into his arms.

''Then you can return this back to Touka. We're leaving,'' Jet said, with the Babylon Rogues walking away. Sonic could only manage a sheepish smile, figuring they wouldn't want to be around for this. He then briefly glanced towards Cosmo River, well aware where Touka and Shadow had gone to.

xXx

''Ah, I'm so glad this is finally over!'' Touka said, lying on the soft grass at the river bank, away from everyone else. Shadow was lying next to her, feeling exhausted from the whole ordeal, but satisfied with the result.

''Black Doom has been defeated, the Black Arms are gone for good and Neos City has returned back to normal. I believe we deserve a break from this,'' Shadow said, taking a deep breath. He then blinked in surprise when Touka suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace.

''I knew you could do it!'' she said excitedly. ''I never had any doubt in you!''

Shadow couldn't help but smile, relieved to see Touka being happy and safe. He knew that they would eventually have to join their teammates, but for now, he just wanted some peace and quiet to recover. He glanced down at his hand, taking note of the dark energy forming in it and then quickly closed his fist. He didn't want to worry about this, not now.

''Huh, what's that?''

Shadow looked up, following Touka's gaze. They both got up as they noticed something floating in Cosmo River and went towards it, trying to get a better look at it.

''That's a body,'' Shadow said in a grim tone, with the person in question washing up on the river bank.

Then, both Touka and Shadow froze in place, their eyes widening as they realized who that person was.

''Eclipse?!''

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