I Am All Of Me
Description: What if Sonic had died during the battle against the Final Hazard during the events of Sonic Adventure 2? A heroic act of self sacrifice had lead Shadow to fulfil the legacy of Maria and Sonic. Protecting the world from anybody who ever intended to harm it. To many of Sonic's friends it was often said that what had happened on the ARK would be best left forgotten. But nothing ever goes the way you planned it.
Chapter 1: Promise
"Did you really think you had a chance?" remarked the Blue Hedgehog cockily as he dealt a fatal blow to the Final Hazard's exposed growths. The beast let out a anguished roar as the Ultimate Life Form Prototype breathed its last, the life support systems that sustained the creature's existence now deactivating as the device on the reptile's back had ceased its luminescent glow and began to weaken as the Space Colony ARK entered Earth's atmosphere.
Sonic and Shadow watched as the creature began to disintegrate as chunks of its flesh began separating itself from the ARK and burning up upon re-entry. "Sonic, our efforts weren't enough. The ARK still within range of Earth's gravitational pull" Shadow said in his usual stoic tone reflecting a hint of unease as the ARK began to become engulfed in a fiery trail. "Don't sweat it Shadow we've got this" Sonic remarked with a reassuring grin filling the Black Hedgehog with a sense of confidence that Shadow had only ever seen in Maria before what had transpired over the last few days.
From Dr Eggman awakening him after his 50 year slumber to gathering the Chaos Emeralds all Shadow had on his mind at that point was fulfilling Gerald Robotnik's plan for human annihilation and avenging Maria's death. But all that changed the moment he met Sonic The Hedgehog. The blue hedgehog had Shadow evenly matched in skills. Not only was Sonic persistent in his incessant need to protect a world that persecutes the innocent but his entire personality was puzzling. 'What you see is what ya get, a guy that loves adventure and has a need for speed. I'm Sonic The Hedgehog'.
Those words resonated within Shadow's mind as he flew towards the Space Colony ARK preparing to save not only Sonic's friends aboard the ARK but the human race. Blasting his way towards the Space Colony Shadow turned to Sonic as he began charging up a sphere of Chaos Energy, focusing all the power he had using his super form to teleport the Space Station from Earth's gravitational pull and back to the original position. Pooling in his Chaos Energy in combination with Sonic's Shadow felt himself weaken. It was becoming harder to maintain his super-form, the battle with the Biohazard had taken it out of the Ultimate Life Form.
But Sonic? he seemed to have boundless energy "(I think I know who the Ultimate Life Form is, it might be you Sonic)" Shadow thought while he and the Blue Hedgehog flew at full speed towards the Space Colony ARK.
It was in this moment that Shadow recalled every one that he was willing to fight for 'Shadow, I beg of you, please do it for me, for all the people on that planet'
'Some people may be selfish like the professor said, but they're basically good just as long as they never give up on their wishes, they always have a reason to be happy' "NOW SHADOW!" Sonic shouted with Shadow nodding an affirmative response ready to unleash their combined Chaos Control.
"CHAOS CONTROL!" exclaimed the two Hedgehogs as they blasted a ball of Chaos Energy towards the Space Colony ARK, engulfing the Space Station in a sphere of light with the two Hedgehog's absorbed within as the Space Station disappeared from the Earth's atmosphere. Opening his eyes into a white void Shadow looked around to see only himself, Sonic and the Space Colony Ark frozen in a dimension where the laws of Space and Time no longer existed. "Have we failed? Is this… death?" Shadow asked himself as his mind began racing with the possibility that he and Sonic may have been too late in saving the Earth and that this was his punishment for trying to destroy the planet Maria loved so much. "No way, we must be stuck in some kinda space time warp because of our combined Chaos Control" Sonic said as he floated around the void giving the Space Colony a closer examination as he flew in closer to the Central Control Room noticing that his Friends alongside Dr Eggman and Rouge The Bat were stuck in some kind of stasis, no doubt a consequence of the Chaos Control he and Shadow had created.
"Then that begs the question as to what this place is if we haven't completely stopped the Space Colony ARK from impacting into the Earth yet?" Shadow asked before Sonic flew back towards the Black Hedgehog. "Well I'm no expert on Chaos Control but I think maybe because we both used Chaos Control at the same time it might've caused some kinda weird time freeze thing since we might've been trying to warp it between to places in space" Sonic said mentally chuckling at how a little bit of Tails's genius had rubbed off on him.
"That's a possibility" Shadow answered before he felt a burning sensation in his muscles knowing that his super form wasn't going to last at this rate. "Sonic our super forms are not going to sustain themselves for long and I'm certain that it would also encompass our temporal stasis via Chaos Control" Shadow spoke with Sonic giving an affirming nod. "(I have to do it… for you Maria… and Amy)" Shadow thought as he recalled his promise to the Pink Hedgehog while he began reaching for his Inhibitor Rings attached to his wrists. "Shadow what are you doing!?" Sonic exclaimed as he grabbed Shadow's hands from taking off the inhibitor rings "Sonic… I have to do this" Shadow replied melancholically knowing that only death through his sacrifice could atone the sins he committed against humanity.
"I can't let you do that Shadow, not like this, not after everything that's happened" Sonic said in a desperate tone very much seeming like the antithesis of the happy go lucky hedgehog Shadow had once known about the Blue Hedgehog. "It's what I deserve Sonic, this is my atonement for my crimes" Shadow spoke solemnly only for Sonic to do something Shadow had never expected him to do. "Shadow stop acting like you need to die in order to set things right! You're more than anybody deserves a chance at happiness, wouldn't that be what Maria wanted?" Sonic shouted before Shadow gave him a look of shock surprised that Sonic of all people would try and defend his actions. "I don't understand you Sonic, why would you go out of your way to help someone who doesn't deserve it?" Shadow queried so firmly rooted in his damnation. "I might not have ever experienced the pain you have gone through Shadow but you can't let your past control you forever, if you let that pain get to you then that means that your inner demons will win" Sonic explained sounding as if he knew exactly what Shadow felt in that moment in time, "Sonic?" Shadow spoke softly wondering if the cheerful Hedgehog and the melancholic soul in front of him were one in the same.
"Shadow, promise me that when you get back to the Colony you'll go back to Earth with Tails and the others and live your life to the fullest, you've lived a terrible life and I think you're entitled to some happiness for once" Sonic said with a sad smile on his face. "That's out of the question, I must do this to protect the planet" Shadow stated firmly as he reached for his inhibitor rings, "Shadow your Super form is barely maintaining itself, and if you use Chaos Control you're going to die" Sonic responded hating how Shadow was so willing to throw anything good that could ever happen in his life. "Just head back to the Central Control Room and I'll warp the ARK away from Earth's atmosphere, besides I've got more experience with my Super form than you have" Sonic stated in a firm tone as he knew full well what this would mean if he took Shadow's place.
"And Shadow… No matter what happens to you just know that not only Maria, but I'll be proud of anything you do to help people" Sonic said before he launched a Chaos Spear into Shadow's abdomen, sending him flying backwards, "NO WAIT!" Shadow shouted as he attempted to recover and stop Sonic from sacrificing his life purely for Shadow's own life. "I'm sorry it had to end like this guys…" Sonic said sadly before he rushed towards the Space Colony ARK. "CHAOS CONTROL!"
The white void soon faded from existence as the black star twinkled area had returned to Sonic's eyes noting that the flow of time had been restored and with the ARK no longer in sight had proven that the Chaos Control warp had been successful. "Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Shadow. Heh… even Eggman, Sayonara guys…" Sonic spoke as he closed his eyes and grinned a sad smile as his super-form had dissipated and that his fate would be sealed by burning up in Earth's atmosphere.
A lone shooting star shot by the Earth as the planet's inhabitants cheered for the two Hedgehogs who bravely fought to save the planet. Couples embraced, World Leaders let out a relieved sigh and the world was fraught with celebration for their continued existence. The Space Colony ARK on the other hand was filled with tension from the group inside, wondering on whether or not Sonic and Shadow were okay after defeating the Biolizard. The pressure seal on the electronic door released as the blast door opened slowly as both Team Sonic and Eggman looked towards the entry with anticipation, all with varying looks of anxiety on their faces as the group looked upon the figure standing on the other side of the door.
"Shadow you're okay!" Amy said as she hugged the Black Hedgehog tightly happy that Shadow was able to overcome his nihilistic beliefs and save the world just as he promised her. Returning the Pink Hedgehog's warm sentiments Shadow hugged back but knew the inevitable question was coming no matter how long he stalled for time. With a heavy sigh Shadow explained what had transpired during the battle with the Biolizard and how Sonic bravely sacrificed himself for the good of the world and it's people.
The Central Control Room fell dead silent as everybody, Eggman included were gobsmacked with absolute shock and sadness over the death of Sonic The Hedgehog.
Tails thought that Sonic would be around forever. Even though he had learned to fight his own battles and become independent just a year prior he always thought that Sonic would be right there with him to encourage him similar to how an older brother praises their sibling in a warm yet cocky demeanour. His best friend and older brother figure was now just… gone.
Knuckles could remember his first encounter with the blue blur right back when he had attacked and taken back the Chaos Emeralds which once circled the Master Emerald. From an invader who sought to steal the Master Emerald and destroy Angel Island to a close ally and friendly rival who teased his gullible shortcomings. But when it truly came down to it Knuckles above all else considered Sonic The Hedgehog his friend.
Silent tears soaked into Shadow's fur as Amy wept for the loss of her first crush. Not a day went by since she looked upon her tarot cards and saw that she would someday encounter a "Blue Hero". Though true Amy had heard stories of this Sonic The Hedgehog on news reports on Television and by visions held by her mystic parents Amy fell in love with the blue blur the moment she saw him. And she would never forget the day she met him on Little Planet. And yet the rose Amy had always held for Sonic had finally wilted
While never actually meeting Sonic until now Rouge had always held respect for Sonic's ideals and what he stood for. Always on the run, never tied down and free to do as he wished. Even prior to joining G.U.N as an Agent the bat had indeed been curious as to what blue boy's intentions were, if he was the world renown hero he claimed he was? or if he was nothing but a criminal like her. Ultimately it was Sonic's heroism that had Rouge inclined to aid G.U.N even despite her love of jewels.
Shadow's thoughts dwelled on how much Sonic had changed him. Before all of this his mind was consumed with grief and anger towards the humans for killing Maria, the only one who never saw him as a weapon or experiment to be probed and examined as if he was an object rather than a living being. But Sonic just like Maria showed him that there was something more to life than the intended purpose the United Federation had wanted him for. Sonic in the brief instance that Shadow knew him had given him the one thing that was greater than the purpose he was designed for.
Freedom.
And finally it came down to Dr Eggman. The one man who knew Sonic The Longest out of everybody standing in the room. When Ivo had first met the blue hedgehog he wanted nothing more than to see him dead. But now… now that he finally achieved his goal in killing Sonic, Eggman felt at a loss for what to do with himself. True he did wish to finally conquer the world and construct Eggmanland like he had always dreamed of but… Eggman couldn't shake the emptiness he felt inside. Sonic was such a big part of his life for the past few years he'd almost forgotten what it was like to have no true enemy to fight.
"(Farewell Sonic… Forever)" thought the machinist as he quickly took his leave from the group to gather his thoughts.
Ordinarily Tails would've jumped at the chance to stop him and have a chuckling Sonic tell him that they would totally stick it to that Egghead before giving him a wink and then running after him at super sonic speeds. But everyone was in no mood to go after Eggman, not even he seemed to be in the mood for his typical evil schemes. Everybody just stared out into space, watching as the Earth lived on for another day thanks to Sonic.
"I can't believe he's gone" Knuckles spoke breaking the deafening silence that encompassed the room. "He knew this would happen" Tails stated as he looked as if he would break down and cry at any moment. "What do you mean?" Knuckles asked as he tended to the young fox, "When Amy was captured by Eggman before he tried to fire the Eclipse Cannon before he was shot out into space he told me that he was counting on me." explained the Kitsune as he recalled the painful memories that became all too real shortly after he saved himself from death that time. "I think Sonic knew that one day he might die saving the planet so he prepared me to take responsibility and be the hero that I looked up to" continued the fox as he began to make a promise to himself that he would fulfill that promise Sonic had asked of him.
Shadow had continued looking out into the depths of space as his mind wondered about how powerful Sonic truly was. "Could he have really been the Ultimate…?" Shadow said to himself lost in his thoughts before dispelling them after he saw Amy approach him. "What's the matter Shadow?" Amy asked concerned for the Ultimate Life Form's wellbeing even despite her earlier sadness. "Don't worry about me, just remembering a promise that I'll make sure to keep" replied the Ultimate Life Form as he turned to face the Pink Hedgehog looking upon her sorrowed expression. "You know, Sonic wouldn't want you to shed tears for him, can you tell me why?" Shadow asked conveying a supportive tone "Because Sonic would always say something encouraging and make everybody feel better no matter what happens" Amy answered with a saddened smile as she pictured Sonic giving his trademark grin alongside a thumbs up often used whenever he attempted to lift up the atmosphere.
"Right" Shadow said in his soft spoken manner feeling happy that he could cheer up those around him. It was an emotion that Shadow found significant enjoyment out of in his short lifetime. Though it was true he lacked experience in such matters with only Maria to really teach him what and how these emotions felt Shadow with the new life bestowed upon him by Sonic's sacrifice would take great pleasure in exploring such positive feelings that the Blue Hedgehog seemed to express in such extroversion.
When the time came for the group to enter the shuttle and return to Earth Shadow looked into the Central Control Room of the Space Colony ARK for one last time as the lights dimmed into an ambient emerald green colour due to the computer systems and emergency lighting that illuminated the place creating a sombre atmosphere only enhanced by the beauty of the Earth's cerulean glow.
"Sayonara, Sonic The Hedgehog" Shadow said before exiting the Control Room with the automatic door closing behind him in the hopes that Sonic's death would never be remembered in vain and in thanks that like Maria Sonic had shown him the light as it were and will continue to protect the Earth just as the two of them would have wanted them to.