Shadow looked down into the Mirror of Fate, the images he saw disturbed him a boy of only thirteen, and yet something about them caused his heart to leap with joy. The monks of his mother's temple stood near with the power of Sara flowing through the mirror. Shadow saw an older version of himself battling a younger boy whose features were very similar to Shadow's own.

"I assume that the young one is my son." he said questioningly.

In this farewell there's no blood there's no alibi,

cause I've drawn regret from the truth of a thousand lies

"Yes my son. Though I tried to stop it Trigon's curse upon your mother was strong." Shadow's father stood behind him looking sadly into the swirling glass. Shadow sighed.

"Raven… what will I tell her?"

"This only shows the future as it will be with our current choices my son. We can never let Fate deceive us into thinking that we have no control." Shadow looked to his father then back to the mirror.

So let mercy come and wash away what I've done

I'll face myself to cross out what I've become,

erase myself, and let go of what I've done.

The image in the mirror now showed the older Shadow on his knees holding the dying body of his son.

Tears flowed freely from the man's eyes for the loss of his child, and looking into the mirror Shadow felt his heart being torn to shreds.

Put to rest what you thought of me,

while I clean this slate with the hands of uncertainty.

Sighing Shadow prepared mentally for the fight before him, his father was right he could control his fate. He could keep from killing his son, to do so he would simply not allow the child to be conceived. To prevent that he had to leave Raven and everything else he loved behind.

So let mercy come and wash away what I've done,

I'll face myself to cross out what I've become,

erase myself and let go of what I've done.

He looked back one more time before walking through the portal to his new life, the life of a wandering demon slayer. The sun would rise soon and the girl he loved would wake soon. He had left a letter on her bedside table before leaving if only to explain why he left.

For what I've done I start again

and whatever pain may come

today this ends

These and more images passing through Shadow's mind now twenty years old and fighting Trigon for the free will of the son he had never wanted to be born. He had been weak and fell to the temptation of seeing Raven, while he was there as a member of the Teen Titans he had been manipulated by his brother and gave in to his lust for the girl he wished to protect.

forgiving what I've done

I'll face myself to cross out what I've become

erase myself and let go of what I've done

what I've done

forgiving what I've done.

He let a single tear slide down his cheek as he drew all of his energy inward. He would destroy Trigon's influence even if it meant dying in the process.

"Raven tell our children that I love them very much, and know that I love you too."he spoke to her through their psychic link. Shadow then released the energy he'd been holding back in one great blast that obliterated his body along with Trigon.

"Forgive what I've done."