My story begins in darkness. This scenario is rather familiar. I've been like this for many years, though I never stopped thinking about the same thing all this time. I have been torturing myself with the same, horrifying memory. My final memory on the Ark. The death of my only friend, Maria. My plan was in motion over and over in my head, and I always found thinking about the planet's demise fulfilling. It gave me the little joy I had left to receive, but the pain of knowing that Maria would never be able to visit the beautiful, yet sinister planet would always haunt me. Never to stop haunting me...

The darkness came to an end when I heard someone outside of my chamber. But that could only mean that either I was dreaming, or I was being awaken. The more time passed, and the more I felt my body begin to function, I became more aware that my slumber was over at last. And now my plan of vengence could finally begin. I slowly sat up, like a zombie would, being surprisingly unused to being awake. Have I really been out for that long? Whatever the case, my eyes shot open, alert at all my surroundings. I traced my gaze to the key board next to me where a man that looked like a younger, but fatter, Professor Gerald stood. What I recognized from him was the orange features on his face. This was Gerald's psychotic grandson...

...How convenient...

At first glance, the Doctor didn't seem very pleased to see me. A scowl formed on his face, and I began to think that he may be a problem rather than a solution. However, that changed when he said: "Blast it! Is that you, Sonic? Are you here to spoil my plans again?!" He slammed his fist on his giant machine, but then I could see a change in his face. He clearly saw that he was mistaken. "Wait a minute. You're not Sonic! This is impossible!"

I formed a smirk on my face. Obviously he didn't know who I was. With me around, there was no such thing as impossible. "My name is Shadow," I said calmly, as if nothing could possibly irk me. "Because you were so kind to release me, my Master," I paused for dramatic affect! "I shall grant you one wish."

That was when the alarm starting blaring more than it already was. Hm, funny. I didn't really notice the alarm. Guess I was thinking too much. Whatever the case, the Doctor didn't seem too pleased when he heard a giant mechanical foot stomp on the ground. He seemed flustered, but I wasn't bothered one bit. In fact, I was rather pleased. Now I could shed some light on just who I am. "Now what?!" he growled as if he already been through enough problems.

My smirk grew oh so very slightly. Just as I thought. Things seemed to be going perfectly for me. There was no reason why he wouldn't want my help for world 'domination' I'll allow him to believe. Buttering him up, making him think that he's the boss... This will be perfect. "Behold," I casually called out. "The true power I possess!" In a flash of light, I used my jet shoes to hover to the foe.

Unfortunately, the fight wasn't as sectacular as I'd like it to be. Oh, I won. But the bot was so pathetic, I won without even trying. The fight was so easy that I didn't even need to use my powers. This was a lame fight. Well, actually, the Doctor was amazed at my ability to defeat the guard bot. Hmph. Seemed to me like he was far too easy to impress, but whatever the case, this only confirmed that I could easily manipulate this fool. He's a human just like the rest. He will meet the same fate that I have in store for the humans, even if he's related to my creator. "Destroying that gaurd robot was spectacular!" he praised in pure amazement. "So Shadow, you are the military's top secret weapon. But what did you meant when you said that you would grant me a wish?"

What a fool...

"Bring more Chaos Emeralds." I commanded, ignoring his question. My smirk returned

"Shadow, wait!" he commanded, but I continued to ignore it.

"I'll be waiting for you, in the control room of the Space Colony Ark." With that I walked away, paying him no heed, or even a glance when he barked out "Ark?!" I simply kept walking away from the Doctor, leaving him to wonder what it is I had in mind. He once again slammed his keyboard like a child having a temper tantrum, but I wasn't fazed. If he could figure out how to release me, a 'Top Secret Weapon,' then he could figure out what to do next himself. If not, then he wasn't worth my time.

While he went in one direction, I went another. I was in search of any Chaos Emerald, like how I told the Doctor to collect, but in doing so, I was causing a lot of comotion. Police cars were everywhere, but I always remained out of reach. Not only that, but for some reason they were reluctant to attack and make an arrest. They weren't reluctant before, so why were they now? Lucky for them, I ignored this, and continued my search. Unfortunately for them, they held a Chaos Emerald in a bank, and that's how they began this chase.

After making my way through the city, my instincts told me that there was another Emerald resting inside another machine. What was more was that I could tell that it was a machine meant to fight. That would be a total waste of my time, but I needed that emerald, and nothing was gonna keep me from getting it.

However, when I found the bot, I was shocked to see a familiar figure facing the bot. Not familiar, as in I've seen him, but familiar as I've seen him in my own reflection. I thought I was looking at myself, but then I remembered the Doctor mentioning an individual that he had mistaken me to be. At first I was enraged. This ameteur is trying to pose as me?! He couldn't even compare to me! I kept on burying myself in these thoughts until I saw his fighting skills. He wasn't too shabby of a fighter, but it was clear to me that I was the better fighter.

I watched the fight, and simply waited for the perfect moment to strike. This robot was weaker than Hot Shot, which was a dumb move of the humans, but I could tell that the blue hedgehog was rather calm about this battle. Nothing seemed to faze him. I was about to change that. He smirked at the srap of metal that was piled on the street, and that's when I decided to appear. The eyes of the young hero popped when he saw me, but I acted as if I didn't notice him. "It all starts with this," I stated raising up a green Chaos Emerald that I stole from the robot. "A jewel containing the ultimate power!"

The blue hedgehog dared to take a step closer to my location. Interesting. He seemed to be more courageous than the average person. In that sense I was impressed, but nothing else did. "That's the...Chaos Emerald!" he stated the obvious in shock, while I simply pretended I never saw him. After a few moments of just staring at the magnificent jewel, I heard him approaching more, but didn't pay him any mind until he spoke. "Now I know what's going on!" That was when I turned to him. "The military has mistaken me for the likes of you!" This was the first time the two of us had a good look at each other. There was only one feeling that was coursing through our inner beings: hatred. We loathed each other in that very first moment, and I couldn't wait to see him in ashes. "So," he continued. "Where do you think you're going with that Emerald?"

I simply kept my intense glare on him, imagining him staring at everything he cared about, this planet, everything ripped away from him: just like me, before I end his wreched misery. That thought could've brought a smile on my face, but I wouldn't give him the honor of seeing me smile, so I didn't.

He began running at full speed toward me, the fool. He was clearly enraged. "Say something!" he demanded. "You fake hedgehog!"

I casually tossed the emerald in the air, saying, "Chaos... Control!" The aura around me began to intensify and glow before it consumed me, and I was flying past the cocky young hedgehog, leaving him breathless.

"Woah," he yelped. "He's fast! Hey, it's not his speed. He must be using his Chaos Emerald to warp!" I could tell by his face that he was putting two and two together at his own pace. He was fast in many senses, but he wasn't very dumb. At least, I didn't think he did.

"My name is Shadow," What a shame I gave him the honor of knowing my name. But he'd have to figure out my full name himself. "I'm the world's Ultimate Lifeform." Hey! Now he knows something the Doctor doesn't. "There's not time for games. Farewell!" I was fed up with looking at his face, and oh I wished he didn't look like me so I could call it ugly, because I hated him so intensely, that even thinking about him made me sick. This encounter may have been short, but it would turn out to be the beginning of an intense rivalry, between two powerful hedgehogs. The introduction of him, Sonic the Hedgehog, and I, Shadow the Hedgehog.