This story begins a year after the events of the 'Shadow the Hedgehog' game.
Chapter 1
Sonic rushed through the valley. He had to reach the city fast. He checked behind him, no sign of his chaser. He looked forward, confident. His eyes flashed in surprise and he gasped as he skidded to a stop suddenly. Dirt and grass sprayed either side of him as he tried to force an immediate turn. He swayed to the side, but a hand gripped his arm. He was swung to the ground.
The dust surrounding the two of them settled. Sonic looked up as the face of his pursuer emerged from the plumes. Shadow. Sonic grit his teeth and pushed his hands against the floor. Shadow raised his arm, and chaos spear sparked from his hand, ready to fire. Sonic jumped to his feet, but Shadow formed a fist and dealt Sonic a hot blow to the shoulder. Sparks of the chaos spear singed Sonic's skin. Sonic yelped and plummeted towards the floor. Shadow swung at Sonic's chin with the opposite hand, shooting him the other way. Sonic fell to the floor, face in the grass. Shadow took two steps forward and sneered down at him.
"Tch, pathetic," Shadow said. Sonic pushed himself up with his arms. Shadow kicked him in the ribs and Sonic collapsed again with a cough of pain. "Don't tell me this is all it takes to defeat you." Sonic chuckled, muffled by the grass. He pushed himself up with one hand and kept himself up with the opposite forearm. He looked up at Shadow, wincing in pain, but smirking nonetheless.
"Who says it's over?" Sonic asked.
"I do." Shadow stepped on Sonic's back and pushed down on it. Sonic winced as he fought against it.
"Face it. You'll never be able to defeat the ultimate lifeform," Shadow said through gritted teeth.
"Great," Sonic said while grinning. "Fine by me. Y'know why?" Shadow tilted his head and looked at Sonic with annoyed confusion. "Because I'm not trying to defeat you!" Sonic hunched his back, then rolled into a ball. Shadow was thrown several feet when Sonic began spinning. He charged up and shot off. Shadow, on his back, craned his neck to watch Sonic escape. He punched the ground and snarled in anger, then jumped to his feet. Then he rushed off after him.
"Chaos-"
Sonic gained plenty of distance between him and Shadow. He'd almost reached Station Square when-
"-CONTROL!"
Shadow was in middair, and swung a kick, sending Sonic backwards again. He hit the floor, skidded and flipped. He rolled several times, grazing his skin until he came to stop. The burning on his skin numbed him and his head spun. Shadow slowly walked towards him.
"Seeking refuge in the city?" Shadow asked. Sonic lay on his side, and watched Shadow approach through squinted eyes. "You know I won't be able to follow you."
"Exactly," Sonic spat.
"That's unfair," Shadow folded his arms as he smirked down at Sonic.
"This is unfair. Just let me go."
"You know I can't. And you know I won't," Shadow threatened. He bent down and grabbed Sonic's arm. "You're coming with me-" Shadow grunted and straightened up. He retracted his arm and looked behind him shakily. He twisted and contorted his spine to look at his own back. He reached behind him and pulled something from his flesh. A dart.
They were approached by an open four wheeled vehicle. Shadow shakily stood up, his eyelids dropping. He swayed and stumbled before he stood firmly on his two feet. He threw the dart to the floor and faced the new arrival. The buggy came to a stop and a man stepped out.
"Shadow," he greeted, formally.
"C-Commander," Shadow rasped.
"Care to come back with me, and explain-"
"Chaos Control!" Shadow disappeared.
"FIRE!" the Commander called back, several darts pierced the grass and stuck out of the dirt where Shadow once stood. Sonic weakly stood up.
"Th-thanks…" Sonic said. The Commander cursed under his breath and turned his back to Sonic. "H-hey… are there any nearby Chilidog stands?"
"If an occurrence between you and Shadow happens again… it would mean a lot to GUN if you loured him in our direction," the Commander said firmly, folding his arms behind his back neatly.
"S-sure…" Sonic said. "I'll run here again." The Commander climbed into the buggy. It turned and trundled back over the grass with its large wheels. Sonic brushed himself off and shook himself out. He winced as he rubbed the several bumps forming on his head from the several bashings. "And maybe next time you'll point me to the nearest chilidog stand in return…" he mumbled to himself. Then he turned on his heel and left.
Shadow panted as he stumbled into Eggman's control room. Eggman was sitting at the control desk in his chair, which spun to face Shadow upon his arrival.
"When will they learn that it takes more than just a dart to take down the ultimate life form? Their lacking effort sickens me. Pathetic-" Shadow quietened and stood still when he noticed Eggman's face. He was staring right at Shadow, eyebrows furrowed, frown stuck. Shadow's mouth opened, but no words came out.
"You failed me. Again."
"GUN turned up. I had to get out before-"
"Need I remind you of what's at stake?" Eggman asked. Shadow's eyes widened slightly, then the ridges furrowed in worry. "The longer you fail me, the more your time runs out." Shadow's lips closed and his teeth grit behind them. He took in a deep breath and exhaled through his nose. "Understood?"
"Yes, doctor," Shadow said firmly. Then he put his hand on his head and he began slouching.
"That will take a while to wear off."
"Permission to take a break?" Shadow asked bitterly. Eggman pointed at Shadow sternly. They were interrupted by a distracting, continuous beeping. Shadow bit back an impatient sigh and folded his arms. Eggman turned in his chair to face the screen and large keyboard. He pressed a button, and the screen changed to an icon of telephone and a square profile picture in the center of the screen. But there was no face there, just a blank outline of a head. The word 'Anon' below it.
"IIIIVOOOO," came a drawn out, enthusiastic male voice. "I have a little proposition, if you wanna hear about it." Eggman looked surprised, then his brow folds furrowed over the ridges of his glasses.
"Who… is… this?" he asked, slow and resentful.
"You don't remember me, Ivo? It has been many years but… Surely I meant something to you," he asked in mock concern. Eggman grit his teeth in anger.
"It can't be."
"Yes-yes… it's me: Edward-"
"Edward Robotnik," Eggman growled. Shadow's ear twitched out of interest. "What is it you want?"
"Like I said… a little… shall we call it… business proposal?" he put forward. "You will listen? I'm not wasting my bandwidth talking to you am I?" he added quickly.
"Yes yes! Just spit it out," Eggman rushed.
"This world dominaton you're trying…" he began. "Perhaps there's a reason you've been failing this whole time."
"Yes?" Eggman asked, disgruntled.
"That hedgehog… Sonic," Edward said. "The one I suggested you kill a long time ago…" Eggman sighed and turned his chair to turn his back to the screen. "Your camera's on by the way. I can see you throwing a tantrum." Eggman swung back around and slammed his palms on the large metal control panel.
"JUST GET TO THE POINT!"
"Capture him."
Eggman inhaled sharply through his nostrils and his face went red.
"That's what I've been trying this whole time!" he exclaimed, then stared at the screen, breathing in and out furiously. Shadow took a few steps towards the door. Eggman suddenly turned to the side and pointed at Shadow. "You haven't been dismissed yet! Or do you want her to suffer for your insolence?"
Shadow stopped and stood straight.
"Oh. Got yourself a little servant, have you, Ivo? I think I can just about see him in the corner of the screen, there. Isn't he cute?" He said with a mocking charm. Shadow snarled from where he was standing. The man on the call suddenly gasped. "That… isn't… Project Shadow, is it?"
Eggman sighed boredly.
"Get to the point before I cut you off."
"Ivo… it's nice to see that he's stayed loyal to the family," Edward said.
"He isn't…" Eggman said darkly. Shadow bit his lip to hold back his anger.
"Ah…" he let out an impressed gasp. "I'm impressed. I've always wanted a super charged, sonic-fast hedgehog with mystic powers. Hmm. I wonder who would inherit him if you were to… die?"
"Shut up, Edward…" Eggman growled. "Now, are you quite done with your lame plan to capture Sonic?"
"Lame? A bit hypocritical," Edward chuckled.
"It's lame because I thought of it first. You just copied me," Eggman bickered.
"Well, you are right," Edward said. "My idea was to kill him first…" his tone went dark. "If you'd taken care of the problem when he was still young. Perhaps you would have ruled the world by now but…" he gave a mocking sigh. "Here you are. Taking more advice from me. Except, it's not quite advice. It's more an offer."
"What is the proposition then?" Eggman asked impatiently.
"Join me. And we will capture Sonic together," Edward proposed.
"No."
"What?"
"No. I can do it without you," Eggman said.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"… ah. I see," Edward hesitated. "Well… don't complain that I never offered."
"I won't," Eggman grumbled.
"This isn't because of her, now is it?" Edward asked half-heartedly. Eggman fell backwards, his seat leant so far back it nearly tipped over. His eyes widened behind his glasses lenses and he smashed his fist down. The call window on the screen closed down.
Shadow stood and watched Eggman for a few moments. He sat in his chair, face in his hands.
"Doctor… what was…?"
"Silence, Shadow," Eggman growled. "You're not here to counsel me." He bitterly glared back at Shadow, then he looked at his desk. He reached down and opened a drawer at the front of the console. He pulled something out and slammed it shut. He sat there, looking at it sadly for a few moments.
"Doctor. I need to go and lie down," Shadow said in frustration.
"No you don't, the sedative must have worn off ages ago," Eggman said. "Go and feed our prisoner." He stood up and stomped to the door. As Eggman walked past Shadow; the hedgehog managed to glance at what was in Eggman's hand. It was a photo… and on it… was a woman.
Shadow was silent for a moment as he took in what he saw, then he snapped out of it.
"Yes… sir." He rubbed his head as he walked out of the same door and down the corridor alone.
