Radiant Shadows chapter 2

I made a mistake in Shadow's flashback of falling! In case you were
wondering, yes Sonic still did get Shadow's bracelet when he fell. I
just forgot to put it in. If that caused any confusion, sorry! Here's
chapter 2.

The first thing I heard was the blaring screech of my alarm clock. I
immediately wished that I could forget it and lapse into sleep once
more. I slapped the top of my alarm clock lazily, ending it's constant
reminder of the day ahead.

As I tumbled out of bed, a glint of gold caught my eye, and froze me
in my tracks.

It was Shadow's bracelet.

I'd been trying to get over my guilt about not going to see Shadow
in the hospital. I fear that he hates me because I let him fall from
the Ark.

Tails had told me that it was nonsense to believe the dark hedgehog
would be holding a grudge. From what he'd said, Shadow had been
grateful that we found him when we did, and talked nothing of the
past. He even seemed to avoid questions referring to the Ark. Nobody
ever pushed him, for fear his contentment and security would fade.

As far as I knew, Shadow had been a true gentleman, even to Amy. He
spent 1 month in the hospital, to come out without a single scar.

After Shadow was released, it became both easier and harder to avoid
him.

Easier because none of us has seen him since he departed.

Harder because everyone expects me to go after him.

To be very plain, I was running out of excuses.

I chanted to others that he had Rouge for company, and that he
wouldn't want me around to bother him. It worked for awhile, until I
figured out Rouge had been hanging out with Knux for the past week.

I began to consider going over to his house, but I didn't know where
Shadow lived. Tails has been trying to convince me to find him, and the
yellow fox was very nearly successful, until GUN gave me an
investigation that needed reinforcement. So, off I went, to save the
day.

The only day I had failed my mission would haunt me to my dying day...

Flashback

I gaped openly at the dead lizard-like creature, still in shock that
we had done it.

We had eliminated the enemy, but I learned with a jolt that our
mission was not quite over yet. The Ark was still following it's crash
course towards my home, and we had to stop it.

I turned my head toward my counterpart. He was beaten, bloodied,
bruised, and likely broke a rib, judging by the way his hand hovered
over his stomach, and his legs curled in towards his injured abdomen.
Was it just me, or was his fur loosing it's pearly glow?

We didn't have time to ponder and question each other, and we both
knew it. So, he gave me a curt nod, looking as if he didn't feel his
pain.

I wished I was that strong.

We both flew toward the persistently falling space colony. My arms
raised to meet the metal surface of the Ark, where my friends
anxiously waited. I knew I would not see them again if I couldn't
manage to take control of the colony.

Shadow and I shouted in synchronization, "Chaos Control!" I watched
as much as I could of the event as the space colony warped back into
orbit, committing the scene to
memory.

Pale blue rings circled around the Ark, bending and twisting until a
luminous glow surrounded the space colony, and it
vanished, only to re-appear in it's original position, unharmed.

I grinned wildly at our success.

"We did it Shadow! We saved the world!" I sent telepathically
enthusiastically. After a second, I whipped my head around, surprised
that he had not replied to me.

He looked so peaceful. No creases furrowed his brow, no confusion
clouded his expression, no bloodlust reigned his soul. The expression
on his face seemed to change constantly. First was happiness.
Overflowing joy, coming with relief, as he processed my words. Then
came pain, likely due to his plentiful injuries, followed by a
thoughtful smile.

Then, something flickered over my friend that wasn't an emotion.

I should have expected it.

His matted sterling coat flashed to his ordinary midnight pelt.

Though it returned back to it's luminous glow, I knew that my dear
friend's time was running out. But the most confusing part of this
whole ordeal, was that Shadow himself seemed unaware of his impending
death. He still wore a peaceful smile upon his lips, as if nothing had
happened.

As if my life hadn't just been flipped inside out.

I could no longer bottle the emotions churning inside of me.

I screamed with the realization that Shadow would not be coming back
with me.

"No! Shadow you can't die! I'm supposed to save you, and our story is
supposed to end in brotherhood... running next to each other... happy"

I tried desperately to describe my vision, my dream that ended with
Shadow and I racing at dawn, side by side, with a smile. I'd
envisioned us like brothers, with no more pain, or sadness to bring
us down. We'd simply been happy. Soaring along the never-ending
meadow, laughing through it all.

But now I knew my dream was never going to be a reality.

While we were still within arms reach, I frantically grasped his
wrist, in a final attempt to bring him back. As he drifted farther,
his golden bracelet parted with his glove, and I held it as if all my
life depended on it.

Hope dominated my thoughts.

Shadow gazed back into my eyes, curiosity in what was left of his
features. The words he spoke were his last.

"Sayonara, Sonic the Hedgehog"

I began crying with all my soul. I knew what those words has meant to
Shadow, and to have him speak them to me was far too overwhelming.

It was like you took my heart and slowly tore in half. Every time my
dark counterpart drifted farther from me, my heart ripped more, until
I was forced to avert my eyes from his now onyx form.

It was then that I left him for dead.

I turned from the dying hedgehog, and left him to fall, my only
thoughts a constant stream of "Why?" s

All I concentrated on was the precious bracelet in my hands, as
another tear streaked down my cheek.

I flew morosely towards the now safe space colony, where I would be
showered in congratulations and awards I didn't deserve.

End flashback

I would never forgive myself for letting him go. For turning my back
on him as he faced a fiery hell. I had chosen my safety at the price
of his life.

True heroes sacrifice themselves, and they certainly don't let others
die for them. I didn't really realize how much Shadow had sacrificed,
until I thought about it.

Hell, this was the first time I'd allowed myself to even think the
obsidian hedgehog's name.

I recalled the day we found Shadow...

Flashback

It was a sunny, summer day, and Tails and I decided to head out where
everyone headed on a hot day. The beach, naturally.

But when we got there, screams of horror met our ears. Tails and I
glanced at each other in confusion, and we leapt from the Tornado.

A huge crowd surrounded one tiny spot, and I weaved through everyone
saying "Sonic the Hedgehog comin' through!". But once I made it to the
site, Tails and I witnessed easily the most horrifying sight I had seen.

At first I squinted and scrutinized what was before me until
recognition shocked me to my core. I knew who laid before me.

Shadow the Hedgehog.

So battered, bloodied, bruised and broken I could hardly see his
midnight pelt. I didn't know how he could still force what was left of
his lungs to inhale and exhale air. But the scariest part was when he
opened his eyes.

There was no denying it was Shadow. His ruby eyes curiously watched
Tails, but only for an instant. They flicked to my eyes, and
concentrated on me. The way is eyes pierced through me paralyzed me
instantly. My face was blank with shock, and as he attempted to lean
into a sitting position, Tails yelled "Shadow! Don't do that, you'll
hurt yourself!"

At my friend's words, the charred hedgehog leaned back slowly, but his
eyes drilled into mine all the stronger, and he squinted at me, as if
to try to see me better, like he didn't believe what he was seeing. It
was then that he passed out.

End Flashback

After that, everything was a blur. I remember calling the ambulance
for Shadow, and calling everyone to let them know the dark hero had
survived, but I can hardly recall anything else.

The hedgehog had to have been in so much pain... Why would he waste so
much of his energy trying to drill a hole through my eyes? There was
obviously something he wanted from me.

And I was about to find out what.

I knew what I had to do today. I would not put off confrontation with
Shadow any longer. It had already been months. I couldn't delay.

I rushed from my bed, as I threw on my gloves and shoes, with a
newfound strength, and determination.

I didn't bother with breakfast, and I simply couldn't have stopped
myself from finding Shadow if I was starving.

As I sped past my door, I wondered if the dark hero had changed as
much as Tails let on. If he had, if he truly had left all the past
behind him, greeting him would be so much easier. I became so
agitated, so excited, I could hardly think of much else.

I ran to fulfil my dream.

What can I do to improve? Please review and let me know. Next chapter
should be up soon!