Chapter Three:
A huge craft drifted though the cosmos. It was larger than many of the heavily populated cities that had surfaced on the colony occupant's previous planets- EARTH and MOBIUS. Within a portion of the ship was an enormous hall, packed with most of the ship's inhabitants and many more gathering to get inside. It was mostly Mobians, with only a small amount of humans, the last of their kind remaining. The surrounding walls were a soft grey tone with banners and flags of red hanging from the ceiling. The far wall was a huge pane of shatterproof clear synthetic resin, much like a window, allowing for easy viewing out into space. There was a raised platform like area with a huge screen above it in the middle of the vista wall. On the screen was shown a familiar white and crimson striped hedgehog.
Radiance hadn't aged. He looked just as young as ever, but his posturing showed his maturity. He poise even gave the impression of a commander or leader as many seemed subordinate around him or would show some visual form of respect to him. His patterns and coloring even now were still rare and brought even more attention to his dominant figure. He raised a hand to silence the crowd, who responded immediately. He looked down to a large capsule in front of him, and he began his speech.
"Shadow the Hedgehog was a hero and source of life to all of us. We all know that without his knowledge and life experience, none of us could have ever held any hope to survive..."
The capsule was made entirely of a similar plastic like resin as the viewing wall, but had a more glass like appearance, as though it could easily be crushed. Only two metal rings sealed it near the top and bottom of the container. In the middle portion on the area facing up was etched 'Shadow the Hedgehog- The Ultimate Lifeform'
Inside lay no other than him, Shadow the Hedgehog. He had not aged one day, but his body did show some signs of change. Metals were draped around his neck, and he wore odd equipment and gear around his shoulders and various parts of his body. He carried some type of holster wrapped around his left leg, showing from it what appeared to be the handle of a firearm. Another was positioned lower on the opposite leg, and held what seemed to be the hilt of a sword-like weapon. His fur was as pitch black as ever, and the white tuft of his chest remained the same, but he had scars on his bicep and shoulder and an even older scar across his right cheek. He looked as though he had been through numerous battles, and the only sign of what may have ended his life was a patch of fur on his abdomen that seemed unlike the rest- as though it was placed on his body to hide away the trauma hidden inside.
Radiance went on to speak of how Shadow had saved Earth many times, and when Earth and Mobius were destroyed, he was the one to show the survivors show to flourish in space. He taught them the basics of space survival, and as more colony ships were built, he instructed their commanders and leaders how to continue to thrive. Shadow never chose to lead, but he was deemed a war hero, and many looked to him as a source of inspiration.
Images of his accomplishments were displayed on the screen above the crowd, until the image spread out from the screen, like a projection, of a battle- making it look as though the assault was occurring right there in front of them. Shadow was wearing the same gear he had on within the capsule. As he marched forward he carried in his right hand a Gladius style sword that broadened and came to a point. Instead of a metal blade it was composed of a blue energy that pulsed as though it contained a lightning storm hidden away inside. The holster on his leg clearly held a handgun that looked like a sleek long-barreled colt M1191 pistol that was highly customized. Shadow and Radiance lay siege amongst other Mobians and humans in a battle against an alien onslaught. The father son team worked together as back up for each other, directing others to attack along the way. Shadow rushed at an alien that looked similar to one of Black Doom's larger brutes but more reptilian. Before it could even bring its rifle to point at him, Shadow has sliced it through with the energy sword. As another alien hurtled torwards him, Shadow's head snapped to look directly at it. He raised the pistol and fired off a two shots, that on impact went off like a small condensed bomb. Radiance could be seen near his accomplished soldier father, doing just as much damage with his similar weaponry. As the image of Shadow turned to look forward and propelled himself forward with a pair of upgraded air shoes, the holographic view returned to its flat view against the screen.
Once more Radiance was shown on the screen looking down to his father in his futuristic coffin.
"Yes, my father is inspiration to all of us, but there is something you never knew of him. He gave to others, he saved to world, he fought to stay alive and protect the lives of all of us not to be a hero, or famous, nor even loved, but out of love and the memory of another. Everything Shadow the Hedgehog did was to keep alive the desires and memory of another, whom none of you had ever known."
Radiance's eyes softened from their hardened gaze as he paused before going on.
"Shadow had loved once, over a millennium ago, a female by the name of Amy Rose. She was not his sole inspiration for goodness, but where one girl named Maria left in death Shadow's friendship, Amy Rose, my mother, began to show him what his life could be, instead of surviving in loss and despair. Amy Rose always did for others before she did for herself. She is who taught Shadow the unselfishness, benefaction, and honor you have all seen. Everything in Shadow's existence of 1381 years, after his only pairing with his soul-mate Amy Rose, was done to remember her and to live- for both of them."
Radiance lifted his head in a signal to move Shadow's burial capsule to an ejection port nearby. As the pod began its release from the colony to drift into the gravitational pull of a nearby sun, Radiance finished his father's eulogy.
"Goodbye Shadow the Hedgehog- Ultimate Lifeform, husband, father, and dark hero. May you rest in peace and be reunited with those you love once more."
Radiance's words reached the capsule no more as it drifted in the tranquility of space. Slowly it coasted into the blaze and heat of the brilliant star that had at once time warmed his home planet named EARTH.
