I apologize for not updating, however I've been dealing with some issues, mainly being that I haven't had any inspiration in the last while since I updated. However, I decided that it was time to update so I will TRY my best to update ASAP after this. As for my other fics, I hope to update them soon enough.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but Black Shadow, Darth Sovil, and the plot. Nothing else is mine.
Uncertain Future
Shadow the Hedgehog, the new-found hero of Knothole, was in the waiting room of the infirmary as he waited with Mina and the others on word about Sonic, Sally, Tails, and Knuckles. They had been badly injured in the fight of the now dead Black Shadow, and Sovil the Hedgehog, who had disappeared after Shadow severed his right arm. Though Tails had been merely knocked out and would live, it was the blue hero and his girlfriend that worried everybody. Even Knuckles would pull through. Sally had been initially killed, but the transformation to Hyper by Sonic had healed her and granted her life again. Sonic, faired the worst of the battle as they would soon find out.
It was at this time that Mina walked over and took Shadow's hand.
"Shadow, I'm worried…" Mina said downheartedly.
Without opening his eyes, Shadow snorted.
"Why worry about the blue moron? He did desert you if I'm correct."
"He never deserted me. Listen…when he was gone for that one year, I thought he was dead so I moved on. Sonic…was just a crush, that's all. But he's still my friend! And he's your friend too!"
Shadow opened one eye to the young mongoose.
"Friend? Give me a break Min. He's just some foolish moron who looks like me," he said to her.
Mina rolled her eyes at this. "Oh come on! So he's your rival, big deal! Rivals can still be friends! Me and Sal had a bit of a rivalry going for awhile back when we met, but we got over it."
Shadow looked down at this and thought. "Ok, so he's a rival and an ally. But I still don't think of him as a friend, so please Mina, can we talk about something else?"
The songoose sighed as she went to talk to Amy. Espio, Mighty, and Vector walked over to Shadow while the others talked to one another.
"So Shads, whatcha gonna do? Now that that Black guy has bit the dust?" asked Vector.
"Its not over yet, Vec. There's still Sovil, and until that maniac is put to rest permanently, I won't rest. If you mean after that, I don't know. I never thought about what I would do after I figured out my past and put it to rest," Shadow replied.
"You are going to need a job," Espio said.
"What?"
"Come on, Shadow. How do you think you're gonna go on living with no money? How you gonna buy food or anything like that?"
The ebony hedgehog laughed lightly. "Please, I'm the Ultimate Lifeform. If you think I'm going to waste my skills on some 'job', then you are sadly mistaken Vector," Shadow said, emphasizing the word 'job' in disgust. Espio raised an eyebrow at this. "Is it because you are afraid of such a thing?"
Shadow huffed at this, closing his eyes while continuing the conversation. "I'll do something for money, but I won't commit to any sort of long-term work. And for your information, nothing scares me." With that, he went out the door, leaving everyone in the waiting room.
Shadow went out for a run, skating as fast as Sonic could run as he ran through the woods. Coming to a hilltop he stopped and gazed out at the surrounding terrain, lost in his own thoughts as the night breeze blew by lightly, his fur moving with the wind. Crossing his arms in his typical fashion, one hand gripping the opposite arm, he closed his ruby eyes and thought hard.
Hmm…Vector and Espio may be right in one respect…that I need money. I may be fairly new to this planet, but I am fully aware of what keeps a person alive financially on Mobius. But what could I possibly do that would be of any use on this mudball? Perhaps I will find out later, for right now, I should help Mina get back on her feet. Also, there's a certain someone I should find and make him pay for his crimes against Mina…and me.
Hospital
Amy, Mina, Julie-Su, Sonic's mother, Bernie, and Queen Alicia were all that remained in the waiting room. The rest of the Chaotix had gone out for food and King Alias had gone back to his wife to tell her about Sally's condition. The doors to the waiting room opened to reveal Rotor, Bunnie, Antoine, Jules, and a worried Fiona. The orange fox went over to Amy while Jules joined his wife and the other three joined Julie-Su.
"Amy, is Tails??" Fiona asked.
The pink hedgehog shook her head. "I don't know, he was pretty hurt when I last saw him, but I'm more worried about Sonic, he took the most severe beating of all…" Amy said, her voice growing distant. At this moment, the doors to the rest of the hospital opened to reveal a bandaged-up Tails as he staggered up. Everyone stood up while Fiona ran over to him. Grabbing him in a hug, she held him tightly as she started to cry. Tails was a bit shocked at this, knowing full well she didn't like him.
"Fiona?"
"Tails…when I heard you got hurt…I was…"
"I'm ok Fiona. But I thought you didn't really care about me?"
Fiona smiled at him. "Tails, just cause I don't share your feelings doesn't mean I don't see you as a friend."
Tails couldn't help but smile as he hugged her. Though he was disappointed that she still saw him as no more as a friend, he decided that it was best left at that. "At least she's not completely gone from my life…" Tails thought sadly. At this point, the others came over to ask about his condition. Tails told them that he had some bruises and a few cuts, but nothing serious. "Since I wasn't able to transform, all my powers went to healing my major wounds, but I'm still kinda banged up," he said with a small laugh. Dr. Quack at this time, emerged from the doors from which Tails came from. Julie-Su rushed over to the mallard.
"Knuckles…how is he?" she asked, her voice on the verge of breaking down.
The doctor looked at her in a serious matter. "I have to say, the Guardian is quite resilient. His injuries are serious, but he should manage a full recovery. He's resting right now in room 3, you may see him if you'd like, but please do try to keep quiet, as he needs his rest. As for his injuries, he has a hairline fracture in his left leg and a several lacerations across his upper body, and his energy level is nearly depleted. It'll be at least a week before his energy is back to normal." Having said this, the pink echidna thanked him and headed down the hallway. Next, the doctor moved to the Queen.
"Milady, your daughter is very weak. Though Sonic did restore her life, she is in serious condition, his energy was just to heal her. The princess is in light comatose state. She responds to some stimuli, but not everything. Right now, all we can do is let her body recover the lost energy and she'll come out of it in a matter of a few days at best," he said to Alicia. Though she was worried that her daughter was not conscious, she was relieved to know that Sally would live and be back to normal soon. Dr. Quack told her that Sally was in room 2 down the hall and bid her goodnight. Alicia headed toward Sally's room, with Bunnie and Antoine following her.
"Mr. and Mrs. Hedgehog? Might I have a word with you alone? There's something you need to know about your son," he said while turning to the hero's parents with a grim look on his face. Following him into a vacant office, Jules shut the door behind him, leaving Mina, Amy, Fiona, and Tails alone in the waiting room.
Hilltop overlooking Knothole
Shadow was still lost in his thoughts, unsure what he should do when a presence made itself known to the ebony hedgehog. He turned around as a flash of bright pink light erupted from the edge of the treeline. When it died down, Shadow noticed that a female figure had appeared. Cautiously making his way over to her, he remained on alert, unsure who this new creature was. Raising her head, she revealed herself to the Ultimate Lifeform.
"Hey, aren't you?"
"Blaze the Cat, and you're Shadow the Hedgehog, correct?" the purple feline questioned.
"Yes. Sonic told me about how you two fought Eggman and that phoney from the future. What may I ask brings you here?"
"It concerns Sonic," she said in a serious tone.
Looking at her in a disconcerned look, Shadow raised an eyebrow. "He already has the chipmunk, I'm sorry," he told her. "What? No, I have no interest in him. No, this concerns something far greater I'm afraid. Are you aware of his injuries?"
"Wait, how do you know about Sonic's fight with Black Shadow?" Shadow asked, intrigued.
"Because, records show that after the fight and you defeated him, everyone survived….but Sonic succumbed to the injuries."
Shadow's eyes widened at this. "You mean…Sonic will die?"
"Yes, but we have to stop him from dying. He's the key to the future survival of this planet. Shadow, in order to save this planet, you must help save Sonic's life."
Whoa, there's a shocker. Blaze returns to the scene and meets Shadow, only to tell him the awful truth that Sonic's going to die. Or something close to it at least. Will Shadow agree to help save Sonic and just what does Blaze mean by Sonic being the key to the future of Mobius? Next time:
Reunion of Rivals