The hedgehog thought it was ironic. In a way. Throughout this adventure, he had been searching for that one special place—that one place where he could say he belonged…
Well, he certainly didn't find it here.
At least, he thought so.
It was evident by the way the creatures near the throne instantly bared their teeth at him. They were threatening him. Even the little lamps seemed to glow with a fury that Shadow could not name.
Everyone was glaring angrily at him. Everyone. Except…save that big dude on the throne.
Shadow couldn't exactly describe how the man was looking at him. It wasn't necessarily…nice. But it wasn't necessarily hostile, either. It was…
…acknowledging?
The black one couldn't bring himself to look into the king's eyes. It just…he felt he wasn't worthy enough to even be standing there. He didn't belong.
Then, the person who looked to be made of gems stood up. Immediately, all the creatures in the room ceased staring at Shadow, and focused their attention on he, bowing down in high respect.
In a voice that seemed to be all-knowing, omnipotent, powerful—indescribably, really—the 'leader' (as it appeared), said, "Be still."
It shook Shadow to the core. The voice…it was so filled with…with feelings inconceivable! And dear reader, Shadow has not been afraid very much in his lifetime, but this time, he was beyond afraid.
He was terrified.
In fact, he was so terrified, he fell to his face on the ground, shaking. This power…that emitted from the being before him…it was too great! There were no words to describe it. There truly were no words to describe it.
But again, the almighty voice said, "Be still. What you have seen with your eyes is only a glimpse of what happens to those who are ignorant."
Shadow couldn't bring himself to say anything. In fact, he couldn't bring himself to do anything. He was still horrified of the power that filled this entire room. And yet, he also couldn't grasp what this powerful being said. Maria…was going through something much worse…?
"The price all living creatures pay…"
Death…that world truly made sense now, in a crazy way. It wasn't just dying, like on Earth and Mobius. It was…it was something deeper. More sinister.
Something he didn't want for Maria.
He wanted to talk; he wanted to beg this being to take Maria away from that awful place. But he couldn't even bring himself to think it. Fear was too great; it clogged everything in his mind. It even fogged his throat.
But somehow, this being knew what Shadow wanted. A sudden sadness seemed to envelope the room—also with more, confusing, mind-blowing emotions that Shadow couldn't name.
"I did all that I could to give her eternal life. But I could not make her accept my gift…"
In a flash, Shadow saw a billion images running through his mind—ones he did not know. A stable…a manger…a child…an older version of the child…that same man being dipped into the water…that same man walking on water…that same man smiling and laughing with his friends…that same man being betrayed by one of them…that same man dying…on a tree…like the boy had…for him…
Shadow didn't know what to think. Who was this man…? What was going on? Whoever he was, he must've been pretty important for such a powerful being to pay close attention to…
"My son…only I can give life. Without me, no one can live eternally. Remember what I have said and go."
Shadow could barely think, Go where? before a sudden bright light enveloped the room, and he felt a weird tingling sensation run through every inch of his body…
-
"And I believe in you…" Tikal sang quietly, a tear falling down her cheek as she stroked Shadow's hand with her thumb softly.
Amy stood nearby, just listening and perplexed. What was going on…?
"Yes, I believe in you…" Tikal repeated.
Amy leaned against the metal wall, arms crossed over her chest. She didn't know where Tikal had heard this song…but it was really pretty.
"Yes, I believe in you…" Tikal repeated once more.
Just what was she doing? Amy blinked a few times, still confused. Tikal had not said a word (besides singing) after she had suddenly ran up the stairs. All the others were probably downstairs, still discussing the matter. But Amy wanted to find out what her friend had on her mind…
"And I know you'll find…" Tikal paused a moment.
She opened her sapphire blue eyes to look at the lifeless body of Shadow, before whispering, "…the truth."
And then, probably one of the most amazing miracles of all time happened in that room at that moment.
"The truth…" the whisper was so quiet, Tikal and Amy could almost promise they didn't hear it in the first place. But they did, and they were beyond shocked.
Shadow stirred, his cold body suddenly regaining warmth. "I want to find…the truth…"
Tikal's hand flew to her mouth, gasping beyond reason and her eyes brimming with tears. "Shadow…?"
Tikal never thought she'd see Shadow's hauntingly beautiful crimson eyes ever again—but she did, at that moment, as they fluttered open and stared at her with complete shock.
"Tikal?" he rasped.
"Oh my gosh, you're alive!" she exclaimed, instantly wrapping her arms around him and crying with beyond happy tears.
Shadow could barely believe it, either. Alive…
Amy was already out of the room, running down the stairs and practically screaming, "He's alive!!!!!!!!"
Needless to say, a good five minutes later, and the black hedgehog was getting hugs and slaps on the back and all that good hey-I-thought-you-were-dead-but-maybe-not greetings.
And a good half hour later, Shadow had been told of his friend's whole adventure.
He frowned after hearing the story. "That doesn't make sense. In Eggman's diary, he said he planned for Sonic to get in the one room. But when Metal Sonic told you about it, he said he planned for me to go there."
"Easy," Vector answered with a grin. "It was originally Eggman's idea, and Rouge and Knuckles were reading from his diary. But Metal Sonic stole it and changed it so then you would get stuck in there. But doc's plan worked out after all."
"But it's a good thing no one died! I'm so glad you're okay, Mr. Shadow!" Cream smiled happily.
Shadow looked at the young rabbit, and smiled faintly back. "Me too."
"This calls for a celebration! How about ice cream? My treat!" Sonic grinned.
All at once, Tails, Cream, and Charmy exclaimed, "Yeah! All right!"
"I'm sure I can spare room for ice cream…" Rouge said thoughtfully, a grin appearing on her face.
"Save some for me as well," Knuckles chimed in.
Vector scratched his chin thoughtfully. "A good detective should get ice cream. Might stimulate brain cells…"
"Oh brother…" Espio groaned.
"I would love to get ice cream! Make sure its strawberry!" Amy exclaimed.
Tikal looked to Shadow—in fact, everyone did, to hear what their friend had to say.
The black hedgehog grinned slightly. "Ice cream…" --tension filled the room—"…sounds good."
The room then erupted into cheers as everyone filed out—even Tikal and Shadow, who was still a bit weak—and ran out into the city, heroes once again.
Like they would always be.
THE END
EPILOGUE
The bell chimed as the door to the store opened. The human behind the cash register looked up, acknowledged who it was, and then widened their eyes.
That was the person they least expected to be here, at a Christian book store.
Shadow the Hedgehog ignored the funny look he was given as he shuffled through, looking for a certain book. It had been a week since his dimensional travel through Hell and back, and he hadn't stopped looking for information about that man he had seen and about that all-powerful being he had encountered.
He had found some interesting things, too.
But what he really wanted to find was this big book people called "The Bible". That book seemed to hold a lot of truth to it. Plus, it was written over a very long time span (he couldn't remember the exact amount of years) and did not have a single loose end in it.
Surely what it says must be true, mustn't it?
Besides, many people have died just because they believed in this book.
That must mean something, too, Shadow decided.
And so, he wanted to find this book for himself. And read it, too. No matter how long it took.
But it took no more than five minutes to locate it in the book store. He frowned as he saw there were different types of it. What kind should he get? Do they all say the same thing…?
"Can I help you, sir?" the man behind the cash register asked him.
Shadow turned to look at him, and under his gaze, he could see the man trembling with fear. He hated that. Why did people still chose to be afraid of him? He meant no harm…
"I'm trying to find this book your people call 'The Bible', but there seem to be many versions of it. Which one holds the truth?" he said bluntly.
The man behind the cash register could barely believe his ears. It was shown by the rate of time it took for his jaw to hit the counter.
"I…uh…well…all of them hold the truth…but some of them are more difficult to read than others…I personally like the New International Version…" he said, voice quavering.
"Hmm…" Shadow turned back to look at the books in front of him. New International Version…ah, there it was. He reached up and took one of them, opening it to a random page to see if what the man said was true.
The first chapter of a part called "Nahum".
He read:
"The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet."
That truly sounded like the powerful being he had met earlier. The Lord was what they called him…? Interesting…
He opened to another random page to see more proof if this was a true book.
Micah. Chapter 7, verses 14 through 15. He read:
"Sheperd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in days long ago. As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show them my wonders."
Hmm…was this 'the Lord' speaking to someone? This book truly intrigued Shadow, but he wanted one final proof that this was the book of truth—the book that would answer his life-long question, 'Where do I belong?'
...and many others, as well.
And there, the third time he opened the book, he found the section that made him sure this was it.
Psalm 91.
He read:
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."
Shadow didn't even need to read anymore. This…Lord…this…God they speak of…he must be all that they talk about. He must be that being that he had stood before a week ago.
Truly he must be—and Shadow knew he existed. Shadow knew. He had been there—in his presence. He had felt it.
God existed.
And now, in his hands, was the key to finding out more about him.
A smile slowly spread over Shadow's muzzle as he closed the book. This was it. This was what he was looking for.
As he walked to the cash register, he knew he discovered something more, though.
In this God, he had found refuge. In this God, he had found a true purpose.
In this God, he found where he belonged.
And to him, that was the greatest discovery of all time.
THE END (AGAIN)
Author's Notes: Ah! It is over! At long last! XD Well, I ain't too terribly proud of this story…but I hope this last chapter ties up a few loose ends in it. XD LOL I hope you liked it anyway! n.n Merry Christmas!
Disclaimers: I own nothing. Sonic and all related characters belong to SEGA. I do own Iza, however. n.n So…I guess I was lying about not owning anything. XD Oh, and the song, The Truth belongs to ZOEgirl who did an excellent job of singing it. n.n 'Twas very beautiful and my encouragement for writing this story.
Author's Notes (cont.): Now, it is past midnight, and I think the Cougar is overdue for some rest . Oy…too much work for too little pay, eh? As Hoverbike Girl would say, "An Author's work is never done…" n.n Merry Christmas! (waves)
