Shadow the Hedgehog: The Just and the Fallen

Segment Fourteen — Eclipse Gravitation

Blight ravaged the island, leaving it barren like a desert. Each and every living organism was wiped clean away, except for Sonic and the others. They were the only ones that had survived the blast. They wanted to survey the area, seeing the devastation that Shadow had wreaked.

The sky was heavy with dark clouds, and there seemed a reddish tint to them. The aftereffects of the Eclipse Cannon's discharge seemed to be affecting the color and movement patterns of the clouds. Residual Chaos Energy seemed to surge as green lightning within the sky.

Sonic and the gang stood near the top of the slope that just happened to be formed.

"This is… so unreal," Sonic softly sighed in disbelief.

Espio knelt down and felt the earth, regarding its texture. "It's burned," he said chillingly. "All of it has been burned, vaporized."

"No way!" Vector was awed. "Seriously?"

"No…" Rouge murmured mournfully. "This…! This can't be! Not him…! No…"

Espio made a worried face, stepping closer to her. "What should we do?"

"All of you guys stay here." Sonic had stepped closer to the slope and clenched a fist.

"But what about you, Sonic?" Amy asked anxiously.

Her one-and-only blue wonder smirked. "I think it's about time I had a little confrontation with my 'twin'." He threw a thumbs-up at her. He wanted to leap off the slope's edge, but something stopped him.

"Wait!" Rouge dashed up to Sonic and grabbed his arm. "Let me come with you. We can find him together." She nodded to him surely.

Sonic gave her an insecure look before nodding back to her. The both of them leapt off the slope, with Rouge taking to the air and Sonic racing on the ground.

"Ooh, be careful Sonic!" Amy warned.

"You too, Rouge!" Tails called after her.

"Bah!" Vector cried, a handkerchief soaking up his tears. Apparently, he was worried sick for Rouge. Espio and Charmy stood away from the buff crocodile, sighing hopelessly, droplets of sweat trailing down their jaw lines.

Sonic and Rouge landed next to each other meters away from where the others were. They had looked all around, searched the island from end to end, but there was nothing but ruin, and no Shadow. Surprisingly, the island kept its physical form, but the entire thing looked like a crater.

"You don't think he got vaporized in the blast, do you?" Sonic asked, looking worriedly at Rouge.

Rouge clenched her fist. "No, I know he didn't…! I know it!"

Sonic gazed at her with worrisome eyes. He hoped that she was right, but something was telling him otherwise. Sonic barely knew Shadow, besides those times when he first met him in Mystic Ruins and in Tails's Lab. Other than that, Sonic never really witnessed a demonstration of the power Shadow possessed. So, rather obliviously, he kept his thoughts of doubt to himself.

"Let's keep looking, Rouge," Sonic suggested hopefully. He placed a hand on her shoulder. He smiled. "We'll find him."

Rouge's teary eyes slowly veered over to look at Sonic's smile. She blinked a little.

But then, there was a sudden glitch in the air, and Sonic sensed it immediately. He and Rouge threw their sights back to see Shadow hovering there in midair. They gasped upon seeing him.

"His aura…? It's different," Sonic pointed out.

"You're right…" Rouge agreed. "But let me see if he's all right. Please…" she seemed to be asking Sonic.

Sonic blinked a little nervously. "You sure you'll be all right?"

Rouge only looked back at Shadow and nervously began to stride toward him. She recalled what he had said to her back in Club Rouge:

"She died protecting me!"

Rouge's tears moistened her eyes, her aquamarine irises gleaming sadly. She clearly remembered the words Shadow said to her, about Laura and the grief that he had been carrying in his heart for fifty years.

"You don't know the pain I'm feeling right now, and you never will!"

The face of Laura, the one Rouge envisioned, looked beautiful and sweet, just like her heart. There wasn't a doubt in Rouge's mind that Laura was a kind soul, seeing that Shadow had been gravely upfront and honest about her. The past that the government file described and Shadow's actual memory weren't one and the same, but Rouge trusted that Shadow's memory was true. With that said, Shadow's pain was soon to be Rouge's pain, if nothing was to be done.

And Shadow's pain was being expressed through destruction, something that she, Sonic, and the others could not let Shadow demonstrate.

"You shouldn't know about that; you were never supposed to know!"

Shadow was right, though: Rouge would never know the pain of losing a loved one, let alone a mother. But something in her told her that she would soon find out, if nothing was done to help Shadow, now. She feared that Shadow's power would amass to something beyond anyone's control, let alone her own. She knew that the GUN Federal Forces would be arriving soon, since the explosion could have possibly been seen from kilometers away. She knew they were coming, and she had to calm Shadow to the point where he was totally still and silent.

Even though she doubted that would happen.

Rouge was hesitantly stepping toward Shadow, who lowered closer to the ground, bit by bit, from where he was hanging in the air. His head was down low, to where Rouge couldn't see his face. Rouge stopped in her tracks. She could only glower in deep sympathy as she watched Shadow hovering there for a moment.

Sonic was a little ways behind her, glowering as well.

"Shadow's back," Tails pointed out, peeping his eyes over the edge of the slope.

Cream and Cheese did the same.

"But where had he gone?" Knuckles asked in response, but quietly to himself.

Espio blinked, placing a hand to his chin. Vector and Charmy, on the other hand, looked to each other and shrugged.

Amy's tears fell from her eyes as she clasped her hands together. 'Oh, Sonic… Rouge… be careful.'

Rouge held her hands close to her chest. She slowly moved in.

"Shadow?" Rouge softly called his name. She hoped that she would get a response of some kind, but nothing came.

She hardened her expression and reached out for Shadow cautiously.

"Shadow… I'm here… I'm here to help you…"

But Shadow didn't appear to have heard her. He hovered there unconsciously, his body still, without words—without so much as a groan.

And that concerned Rouge. Was he unconscious? Had he been knocked out by the explosion somehow? Why was his body just floating there if he was unconscious? So many questions entered Rouge's mind, but her hand managed to come into contact with Shadow.

"Shadow—!"

"I'm always here with you…"

Shadow's eyes flew open. They gleamed sharpest red.

"Rouge, get away from him!" Sonic cried out.

"I love you…Shadow."

"But…who are you?"

Shadow screamed.

His power flared, and Sonic dashed over to Rouge just in time to protect her. He shielded her with his own body, and the burst of Chaos Energy forked outward as lightning streaks, creasing the scorched soil within the radius of the crater. Sonic tucked Rouge closer to his body in order to protect her, as they were flung back by the enormous wave of Chaos Energy. The others ducked under the slope and braced themselves for the bluster.

Once the Energy bolts struck the earth, flashes of black light followed in their wake. Booming sounds were heard, maybe from kilometers away.

And the Helios Rockets and Mobile Hangars were soaring right toward the fray. The Captain of the Federal Forces Air Force frowned a little, seeing a beam of black light some kilometers ahead.

"Everyone, come to a slow and hold your positions," the Captain ordered.

The fleets of aerial vehicles gradually decreased their speed and looked on toward the black light as it wisped away.

'Something's not right…!' The Captain scowled, at a loss of what his fleet's next move should be.

In his mind, Shadow was standing in the middle of nowhere, his thoughts and feelings absent. Where he was, the place was filled with blankness, and there wasn't an obstruction in sight. He was not yet aware of his surroundings, unaware of the white infinity around him.

But then, he awakened, his eyes of pure scarlet softly opening. Looking straight ahead, he didn't recognize where he was.

"Where… am I?" he asked himself.

"You're with me."

Shadow's eyes widened slightly, startled a little. He furrowed his brows a little. Slowly turning around, his eyes gleamed unsurely.

"Who…?" he said hesitantly.

A dark-skinned woman stood honestly in front of him, in the clothes Shadow last saw her in: her light-blue shirtdress, white lab coat, and navy-blue sling-back pumps. Her eyes sparkled lovingly, and her hands remained clasped together in front of her.

Shadow blinked. "Who are you?"

The woman smiled, and replied kindly. "Shadow… I am your mother."

Miraculously, the vast island where Final Fortress once stood was still able to hold its form. The immense power that had flared and sparked was now streaking wildly into the air. Everyone—Knuckles, Tails, Amy, Cream and Cheese, and the Chaotix—was hiding from the streaks of black lightning; Cream and Cheese were crying uncontrollably, due to their fear.

"Please, Cream, Cheese," Amy begged. She pulled them into her arms. "Please, don't cry. Everything will be okay."

But Tails had his doubts. 'The Sonic Monsoon must have been destroyed in the blast, so there's no way we can escape!' He peeked over the ledge and gawked at the black lightning. 'Even if we did flee, that wouldn't necessarily mean we would escape. His power is strong, way too strong, to get away from!'

Tails looked up at the new opening in the clouds. The atmosphere was still filled with red Chaos Energy, it bleeding into the clouds as they swirled around. The opening revealed a shocking discovery.

One that could not be ignored.

"Guys!" he cried out. He pointed at the opening in the sky. "Guys, look!"

Everyone looked up and gasped.

Sonic and Rouge were lying on the ground far off from Shadow's position. Sonic still had Rouge in his grasp. As they awakened, their eyes met briefly, before looking up at the sky. Looking up and past Shadow's black lightning, there was a scorching-red orb that seemed to be burning through the atmosphere.

Sonic quickly got back on his feet. "What the…! What is that?"

Rouge got up, too. Her eyes filled with dread. 'No… it can't be…!'

"The ARK," Tails murmured frighteningly. "It's going to collide with the Earth…!"

"Collide with the Earth?" Vector bellowed, throwing his hands to hold his head.

Espio made a startled face, while Charmy struck an exaggerated pose.

"Yeah," Rouge admitted honestly. "It's because of the Eclipse Cannon. It was aimed directly at the ARK, high above us in outer space, and at the precise moment, it was fired, and the beam it discharged pulled the ARK out of orbit." She sighed, more tears building in her eyes. "You see, Shadow was used to provide power to the Cannon, merely because Chaos Energy is so versatile to utilize—and because he was the closest Energy source that the Rebellion had. Essentially, the Eclipse Cannon was nothing more than an enormous tractor beam; it must have been Anelixe's goal to use it to destroy the world… by crashing the ARK into the Earth."

Sonic made an uneasy face, growling silently. "Then, what about Shadow? What wrong with him? Why is he acting like this?"

Tails frowned pensively. 'Maybe it's because of the Chaos Energy itself. The strain of energy absorption must have overloaded Shadow's body, and now, Shadow has to release that pent-up Energy.' Tails grimaced a little, nibbling on his thumb. "And this is the only way he can do it," he said softly.

Rouge's tears soared down her cheeks.

"He's gone berserk, and he doesn't realize what he's doing," Sonic persisted, throwing an arm out to guard her.

Another flare of power created a gust of wind. It blustered past them in a single burst, but Sonic and Rouge were able to hold their ground.

Sonic growled. "There's got to be a way to get Shadow calm, and stop the ARK from falling!"

Rouge was able to step closer to him, trying not to mind the wind. She wrapped her arms around Sonic's waist and held on tight.

Sonic looked back at her.

Rouge's tears were being windswept. "Please, save him, Sonic," she pleaded. "Please…!"

The wind gust stopped, and Shadow could be seen more clearly. His eyes were totally red, now, and the gravity around him began to nullify. Slices of scorched earth began to hover in the air, disintegrating instantly. Rocks soon followed, as well as Sonic and Rouge.

As she and Sonic floated upward, dread took over Rouge's face.

Shadow's crimson irises quivered. "You're… my mother?"

An intricately patterned metal blade appeared, and began ticking in a normal-like fashion. Where the dark-skinned woman stood was where the clock hand began to circle underneath Shadow's feet.

'A… clock hand?' Shadow thought curiously. He looked back up to face the woman again.

But the woman only smiled understandingly. "Yes, Shadow. This is the precise time when I ejected you from the ARK: 5:27:53. It was a hard choice for me to make, but I've realized now that it was the right thing to do. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here right now."

Shadow blinked, a stern look sculling across his face. "I wouldn't?"

"That's right." She lowered her gaze a little. "You have forgotten your past because your ability to remember it has been taken away."

Shadow blinked. "My… ability to remember… was taken? By whom?"

"By my grandniece, Anelixe. Her obsession with destruction inevitably destroyed her, and now, it's going to destroy the Earth… my home."

Shadow flinched. 'Your…?'

Suddenly, she stops us at an intersection… She seems to be looking out the window, staring out at Earth. She looks so sad…

"It's been fifty long years since I've seen you last, Shadow," she spoke kindly and softly. She smiled. "You may not remember me now, but you will soon." She bowed her head. A couple of teardrops fell from her eyes, glittering sadly.

"I love you, Shadow."

Shadow's eyes widened. 'Love…?' Shadow suddenly reached out for her. "Hey, wait a—!"

But when those teardrops pelted the floor, there came a strenuous pull: the clock's hands began to rotate rapidly backward, and a sudden gravity pulled him down against the floor. Shadow was confused, and aware that the intense gravity could crush him. He resisted with all his might, but it was in vain.

"Agh!"

The area around them shattered, like glass, into blackness, as the illusion of descent took effect. The gravity intensified.

"Hah!" Shadow screamed torturously.

But the woman didn't seem to be effected. The woman's head was still bowed low, hiding the tears running down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Shadow… ever so sorry… Please, remember."

Another teardrop fell.

The clock's counterworks sped up to an impressive degree, and the stressful pull amplified, as well as their descent, forcing Shadow to bellow out in agony.

"Please…!" Shadow begged. "Don't leave me like this…!"

"I wish I could free you, my little angel…"

Shadow's eyes gaped. 'That name… Who is she—!'

But suddenly, her voice changed. "Yes, my little angel of death, darkness, and destruction."

Shadow struggled to look up at Madam General Anelixe. His pupils shrank into miniscule blots, his eyes trembling.

'No…! Not you again!'

"You have failed me, Shadow the Hedgehog." Her sinfully deceitful cerulean eyes stared at him deeply and coldly. "This clock has been set to rewind to the time before the concept of Project: Shadow was even conceived…!" Her eyes flashed maniacally. "To the time when you were never even thought of! Now, Shadow, cease to exist!"

The menacing citrine made its ghastly return around Shadow's irises. He reflexively closed them, trying to fight the gravity, only for him to fail miserably.

He released an ear-piercing yell.

There was a blinding flash.

"Oh no," Rouge gasped in the distance, watching the fury that grew back in Shadow's eyes. "It's happening… again."

Shadow returned to the alternate dimension he was in, but now he was in complete and total darkness. Totally blinded by the darkness, Shadow growled softly.

"Where am I?" he could only ask himself. He peered all around him, but saw nothing.

"This is where you were born, Shadow…" said a memorable voice, gracing through the empty void.

"Where I was born?"

"Yes." The owner of the voice stepped out over a patch of light that pierced the blackness's cloak. She stood directly behind Shadow. Unbeknownst to him, however, it was Laura again.

Shadow blinked, trying to find the source of the sweet yet uncanny voice. He timidly spun around. His scarlet eyes moistened.

"Mother…?"

Laura smiled. "It's so good to see you again, Shadow."

"Same here."

Shadow looked around to see three more lights appear and three more seemingly unfamiliar people: the one that had just spoken sounded feminine, and Shadow did see a woman with reddish-orange hair and round eyeglasses smiling at them; there were two men accompanying her, one was a tall blond, and the other was shorter and had almond-shaped eyes. They were smiling, too.

"Shadow, we are all here with you," Laura reminded him, even though he didn't realize she was doing so. The four scientists approached Shadow, who blinked, and knelt down to embrace him, one by one. Laura held him closest.

"Because we love you."

When Shadow opened his eyes again, he gasped, seeing all around him nothing but corpses from his past. He pinpointed the ever most familiar ones: Professor Tomohiro, Professor Roderich, Professor Celton, as well as Professor Gerald Robotnik. But when Shadow found Laura's body, he raced over to it. Frightened and desperate as he was, he still sought Miss Laura for comfort even though she was dead.

"Mother! Please, wake up! Mother! Mother!" Shadow kept shaking her, but she was irresponsive.

This made him even more afraid.

"No, no! Don't go! Don't leave me by myself! Mother, come back! Come back! Don't go…! Mother, please…!" He nuzzled her, clinging to her lab coat.

Now having lost a vital link to unlocking his memories, Shadow wept.

A pulsating void casts itself in an ocean of red water. Within its swirling depths, a being shoots out of its depths. A female human with white skin rises from the void, garbed in a black cloak, wraps, and a vivid red scarf floating over her eyes. Her locks of ebony dance, and her piercing yellow eyes seethe brightly in the darkness as a broad, golden, crescent-shaped blade appears. She folds her six ebony wings, almost invisible in the darkness, against her body.

The fallen seraph's red scarf tightens around her eyes.

"No!" Shadow screamed.

Then came another bright flash of light.

Shadow shrieked to the top of his lungs. The rocks that were slowly hovering around him now flew higher as his power intensified. Sonic and Rouge saw the power sharply spike, and were, unfortunately, caught in its line of fire.

"I can't control it anymore!"

Shadow's body became engulfed by yet another gigantic beam of black light, with thin, circular rings creasing into the earth in succession, their diameters widening with each hollow.

Sonic and Rouge were sent flying backward further into the air. The explosion rushed out toward the others. Everyone braced themselves: Espio stabbed his kogatana into the ground, clenching it tightly; Knuckles had thrown himself in front of the girls and Tails, and was now protecting them, his arms crossed over his chest; Vector and Charmy clung to the ground for dear life; Amy shielded Cream and Cheese, while Tails covered his eyes from the energy that bolted past. Soon, the entire island was consumed by light once again.

The ARK had entered the atmosphere.

"I sense a powerful, threatening presence. I must act, now."

Segment Fourteen Completed.