Camui Sainan: Just a note I haven't played Shadow the Hedgehog so I have no idea what Devil Doom looks like so I made him into a behemoth, like one from Final Fantasy.
Chapter 20
Final Part 3: Resolve
The sky was black, as it was clouded with smoke, that was rising from the burning buildings and vehicles from the battle that had ensued earlier between the two forces. The Black Arms were slowly diminishing as the people of the planet started to fight back against the invaders. Dr. Eggman in the process as well, as his agents were helping where they could. Since this was a big familial problem it, was up to Shadow and Eggman to do what they could.
Shadow clashed head first with Devil Doom and bounced off the behemoth's body. Devil Doom came around with a swipe with his tail and it wrapped around Shadow's neck. Devil Doom then lifted Shadow into the air and slammed him into the ground several times. Devil Doom then tossed Shadow into a nearby skyscraper shattering it in half as Shadow flew through the building and into another few buildings.
The last building Shadow hit he stopped and fell to the ground as the building collapsed on him. 'Heh, déjà vu all over again.' Shadow thought to himself remembering what Eggman did to him. Shadow unleashed a burst of energy clearing the rubble only to see Devil Doom right over him coming down with a swipe with his claw. Shadow vanished from sight and landed on top of Devil Dooms hand and ran up along his arm. He jumped off Devil Doom's arm and boosted the jets in his shoes to go into overdrive, and in the process boosted the speed, velocity, and power of his kick, kicking Devil Doom a good meter away.
Shadow landed softly on the ground and flew forward toward the direction Devil Doom went using his Chaos Control to boost himself forward a long the way, and as Shadow got closer we was met with a claw that hit him to the side. Shadow straightened himself out and landed on the ground for a brief moment only to be swiped to the side again by Devil Doom's tail. Shadow, tried to straighten himself out again, but was crushed by Devil Doom, as he landed right on Shadow. Shadow coughed out some blood from the initial impact, but within a moment he warped himself and Devil Doom into the air.
Shadow grabbed him by the tail and swung him around straight to the ground. Devil Doom landed on his back leaving a crater on the ground below from the impact. Shadow came flying down and once he reached his target he unleashed a flurry of attack that pounded Devil Doom into the ground even further. Devil Doom used chaos control to get out of the way from the rest of Shadow's combo only to reappear behind Shadow and swipe with his claws. Shadow caught the claw blocking it. Shadow used the swipe to maneuver around Devil Doom to get on his back and then gathered as much power as he could punching Devil Doom in the back.
Devil Doom collapsed as Shadow leapt off of the behemoth. Shadow was breathing heavily as he wiped some blood from his mouth. "What wrong old man running out of steam?" Shadow asked out loud earning a surprise attack as a ball of dark energy came at him. 'tch can't even try and change the flow with words huh.' Shadow thought to himself. Shadow leapt out of the way and warped forward only to be met with a bigger ball of dark energy, and as it exploded in front of him Shadow tried his best to defend his vitals.
Devil Doom roared and was laughing all at the same time. "Foolish boy can't even defend himself from something so small." Devil Doom said to himself. "Who's the fool, you idiot." Shadow roared as he called out a Chaos Spear grabbing a hold of the spear and threw it at Devil Doom. Devil Doom having a big body couldn't dodge it, and as it impacted it exploded. The explosion knocked him off his feet and onto his back. Shadow called out more Chaos Spears throwing them all at one time. The explosion caused damaged Devil Doom, as his wounds were starting to seep dark blood.
Devil Doom used Chaos Control, and warped himself into the air, while also grabbing Shadow with his tail bringing him up with him. Devil Doom flipped in the air and used the force to throw Shadow down to the ground followed up with a volley of dark energy balls that traveled at high speed, each one hitting Shadow dead on. Shadow smashed into the ground as more volleys were raining down on him. Shadow bounced off the ground and before any more could come his way he warped away. Shadow's breathing was getting heavier as he expended more energy.
'Looks like I can't be holding back anymore.' Shadow thought to himself and grabbed a hold of his left bracelet. Devil Doom looking on from the sky noticed, what he was going for, but was too late to act. Shadow crushed the bracelet and as soon as the first piece hit the ground he was already above Devil Doom and smashed him back towards the ground, but before Devil Doom could even hit the floor in mid flight on the way down Shadow hit him again, ensuring he was embedded into the earth.
The dust cloud that arose from the impact covered the area within a matter of seconds. Devil Doom got onto his feet and scanned the area only to hear something shatter in the distance, and before he could react he felt a tug on his tail and was swung around and slammed into the ground. Shadow stood on top of him and smirked down at Devil Doom. "Blood is the gold that enriches life…" Shadow started as his bracelets were floating in the air, in the pieces that he crushed.
Devil Doom remembering what happened to Luciferous, used his tail to try and whip Shadow off of him. Shadow leapt in the air and continued his chant. "The soul is the eternal wanderer…" Shadow continued his chant, as the bracelets started to respond. Devil Doom sent countless balls of energy at Shadow, hoping to stop him. Shadow in response had his Chaos Spear surround him, and then gather above his head. He launched each spear at every ball of energy that came his way to nullify the balls of energy.
"The mind is the endless bank of knowledge that will forever ponder…" Shadow chanted as Devil Doom launched a straight beam at Shadow. "In my left hand is the blade of the sinner!" Shadow yelled out as the blade formed from the fragments of his bracelet. Shadow cut the beam right down the middle and continued to walk forward. "In my right is the pistol of the redeemer…" Shadow said as a gun materialized from the rest of his bracelets remains.
"I am the Ultimate Life Form." Shadow said and charged forward while shooting his gun, and using his sword to cut through the projectiles Devil Doom, was using. Shadow closed in and as he dashed pass Devil Doom, he unloaded his gun in and instant across his big body, and in the process cut Devil Doom down to size, as he chopped off a front and hind leg. Devil Doom collapsed to the ground and started reverting back to being Black Doom. Shadow in turn was turning back to normal, as his fur started to darken to its original black, and his weapons reformed around his wrist as bracelets.
Black Doom was coughing up blood. "Damn you, you would stand in the way of my ambitions…and for what? These pathetic excuses of a life form?" Black Doom asked as he was slowly rising to his feet. Shadow in turn looked back at Black Doom. "You wouldn't understand…" Shadow said earning a growl from Black Doom. "Is it for that silly girls promise?" Black Doom asked earning a response from Shadow in the form of Shadow punching him square in the jaw. In response Black Doom whipped out a chain and sickle wrapping the chain around Shadow's neck, and then dragging him down to the ground.
Shadow was coughing as he was being strangled, while being dragged closer to Black Doom. Shadow grabbed around and grabbed a hold of a pistol. Shadow aimed the gun at Black Doom and shot. Black Doom in response threw the sickle at Shadow embedding it into his chest, as Black Doom was shot in the chest, as well. Black Doom dropped down to the ground, and Shadow coughed out some blood. "Bastard…why don't you hurry up and die." Shadow choked out as he was coughing.
"The same could be said about you." Black Doom said as he slowly arose again. Shadow merely grinned, considering how grim the situation was becoming. 'This isn't going in my favor.' Shadow thought to himself. He was breathing heavily, and was glad the sickle hadn't gone in too deep, but it was enough for him to bleed out. Shadow started to get to his feet, as well with much greater difficulty. "I think it's about time we ended this soon." Shadow said. "Yes, you're right. Hurry up and die so I can destroy this world." Black Doom said in response.
Black Doom pulled out an axe and got into stance ready to charge. Shadow stood on his feet and, was hunched over breathing heavily. Shadow grabbed a hold of the sickle's handle and yanked it out of his chest and put his other hand over his chest applying pressure to it. He tossed the sickles blade into a nearby fire so that he could cauterize the wound. Shadow pulled the heated blade out and pressed it against his chest and moved it so that the wound was ensured to close. Shadow screamed in pain and almost passed out from the pain alone.
Shadow looked up and used the remaining power from the chaos emeralds around him to transform his weapon into a scythe. "Heh, this is a fitting weapon for me." Shadow said and got into stance as well. They were glaring at one another, and as soon as a nearby building collapsed they charged at each other. Black Doom swung his axe down only for it to be parried, and Shadow flipped over Black Doom. As Shadow landed he had the scythe over his shoulder at neck level with Black Doom. He twisted the blade so that it was horizontal and yanked it forward.
Black Doom not having the energy felt the blade go through his neck and Shadow in turn ducked out of the way so that he didn't decapitate himself in the process. Black Doom's head landed on the ground as did his body afterwards. Shadow was breathing heavily and let out a roar after gathering enough energy. He soon regretted it though as it reopened his wound, and in the process Shadow slumped forward leaning against the scythes handle the blade pointing behind him. Shadow was slowly starting to lose consciousness, and right before he closed his eyes he saw a familiar white and pink. 'Heh I wonder if this is it…' Shadow thought to himself, as his consciousness faded.
Eggman had finished his part of the fight, as the Black Arms started to self degrade destroying themselves. "What happened?" Eggman questioned. Eggman thought back to the video of his grandfather. "So that's it Black Doom was destroyed." Eggman said noting the possibility. "Send out a notification to everyone still alive, to regroup right now." Eggman said. Everyone in the main head quarters sent out the notifications to the remaining forces they had.
Sonic and everyone else continued to evacuate people, and as a group of Black Arms was encroaching upon, they noticed their self destruction. "He did it…" Amy said with everyone looking at her. "Shadow must have beaten Black Doom." Amy said. "If that's true…" Sonic said. "I'm going to go loo…" Sonic was cut off as he saw someone in the distance coming toward them in a car. As the car got closer everyone brightened up knowing who it was. "Rouge!" everyone called out and as Rouge got close to them she stopped the car. "I'd love to stay and chat guys, but I have to get him to a hospital quick." Rouge said pointing to the back seat with Shadow laying down.
Rouge started the car again and drove off to Tikal's place in hopes that she could help. Everyone else in turn was exhausted and collapsed to the floor. G.U.N. had taken over the evacuation, as the heroes were given time to rest. "Man that was one crazy war." Knuckles sighed out. "Your telling us man, I didn't think they would stop coming at us in those ridiculous numbers." Vector said. Espio, could be seen in the distance in front of a makeshift grave. "A lot of people died…" Amy said a few tears coming to her eyes. "That's how war is…people die for no reason usually when it's between humans…but this time for this world these people won't have died in vain." Sonic said looking at the sky that had turned red from all the smoke that had filled the air and dispersed.
"I hope Shadow will be fine…" Tails said with everyone nodding in agreement. "If it's that stubborn hedgehog, and if he's my rival he'll come out of it." Sonic said. "By the way Tails, about that squirrel…" Sonic started with a grin trying to lighten the mood. Tails blushed and everyone turned to him. "Well don't let her devour you." Knuckles said. Tails was stammering for some words, and lowered his head from the embarrassment.
Rouge had arrived to Tikal's and both of them carried Shadow up to her makeshift clinic. "Rouge you're going to have to wait outside for a while. Just make yourself at home." Tikal said forcing the bat out of the room. Rouge wanted to protest, but knew she couldn't do anything further to help. "You had better not die before I smack you one…and if you do die I'll kill you." Rouge said before leaving the room. She could already imagine what he would say.
Tikal began to work on Shadow noticing all the wounds he had sustained this time. They were way worse than those other times she had seen him after a fight, and she heard about him surviving an explosion that completely leveled the area, but how he looked now, it looked like he went to hell came back for a picnic and went back all over again. He was bruised, battered, beaten, and almost crushed. A few of his organs were definitely ruptured.
He had a few holes in his body from debris going through his body. Quite frankly he was a complete mess. His breathing was labored as well, so she immediately went to check his ribs to see if any were pushing against his lungs. Tikal had a lot of work to do and she started work immediately. It was going to be tough, but she was confident in her abilities. Shadow slipped completely into an unconscious state and was lost in a dream once again.
'All these years, I have fought and fought looking for the answers to who I am. My memories were scattered and she helped me put them together…though I still wonder who am I really? An assassin? Yes, that's what I was doing for such a long time…I definitely killed people where needed for Eggman. The Ultimate Life? No, I can't be called such a thing considering the state of being that I'm in. Savior of the world? No, I merely did what I had to, to fix the problems my existence brought along with it…Enemy of the world? Yes, given the acts I committed I can safely assume those things.' Shadow's thought were racing as his memories were flashing in front of him.
The time he spent with Rouge and her friends, and making friends with those people as well. He re-evaluated his thoughts of Rouge at the same time. 'Maria, do you think I can eventually be forgiven for some of my sins…do you think I…' Shadow's thoughts were stopped as he heard her voice. "Silly hedgehog…though you have done many things you still think that way." Maria said appearing before the hedgehog. "You keep dragging the past along with you and it does nothing, but tie you down." Maria said smiling at the hedgehog.
"But I couldn't sa…" Shadow was cut off again. "What happened to me wasn't your fault…it's time you've forgiven yourself for that one." Maria said and knelt down in front of him giving him a warm embrace. "It's time to move on Shadow, you can't stay tied down forever, after all you have someone waiting for you back on that side of the world, and she'll be able to help you get back on your feet, as many times as it takes." Maria said. Shadow was silent as the memories of Rouge continued to flash in front of him.
Shadow steeled his resolve and looked up with a new determination in his eyes and Maria smiled. "This is the last time you'll see me Shadow the Hedgehog…don't ever forget that you are what's left of my memories and my legacy." She said and released the hedgehog from the embrace standing up with a smile. She walked off into the distance, and as Shadow looked up he saw Gerald. "Gerald…" Shadow said. "Shadow…thank you for stopping that evil being…The real reason you were created…I owe that much to you…" Gerald started. "It's okay Gerald…I don't need those things anymore…I have a feeling I know the answer anyways." Shadow said and earned a nod from Gerald as he smiled joined now by Maria.
"Take care my son…" Gerald said as the two began to fade. "Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog." Maria said smiling at her friend one last time waving good bye to him. Shadow nodded and a brief smile appeared on his face. "Yeah because I'm no longer alone in this world." Shadow said looking at the two as they vanished. Everything in his field of view became white as he was dragged back to the world. His eyes slowly opened as he blinked twice before looking around the room. He noticed Rouge was asleep her head resting to his right, and he could hear everyone else outside the door. "I'm alive…" Shadow said to himself as he took a quick mental survey of his bodies condition.
He was recovering at his usual rate, but the damage he took was highly severe, and it was taking longer for him to heal. 'How long have I been out?' Shadow thought to himself seeing it was night outside. "You're finally awake faker." Sonic said from the door keeping his voice down low enough so that the bat didn't wake up. "I'm all beat up and you look almost scott free of damage." Shadow said in a slightly scoffing matter. "Yeah well you did take the beating after all. Though I admit we thought we had lost you." Sonic said. "You flat lined quite a few times as Tikal was fixing you up." Sonic said.
"I was the only man in my company to be called immortal." Shadow said and the two grinned at each other. "So about that race." Sonic said. "After, I'm all healed up." Shadow said as he looked at the ceiling. "She's stayed next to you for the past five days crying herself to sleep for the first two." Sonic said in all seriousness. Shadow looked at Rouge after he had said that. "You better answer her feelings." Sonic said walking out of the room rejoining the party going on outside.
As the night passed the sun came out and Rouge was starting to slowly awaken. Her eyes slowly fluttered open and she saw Shadow looking down at her. She bolted upright within a moment and slapped Shadow then hugged him. "You had me so worried." she cried out as a few tears spilled. Shadow's eyes widened slightly from the slap and the sudden embrace. Shadow slowly wrapped his arms around her body. "I'm sorry Rouge…I think it's time I told you about myself." Shadow said and Rouge looked at him. Shadow wiped some tears from her eyes and looked at her somewhat softly.
"I already found out most of it…" Rouge said in a somewhat whispered tone. Shadow's hearing was still as good as ever and he sighed a bit. "So it was you that put me back together." Shadow said. She nodded as he looked at her. "I only vaguely remember what happened, but I definitely felt you there." Shadow said. Shadow then remembered the words Maria told him. 'Remember to tell her your feelings Shadow.' Maria words rang in his head. "This is going to be tough to get out of you know…you're a highly wanted criminal now I'm sure." Rouge said mentioning her job with the FBI.
"Hey Rouge…" Shadow said. "What?" Rouge asked slightly irritated. Shadow moved in and kissed Rouge deeply and she responded by returning the kiss in full. Shadow broke the kiss and whispered in her ear exhaling slightly. "I'm only going to say this once…I love you." Shadow said and Rouge grew a few shades of pink. Rouge muttered something under her breath that Shadow couldn't hear. "Idiot…" Rouge said and kissed him again. "I love you too." Rouge said and cuddled up close to him. "As for my record…I don't think we need to worry about that, after all the world has more important things to worry about." Shadow said looking out the window still seeing a lot of dust clouds covering places up from the war.
The cities were in shambles, but the rebuilding process had begun from what he could tell. "You're right…but in the mean time mister you're going to make up the time you didn't spend with me after you disappeared and for being asleep for as long as you have." Rouge said with a smile on her face. Shadow nodded as the two kissed again, and from the door way heard someone clear their throat. They looked up to the door and noticed everyone watching. "Congratulations you two!" Amy squealed as she leapt at her friend and hugged her. "So it finally happened huh." Sonic said and smirked.
"Well now Shadow, looks like you found yourself someone after all this time." Saelene said. "How are you doing squirrel?" Shadow asked. "Better now…I think I found myself a cutie." she said glancing at Tails. Tails in turn went red since he was so easy to tease. He could only laugh nervously at that comment. "Ya know you had us worried their buddy." Vector said placing some flowers to the side of Shadow's bed. "Yeah, but you were so cool out there." Charmy said in giddy excitement. Shadow looked at Espio and saw his injuries and Espio in turn simply nodded.
"Looks like you went to war Espio." Shadow said. "You have no idea." Espio responded thinking back to his fight. "You lot were all hurt really badly you know…geez you know how long it took to treat you all." Tikal said slightly annoyed that Espio and Knuckles were out of bed. Cream came in with a small basket of apples and placed them on Shadow's bed. Shadow smiled a bit and patted the young bunny on the head. Knuckled lifted Shadow by the collar and stared him down.
"Knuckles!" Rouge yelled seeing the echidna's actions. "You better take good care of her you got that." Knuckles said. Shadow merely smirked at the echidna and nodded. "That was a given you idiot." Shadow said and Knuckles let him go. "All right guys lets leave them alone." Sonic said walking everyone out. Shadow in turn started getting out of bed, with Rouge's help. "We'll meet you guys on the roof!" Sonic called out as they all headed upstairs. Shadow was leaning on Rouge as they both climbed the stairs.
"Are you sure you'll be happy with someone like me?" Rouge asked in a slightly timid tone. "Idiot that's something I should be asking about myself. I want you as you are…all of you." Shadow said. Rouge blushed lightly. "And I'll accept everything about you." Rouge said as they reached the roof to look out at the city slowly rebuilding itself. Rouge and Shadow looked at each other and smiled. "Because that's my resolve." they said in unison before sharing one more kiss. Everyone glanced back and smiled, then they looked back at what they were looking at originally. 'Saw it.' everyone thought to themselves.
'Because in the end no matter the hardships to come we can lean on each other, and now I can finally move on from my past…right Maria?' Shadow asked looking at the sky with that same look he had after making his decision.
His time has finally begun to move once again…
Camui: So we've finally come to the conclusion of this story that I slacked off on for about six years I think. I'm happy to finally be done with the main story now all that's left is the epilogue. One last chapter for the Shadow x Rouge fans. I'll give a warning right now though that the next chapter will have adult themes in them after all this is a mature rated fiction story. Everyone did you have fun? I sure did finally doing this and to everyone that has reviewed in the past I want to say thank you very much for the support and the kind words. To those old and new to those that are no longer on this website anymore, to those that followed this story for as long as they have...I want to say thank you everyone. Mina-san Hontou ni Arigatou gozaimasu. Now for the final Preview
Preview Epilogue: A few years have passed since the events that pulled the world into turmoil. The world has slowly begun rebuilding itself after a war that history would remember for a very long time. The heroes of the world have moved on with life and are now going about their lives as normal. Shadow and Rouge now being an official couple have spent that time clearing anytime he would serve considering the acts he committed in the end. Find out whats happens to everyone in the final pages...Epilogue.