Beauty in pain

Third Person P.O.V.

With Shadow

After the blue blur had left Shadow, Shadow actually felt all the energy within him drained all of a sudden. Maybe because of all the pep talks he had with that'blue idiot'.

Shadow sighed lightly. He knew his relationship with Sonic may not seem as if they are brothers but they are and that is the truth Fate has shoved right onto his face. He had not been around the azure one for quite sometime to really know him, getting close nor tighten their bond given that their personality almost completely different except for their overconfindence and cockiness. Plus the rivalry relationship the two have.

But, Shadow had always oddly felt connected to Sonic. Sure, he treated him like piece of garbage sometimes. Being indifferent and not really showing concern towards anyone in particular, especially him. The ultimate lifeform actually do care. He's just didn't like to show it.

After the incident with Maria, he didn't want to connect with other living creatures because he's afraid of feeling the pain of losing someone he cared about. If he does unintentionally get close to others, he would, as quickly as he realised it to cut off the connection. That's just how insecure Shadow is. Minus the edginess people had always get the first impression of him.

And then, Sonic, the speed demon, came along. Shadow tried so freaking hard to insult him, avoid him, anything! But he keeps coming back with his infamous smirk like what he did to him didn't matter to him at all. He even had the nerve to invite Shadow to a race or anything, just to keep himself busy while Eggman's out of radar.

On. Daily.

There's nothing the ultimate lifeform could do besides to shrug it off and just accept the blue one's request. Because if Shadow declined,...oof.. he's never going to hear the end of it. That's just how persistence the blue hedgehog is. Because, why not disturbed Shadow when he's not on a mission doing god who knows what. Everyday… Yeah...

Having a unimaginable speed? Bro, Sonic could find you whenever he wanted to in a blink of an eye. He could do anything.. But if you ask him to go swimming, boy, he would left in a heartbeat before you could even finish the sentence.

Sometimes, Shadow wondered why did Sonic afraid of water in the first place. In his memories, when he and him was little before the raid on the castle, Sonic loved to swim everyday. And he always said he loved the ocean because it's blue like him and so vast.. Heck even the sky is blue. Sonic cherished the world so.. freaking much. Which probably why it must be one of the reason why he became a hero.

He wanted the world's beauty to last for everyone to see it with their eyes. But, in every beauty there lies pain. There's always be someone in need of help, suffering from the true horrors of the world. As much as Sonic wanted to help everyone in every nook and cranny, he could never be at the same place at the same time. He could never saved everyone.

Sonic had always tried his best to help. Sometimes, his help didn't make it as he often blamed himself for it. Nobody noticed because the speedster is a master at masking all of his pain and sorrow with a cheery happy-go-lucky front. Unfortunately, Shadow saw it all. There's nobody who's that happy and optimistic all the time like the blue blur. It's just non-existence.

Shadow think he could understand. If he's on Sonic's shoes, he imagined he would do the same. All the pressures, the lives on a thin line should he failed, there's will be chaos. He hated to think he's in Sonic's shoes. It was like, one mistake could changed everything. Even his very life on the line for god's sake. He protected everybody but who's protect him? Sure, he has his friends but still, he needed somebody who's equally as strong as him to protect him.

Maybe that's why chaos appointed Shadow, Sonic's blood and flesh, as his guardian. To protect him. To stand alongside as him. His job is as big as Sonic's. Without either to support each other, might as well kiss the world eternal goodbye.

Shadow yawned lazily on the red couch. The sun is still high in the sky. There's so much time to kill but so little thing to do as there was no signs of any bad guys coming to raid onto the peaceful day. Shadow's conscious unintentionally slipped away to reminisced a forgotten but important memory of the day when he almost fulfilled his most desired wish.

A few years ago

Fallen debris, bloodied corpses, fire, ashes, chaos was everywhere. Cries of terror, sufferings echoed in the destroyed city. Negative emotions were floating in the air. The surroundings was gloomy, dark clouds were covering the sun, letting no sunshine pass. It was a dark day for Mobius. Losing the royal family, poverty and suffering by the corrupted filthy nobles, now a dark dictator.

At the very least people could still stood up against the poverty, but not this dictator. He possesed a power that nobody could hope to up against. Heck, they couldn't even get close to him without dying. Those foolish corrupted fools tried to fight him with an army of robots and human soldiers, shooting at him with real guns. All in vain however. There's nothing could reached him. No bullets, no nothing. Until one day when G.U.N. or rather one of his employee, Abraham Towers decided to let Project Shadow out of his capsule of confinement after discovering the capsule the mad scientist granddaughter, Maria ejected from Space Colony.

Towers knew the risk of letting him out if his superior, him especially, knew about what he had done. But, Shadow was their only hope ending his terror on all of them since their firepower wasn't enough. However, there's a price to pay should Shadow remembered what happened in space. All will be backfired. He could only hope he would care enough to help. Seems weird to ask help from a child but he's got the power alright. After all, he is related to him.

Towers tiptoed around the base in the middle of the dark night, reaching a secret room where only those 'loyal' and 'trustworthy' enough to know. That's where he lies. Unfortunately, the room was heavily guarded with security cameras, sensors that could killed him if he foolishly walked into the room.

Luckily, all the time he worked with G.U.N. paid off. He knew the only way to get in the room without anyone knowing nor him dying was through ventilation system. Towers was glad he didn't put any laser or something to reach the room undetected. Maybe he didn't thought of it as he seemed to be always busy with something.

Quietly, Towers opened the lid of the ventilation system which connected to the room with a screwdrive he brought in his toolbox. He crawled in, carefully not making any loud noises to draw attention.

For what seems like forever in the tight space, he finally reached the room. There was the capsule and a black and red striped hedgehog in like a coma state, sleeping peacefully.

Towers got out of the vent, unintentionally made a thud because of the lid of the vent was placef slightly higher than the ground. He winced, praying for his safety. Thankfully, nobody came.

He saw a camera right in front of him as he quickly ducked out of the way into its blind spot. He covered the camera view with a cloth. Then, he huffed in relief.

Towers looked at the capsule. He pushed a green button. The capsule opened up.

Shadow opened his ruby eyes. He looked around but said nothing. He saw the human before him and looked at him, expecting him to say.

The human cleared his throat. "Um..hello?"

The black hedgehog just looked at him devoid of emotions.

"Uh..do you remember your name?" Towers nervously asked while scratched the back of his head.

Shadow wanted to say something as he opened his mouth to answer but not a word came out. "My..name..?"he mumbled. A short after that he murmured to himself with a frown, "I...who.. am I?"

Towers looked the hedgehog sadly. 'Poor child. I don't think I should involved him in this at all but he is our hope. We have to try.. but still...I already felt guilty...' Towers thought in his mind.

"Do you know who I am?" Shadow asked in a confused tone at the human.

The human smiled sadly. "Your name is Shadow, Shadow the Hedgehog. You are the ultimate lifeform, born to defend our planet from evil."

That last sentence was sort of a lie. He knew it was wrong to lie, especially to a child but it had to be done. Plus, defending the world in such a young age, nobody could handle that big of responsibility especially a child.

"Shadow…..the ultimate lifeform?" Towers nodded. "Then, if I am a defender, why am I here?"

Towers didn't answered right away. He carefully chose his words. "Something happened. You were in here to heal."

"From what exactly?" Shadow demanded.

"From a trauma." He replied.

Shadow scowled. He got out of the capsule. He turned his back on the human with a reply, "Oh."

Towers scratched the back of his head. "Listen, I didn't want to ask this of you but, I...we all need your help."

Shadow didn't turn around but instead he said, "Help?"

"There's an evil out there. He's been terrorizing us all for months now. He couldn't stop him. Only you can."

This time Shadow turned around to face him, skeptically."How do you know what I could do?"

Begrudgingly, lying through his teeth, he said, "I've seen how you fight. You used chaos power. You used chaos spear and chaos blast as your means of fighting and chaos control as your means of escaping from dire moments."

Truth to be told, Towers didn't actually seen his powers in action. He secretly read a document about Shadow's capablities and who he really is. Oddly though, it was his leader's document. Towers could never know how he knew about Shadow. Apparently, the inhibitors around his wrists and ankles are to keep his power in check without accidentally drained his power when it's necessary.

Still quite skeptical of Towers, Shadow reluctantly accepted his request. The only reason he accepted it, he had a feeling that he couldn't explain that something will happen if he saw this person.

"Fine. Where is this person you want me to fight?"

"You would know when you see him. He gave off a very dreadful feeling whenever you see him." Towers stated as he climbed back into the vent, to escape before anyone noticed what he had done.

Shadow chaos controlled himself out of the room into the fallen world.

At first Shadow's eyes widened upon the horrors and destruction just this person made. On Shadow's mind was truly wondering who was blessed with such power. Somewhere deep down, the ebony one knew the answer. This particular person, his energy was so dark...so full of pain and sorrow. He could also feel fear in it. Whoever this is, he seemed so strangely familiar to Shadow. Too familiar...

Shadow's eyes traveled along the cities in ruins. And, then, he saw him and he seemed to be... walking? Not shooting balls of energy at the buildings nor brutally and mercilessly killing the people. Only taking a casual walk in a ruin city. All it seems, his humongous thick aura seemed to be killing them and causing destruction. Those who attacked him, seemed to anger him more than it hurts him. They paid the price with their lives.

His face was devoid of emotions and yet Shadow could see the hurt in his darkened emerald eyes. The dark hedgehog seemed to sense Shadow's presence as he stopped on his track and looked at the ultimate lifeform.

Tears fall from his emotionless emerald eyes. He wanted to mutter something it would seems but couldn't. It must be hard for him to remember.

Shadow's heart suddenly skipped a beat. It was a very odd feeling on his chest that he couldn't shake off. He felt...sad and..relief?

'Do I know this hedgehog? He looked so familiar but I couldn't quite put a finger of who he is. Why am I feeling this way..?' Shadow furrowed his brows in deep thought.

Unconsciously, Shadow's legs walked to the dark one and he couldn't stop his sudden movement. And so is the dark one. He made his way towards Shadow, tears still rolling on his face.

Close but not too close, the two stopped. Shadow examined the ebony one with curiousity while he looked him, trembling with emotions, trying so hard to mutter something but didn't come out.

Unintentionally, Shadow blurted out,"Maurice..?"

Then, just like that, tears fall down like an endless river. The dark one's eyes forced shut as he shook his head profusely in denial.

"N-No. It can't be! You're not real! I saw it all." He muttered repeatedly, denying.

Shadow frowned even deeper. Now he remembered who's in front of him. His mind could only wonder, 'What had happened to him.'

Then, a pair of black arms wrapped around the trembling dark one to comfort him despite the choking dreadful aura around Maurice.

"Shh...it's going to be alright." Shadow said in a soft voice.

Still crying, Maurice hugged him back. Skeptic, he stammered, "H-How? You've been gone for so long… It's not possible..I saw what happened in the Space Colony A.R.K! I saw blood. You, Mom, Dad were nowhere to be found. I suffered a lot since you and our parents been gone. And now you going to suddenly show up?! Where were you?!!" He pushed Shadow away, his aura flared up as his emerald eyes darkened even more.

Shadow was at lost for words. "I-I..don't remember."

Maurice looked at him in anger. "Oh, I see. You have forgotten about me. Is that it?!"

"I didn't mean to! I was confined in a capsule for god who knows how long. My mind is still a mess and you expect me to remember everything?!" He replied in anger.

The dark one scoffed, didn't accept his answer. "At least you didn't have to watch someone you love gone from your very eyes! Maurice said, literally shouting.

Shadow was taken aback. A memory of a certain human girl crashed down. In his blind anger, he punched the dark one so hard in the stomach. His eyes gleamed in seething anger.

"Oh yeah. Sorry to burst your bubble but I did exprience that myself!" Shadow put a hand on his chest.

Maurice scowled and coughed as his dark aura got thicker. He gritted his teeth. "You didn't know what I've been through..It was hell. I am so tired of it. And now, I shall cleanse all of us." He turned away from Shadow. "Don't get in my way Shadow." Then, he started to walked away, leaving Shadow's speechless.

On instinct, the red striped hedgehog put a hand on his shoulder, to stop him from advancing further.

Feeling the touch of his brother, Maurice frowned. "I wanted to do this, Shadow. The world was too far gone. I wanted to secure our future." He stated, not turning around.

Shadow didn't let go of his hold on him. He didn't want to let go of him again. His brows furrowed upon hearing his words. "I know you wanted to make the world a better place but not like this. This method is wrong. What you are doing now may get rid of the problem but this is only causing more damage than it heals. Do you understand that.." he said sofly and lowly, his hand tigtened its hold on Maurice's shoulder.

Maurice was speechless. He knew what Shadow's meant. But he had to.

"This is the only way…" the dark one answered.

Suddenly, Shadow grabbed his shoulder to make him face him. Shadow's amber eyes glared at his fearful darkened jade eyes.

"Listen, as long as we are still breathing, there's always a way." He said sternly.

Maurice gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, eyes closed. "If there's a way, why didn't anyone do something about what is happenning?!"

Shadow frowned sadly. "Not everyone is care enough to lend a hand. You are your own person. You can be an example for them. Fight in own way. Not abusing your power like this. Your power is to help, not to hurt. Use it with care."

That last sentence hit him hard. A memory of his uncle Chuck's dying moments. Unconsciously, his eyes started to water as his aura seeped into his skin, leaving only his navy almost black fur.

He cried as he fall onto his knees. "What have I done uncle…?" He mumbled.

Shadow hugged him caringly. "It's okay..you're okay.. everything's going to be alright…"

Oh how he jinxed himself there.

Suddenly, Shadow felt very drowsy. He felt numb. Fighting to stay concious, he felt himself was dragged away by a few people in suit.

An ivory hedgehog sneered as he walked in front of almost unconscious Shadow.

"Ehehe~ Shadow, Naive, Shadow~ I thanked you for your help on calming him down." He grinned with malice as he looked over at the now collapsed azure hedgehog.

"What are you going to do to him..?!" He asked angrily.

He chuckled. "Sayonara, Shadow. Have a nice slumber."

Then, it was all black for Shadow and all he could heard before unconcious was maniacal laughter.

With Maurice( His P.O.V. )

I was knocked out cold but my ears could hear everything. My brother was knocked unconscious by this malicious presence. I can feel Shadow getting really far away from me. I wanted to lash out on whoever is now standing over me but my body wouldn't budge.

He sneered with malice. "After so long~...I have you where I want you… oh chosen one.."

I felt so disgusted. My mind was trying so hard to move myself but it won't move! I felt so freaking helpless!

He chuckled. "Don't worry, your brother will enjoy his slumber yet again. Forever."

My anger sparked. My blood boiled in hatred. Now I know who forced Shadow to a sleep. This guy is so done for.

"Everything, everyone is mine. You are mine."

And that was the last straw. He wanted to take everything I love and I'm not going to let him do as he pleased. He wanted to take away my freedom? I will make him pray there's tomorrow.

On instinct my body was taken over. My fur once again was darkened. A abyssal aura swirled uncontroablely. My every actions next was beyond my control.

I growled darkly in seething hatred. He grinned. He took a leap of faith, going for the kill instantly. And then, in a blink of an eye, he vanished.

From behind me he chuckled mockingly. "Too slow.."

I was so ticked off that my judgement was clouded. I couldn't think straight. I could only think of his bloodied corpse underneath my feet. He played teleportation, so will I.

I disappeared and reappeared behind him, a dark spear formed on my hand to struck his heart. Unfortunately, his reactions was too fast for the damage to be inflicted. He disappeared as his maniacal laughter was all could I heard.

I was annoyed. My jaded eyes slowly disappearing into a pearly glowing eyes.

"Ahaha~ you know, you could be so much more if you just let me train you." He stated.

I didn't want to listen his rubbish so I just attacked him with dark balls of energy, not giving a care to him.

"Didn't anyone teach you to not cut off somebody while they are talking?" He said while avoiding my attacks.

I didn't answer back. While it was fun for him to get on my nerve, as for I, not so much.

My aura flared up as my anger was reaching its limits. As times went on, he started to get bored.

"Even with this power, you are still weak. Just a little boy."

There. Its limits has been breached. Suddenly, I felt my mind went blank. I couldn't remember what I did to him but I know I did something as when I came to realization again, he was gone and my fur gone back to its normal ocean colour but dull.

I was on the ground, the sky started to rain down on me. Shadow was nowhere to be found. I don't know what had happened but this is a sign to start over again. The lives and destruction I've caused, I needed to atone for them.

A/nLate but Happy New Year you all's my present from 2019 to 2020. Hope God bless you with fortune this year of 2020. Sayonara 2019, Hello 2020.. :)