Hi guys, Thrawn here, back with a chappie!

Ok, this one does not have too much action, and MAJOR spoilers for people who have not played Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes, and Shadow the Hedgehog. So if you have not played those games, play them first. This story will be here.

Still don't own RWBY or Sonic.

Beacon Academy, courtyard, 10:00 a.m.

"This will be the day we've waited for!" sang Ruby. She was taking a stroll around Beacon, listening to her music. "This will be the day we-"

She stopped singing as she saw a solitary hedgehog looking over the cliffs. Ruby did a quick mental check of the four hedgehogs currently at Beacon, and deduced that this one was Shadow, based on the black and red fur and solitary persona.

"Hey, Shadow, what are you doing out here?" she asked.

Shadow opened his eyes and looked behind him. "Oh, hey Ruby. I'm just admiring the view. It isn't as impressive as the view from my old home, but it is nice nonetheless."

"Why? Where do you come from? Besides Mobius, of course."

Shadow shuddered. "Do you really want to know my past? I've… done some things I'm not proud of."

"Well, if it makes you uncomfortable…"

Shadow straightened up. "No, no, I think this is something I need to tell. I may not be proud of it, but it is my past."

The black and red hedgehog sat down. "About sixty years ago, a brilliant scientist came up with the idea of making the Ultimate Life Form to cure his granddaughter from a terminal disease. His name was Gerald Robotnik, and his granddaughter was named Maria."

Ruby looked startled. "Robotnik? Is there any relation between Eggman?"

Shadow nodded. "Eggman was Gerald's grandson, Maria his cousin. Gerald was having no luck with creating the Ultimate Life Form until he was contacted by the leader of the Black Arms, an alien race that was bent on the subjugation of all life in the galaxy. The leader, Black Doom, gave Gerald some of his blood to him, and the Professor was finally able to create the Ultimate Life Form, on the condition that the creature would retrieve the seven Chaos Emeralds for Black Doom when they next came to Mobius."

"But what does all of that have to do with you?" asked Ruby.

"The creature that was created… was me."

Ruby was stunned. "You're the Ultimate Life Form?"

"Indeed. I grew up as friends with Maria aboard our home- Space Colony ARK. We both had dreams about going down to the planet." Shadow closed his eyes in sadness. "Unfortunately, those dreams were broken when the military found out what Gerald was doing. Maria and I tried to escape, but…"

Ruby put a reassuring hand on Shadow's shoulder. He took a deep breath and continued. "Before she was killed, she sent me down to the surface in an emergency pod, but the military was ready when I landed. They took me and locked me away in a cryostasis pod for. Gerald went insane and instructed me to destroy the planet when I was awakened.

"Fifty years later, Eggman came and woke me up. I worked with him and Rouge in his plans for world domination because I wanted revenge against the humans who killed Maria. We were close to destroying the planet thanks to the superweapon that was developed on the ARK- the Eclipse Cannon. Powered by the Chaos Emeralds, it could destroy the planet- and even six of them were enough to destroy half of the moon. However, when the seventh one was inserted into the machine, it started a countdown to the decaying of the orbit of the ARK. Put simply, the whole station was going to crash into the planet."

"Did Sonic get involved in any of this?"

Shadow chuckled a bit. "When I stole the first few Chaos Emeralds, everyone thought that I was Sonic. He ended up getting arrested just because too many government officials were colorblind, it seemed like. After he was rescued by Tails and Amy, we all ended up on Space Colony ARK. Sonic and I fought, but after we found out that Professor Gerald was going to destroy Mobius, we all joined forces to save the planet. Amy helped me remember Maria's true wish for me."

"And what was that, Shadow?"

"She wanted me to give everyone a chance to be happy. So, I joined with Sonic and we used the power of the Chaos Emeralds to become super, and not only did we destroy the prototype of the Ultimate Life Form- the Biolizard- we saved the planet by transporting the ARK into a stable orbit around Mobius. Unfortunately, I ended up using most of my energy into the Chaos Control. I ended up landing on the planet, and not in a fun way."

"Well, clearly, you survived, considering that you're standing here," commented Ruby.

Shadow looked at her. "Well, I wasn't heard from for quite some time. I was picked up by Eggman and placed in a pod, and I stayed asleep for a few months. When I was woken up by Rouge, I had a bad case of amnesia. I teamed up with her and Omega, who was guarding the bunker I was sealed in long enough to override his loyalty to Eggman. We joined forces with Teams Sonic, Rose, and Chaotix to defeat yet another power-hungry megalomaniac, Metal Sonic. After that, I drifted, trying to discover who I was. A few months passed by, and it seemed I would never find my answers.

"That's when the Black Comet reappeared, and the invasion of the Black Arms began."

Ruby was shocked. "You mean the aliens?"

Shadow nodded. "I was contacted by Black Doom in the beginning, and he wanted me to get him the seven Chaos Emeralds. I was foolish enough to go along with him. I wanted answers, and he seemed to be the only person who had them. I would- and did- do anything to get them."

The black hedgehog let a single tear roll down his face. "I killed many humans before Sonic and his friends convinced me to help them. In a final confrontation with Black Doom, I did discover my answers. I defeated him and destroyed the Black Comet with the Eclipse Cannon."

Shadow sighed. "After that, I tried to atone for my sins. Twice I tried to destroy the planet for my selfish reasons, and it seemed that no matter what I would do, people might hate me for what I am and what I did. Eventually, though, Rouge was able to help me get a job in G.U.N., though it took a long time for everyone to get over their fear of me.

"So now you know. I'm a hedgehog that might as well be called a monster for what I've done. I understand if you don't want to talk to me anymore," Shadow finished.

Ruby sat quietly, absorbing the story for a minute. Then she looked up. "Shadow, do you regret what you have done?"

"Every day, I see the faces of the people I've killed. They haunt me, and I know nothing that I do will ever bring them back."

"Stop the self-pity and listen to me, Shads. If you regret what you have done, than you are already better than most people who have killed. If you know that you cannot bring them back, well, know that you have the power to prevent people like Eggman or Torchwick or whoever from killing or doing other horrible things."

Shadow smiled a little. "You know, you sound a lot like Sonic when he was trying to cheer me up after the Black Arms crisis."

Ruby stood up and helped Shadow get back up. "Just know that you're surrounded by friends who can help you, and you can consider me one, as well," Ruby said, smiling.

Shadow smiled in response. "Thanks, Ruby Rose."

"Wanna race to the gun range?"

Shadow smirked and activated his jet shoes. "You sure? I've been told I'm faster than Sonic, though he would never admit it."

"You know about Semblances, right?" Shadow nodded. "Well, mine is speed. So try and keep up, Mr. Ultimate Life Form!"

The two new friends raced to the shooting range, both a blur of red and black.

Meanwhile, Sonic observed everything on a nearby roof. He jumped down, smiling to himself.

"Well, what do you know? Shadow can be friendly."

Glynda walked up behind him. "Your friend in black has been through a lot, hasn't he?"

Sonic looked up. "Yeah, you can say that. But he is a good friend, despite his personality." He suddenly did a double take. "Hey, how much of that did you hear?"

"All of it. As our guests, I like to keep up with your well-being." Glynda smiled at the blurs that were Ruby and Shadow. "I feel like those two will be very good friends."

"Well, please don't tell too many people about Shadow's past. He is still pretty sensitive about it."

Glynda nodded in understanding. "We all have something that is better off a secret or between friends." She walked off towards the main tower. As she passed a bundle of bushes, she waved her riding crop and Cardin Winchester popped out, thanks to her magic.

"Tsk, tsk, Mr. Winchester, don't you have something better to be doing?"

Hope you guys don't mind me bashing on Cardin. This is probably the third time I have had him being tormented and/or hated on by others.

So Ruby and Shadow are now friends! Don't expect any romance between them, though. Still not going to repeat the mistake that was Sonic '06.

Please review, this story almost has ONE HUNDRED REVIEWS! I'm still amazed at all the positive feedback I've gotten from you guys. Also, I don't think I have ever written this much for anything. Still making it up as I go along, but like the F*** train, this story has no brakes so far! Woo Woo!