Thank you jazzybizzle, XxCrimsonShadowxX, TheDivines, Celticsgreen205, and Thunder Croft for your wonderful reviews; they are, as always, deeply appreciated!
Also, another thank you goes to the lovey jazzybizzle for helping me with this chapter. I appreciate ya, hun!
31. Inspiration
There were days when Shadow felt hopeless. There were days when he found himself almost giving in to the doubts that clouded his mind and the shred of darkness that lurked inside the furthest reaches of his mind.
Sometimes he felt as if his grip was loosening and that his control was slipping. After all, even the Ultimate Lifeform wasn't immune to feeling insecure.
There were days when he stared at his reflection and wanted nothing more than to smash the mirror and watch the shattered shards of glass fall like drops of rain on a stormy night; the voices were loud in his mind.
"Monster! Abomination!" they screamed at him, taunting him with their cold, cruel words. They seemed to pound on his eardrums, and a part of him wondered why he continued fighting on. Why didn't he just give in to the madness and darkness that swirled beneath the surface of calmer waters?
Then Shadow thought of her. Images of bright, gorgeous sapphire eyes, her beautiful auburn hair, and her friendly, smiling face flooded his mind. He would be reminded of her sweetness, her unwavering, fiery love, and her endless support; she reminded him that there was some good in him.
And his vigor, his will would renew itself, and he fought even harder. He tried harder. He did it for himself, he did it for his friends whom he considered to be his family, and he did it for Sally, the girl who wielded the key to his heart.