Chapter Eleven – Home

Shadow realised that even though his name had been cleared, he hadn't killed those people, the hunt for the 'real' Shadow The Hedgehog was still ongoing, and to truly get the Mobian Authorities off his back, he had to completely ditch anything and everything that connected him to his old life. That meant one of the most beloved possession's he owned.

The Ark.

He was sat back at it's computer console, lovingly stoking it, now hating the Mobian Authorities for everything he had. G.U.N. too, but they were now all gone. He'd won. He heaved. The hours he'd spent sat at this machine, hacking the Eggman's network or watching the planet below. He shed a tear as he knew he was going to miss it. He didn't want to do this, but he knew he had to. One, he couldn't afford the space colony falling into the wrong hands and two, it could be traced back to him, and potentially he'd never get any peace. Everything was already setup. It had been done years ago, just for this eventuality, and now Shadow hated the fact that now he'd been forced to do it.

Finding a new home was going to be straightforwards. He could easily find something in Capital City, a place he could share with his brother. Though, he smirked, the place he had in mind, the Blue Blur wouldn't be interested, let alone set foot in. Shadow transferred all his finances off the Ark, to a private account on the planet. He liked that idea. Since Eggman's death, Shadow was now one of the wealthiest people on Mobius, and not having to spend huge quantities of money on maintaining a space colony was going to make a huge difference. Once complete, he now had everything he need, and he stood up, pushed the chair back under the table and then, bending over it, he typed the forsaken code to end it all. The alarms sounded all over the Ark, red lights flashing everywhere. Words flashed up across the screen, showing the end of all things.

'Initiating Self Destruct!'

Then the countdown started as Shadow, just stood up and walked away.

Ten.

He walked past rooms and laboratories all of which he knew so well.

Nine.

Then he spotted the kitchen where he made his coffee every morning.

Eight.

He sighted the corridor of which he knew ended at the Eclipse Cannon. He remembered the fight there.

Seven.

Through the circular central room of the Ark, where he's had many a confrontation with his rival, now blood brother. He stopped for just a second. How things had changed. He moved on.

Six.

He walked down pass the most spectacular room of the Ark, with it's incredible panoramic view of the planet below. He stopped and stared. A last finally look from above. He had mixed feelings. He did still loved the view and but not the planet. Not anymore.

Five.

Then he finally found it. The laboratory. The one he was created in. He opened the door. Dust and grime everywhere, including in the glass tank at the end. He'd not been in here for years. He remembered it well, but those memories were not fond. That was why he couldn't bare being in here, but one finally look before he goes. He closed the door.

Four.

Along the glass corridor, towards the escape pods. He had strong memories of here. Again not pleasant.

Three.

To the escape pods themselves, many remained, as only two had been released. He wondered over to one of them. This had been Sonic, when he first learned to Chaos Control, with a fake Chaos Emerald. Shadow smirked. An impressive move even now.

Two.

He then moved the empty second pod. He gulped. This had been his. The one a certain special Human girl had thrown him into to get away from G.U.N. when they had stormed the place. A move that cost her dearly, her life. He sniffed as the tears ran, as he placed his hand on the empty pod.

Maria!

One.

BOOM!

The almighty explosion of bright white light lit up the entire night sky, as the horizontal lines of pure white shockwaves richened out across space. It happened in stages, as the main living area was taken out first, followed by storage, laboratories and then the weaponry. Finally, came the Ellipse Cannon, as it temporarily hung in space for a few seconds for submitting to it's fate. The second explosion was huge, bright green then quickly fading to pale blue as the almighty weapon was no more. The entire Ark now gone.

Tails immediately came running out of his house, Rouge and Knuckles following, to immediately turn round and look up at the night sky above his house. He gasped, pointing upwards.

"The Ark!" He stammered, as he watched in horror the mighty space colony disintegrate to nothing. Tails had been working on his computer when the space colony just suddenly vanished from him on the communications. Now he knew why. Knuckles swore and Rouge just burst into tears. No one. Absolutely nobody believed Shadow would actually ever destroy it, unless he had no choice. He loved his home, and had fought to the death to keep it. They had all heard of his acquittal. Knuckles gulped.

"Would he really blow up the Ark just to stop it falling into the hands of the Mobian Authorities?" He wondered. But Rouge just cuddled him.

"Oh, Shadow." She sniffed. But suddenly there was a emotionless voice behind them. Somewhat cold, but had a streak of warm in it. He hissed.

"You underestimate me, Rouge." He sniggered. He had indeed done that. He'd teleported off the Ark at the absolute last possible moment but he been so desperate to talk to Rouge that he immediately came to find her, knowing she'd be deeply worried, suspecting she'd still be at the Fox's house. He was right. They all whirled around. There he stood, the Ultimate Lifeform himself, emotionally battered, but alright. Rouge immediately let go of Knuckles and ran straight for him, who desperately tried to back off, but failed. She threw her arms around him, absolutely delighted, but Shadow stood there stiff as a board, his mouth and hands well clear of her, very uncomfortable. He squealed.

"Rouge, please." He begged. "I've hurt you once, I don't want to do it again." He admitted, still feeling incredible guilty over it. But Rouge just cuddled him. She smiled.

"It wasn't you, you idiot and you won't." She spat, and the she backed away slightly, looking him in the eyes. He'd changed again. His mind was back, fully healed, but it wasn't exactly quite the same. Shadow frowned but Rouge heaved. "I know it was bad, what happened, but it wasn't you." She repeated. "Sonic intervened and saved my life. He had no choice. It was either me or..." She stammered, but Shadow sighed, his head falling.

"My baby." He sniffed. Rouge cried and nodded.

"Please forgive him." She begged. "He was just doing what he believed was the right thing." She gulped. But Shadow heaved.

"I know. We've already spoken. But no, I haven't forgiven him for it, probably never will, but I have moved on. The baby was cremated on the Ark, before I blew it. A fitting end to an horrendous start. Now he's free to travel the stars." He smirked, but Knuckles just giggled.

"Wow, that's new. You've never been a one for sentimentality." He grinned. But Shadow just roared in anger, but didn't dare move, not with Rouge still around his middle. He growled.

"What do you want from me, Echidna?" He spat. "All I wanted was something you all take for granted, free-will and it cost me dearly. I've lost my home, I've lost my son. My old life is dead. I have literally been to hell and back. There is nothing more I have left to give." He stammered, panting heavily. Suddenly, Rouge cuddled him even harder. Yes, he did, causing Shadow to squeal even harder. He panicked. "Rouge, seriously, get off me. I will hurt you." He gulped, desperate for his venom to go nowhere near her. But Knuckles just frowned, staring at him.

"You really don't remember, do you?" He gasped. He'd been livid at Shadow for almost killing Rouge, but now he realised the Black Vampire ahead of him, was not the Mindless Monster who'd attacked her. Shadow had done nothing wrong and yet was utterly willing to take any consequences for it. Knuckles could see it in his eyes, the guilt clear to see. He heaved. What had happened to him? He dreaded to think, but Knuckles wasn't ready to forgive him just yet, but time to let him in on a little secret. He smiled. "When the Mindless Monster attacked Rouge." He started, picking his words carefully. "He did something more to her other then just give her a baby." He heaved. Shadow panicked, he gasped, closed his eyes as the tears ran. He gulped.

"Oh, no." He cried. "What did I do?" He sniffed, of which Rouge, backing away, just promptly slapped him, right across the nose and mouth. She caught some of his deep orange venom across her hand as Shadow was stunned into silence. He blinked. She roared in anger.

"It's wasn't you." She screamed at him, rattling his instincts. But then he panicked.

"Rouge, your hand." He heaved, desperate to get the venom off her. He knew how potent it was. It had killed thousands. But she just giggled, as she held up the smeared hand and then, to his horror, she licked it.

Shadow panicked, but Knuckles heaved. The Bat had had her fun, time to intervene. He promptly moved between them. He growled, looking at her first.

"Rouge, your an idiot." He snapped, then he rounded on the Ultimate Lifeform. Knuckles sighed. "We don't know what you did to her, but she is now completely immune to Vampire Venom. That little stunt won't harm her." He smiled. But Shadow blinked.

"What?" He hissed, staring at the Bat hard. She should be now feeling the effects of his venom, but nothing was happening. The Echidna appeared to be speaking the truth. Shadow's anger exploded at the Bat, at being made a fool of. She had forgiven him, that was now obvious, but to play with his emotions over it. That was going too far. He growled. But then he realised that his position here was a privilege, and he knew what Rouge meant to Knuckles. He sighed, better to ask. That was something Sonic had taught him. He heaved, turning to Knuckles.

"Permission to get her back." He hissed, to a somewhat gobsmacked Echidna. He gulped.

"Sure, but no biting." He replied, firmly. Shadow immediately agreed. His teeth alone, without the venom, were impressive and could cause serious injury on their own, and hurting her was never part of the deal. To play games with her, humiliate her, definitely. He smirked, very evilly at Rouge. Suddenly, she panicked, only just realising now that the boys were scheming against her. She backed away from them.

"Hey, come on." She giggled. "It was only a little fun." She gulped. But Shadow's smirk broadened. He curled his lip.

"So's this." He hissed, and then, suddenly, he moved. Vampire fast, to reappear behind the Bat in the blink of an eye. Very quickly, he grabbed her from behind, swung her round, kicked her feet out from under her, so she fell into his arms, and then gave her one almighty kiss. Rouge was absolutely gobsmacked, to much giggling from Knuckles and Tails. She promptly kissed him back, feeling his fangs with her tongue, her cheeks going scarlet. Shadow let her go, leaving her panting hard, a very satisfied smirk on his face. She swooned.

"So." He heaved. "You do like me then." She giggled, of which Shadow, still holding her in the exactly position he kissed her in, just shrugged. He rolled his eyes.

"Er, no." He spat, and promptly dropped her, and walked away. She hit the ground hard on her side, but was unharmed. Then her temper exploded, as she proceeded to verbally rip Shadow to pieces. He just ignored her, as he walked up to and then past Knuckles. The Echidna stopped him. He'd been laughing. That was very funny, but somewhat brutal against the Bat. He heaved.

"You are so bad." He growled, but Shadow just sniggered.

"I wouldn't be me, if I wasn't." He relied, surprisingly honestly. But then he sighed. "Look, I'm sorry, for what I did. I know it wasn't me, but I still feel responsible. As for me and Rouge, there was never anything. It was just boredom at work getting a little hot. Exploring, nothing more. Now, I'm genuinely not interested. Personally, I like my brothels." He leered, to much wincing from everyone. He turned to the Echidna. "She all yours." He sniggered.

Shadow had stunned everyone into silence as he just walked away from them. Suddenly, Sonic came running up. He been desperately looking for Shadow ever since he'd witness the explosion in the sky. He threw his arms around him, as soon as he saw him, extremely relieved. He panted.

"Hi, your alright." He heaved. "You blew up the Ark?" He asked. Shadow pushed him away, rather promptly and nodded. He sighed.

"That, along with everything from my old life." He growled. "There is now nothing that links me, now as a Vampire, to my previous life, as the Ultimate Lifeform." He smirked, now looking directly at Sonic. "He, my brother, is now dead." He hissed, to the stunned looks of everyone. He was exactly right but having Shadow admit it, was something else entirely. He sighed. "With my aquittal, I'm finally free of them. The Mobian Authorities, G.U.N. everyone. I now have the right and the freedom to choose exactly as I please." He smirked. He touched foreheads with the Blue Blur and walked away, leaving him somewhat stunned. But then he stopped and turned around. He smirked.

"Thank you." He added, out of nowhere. Sonic just frowned. He looked at Knuckles. Shadow thanking him. That was unheard of. He heaved.

"For what?" He wondered. Shadow's smirk broadened.

"For changing me into a Vampire in the first place. I never did show you my gratitude." He sniggered. Huge warmth in his voice as he turned and walked away from them. It was very clear that he absolutely relished it, and was looking forwards to an eternity of passion, blood, and freedom that being a Vampire now afforded him. He'd earned it. He'd suffered for it. Did he deserve it? Hell, no, but Shadow now no longer cared. This was his path now.

Everyone was stunned. Shadow had definitely changed. For the better, Sonic suspected so, but it was subtle. Very subtle. He was more honest now, but also more naughty. He heaved, as he called after his blood brother.

"Hey, where are you going?" He yelled. Shadow just hollowed back, not bothering to turn around.

"Home." He bellowed. But Sonic frowned as Knuckles rounded in him. He shrugged.

"But the Ark's been destroyed." He heaved, but Sonic was thinking it through and suddenly thought of where Shadow might be going. He deeply rolled his eyes, calling back to his blood brother.

"It's a brothel in Capital City, isn't it?" He asked. Shadow immediately turned around and shrugged.

"Where else." He grinned, turning to walk again. But Sonic just roared in pure frustration. He growled.

"Oh, will you behave." He spat, of which Shadow just stopped, turn around and promptly folded his arms. He smirked.

"No." He said, simply, and with that he vanished, with a bright flash of white light. He was gone, a new life now ahead of him. Sonic heaved.

"I swear he'll buy that place, especially now that he doesn't have the Ark to maintain." He hissed. But Knuckles heaved.

"He's a monster." He stammered but Sonic rounded on him. He growled.

"Yes, he is, but he's a monster of my choosing. I singled him out, I changed him. His transformation will only go so far, and yes, he is still dangerous, but spending an eternity skulking around the mean streets of Capital City, will suit him perfectly. Leave him alone, and he'll leave you alone." He grinned. But Knuckles frowned.

"And I suppose you'll be joining him?" He hissed. But the Blue Blur shook his head. He sighed.

"Only for food. I won't be living there, I will be coming home again, back to Tails' House." He declared. "Hunting as a team is significantly more efficient then alone, and with Shads, really fun too." He admitted. Knuckles almost objected, but as he just learned from the Ultimate Lifeform himself, he couldn't stop someone from being themselves, just because they were different. The hunting, especially with Shadow, it was a Vampire thing, and that in the end, that was what Sonic was. He always had been, even though his friends didn't know at the beginning.

Knuckles smiled, and for the first time since the truth was known, he pulled the Blue Blur into an enormous hug. Sonic was stunned but was extremely careful with him. Respectfully so. No claws, fangs or venom anywhere near him. Knuckles beamed, as finally, he fully trusted the Hero of Mobius again. Sonic's eyes filled with tears, immediately feeling that trust. Suddenly, Tails ran in, a three way embrace like no other. He nuzzled them, again being careful. He'd been desperate for the trio to be back together again, and finally he had it. He was delighted beyond believe.

Rouge smiled, also joining in the group hug. Finally, they all let go. Tails heaved.

"Now what?" He wondered. But Rouge just giggled.

"Well." She teased. "My Master Emerald won't make it to my place on it's own." She giggled, and suddenly Knuckles exploded, as Rouge took to the air. He roared in anger.

"Don't you even dare, Batgirl." He growled and promptly raced after her.

Sonic and Tails giggled. Despite everything, nothing changes. Rouge and Knuckles were still at each other's throats over the Master Emerald, the Chaotix were still Detectives, Shadow was still a bad guy, to some degree, and them, Sonic and Tails. Despite one of them being a bloodthirsty Vampire, they were still best friends.

They cuddled again, and walked back into Tails' House.

Together at last, finally home.

As for the real 'Shadow The Hedgehog'. He was never found.