The people are rising. In a span of just a few weeks, all those empowered by Chaos have set themselves free to fight back. Prison camps, jails, cells, torture chambers, ghettos; all the systems of oppression are being torn down one by one. And despite the system's most desperate efforts, only a few of the many insurrectionists have fallen. Their powers are unprecedented, no weapon had been designed to combat such a global revolution. And even despite its size, a common voice is heard throughout, unifying the movement and providing it with proper leadership. Most of this leadership originates from Astra's strategic mind, as her skills and talents are elevated beyond comprehension. Once this world is fully set free, the other worlds are next. The entire solar system with all its surrounding space crafts is to be set free. Hope has been restored,

Shadow has finally restored hope and the people are believing.

Though he has joined in their various battles, the angelic hedgehog has been primarily focused on teaching the people more about Chaos, to guide them with their new powers. For this many to be tapped into this ancient energy at once is unprecedented, but still manageable. There are already some who have taken flight and many more who aren't too far behind. Just a little while longer and they'll be prepared for the next major step, as the heart of the system itself is to be destroyed next. It's believed to be in space, hovering behind various camouflages and shields. But they will find it soon, and its annihilation is imminent. Imminent, but not now.

For now, another business must be tended to first.

Back on Angel Island. A place that has remained uninhabited for decades, even now under the system's reign. With the passing of its last guardian, the Master Emerald had been removed by the system and is now stored elsewhere. Subsequently, it rests on the ocean, not having been in the sky for some time now. Soon after, the place became the graveyard it is now, with its last burial dating back several decades ago. Ever since, it has remained untouched. Not by the people, not by the system, not even by Shadow. It's a place he has given his oath to, a place he is to visit one more time only for one specific reason. That reason is due now and it's time to finally fulfill the oath.

Treading on these sacred grounds, the bright green colors that once enlivened the island have been replaced by a monochromatic environment. With the Master Emerald no longer present to regenerate the colors, all the plants, trees, earth, lakes, ruins, stones, and more are now only in black and white. And though as unnatural of a sight it may be, the island is still very much alive; none of the lakes are dried out, none of the plants withered. Though they lack any color, they still regenerate their lives. It's a most unique ecosystem, with no other area in the world quite like it. Thus, with so much still alive, the island's encompassing graveyard provides a harmonious atmosphere. Life and death encircle Shadow.

With clones now commonplace and the host oftentimes adopting the traits and abilities of their model, machines no longer have a place in this world. Exhausting, tiring work that any machine could have done instead has been forced upon the people and any means to program or even activate a robot is no longer possible; the system has seen to that decades ago. Thus, the graveyard is not for the fleshy ones, but for all those machines who are lost forever following the Great Deactivation event. As Shadow walks by some of the palm trees, he sees countless Metal Sonics laid on the ground, with plants growing inside them and preserving their metal bodies. Their bodies now belong to the island. Life and death fuel the island all at once. All the Metal Sonics, the Mecha Sonics, the Badniks; whether they were still part of the madman's fallen empire or reprogrammed by the military, they now unitedly rest here. Memories rush by Shadow, as despite all the fighting they had done, there's something distinctively nostalgic about those times. And though their bodies are all metal, their minds were very much still alive.

Passing by the shrine, Gemerl's body has been laid to rest there too. A great sadness befell the machine in his last years, with him outliving the family that so tenderly took him in. Even to the end, he remained a fighter, trying his best to combat the system. He fought for all that he believed in. His predecessor would've been proud. Shadow certainly is. Like all of them, Gemerl had a mind of its own. A living mind. The hedgehog briefly pays his respects to him, as he rips out a feather from his black wings and places it beside the body. Just like Gemerl, Shadow was a mindless machine too. A machine that has found freedom.

Right beside it, though, is what Shadow truly seeks, the sole purpose of his presence here. There it is, as massive as he remembers it; amidst a thick bush lies the body of Omega, a close companion of days past. Their adventures are too many to count, too many memories to recall at once. A wave of melancholy strikes the hedgehog, as he musters every bit of his strength just to approach it. Seeing someone he held dear be lifeless before him is a devastating sight. Yet, in a way, there's a tinge of beauty to it too. As destructive as the red colossus may have been, he has always had a soft spot for nature. To now be fully engulfed by it, to be a part of it is undoubtedly the ideal scenario Omega had in mind for his demise. That, or dying in a raging fight. Standing right before the body, Shadow tenderly caresses the robot's sturdy chest piece with his golden claws. Memories of old.

The end was nigh. Their impending doom had been announced just recently, and all attempts to prevent it were futile. The machines were set to perish at any moment, and none of the heroes were left to fight with them. There is nothing they can do but wait. Fortunately, to ease the pain and sorrow, they could wait together, clinging to each other and holding each other close. Before he passed, the aged echidna permitted the machines to visit his island. Though he no longer had the strength to fight the new system, he could help those affected by it. Thus, a wave of the dying machines migrates to the fallen haven, sticking close together in their final moments. Even if most were enemies at one time, they are now united in their common destruction.

Furthermore, the red guardian's only living organic friend is invited too, so that he may bid farewell to the metal creatures he once fought with. Sitting by Omega's side, the two quietly gaze at the extraordinary sight of all the robots coming together. They remain there, in silence, until ultimately the weaponized behemoth states:

THANK YOU FOR COMING, SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG.

Taking a deep breath, the ebony hedgehog answers:

"No need to thank me. We're in this together, remember?"

The two struggle to share eye contact, a wave of emotions overwhelming them. Or, at least, something that simulates a deep feeling of sadness forming within Omega's artificial mind. For them to say goodbye in such a manner is something neither of them ever expected to do; Shadow has always seen himself as unkillable, and Omega as indestructible. But deep down, they all knew that this was just a mere illusion. One of them would die eventually; it has always been inevitable. Nevertheless, in an attempt to lighten the mood during such a grim moment, Omega utters:

NICE WEATHER WE ARE HAVING. IT IS CURRENTLY SUNNY, CLEAR SKIES, NO SIGNS OF RAIN, LOW HUMIDITY LEVELS, LOW-

Interrupting his attempts at small-talk, Shadow speaks:

"...I'm… going to miss your firepower, buddy. You made sparks fly like no one else ever could."

Finally turning his head to Shadow, Omega declares, his bright red eyes glaring at the hedgehog:

SPEAKING OF MAKING SPARKS FLY… I HAVE ONE LAST GIFT FOR YOU, SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG…

With curiosity, the hedgehog slowly turns around as the robot hands him a strange, purple device.

YOU ARE THE LAST OF US, SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG. I WANT YOU TO SURVIVE, BUT IN CASE EVERYTHING FAILS, I OFFER YOU THIS FINAL RESORT. I CALL THIS THE OMEGA BOMB BECAUSE I DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED IT. SIMPLY PRESS THIS RED BUTTON TO ACTIVATE IT. ONCE ACTIVATED, A TIMER OF 1 MINUTE IS STARTED.

Slightly worried, Shadow inquires further:

"...then what?"

THE ENTIRE SOLAR SYSTEM IS SUCKED INTO A BLACK HOLE, WHICH THEN CLOSES BY ITSELF. JUST IN CASE EVERYTHING GOES WRONG.

Taken aback by this information, yet not entirely surprised either, Shadow simply shoots him a smirk and finally looks at him, their crimson eyes interlocked. In a calm tone, the hedgehog says:

"...heh, sure thing buddy. But I… can't carry this thing around… It is pretty dangerous, you know."

DON'T WORRY, I CONSIDERED THAT TOO…

Thus, in a sudden instant, Omega's chest opens like a hatch, revealing plenty of empty space inside. Inserting the peculiar bomb inside and shutting his chest right after, he explains:

WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT, HEAD TO THIS SPOT. YOU WILL FIND MY BODY HERE. CAREFULLY OPEN MY CHEST AND RETRIEVE THE BOMB. SWEAR TO ME THAT YOU WILL DO SO BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT SOMETHING THAT WARRANTS A SOLAR SYSTEM-LEVEL REACTION. YOU ARE OUR LAST HOPE AND THIS DEVICE MAY ONLY BE USED TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR END GOAL. DO YOU COPY?

Subtly smiling at him, Shadow confirms in a somber tone:

"I swear on Maria's name I'll be back for you only if I must. I swear it."

Relieved, Omega eases up, with Shadow now crossing his arms and leaning his head against the robot's wide arm. Though sharing another moment of silence, it feels far more comfortable now, with both steadily accepting what is to occur soon. Those around them certainly are, at least. In one more exchange, Omega asks:

DO YOU THINK MY HEART WILL LIVE ON THROUGH CHAOS?

Now speaking in a more whispery voice, Shadow answers:

"If your heart is pure, you will. Doesn't matter what you are."

SHADOW… THANK YOU. YOU AND ROUGE WERE THE BEST FAMILY I COULD EVER HAVE. THOUGH I MADE MANY MISTAKES, I DO NOT REGRET MY LIFE. I OWE A LOT OF THAT TO YOU. THANK YOU, FOR BEING MY BEST FRIEND, SHADOW. I AM ROOTING FOR YOU.

A singular tear runs down Shadow's left cheek, his voice becoming shaky all of a sudden. In his heart, he's grieving already. And yet, he's happy too, happy to be there for him and with him. Shadow was there in the beginning, he will now be there in the end.

"...thank you too, Omega. You're my best friend as well. I'll never forget everything we've done together… In my mind, you'll always be with me. Thank… Thank you, old friend…"

Silence once more, as the two remain this way, with Shadow steadily shutting his eyes. Resting for a moment, he eventually awakens, alone. Alone again.

…

It was a good memory. Shadow is fortunate to have made such a good last memory with his close friend. These are the memories Shadow will ensure to keep in mind as long as he lives; through his memories, all his friends live on. To show his gratitude for this beautiful memory, he holds true to the oath. What is to occur next will change the scope of the entire solar system. And if all goes wrong, if only one final option is left, then that option should be the one Omega had offered.

With his claws still on Omega's chest, they emit a shimmering light as he steadily phases through the metal. Carefully reaching inside as if he is reaching through water, Shadow soon finds the item and slowly pulls it out, the object passing through the chest along with his hand. Closely examining the item, it has remained perfectly intact; the Omega Bomb still functions, ready to detonate on command. The destructive power of the solar system in the palm of his hand. Creating a pocket dimension, Shadow swiftly tucks it away, not wanting to hold on to it any longer than necessary. Whenever he's ready, whenever he pleases, he can now summon the device; it's safely equipped.

The departure to space is soon and the great assault will ensue. Despite the ultimate weapon he carries, there's still a hint of fear within him. He is about to enter most unfamiliar territory, where the most unfathomable of horrors may await him. But, he is no longer all alone. All these people are moved by hope, a sensation long thought to be lost forever. He will share their optimism and he will move forward. All the time Shadow has spent alive, all the experience he has collected, and the moments he has made; the moment is now for him to fully prove himself. To prove that he can truly become something greater than he was ever meant to be and has ever thought of himself to be. A sense of confidence refreshes him, all made possible by the earnest friendships he has made. Looking at Omega's body one last time, Shadow quietly utters:

"...thank you, old friend…"