I had set back a goal to finish this by the end of the summer – I didn't expect to finish it this soon, to tell you the truth. But no matter! Here it is: the final chapter of Experimentation, in all its final glory. XP

Sonic: Whoo!

Shadow: …::smirk::

Final page count: 144 pages.

Enjoy! Writing is copyright of me of course.
" Shadow?! What's going on?! Respond! Shadow!!"

Crimson slanted more as he stared, ready to blow the scientist's brains out.

" Hey!! Faker! Respond, damn it!!"

There were too many thoughts flying through his head.

Sonic's voice continued to prattle on in his ears.

One hand reached and fiddled with the communication link. His fingers turned the headset off – dimming the voice that screamed in his ears – until it was gone.

The voice of reason was silent.

A finger curled against the trigger – waiting for the right moment where the final fear came into the man's eyes.

Shadow's eyes were cold and almost lifeless. It was easy to just pull the trigger. To put an end to the nightmares of torture that this man had burned so hard into his mind. To have some form of closure for the things that he suffered.

He could remember the ARK killings now. The people who he slaughtered for hurting him before - by taking her from him, the only friend he had other than the doctor.

The accumulated blood on his hands of those soldiers still wasn't enough justice for dimming the light of her life before they had a chance to return to Earth.

It wasn't enough.

He had enough of this constant pain.

He would make it go away.

Sonic screamed into his headset, repeating himself until Tails turned and looked at him, trying to get the hedgehog to calm down enough so he could talk to him.

" Sonikku!" The fox had to scream, trying to override the angry shouting from both Rouge and Knuckles, who weren't happy that their ears were getting a bunch of Sonic's blather.

" What happened, Tails?! He's in trouble…!"

" Sonic, he turned his link off!"

" What?!"

" My sensors say that he turned it off…it wasn't damaged."

" …Someone could have turned it off if they…"

" I don't think so…" Tails' ears folded a little as he frowned.

" We need to help him!"

" He doesn't want help." Knuckles bellowed into the communications link between the team. " It's sort of obvious, hedgehog."

" Screw you, Knuckles…! You don't know what hell we went through…!" Sonic growled, angry and upset that he and Tails were just…sitting there! Not doing anything to assist. Waiting.

He hated waiting. It drove him batty.

" Sonic, calm down…he turned it off for a reason…you heard part of that conversation, you know…" Rouge's calm voice was surprising to all – considering that she could scream as well as the rest of them.

The blue hedgehog frowned. A fist tightened in his lap. Shadow remembered something from his past…of how he's killed people before…We all heard it over the link from the background noise…

Tails looked a little worried. He knew that Sonic couldn't just sit here and do nothing, but it was the only option that they had at the moment.

" Shadow can take care of himself, Sonikku…" Someone said quietly. " We…have to trust him now."

Green eyes lifted to look at the building – knowing full well where Shadow was – how he had gotten to the floor where he had been held prisoner before… And he knew that the head scientist – the one who had all the experiments done on the two of them – was right there. With Shadow.

Most likely threatening to capture him again. To hurt him again.

Sonic felt useless. He wanted to be there with Shadow – to help fight and prevent the experiments from happening again.

" If his link is off though – we don't know if he's been captured or…!"

" We…just have to wait…"

" I don't want to wait! Tails, let's fly in again – I'll go look for him…!"

" We can't do that, Sonic! You can barely walk as it is!"

" I can't just SIT HERE!!!" Sonic screamed, eyes closing as he wailed.

" Knock it off, you fucking brat!" The Guardian's voice had gotten hostile and angry. " Shut the fuck up, sit down and hang on for the ride! You can't help everyone and you KNOW that! So STOP being a whiny bitch!"

Rouge blinked a little, her own ears flittering as she stared at the echidna from their position in the building. Knuckles had gotten serious with Sonic – which meant that his own anger had pretty much boiled over. She did not say anything at the moment, waiting to see if Knuckles was going to rant more or not.

Which – apparently – he was going to.

" There are some things that people have to do for themselves, hedgehog. And this is one of those things that Shadow has to do for himself. We've only had to deal with GUN for a short period of time, but have you thought about how GUN locked Shadow away? We don't know what the hell they did to him before this last attack against both him and you – and we have to let him DEAL with it in his own way. If that means killing that fucker who put that sensor in you – or did all the experiments on both you and Shadow – then that's his closure. You might not agree with it, Sonikku – but we have to honor whatever decision that Shadow makes…"

Tails was silent as well – just waiting and watching how the blue hedgehog took Knuckles' words.

" …But…"

" 'But' nothing, Sonic! Some people deal with things differently – and he probably couldn't take you screaming at him while he makes a decision of how to step forward. Deal with it – suck it up and don't be a baby just because you don't like how someone handles something that is pretty much critical for him or her to continue functioning!"

Sonic had fallen silent – just listening to Knuckles' tirade of words.

Even the Guardian had gone quiet – and there wasn't much else to say.

The silence was maddening between the four remaining links of the communicating team.

The man remained still.

Watching.

Waiting for the shot.

Waiting for death.

Shadow's fingers were twitchy.

Just one shot and it would be over.

The pain brought on by this…slug of a man would be gone.

Over.

No more.

He wanted it so badly…

The taste of death.

Blood on his hands.

Once more.

Blood red eyes almost smiled as he moved the gun.

And pulled the trigger.

Sonic shivered quickly, feeling a cold wind blow from where the Tornado was hovering. The two treasure hunters had gone silent on their end – except for talking strategy with each other as they began to finish setting the bombs on the lower floors. Tails continued to monitor the links – watching for when Shadow's would turn back on.

That was – if – it turned back on.

He tried not to worry as Sonic shifted in his seat behind him. They had to have faith in Shadow. He was very skilled at what he did – and they had to respect the decisions that he made once he was in that building.

From the second he got onto the main floors of where the experimentation had taken place – he was on his own. They couldn't really help him in any other way – except possibly with security measures, like Rouge had proved before.

It was that uncertainty – which left Sonic even more worried than he was already.

But there was nothing that they could do. Not until they either knew where his position was by the headset – or if the feed went dead completely.

It was a horrible waiting game to play. But they had to play it regardless of anything that the hedgehog did.

Sonic's eyes didn't leave that building. He was waiting for a sign. Something to scream "Come help me" or "I'm okay"…

He kept shifting about in his seat. Getting antsy. Which was bad since he barely had any patience as it was.

" What's taking so long…?! Why won't he…" He quickly shut up as he heard an echidna growl over the link again.

Ears folding, Sonic resigned to waiting, impatiently.

Rouge's voice came over the link, talking to Tails and explaining that they had their explosives in position and that the treasure hunters would be making their escape from the building soon. Tails responded back and moved the Tornado – beginning a descent while firing off distractions to the turrets so that both Rouge and Knuckles could get out of the building safely. The two dove from a grating, plummeting down toward the streets below – where they would glide away and out of the fire of the GUN security. The plan was for them to use the city as cover – then meet up with Tails and Sonic in the Tornado as the fox made the second pass of the building.

The X-wing plane zipped out of fire, disappearing into the clouds and heading for the rendezvous point that was previously set up by Rouge. Both she and Knuckles were waiting on top of one of the buildings, waiting for the pick up. Rouge smiled at Tails and told him that they had a complete success – whereas Knuckles remained stoic, folding his arms and taking a spot on the plane to wait.

Both he and Sonic wouldn't look at each other.

Sonic's foot continued to tap against the Tornado's floor.

Come on, Shadow…this is insane…

Blood ran down the side of his face, dripping onto the white coat that he was wearing.

Wide eyes stared at the hedgehog with the gun.

Shocked.

Shadow's eyes were still slant and unfeeling. His hatred still grew for the man…

…who was still breathing.

The scientist reached and touched his face, feeling the blood from the swipe of the bullet that missed him.

Purposely.

He felt himself chuckle.

" Letting me dangle a little before putting me out of my misery…?"

Crimson sharpened and glared. His fingers were still on the trigger.

He did not respond to the man, who seemed to be edging at him. Trying to get him to actually kill.

" Maybe you actually are going soft…Shadow…We can rework that…make you into the perfect killing machine once more…"

The pistol raised and came crashing down on the man's skull. The hedgehog glared rage and hissed as he smacked the man with the gun twice more before he flopped over.

Unconscious.

Shadow's anger was brimming now as he glared hatred down at the man. One kick to the stomach satisfied him as he felt water on his cheeks.

" You're not worth it, you fucking asshole…I hope your misery kills you when you realize that your precious experiments bested you."

One arm wiped the water from his eyes.

Shadow grabbed his bag off of the floor and quickly raced off to place the remaining bombs left in his possession, flicking at the switch on his headset and readjusting so he could speak into it again.

" Guys? It's me. Sorry about that…had a rat to subdue. I'll be done shortly, don't worry about me…" He muttered as he raced about the room, readying the next bomb against a computer monitor.

Sonic nearly jumped about five feet as Shadow's voice came back in his ear.

" You're okay!"

The hedgehog on the other end laughed a little. There were sounds of his tinkering, readying the next bomb.

" Yeah, yeah…I'm fine, faker. I got two more bombs to set and then I'm heading your way."

" Shadow…" Sonic seemed to want to ask…

" What?"
" …Good luck." He smiled a little on his end.

" …Thanks. Over and out."

Green eyes blinked and looked back toward the building, smiling still as Knuckles gave him an 'I-told-you-so" look. Rouge looked relieved as she sat on the edge the plane by Tails' seat. The echidna had taken a spot at the back – near the tail of the plane as they waited for the Chaos Control energy to appear.

The second and third bombs were easy enough to place for the black hedgehog – since he picked out the computers that he knew that his and Sonic's data had been stored in this secret lab. There was only one more to set. He had to fight his subconscious desire to strap it to the unconscious bastard lying on the floor, picking one of the main structural beams of the room. He carefully secured the fourth bomb to the beam, making sure it was set up properly before priming it for denotation.

Shadow picked up his bag, slipping the gun into it and taking his emerald out again. He had one last run around the room, checking the bombs to make sure that they would all go off when the detonator was pushed. He treated himself to another kick to the unconscious scientist before moving to the center of the room, away from all of the bombs, for fear of accidentally setting them off with the energy that he was about to produce.

Gripping the silver emerald in his right hand, Shadow felt the smooth sides with his fingers before tightening his grip on them and holding the emerald up, closing his eyes as it started to glitter with power.

" CHAOS…CONTROL!!!"

The room filled with silver light – smashing some of the glass that was still around him – as the rings of energy spread and circled his black form. Red and black quills danced in the power and light as the energy quickly imploded onto itself – consuming him and only leaving a tiny blip - before that too – dissipated.

A light appeared above the plane.

" Here he comes!"

" Better shield your eyes, guys!"

Silver energy burst above the Tornado – dropping two familiar feet onto the wings of the plane. Shadow steadied himself a little and stood, spread-legged on the top V of the X wings of the plane. His quills flittered about from the remaining energy from the Chaos Emerald, only to move again as the wind picked up. He looked over his right shoulder, eying up the blue hedgehog behind him.

" Ready to blow it sky high, faker?"

That grin came back to peach lips.

" You bet, faker…"

The two hedgehogs grinned at each other as Tails kept the plane steady as they maintained their distance from the GUN Labs. Sonic dug into the pack in front of him, pulling out the detonator and grasping it in his hands.

" Let's enjoy the fireworks!" He grinned as his hand slammed against the detonator quickly, sending the chain of events off. Explosions ripped apart both the lower and higher levels of the building, causing it to burn brightly with orange and red flames of closure. The GUN Labs started to wobble and collapse onto itself, soon having the destroyed higher level crush the levels under it, taking the precious Chaos Control Project information with it.

The team of heroes watched in quiet satisfaction as the building collapsed, knowing full well that no one inside was going to be killed, other than robots…and perhaps one deserving scientist.

Sonic looked up at the hedgehog standing on the V of the wing, wondering if Shadow let the scientist die with his projects, or if he did kill him before setting the bombs. He wasn't sure if he was going to ask when they got home.

Perhaps…it's better if I don't know…

Shadow's eyes focused on the explosions and how they felt gratifying to him.

I know this probably isn't what you wanted…but…I had to do this. Maybe now I can live in some sort of peace…like you would have wanted…

Tails began fiddling with the controls of the plane.

" Shall we…go home?" He mainly asked the two hedgehogs, since it was their revenge that they might want to savor as the building continued to burn.

Red eyes looked back at green, which nodded.

" Let's go home…" A small smile appeared on his face.

" Mission accomplished." Shadow muttered quickly, as Tails turned the plane and headed back for his Mystic Ruins workshop, where they all could rest peacefully knowing that they prevented the Chaos Control Project from surviving to torment them any longer.

Days passed with no interference from any GUN soldiers, allowing complete rest for the weary heroes. Tails heard on the news that the GUN Labs incident was blamed on illegal experiments that apparently exploded – thus ruling the collapse of the building as an accident. The fox said that the placement of all the bombs by Rouge, Knuckles and Shadow had actually helped assist the findings, considering that chemicals had destroyed the remains of the bombs before any arson detectives could find them.

Things seemed to be regaining a sense of 'normalcy' in Mystic Ruins. Tails went back to tinkering on his many projects in the workshop as Sonic seemed to be getting better and better every day. Knuckles would disappear often as he usually did, but always seemed to leave some new herbs for Rouge to use with Sonic's treatment. The echidna was pretty much AWOL after that – most likely back on his island to meditate and become one again with his peace and solitude.

Shadow lingered at the workshop, helping both Tails and Rouge out with the whiny hedgehog who really was itching to get out for a run. The black hedgehog remained pretty quiet after the GUN Labs destruction. He only really seemed to talk to Sonic to keep him busy, or if he wanted to say anything to Rouge or Tails. The fox seemed to worry about this, but the bat knew better. It was just in Shadow's nature to be sort of quiet unless needed.

Time came for the bat to do her own disappearing act, considering that Sonic was walking around in crutches now. She gave Tails and Shadow permission to smack the blue hedgehog around if he rushed himself or tried to walk without his crutches before the next two weeks were up. The bat also left them with instructions of any medication that Sonic might need if his pain returned, but the hedgehog had pretty much been without any need for it since his recovery was very steady and prognosis was good. Sonic protested the beatings and the medication, persistent that he was fine and able to walk without the help of crutches, but was shut up almost instantly by a flying pillow thrown by the white treasure hunter.

Sonic saw her off when she decided that it was time to leave. He hobbled around with his crutches, following her on the runway area of the workshop's land.

" So where are you off to this time, Rouge? Of to collect some more jewels?"

" No, I don't think so…but who knows?" She winked and waggled her hips at him a little. " I am the best treasure hunter known to man…"

The hedgehog smirked.

" I know another one who would disapprove of that."

" Oh, what does he know?" Rouge folded her arms, her wings tucking against her back a little as she smirked off to the side. " He's just a loner with nothing better to do…"

" Except guard that pretty BIG Master Emerald of his…" Sonic chimed up, noting the green of the bat's eyes sparkle a little.

" Yeah…it's sort of nice, isn't it?" She muttered, sort of daydreaming about getting that emerald for herself again. Her ears perked and she shook her head. " That's not funny, Sonic."

The hedgehog mused, leaning more on one crutch than the other.

" Anyway…I think I should be going. You take care of yourself and try not to give Tails too much trouble." She waggled a finger at him.
" You mean Tails and Shadow…" Sonic grinned, snapping at her finger a little playfully.

Green eyes blinked as she adjusted her coat a little.

" Oh…I suppose."

Matching green blinked once and he cocked his head to the side.

" …Rouge?"

" What?"

" Is there something you're not telling me?"

" I assumed he told you."

" …Told me what?"

" Maybe you'd better go talk to him yourself, Sonikku." She smiled gently at him.

The blue hedgehog blinked and frowned, his ears folding outwards a little.

" You mean he's leaving too?"

Rouge sighed gently and nodded, noting his look.

" Sonic, we knew that he was going to leave eventually."

" I know." Sonic frowned. " I thought he would have told me…"

The bat thought about that and nodded, remembering that both Sonic and Shadow had been talking, hanging out and keeping each other company after the GUN building was destroyed. She had assumed that the two had gotten pretty close.

Apparently not close enough, since Shadow had told her and not him that he was going to be leaving Mystic Ruins soon.

" I'm sorry, Sonikku. I'm sure he would have told you."

" Or he would have upped and left, leaving Tails and me wondering…"

She frowned again.

" Sonic…"

" Sorry." He rubbed his head a little. " Do you know where he is? I think he went on a run this morning…"

" Last time I saw Shadow, he was near the waterfall. Sitting by that tree near the bank of the drop off." Rouge said, pointing toward the waterfall that was on the side of the mountains, before heading off into the deeper parts of the jungle.

" Thanks, Rouge." Sonic said, turning to wander toward the stairs that would lead him down so that he could get to the waterfall.

One hand touched his shoulder.

" Want a hand? You're slower than a turtle when you're wandering down the stairs with those things."

" If you'd just give me permission to stop using them, I could just run down the stairs!"

" Oh, don't you try that shit on me now, Sonic!" She laughed, rubbing his head a little. " God, you're so stubborn."

" Look who's talking."

" Hey, do you want help or not?" She said, poking his nose. " I can just take you up into the air and then DROP your hedgehog ass…"

Sonic folded his ears and gave her that pouty look on his face again, which only made her laugh harder.

" You're such a brat."

He grinned, picking up his crutches as her wings expanded, flapped and she was flying slightly over him. Rouge's hands took a hold under his arms and she lifted the wriggling blue hedgehog off of the ground and headed for the bottom of the stairs with him.

" WEE!" Sonic cried, laughing and teasing her as she carried him.

Rouge laughed as she put him down on his feet at the base of the stairs, helping him with his crutches again.

" You're on your own now, hedgehog."

" I know. Thanks again, Rouge."

" I'll be back in a few days to check on you, you know. So be good." Another poke to his nose.

Sonic smirked and nodded as she started to flap her wings again, heading off to pick up her bag that she left up at the top of the stairs. He moved his hands to cup them over his mouth to call up after her.

" Say 'hi' to Red for me before you steal his emerald again, okay?!"

Rouge looked back and promptly flipped him off, grinning slyly as she dipped down to grab her bag. Sonic matched her salute with two of his own, then waved as she smirked at him and flew off into the blue cloudless sky.

The hedgehog chuckled a little to himself, putting his hands on the bars of the crutches and starting off for the waterfall.

Black and red was leaning up against the tree as he watched water fall from the top of the mountain, into the spring beneath him. The water would then travel underneath the ground to be let out at a point of the cliff, where it would fall into the ocean and become one with it. Although it was loud and noisy, Shadow usually felt pretty tranquil while he was watching the water fall.

His bag and a brown cloak were neatly folded up next to him.

Eyes closing softly, the hedgehog thought about the memories that he had regained in the time that he had fallen from ARK. All pieces of the huge puzzle that was his mind. Some of them were peaceful. Others dangerous and scary. Almost frightening.

He would wonder about the "Ultimate Life Form" tag that was pretty much branded onto him. He wasn't sure if he was actually the Ultimate Life or not – or if his powers were because of that, rather than just being special. After all, Sonic had his speed and he wasn't the Ultimate Life Form…but then again he too could use the Chaos Control powers that Shadow had.

It was very confusing. There were so many pieces still missing.

" So…were you just going to leave without saying goodbye?"

Crimson eyes opened quickly, turning to see Sonic leaning up against the other side of the tree, balancing on one of the crutches. The other one he had set on the ground.

" Sonic…"

" Well…?" Green eyes looked a little concerned.

" …No. I just didn't know how to tell you."

" You seemed to tell Rouge just fine." Sonic said, starting to sit down next to Shadow.

" …It's…sort of easier with her."

The blue hedgehog's ears flicked and he looked at the black one.

" What…?"

A chuckle.

" She expected me to be gone sooner."

" And the rest of us didn't?"

" I could tell that…some wanted me to stay."

Sonic leaned back against the tree, quietly sighing. Shadow glanced at him, then back to the waterfall.

" I would have liked to think that you could have told me…since we've been…you know. Actually talking."

" I'm sorry." Black ears folded a little as his eyes half-lidded. " I just, couldn't seem to find the right time to tell you."

" So you were just going to leave?"

" No. I would have told you."

One finger pointed at the bag and the cloak.

" That says different."

" Screw you, faker." Shadow snapped, eyes slanting.

" Ah…now that's the Shadow I know." Sonic winked, grinning.

The black hedgehog blinked at the blue hedgehog and then shook his head.

" No wonder Knuckles calls you a brat."

A smirk.

" …So. Where you headed?"

Eyes continued to watch the water fall.

" I don't know yet. There's so much…that isn't there, you know?"

" Pieces of your memory?"

" Yes…"

Sonic nodded.

" I sort of hoped it would have been easier for you. To regain that back which you lost."

" You're not the only one. But…I can't stay here."

" You're more than welcome to."

Red blinked and turned again to stare.

" …What? I mean it, Shadow."

" If you had told me that before I fell from ARK, I would have thought you were crazy."

Sonic laughed.

" Well, before then I didn't want you to."

" And why do you want me to now?"

" That's easy…" Sonic trailed off, tilting his head to look up at the cloudless sky.

" …Well?"

" You're my friend, Shadow."

Shadow blinked. A friend…

" I know it's sort of…odd, isn't it? We were enemies before, but…I consider you my friend now, Shadow." Sonic smiled a little, nose still pointed to the sky. " We've…gone through a lot. Together."

" Sonic…"

" …Yes?"

Dark tan lips curled into a smile.

" I'm glad to be considered…a friend. To you."

Sonic matched his smile as he looked at his friend.

" I just want you to know that you're not alone in the world…I don't know what happened in the past – but it must be hard to think of yourself as being alone. With no one to count on."

" And I can count on you then? An old enemy?"

" Why not? You helped me out."

" I could have just been repaying the debt to you since you saved me first."

Sonic smirked, folding his arms behind his head.

" Yeah, but if that was the case, why stick around? Worried about me, Shadow?"

Red eyes pinpointed slightly and he quieted.

" …Worried about your stubborn ass? Ha!"

One fist lightly socked Shadow in the arm.

" Suuuure, Shadow." He winked.

The black and red hedgehog laughed, leaning forward on bent legs.

The two were quiet for a few moments, just enjoying the waterfall sounds and noises of harmony and serenity. Shadow closed his eyes, thinking a little to himself.

Please don't ask me to stay.

" Sonic, I…"

" I know."

" W-what?" Shadow questioned, quirking a brow.

" I'm not going to ask you to stay, Shadow. I know how it is."

" How what is?"

" That itch. The one you're getting. That's why you won't stay."

" And what 'itch' would that be?"

" To see the world. To run and to not be tied down to anything—"

" Which I'm sure you've had many times…" Shadow interrupted.

" …and to be free." Sonic finished.

Ears perked this time.

" …Free?"

Sonic smiled again.

" Yeah. I'm not going to pretend that I know what it's like to be asleep for fifty or so many years…to not…know what…life is."

Shadow's memories of being locked away sparked up again… He shivered lightly.

" Just…promise me one thing." Sonic added.

" …Promise?"

" If you need help, you'll let me know. Okay?"

" What if I'm on the other side of the planet?"
" Then run here. Run home. Just promise me, Shadow."

The black hedgehog thought for a moment and then nodded.

" I promise."

Sonic laughed a little.

" Thanks, Shadow."

" Only if you promise me something."

" Hm? What's that?"

" To use those crutches, don't rush yourself and get better so Rouge doesn't kill you."

" Awww!!" Sonic whined, ears folding.

" C'mon, Sonikku!" Shadow laughed. " Promise me that, or I'll be back to help her strap you to a bed and we'll jam another IV in you!"

" Agh! That's not even funny! Okay okay! I promise!"

The black and red hedgehog smiled and nodded, appeased.

" That's not fair, you know. You get to go run and have fun and I have to sit here and be bored…"

" Well, maybe I'll come back sooner so we can go on a run together then."

" Oooh…competition…" Sonic practically drooled.

" BUT!" Shadow waved one finger at him. " You have to be better or else tough cookies."

" Jeez, what's with you and her and your loopholes?!"

" It isn't a loophole, unless you want me to win!"

" What?! I will SO beat you!"

" Then you get better and we'll just see about that!"

The two stared at each other for another moment before both laughing hard.

" I'm going to miss arguing with you."

" And beating you with pillows."

" What's with everyone and picking on a poor defenseless hedgehog?!"

" Defenseless?! I still have scars from when you spin-dashed me you little shit!"

" HA! I win then!"

" Win what?!"

" The battle!" Sonic smirked, laughing hard again before yelping as Shadow quickly got him in a headlock and started rubbing on his head with his knuckles. "Agh!! Leggo!" His bandaged legs kicked as he laughed, trying to pull on Shadow's ears.

" Say uncle!"

" Never, you faker!!"

" Say it!"

" NEVER!" Sonic started chewing on Shadow's arm, trying to get him to let go.

" You cheat." Shadow said as he rubbed his arm once he let go of that blue head.

" Do not." Another grin.

Shadow chuckled as he started to stand. Sonic looked up at him and frowned a little.

" Going already?"

" Yeah…I wanted to get going before noon."

" You sure you don't want to stay another day? Leave in the morning?"

" Thanks for the offer but no. I need to get going. I think if I…go experience this place more…that I might be able to trigger more memories."

" That's true…" Sonic blinked as Shadow offered him a hand to stand up. He took it and was pulled onto his feet, picking up a crutch to lean on. " Where you going to stay?"

" I'll figure something out. If I need a place to crash, I can always Chaos Control here."

" Do you still have the Silver Emerald?"

" Yup. I would prefer my green one…but I don't know where it is. This will have to do until I can swap it for my old one."

Sonic nodded, quills bouncing a little. Shadow bent and picked up his bag and cloak, tucking it under his arm as he put his backpack over his shoulders.

" Good luck, Shadow."

" Thanks…I'll need it."

" And be careful."

" Oh? Careful like you or careful-careful?"

" Bastard."

A grin.

" You remember what you promised…"

" I will. You do the same. I'll be back sooner than you think."

" I don't know about that…there's a lot to see out there…"

" Well, if you get bored, try to catch me, faker."

Sonic matched Shadow's grin.

" Is that a challenge?"

" You bet it is."

" You're on, faker."

" Wouldn't have it any other way."

One peach arm reached out, holding his hand to his former enemy. Shadow looked at it for a moment before taking it with his own hand. They smiled at each other before letting go, allowing Shadow to fish out the Silver Chaos Emerald from his bag.

" You have the head start, faker." Sonic mused, backing up to let Shadow summon the energy needed for a transport. " You'll need it…since I'll catch up to you in a flash."

" Talk is cheap, Sonikku." Shadow winked, holding out the emerald a little. " Action speaks louder, after all."

" You're just full of clichés, aren't you?"

" Calling the kettle black?" That one was deliberate.

" No, I'm calling YOU black, faker!" Sonic winked.

Shadow grinned, holding up the silver emerald.

" CHAOS…CONTROL!!!"

Sonic squinted a little as the silver energy rings appeared around the black and red hedgehog, power spiking around him as the teleporting move started. Shadow stuck his tongue out at his friend, which was matched quickly by Sonic, before the emerald's energy overtook him and he was gone.

A blip appeared on the top of the mountain, near where the water began its drop off – turning into the waterfall that the hedgehogs had been watching. Shadow peered over the edge as he reformed into sight – looking down at Sonic, who seemed to be a little saddened by his departure. Crimson watched quietly as the blue hedgehog picked up the other crutch, tucking it under his arm, and hobbled off for the workshop.

Thoughts ran through Shadow's mind as he watched Sonic walk off.

But he smiled.

Goodbye for now…my friend. We'll meet again soon.
The black hedgehog watched blue wander away before turning and walking away, following the river as he disappeared into another burst of silver light – to parts unknown.

Sonic/Shadow and crew are all © SEGA. Used for fun.
Writing is © ME/Indilee. Please don't take. Thank you!

Thus – the end of Experimentation. I must say even though it took me a very long time to write – I believe it turned out to be one of the best stories I've put so much time into.

Sonic: Wow, it's finally over…And I'm all better! Yay! !
Shadow: …but where am I going?

Oh? Well…we'll find out later, I suppose?

Sonic: What does that mean?

Shadow: …I smell a sequel.

Mwhahaha!!!! XD