Disclaimer:

The following story is a piece of fan-fiction that features many of the characters that have featured in the Sonic the Hedgehog computer game series. These characters are property of, and either trademarks or registered trademarks of SEGA CORPORATION, as well as, but not limited to SEGA and SONICTEAM. I do not claim any ownership over these characters or the computer games they are featured in. I, Airo Smicktor, do however claim ownership of this fan-fiction, it's title, the subsequent chapters of it, and the name Airo Smicktor.

Please also be aware that this fan-fiction is no representation of the characters used in it. They are being placed in fictitious circumstances and situations, which would never occur in the actual computer games series, and their actions are only based on my own personal views on what characters would do in these positions. That is why this is called a fan-fiction: It is a made-up story written by a fan of the characters used in it, which is just expressing his enjoyment of the characters used.

By choosing to view this fan-fiction, you agree that you will not remove or edit any part or this entire story and then claim that it is your own work. Such stealing is damaging to the truthful internet fans who love reading original works featuring well-known characters, and is much like stealing someone's writing in real life and publishing it yourself. You also agree that you understand that there is no serious or intentional breach of copyright occurring here. Besides, you are the one who choose to view this, I did not send it to you, so if I am 'breaking the law', so are you my friend! Also by viewing this, you agree that you understand the difference between fact and fiction, and you understand the events that occur here will not occur in the actual computer game or in real life. I cannot be held reasonable if you cannot tell that difference.

Being Free

A Shadow the Hedgehog fan-fiction.

Written by Airo Smicktor

Prologue - Questions

"Freedom - The condition of being free of restraints."

The pitch black night sky loomed overhead. All that could be seen was the same darkness. The only light was from the stars and the moon.

Or at least, the half of the moon that hadn't been destroyed.

It served as a reminder of the events of ARK. Of the Final Hazard. Of the Eclipse Cannon. Of Maria.

These events plagued Shadow's mind and never seemed to leave. So many questions now filled his mind about those events…

'why did I survive the fall from space? Have I done enough to gain forgiveness for my previous actions? Have I carried out Maria's wish…'

That last question was the one he truly wanted the answer for. The last memories he had of the final battle of ARK were still hazy, but what he could remember was very clear.

The use of Chaos Control with Super Sonic, Sonic grabbing Shadow's arm to save him, the fall, the bright light, asking Maria if it was all over.

But Shadow didn't find the so-called heaven where she would be.

Instead, Shadow felt as if he was sent back into hell:

A world without her.

Shadow lied amongst the thick grass, and looked to the stars above. It had been three days since he'd awoken from the bright light that had separated him from the battle and where he was now. He was unsure how much time had passed, or what the current state of affairs where. He knew nothing.

'Such irony' Shadow thought, 'That I am the Ultimate Life-Form, yet I can still be so weak'.
Shadow always generalised any 'faults' in himself as weakness, perhaps due to his personality, that made he believe that if he was created to be perfect, he must strive to be perfect.
'But what did that voice mean in the light? Was it a message? A request?'

There were 2 more items that troubled Shadow: The others that had been on the ARK, and a voice that called to him while he was in the light when he was falling. He was sure it was to him, since the voice called to him by name.
"Do not fear, Shadow. Be free. We are proud" was all the voice had said, but this had been repeated over and over until it was printed into Shadow's mind.
Like a tattoo onto the skin, it remained. The difference was, tattoos can be removed, and this could not. Shadow had tried to block out this 'message' but it always returned. Shadow tried to live with it, since it only returned when Shadow thought about his 'new purpose' in life.

Shadow understood he had been created as weapon, but as a companion for Maria as well. He was to stay with Maria for her natural life, which he had done. He had already caused enough damage – the moon was a sign of that. So technically, he had served both of his main purposes. Now what? What happens to a used-up weapon? Is it just discarded? Forgotten about and left to rust away in some cupboard? This surely could not be the fate for the Ultimate Life-Form…

Shadow looked up at the remains of the moon, which (he felt) he had personally destroyed. His thoughts now turned to the others who had been on the ARK. There had been Dr. Eggman, Rouge, that pink female hedgehog who had thought Shadow was Sonic, the red Echidna, the young fox who had two tails, and Sonic. That name also was prominent in Shadow's thoughts, not because he had always referred to him as a 'faker' (which made little sense, since Shadow was created decades before Sonic was even born) but because after the battle, Sonic had tried to save him.

'Why?' Shadow thought, 'After all I had put you through, why did you try to save me?' Shadow looked to his gloves, one of which was missing its golden ring. It slipped off him as he fell out of Sonic's grip, so Shadow assumed that either the 'faker' had it, or it was burned up in the atmosphere.

Shadow never really considered Sonic to be a 'rival' or an 'equal', rather more like an opposite. While they looked the same, and had the same abilities, everything was still different about them. They talked differently, acted differently, but there was one difference that Shadow really noticed. Sonic was free. Free to run anywhere, do what he liked, and live a life to the fullest. Sonic could have chosen not to go after Eggman and save the world over and over, but he did it anyway. Shadow had done it because he HAD to, not selfishly though; he had done for Maria…

Be free. That was what the voice had told him. Be free.
'Be free? How am I supposed to do that?' he asked himself. 'For so long my life had been orders, can I survive by my own choices?' Shadow pondered this thought, and then stood up.

"Well, if anyone can help me to be free, then it will have to be that Hedgehog." Shadow spoke aloud. This was more of a statement than a fact. But Shadow then frowned. Firstly, he had no idea of where Sonic would be, and secondly, he was unsure himself where he was. A third factor then entered his mind:
'The government would probably arrest me the moment I stepped into the open. Since I nearly destroyed their planet. They would take me in for experimenting, or try to kill me…' Shadow never forgot the weapon side to him; it was a curse on his soul.
'How could a weapon possibly live in peace amongst the lives of people? How could people accept me into their lives?' Shadow now felt slightly disheartened by this self-realisation of unwanted ness, yet there was still doubt in his mind; something was making him unsure that this was a fact. Something that urged him to find out on his own, find out the truth, perhaps even find himself. Perhaps even… Be free…

"Hmph, I guess I wont find anything just by standing here all night" Shadow stated, more sure of himself. Shadow got back down in the grass, and curled up slightly on his side. He would need to get all the rest he could get, if he would be setting out on a quest tomorrow. Shadow closed his eyes as he slowly drifted off to sleep.

'Maria… did you call to me? Have I carried out your wish? …Maria…'

N.B. Edited 29-11-04 for paragraphing