The Truth Behind Project Shadow
Prologue
Fifty-nine years ago:
A young male Hedgehog not much older than seven sat in the rain in the Mystic Ruins. He had red streaks on his spikes, arms and just next to his eyes. Tears were flooding out of his eyes. He kept pushing and poking against a large red female Hedgehog, his mother, pleading to get her to wake up. Her body was lying on the ground, a large wound in her chest. Clearly she had been murdered. Just six feet from her was a large black male Hedgehog. He too had a wound in his chest and was lying on the ground. Their son thought they were asleep, and continuously tried to get them to wake up.
To no avail.
He kept trying for another three hours. It was nearly sunset by this time. The young Hedgehog was becoming weary. Tears were still rushing from his eyes.
It was then he heard something, the snapping sound of a branch breaking under some weight. He turned in the direction of the sound. A large man, bald, with a moustache that had very few specks of brown left on it. He was wearing expedition gear, and also hoping to search and find rare specimens in the jungle. He didn't find these though. Just the young Hedgehog staring at him with tears in his eyes.
"Wh-wh-who are you?" the black Hedgehog asked, scared that the human might do something to him.
"Me?" The human asked, looking down at the Hedgehog child. "I'm Gerald Robotnik." He then turned his head to the parents and winced at the sight of them. He knew instantly this child would not have much longer left alive if no-one found him. He turned back to the child.
"Do you know what's happened to my mommy and daddy?" The child asked, tears slowly stopping from appearing.
"I'd like to tell you, but you are not of age." Gerald said, a sad expression on his face. "Well, seeming as you know my name, what is yours?" He asked.
"Shadow the Hedgehog." The Hedgehog child said.
"Well, Shadow, your parents called me to come and pick you up." Gerald lied. "I am one of their best friends and I'm sure you can trust me?" He asked, raising a hand out in front of him, smiling.
Shadow looked at the hand, then back to Gerald's face, before placing his small hand in the humans. Little did he know of the events to change his life…