Moonrise

Hi all. Welcome to this new long fic. Here I will create a concept that is totally mine: no cover or game sequel, just an original story, with new OC, new powers, ... I hope you like it.

WARNING: from this prologue, there are quite harsh and sad and violent passages, worthy in my opinion of a good rank T. So you've been warned!

Chapter 0 : An end … and a New beginning

The space ... This large empty space. Not a living being, not an object, not a sound over thousands, millions of kilometers. Nothing could reach him here, and that's what made this place so soothing for him. Even in the station where Shadow was, the only livable oasis in the middle of this immensity, there was not a single living being, he felt safe there. Finally, safe would be a big word: indeed, with these immeasurable powers, he would crush any GUN machine or any other threat without any difficulty, especially since Sonic and Eggman are dead, self-destructing in their last fight. No, let's say it's the only place where he feels... quiet. Far from all those annoying protocols and humans who allow themselves to give him orders, him the ultimate life form; far from all these humans and Mobian, who either the cheers him as a hero since the disappearance of Sonic, and even for some before. This station where he was born, since its abandon, is the only haven of peace for the hedgehog, who finally finds himself alone, far from the responsibilities and troubles of his earth life, but also closer to the joys that gave him his past life, at his very beginning, 60 years ago, when he lived with his creator Gérald Robotnik and his granddaughter Maria, both unfortunately dead for 60 years.

He stood on like that, on the bridge of the ARK, daydreaming and looking at the stars, immersed in these memories. But he knew that unfortunately he was standing here for the last time, because in a few hours this station would be destroyed, and by no one else than himself. The GUN had indeed requested after Eggman's death that everything connected to him or his family be destroyed, including their creation. Thus, Metal Sonic had been completely dismantled, and Shadow would also have been killed if Sonic had not intervened just before he died. He said before he died that he was sure that Earth would be safe, since Shadow remained to protect it. Thanks to these few words, hundreds of voices had been raised against the "dismantling" of Shadow, and the decision of killing him was abandon, and for that he would be eternally grateful to Sonic. He sketched a small smile, now thinking back to his former rival who is now gone.

« Shadow ?! »

Shadow was interrupted in his thoughts by a distant but powerful voice screaming his name. A fluent voice, but clearly imbued with concern. He immediately recognized this voice, and a great annoyance feeling grew up in him. Because, in fact, he was not alone on this mission, and this presence was one of those Shadow would prefere to avoid on this type of intervention.

The voice sounds again in the corridor, this time closer

"Shadow, where are you?"

"I can't be alone for 5 minutes!" he thought to himself, before heading to the door of the room.

Just as he was about to reach it, a little yellow fox appeared on the other side of the door. he was small and, on the contrary of all the other mobian fox, he had two tails instead of one. As soon as he saw Shadow, he began to smile.

"Ah, you're here Shadow, I was looking for you everywhere."

"I know Tails," replied the hedgehog, "Why didn't you find me in your opinion?"

At these words, Tails' smile fell, as did his ears, his two tails, and his head.

"Oh, sorry Shadow," Tails began, in a weak, hesitant voice, "I didn't know you wanted to be alone."

Shadow felt in this voice a real regret, but also some sadness, probably due to the fact that Shadow was trying to avoid him. For a split second, Shadow felt like a knot in his stomach, a feeling of guilt that began to grew in him. But he chased this thought away as quickly as it arrived, remembering that he had never asked for the kitsune to be part of the game, he had invited himself. Shadow then took his usual harsh expression and, without saying a word, walked through the door and headed for the control room, without paying attention to Tails.

"Well, we have work! Come on, let's hurry!" Shadow said, in a disapproving tone.

At these words, Tails began to follow him and his face became even sadder and more guilty, which again did not make Shadow flinch. He continued to walk at a fast pace, whom Tails had trouble following as he walked. Shadow look regularly to Tails, to see if he's still following him, and he was always here, with his sad look in his eyes. This time, Shadow can't help it, and the feeling of guiltiness came again, as old memories begin to flew his brain again. The memories of the Day in which Tails' life change forever. The day which was the last of the Hero of Mobius.

*3 weeks earlier*

Shadow, Tails, Sonic and Knuckles had just infiltrated one of Eggman's bases in order to stop one of his evil plans, as always. They crossed the corridors destroying all the robots, as always easily, and reached Eggman's control room in no time, to disable the launching process of a missile directed to Spagonia this time, and as always, they succeeded.

But this time, something was going to change.

The four Mobian were in the control room, now completely unable to work after Tails infected the computers with a virus. Three of them, the iconic member of the Sonic Team, laughing together after this victory. But the fourth, Shadow, stay ice on his side, as usual. Sonic decided to approach him:

"Come Shadow," Sonic asked, "Join us to celebrate this victory?"

Shadow turned to Sonic, his eyes full of reproach and his arms crossed.

"How can you celebrate while Eggman is still free, as always! We beat him this time, ok, but he will come back! He always come back!"

Unsurprisingly, Shadow saw that Sonic's expression didn't change at all, on the contrary, he was more confident than ever. He put one hand on Shadow's shoulder and raised his thumb in front of him with the other, a big smile on his face.

"And then we'll beat him again, and one day we'll stop him, I'm confident."

Suddenly, Shadow got angry. He gritted his teeth, uncrossed his arms, and punched Sonic's face powerfully, sending him waltzing on the other side of the room. Tails rushed to Sonic, while Knuckles walked towards Shadow, still furious.

"WTF?!" Knuckles shouted, mad with rage, "Are you crazy or what ?! why did you do that?"

Shadow turned to Knuckles, his eyes full of fury.

"You don't seem to understand!" He replied, "You seem to take all this for a game, but it's very serious. Eggman is a psychopath, who will do everything, I mean EVERYTHING, to conquer this planet. One day, he will peel a lead, as he almost did on the ARK, and maybe will destroy us all!"

Knuckles was going to answer, but it was another voice that took over, that of Tails, which surprising was very calm.

"He's right. From the outside, we may seem to take all this lightly, but you have to know Shadow that deep down, we think like you. We know that Eggman is a dangerous criminal, a madman who will not hesitate to destroy us all, as long as his own life is safe. We see today's battle as a victory, but also as a defeat, like you. But we hide it, we try to remain optimistic, because we are the heroes of this world for many people, and as such we must carry hope, and it is not by groaning

about our defeats that we will get there."

Shadow seemed to have calmed down slightly, seeming both captivating and surprised by Tails' speech. However, he still replied in a serious and vindictive tone.

"Hope is good, but false hope is dangerous, and cruel. You have to wake up: it's a miracle that with the number of times you've let him go, we're not all dead or under his slavery reign."

Everyone remained silent, failing to find an answer to this. They were aware that more the time pass more the risk of seeing Eggman crack is high, especially with the number of defeats he already that it has in its chart. Even Sonic, usually the most optimistic, didn't say a word. After a few minutes, he stood up, which drew attention to him.

"Shadow …"

But he was interrupted by the sound of an explosion which broke the door and sent the four companions flying to the other side of the room, sounded by the shock of their fall. The first to get up was Shadow. He straightened up with difficulty, holding his head hurt and buzzing in his ears were important. His vision was still blurred, and the thick cloud of smoke didn't help. But the voice xhich rose from the silence immediately brought back to shadow's senses, and to all the others as well.

"No! How is that possible! How could you beat me, AGAIN!".

The smoke had now cleared enough to see eggman's figure standing by the door, looking at his hacked computer. What struck Shadow first was that spark in the doctor's eyes, that hysterical glow, the same as in his voice, which chilled Shadow's blood, and it seems that everyone felt it, seen the suspicious and slightly worried expression of his companions. Even Sonic did not answer Eggman, as usual, so much the shock was important.

"IT'S NOT POSSIBLE! YOU ALWAYS BEAT ME! I AM THE SMARTEST BEING ON THIS PLANET, AND EVEN MY MOST INGENIOUS PLANS, YOU THWART THEM! YOU ARE NOT A BUNCH OF WOODLICE COMPARED TO ME, AND I ALWAYS LOSE! BY THE WAY..."

Everyone was now frozen by such a fit of rage and madness on the part of the Doctor. They had never been like that.

"I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I SHOULD HAVE DONE A LONG TIME AGO: ELIMINATE THE INFECTION!"

At these words, he walked to the console controlling the reactors of the base, one of those non infect because vital for the safety of the base and his people. The 4 mobians became livid, guessing what he was going to do at the same time. Sonic and Shadow, in a synchronized motion, began to run towards the doctor, but ran into a protective shield, which unfolded just as they were about to pass, knocking them out. Tails and Knuckles watched the scene in a stun, as the doctor laughed.

"AHAHAHAHAHAH! YOU TAKE ME FOR A MORON! NOTHING WILL STOP ME FROM DOING WHAT I WANT NOW, NOTHING!"

"But, doctor!" Managed to articulate with difficulty the little fox, terrorized, "if you do this, you will die too!"

"NO, BECAUSE NOTHING CAN REACH THE GREAT DOCTOR ROBOTNIK, I AM INVINCIBLE!"

That's it. We were there. The day Shadow feared the most: Eggman lost all self-control and became crazy. Nothing could stop him anymore. Shadow saw the inevitable end coming, like all his companions, who looked at the ground helplessly. But, in the midst of the silence, a new voice rose, full of determination.

"You're wrong Eggman, and I'll prove you that this was your last mistake."

Eggman didn't pay attention to these words, and Sonic turned to his friends, incredulous.

"But Sonic," Knuckles began, surprised, "You're going crazy too or what? You can see that we can't do anything."

"Yes, there is still a way."

At these words, Sonic pulled out of his fur the seven emeralds of Chaos, which began to spin around him. Almost simultaneously, Shadow and Tails understood what he was getting at. They both ran to Sonic. Tails began to cry as Shadow lost his usual closed look and showed a sincere worry on his face.

"Sonic!" Tails yelled, "You can't do that!"

"That's the only way," Sonic replied.

Tails cried more and more, while Knuckles approached, still not understand.

"But I don't understand how emeralds can help us?"

Tails tried to speak, but he cried too much to articulate anything intelligible, so Shadow decide to explain himself.

"He's going to use the power of Super Sonic to create a barrier around the base that will absorb the energy of the explosion."

"But by doing this, he is forced to..."

"Yes," Shadow resumed, "He's going to have to stay here to hold the shield and take the energy of the explosion."

Everyone was speechless, looking at Sonic, who had completed his transformation, his eyes empty, but aware that this was the only way. Shadow eventually breaks the silence.

"So let me at least help you, by twos, we may have a chance to escape"

Sonic then nodded negatively.

"No, you have to stay with others. Mobius needs a defender, and only you control the chaos and it able to protect this planet from all threats... without wanting to offend you guys"

Shadow turned to Tails and Knuckles, who between sobs, sketched a chuckle.

"No, it's true that we're not as strong as you," tails says, "We could never have beaten Biolizard or Solaris alone."

Knuckles nodded to these words.

"But you can still protect us YOU!" Tails shouted, "We'll find another way, we can..."

"No Tails," Knuckles interrupted, "I think he's right."

Tails, defeated and aware of the reality of the situation, resigned himself and began to cry again.

Super Sonic leaned over to Tails and put his hand on his shoulder, which had the effect of stopping Tails' crying. He straightened his head.

"Tails, don't cry, I don't want you to be sad. We knew that maybe that day would come one day. I want you to remain the cheerful and motivated little fox you've always been. Be strong like when Cosmo died. And then, the new defender of Mobius may need a partner."

He then turned to Shadow who, far from being delighted by the idea, resigned himself to accept in view of the situation. Super Sonic smiled back and turned to Tails, who had stopped crying.

"So, do you promise me to be strong?"

Tails dried his last tears and nodded lightly, but positively. He then turned to Knuckles. He reached out his hand to his.

"Partner, it has been an honor to team up with you. Without you, I would have been in a bad position so many times. I hope you continue to help Shadow as you did with me."

Knuckles shook his hand and answered, suppressing a sob.

"Yes, I promise you. It was also an honor."

Super Sonic laughs a little at the sight of Knuckles.

"What do I see? The great Knuckles is crying?"

Knuckles quickly wiped away his tears with his huge fists, and resumed a serious, but also amused look.

"No. Me, crying?! Never!"

He hit Super Sonic's shoulder, who laughed, just like Tails. Then, Super Sonic turns to Shadow, still shocked and worried.

"And you Shadow, I'm counting on you to take over from me. For years, you have already been helping me, but now the fate of the entire planet rests on your shoulders."

Shadow would usually have responded to this request negatively, hating to be given orders. But this time, understanding the importance of the situation, he simply nodded. Super Sonic then reached out to him, which Shadow simply stared at.

"It was an honor to fight in your company, whether with or against us."

Shadow couldn't help but smile at these words. He reached out his hand in turn.

"You were also not too bad as a rival, in any case, you were the least pitiful"

"I don't believe it!" said Super Sonic to Tails and Knuckles, "Shadow has a sense of humor! You have to tell everyone! "

Shadow turned to them in turn, and pointed to Sonic's two friends, with a mixture of fun and seriousness on his face.

"If you do that, you're dead!"

All of them burst out laughing, even Shadow this time. But after a few seconds, an alarm sounds. All the lights went out and they were replaced by an intermittent red glow. A countdown timer was displayed on the giant screen of the room, showing a count of 30 seconds.

"THAT'S IT!" Eggman SHOUTED, "THIS IS THE END FOR ALL OF YOU!"

The four companions looked at each other for the last time.

"Well, now is the time... goodbye friends."

He glanced at Shadow, to make him understand to go and bring them to a safe place. Shadow took the hands of Tails and Knuckles, and all cast one last glance at Sonic.

"Also tell Amy that I love her."

Super Sonic then turned and took off towards the ceiling to pierce it. Tails then began to cry, yelling at Sonic to come back, while Shadow concentrated.

"Chaos Control!".

The three friends disappeared in a large flash, to find themselves on an island several kilometers away, on the edge of a cliff, eggman Island enthroned in the distance. It was surrounded by a large half-sphere produced by Super Sonic. A large explosion took place inside the shield, but he held on. At least, for a few minutes, because it finally broke, and the explosion spread outside, fortunately weaker than the original, but powerful enough for the three friends to be destabilized by the blast of the explosion. Eggman was no more, but so was Sonic.

All his memories, which Shadow had been trying to get out of his memory for a month now, remained in his head, so what it must have been like for Tails. But even though he understood Tails' pain, he didn't even understand why Tails, a kid, had to cling to him like that. For a month, he had been following him everywhere and was only putting obstacles in his wheels. Even though he did his best, he was still a kid and did not belong here with him. And he hoped that by ignoring it, he would eventually give up, but it was getting worse and worse. He would have to end up talking to Tails about it. But for now, the mission remained the most important, and Shadow's real concern. When he came out of his daydreams, he realized that they had reached the generator room. he knew the base so well that he had managed to reach the reactor room instinctively.

He went inside, without saying a single word, and let Tails look for the command of self-destruction. For that, at least, it was useful: his knowledge of technology spared Shadow the effort of research, and destroying this station was beyond his strength. After a few minutes, he heard a voice rising from the back of the room, hesitant.

"Sha... Shadow?", Began Tails, cautious, "I found the command"

With his speed, Shadow joins him in a split second, and the two companions were now standing in front of the self-destruction button, the one that would seal the fate of the ARK, the only house Shadow ever has them. They both stayed for a few minutes in front of the button, Shadow recalling the memories he had in this place, while Tails left him in his meditation. Then, Shadow finally breaks the silence, her voice still serious and cold, but imbued with a little repressed sadness.

"Well, go Tails, let's finish it."

Tails turned to Shadow, and then to the button he pressed. Alarms then sounded throughout the ARK, accompanied by intermittent red light and first vibrations. Shadow looked around one last time, full of nostalgia, before grabbing Tails' hand.

"Well, let's not hang around here"

He then concentrated, closing his eyes.

"Chaos Control!"

But strangely, nothing happened. Astonished, Shadow opened his eyes again and looked at Tails, also surprise. He closed his eyes, and retried.

"CHAOS CONTROL!"

But still nothing.

"CHAOS CONTROL !"

Still nothing.

Shadow opened his eyes again and looked at Tails, who was petrified, and fear took over Shadow's heart for the first time: they were both stuck on a sinking ship, with no way to escape.

I hope you liked this intro. Don't worry, I talked about a OC, and everything will happen in the next chapter. I just wanted to contextualize a little bit here. Feel free to leave some reviews. I'll be back in a few days!