A/N: So I'm back with another Sonadow fanfic. This one will be slow build. No fast relationship or steamy stuff but there are a few pairings in this one. The characters are older here to make everything sort of fit time wise. And I'm going off a Sonic world map I found on Google so if anything's off, you guys help me fix it.

CHARACTER AGES:

Sonic – 24

Shadow – unknown

Silver – 25

Tails – 21

Knuckles – 25

Amy – 23

Rouge – 27

Cream – 19

Espio – 25

Vector – 29

Charmy – 19

Children's Ages:

Zero - 7

Lily - 6

Chapter 1: Where Evil Grows

Footsteps echoed and extended along a dark hallway.

Heels clicking against the cold stainless steel metal floors the further the man walked. It was a surprise the place was still operating. Small neon green lights lit up the path along the walls as he activated the sensors and he turned the corner with his nose stuffed behind a digital projection of a map. The man hummed in thought. A soft blue glow illuminated the mans face with the hologram coming from his wrist band. He grumbled in concentration, nose wrinkling unconsciously causing his large mustache to twitch.

"Here it is…"

The large doors opened as he took out a key card that was scanned by a small screen against the wall. The man walked in as disinfectant gas was spewed from the entrance of the room and he coughed wriggling his mustache with distaste. It was rather unexpected but he continued into the room looking around the mess left behind. It didn't matter if it was in a scattered mess, he'd still find what he was looking for eventually. Without a second thought he started up the computers and began his search.

Days passed and the large man leaned over a pile of messy paper work while he played with his mustache. His grandfather's work was endless and categorized from experiments, to subject creations, and chemical substances, to advanced machinery and potential cures for diseases.

There was a number of files to go through but he finally found it.

A wide crazed smile spread along his face and the glow of the monitor shined menacingly on his goggles. It was almost as if his grandfather had left him a step by step manual exactly for what he needed. Granted he had to make some new adjustments and tweak some things around but if his grandfather was able to build something this advanced 50 years ago, surely he, himself could do it again.

The mans round stomach moved with his manic laughter. The files finished copying and he packed away any physical notes and paper work he needed in a satchel he had hanging at his side. With that he moved further into the room. Flashing a light till he located the freezer containment unit. Again he had to wait for his key card to be scanned and accept before the door released gas as it opened.

There were different frozen specimens but he only needed one in specific. The fat man sniffled from the cold but he kept walking along the isles of frozen DNA. Surely there had to be a few left over from the experiments. As he went further in, with excitement the round man realized there was another door further back. The door was labeled with 'Special Authorization', but that only served to excite the mad man further. If the key card he had didn't work then he'd just very well brake his way in. Everything in this place was practically his property already. it was his grandfather's for crying out loud. Besides if anyone asked he could just say he was trying to keep his grandfather's legacy going, or something along those sappy pathetic lines. He chuckled heavily to the thought as he hacks his way in with his portable device.

"There now see! Nothing to it."

The round man entered excitedly. He stood for a moment before moving towards the further back end. There under a red light was the remnants of Project Shadow. He cackled excitedly taking three vials and placed them within a cooling pack he brought with him.

"With this I'll finally have what I need to get rid of that rodent once and for all."

The round mans laughter could be heard echoing throughout the ark but that was just fine. No one could hear him out in space. Now all he had left to do was return home to one of his bases and begin constructing his latest project.

True to his word, for months after he returned from space, the mad doctor studied the files and notes in preparation.

Forwards and backwards, he went through every single lick of information and dissected it to the best of his ability. He was sure every calculation he'd made would work. His lab had all the necessary materials for the containment cell and he already had half of the DNA needed for the procedure.

The round man scratched his chin in thought and his mustache wiggled with the movement. Now he'd just have to wait till everything was completed to set his plan in motion.

Again the mad scientist secluded himself within his secret base. Months of intense work and engineering went into the smallest details just to be sure everything worked exactly right. Even then, paranoia won the best of him and he extended the construction time double checking everything and the months soon dragged on to a year. Before he knew it, the snow had come and gone with 3 months into the new year gone by in a flash.

With a sweat covered brow he rose from his work excitedly.

This was it, this was the product of all his hard work.

"Yes… Yes! Its finally finished!" The scientist laughed manically almost drooling from the wild cackle.

He finally stopped staring at the DNA sample suspended in their frozen chambers with a serious expression. The evil smirk spreading across his face with all his schemes running through his mind.

"There's only one thing missing…"

"Sonic?"

The said hedgehog looked up from latching the buckle on his shoe. Emerald green eyes catching sight of his fox friend walking in with yet another strange invention in hand.

"Ya Tails? What's up?"

Tails was older now but his face still held his boyish charm. The fox boy pushed a hand through his hair looking away from his device.

"Eggmans been too quiet lately don't you think?"

Sonic walked over rolling up the sleeves of his sweater.

"Hmm… Now that I think about it, he hasn't even made a peep for a while now…"

Tails made a face and gave Sonic a worried look.

"Don't you think that's a little suspicious?"

The blue hedgehog walked away from his friend with a curious expression on his face. He couldn't help feeling a little excited at the shot of a little action. Eggman had been quiet far too long and his legs were itching for a run. Sonic put a hand on Tails shoulder with a confident smile.

"I'll go take a look around, see if I find anything." Sonic walked towards the door Tails following softly behind him.

"Good idea Sonic, let me know if you find anything."

With a wink and a smile the blue blur was off leaving the door wide open behind him. The fox shook his head with a soft smile and closed the door. He could follow Sonics tracks with a drone.

A speeding blue flash ran up North through Central City blowing past the city streets.

People walking by cried out excitedly as they watched their favorite hero out on a run. Sonic smirked and picked up the speed. A couple of girls passing by with dresses screamed as the hems of their skirts flew up making the hedgehog laugh nervously.

"Whoops! Sorry!" He waved at the girls as he sped off.

It didn't take the blue hedgehog long before he reached Eggmans territory.

Sonic was careful looking through the mad doctors metal cities. He ran every where, even passing through ruins but he still wasn't seeing anything suspicious. If Eggman was planning something, he was definitely keeping it well hidden. The blue blur moved on passing through Eggmans factories with curiosity. Some of the pipes still had fumes coming out but other than that manufacturing seemed to be on a permanent stand still. Sonic frowned with worry, Eggman going silent was never a good thing. It was obvious the round man was planning something big, it was only a matter of time till they found out exactly what it was.

The blue hedgehog stood atop a tall building staring down at the number of bunched up factories that created a metal city of sorts. He shook his head with distaste and ran jumping off the edge of the building. He'd had enough of this place, there was still far more to go.

As the azure speedster made his way Northwest his communicator beeped in his pocket. He reached for the yellow circular device and clicked a button on the side. Suddenly Tails image appeared on the small screen with a curious smile.

"Hey Sonic, did you find anything?"

Sonic looked at the screen and shrugged his shoulders.

"Sorry bud, but there's nothing that I can see… Well, yet anyways."

They both laughed.

"Ya, that's Eggman for you alright. Always full of surprises."

Sonic Smiled at the fox's response, he was right.

"Well, I'll leave you to it then. See you later Sonic."

The hedgehog nodded with a smile pocketing the small device and focused back on the path. There were only a few more miles before he got to Eggmans Island.

The first thing he noticed when he got there was silence. There wasn't even so much as a distant chirp from a cricket and that definitely stood out as odd. Sonics face became serious and slowed downed walking around the place. It didn't seem like much but the average overgrown vegetation. the further into the island he got the more over paranoid he started feeling.

The fur on the back of his neck started rising and his skin crawled on high alert as every fiber of his being felt threatened. Something was wrong and if the odd silence and bad vibes weren't enough now he felt like he was being watched. His legs bent instinctively and his hand balled up into fists ready for a fight. Green eyes moved back and forth scanning the area yet there was nothing visible. Suddenly the wild plants behind him rustled and he stepped back ready for the pounce. Too distracted he missed as a dart was shot hitting the back of Sonics leg. He stumbled back with a hiss.

"Ow! What the… Woah, I don't feel so good…"

Sonic stumbled for support leaning against a tree, he was suddenly feeling very tired.

"Maybe, it wouldn't… be so bad to take a little nap…" His hand fell dropping his weight and he fell sliding against the tree lazily. "Ya, just… a little… nap couldn't hurt..."

Quickly the hedgehog fell into soft snores, unaware of what had just occurred. The heavy dosage knocked him completely and when a large robotic hand picked up his limp body, Sonic didn't even stir.

Eggman finally emerged from above the trees with an excited smile, hands rubbing together in glee.

"I finally have you Sonic…"

Back in his lab, the mad doctor laid the hedgehogs body on an examination table and quickly got to work. There was no telling when the blue hedgehog would wake up, and if he did wake, the experiment would be over before it even began. Eggman trembled at the thought. There was no time to worry about that now.

Eggman ran every possible test he could think of on the hedgehog and he was done he continued with sample extractions. All the while Sonic stayed unconscious, completely unaware. When Eggman was done, he gave the hedgehog a thorough once over to be certain there was no evidence left of his testing. With a twitch of his mustache and a dramatic grumble of approval he readied ordered an eggbot to pick up the hedgehog.

The plants and trees rustled as Eggman flew over and settled over an open area. He pushed a button and pulled a lever and a trap door opened extending a robotic arm from the opening. It softly set Sonic on the ground near the tree where he had shot the dart at him earlier. Once he was done, Eggman nodded bringing the arm back up and retreated back into his underground base.

Sonic snored softly snuggling his head up against the tree. The sun had started going down and leaves on tree tops danced and fell with the cool breeze of the coming night. Sonic rolled over in his sleep and the communicator in his pocket buzzing away remained unheard.

The fox sitting at his computer tried the communicator again but his best friend wasn't answering. It was getting late. Normally he wouldn't be so worried, if Sonic wanted to talk he'd come to you. But the tracker he had secretly put on Sonics communicator hadn't moved in several hours and he was starting to get worried. He looked up at the clock and frowned, he couldn't just sit there waiting. What if something terrible had happened to Sonic? Within that timeframe, anything could have happened. Tails jumped up from his seat calling the others. There was a sinking feeling in his gut telling him something was wrong and he be damned if he didn't listen to his instincts.

After Tails picked up Knuckles and Silver they flew off towards Eggman Island.

Silver adjusted his head piece in the second seat of the Tornado. His golden eyes blinked down at the scenery below curiously. Knuckles hung onto to the left wing, his face serious as he looked around for any movement.

"I'm scanning the area, maybe we'll find him faster that way."

Tails pushed some buttons and glanced down at the blinking screen. They were close by but it was still concerning that it hadn't moved.

Just as they were passing a small open area Knuckles yelled out.

"I see him!"

The other two parked up looking over the side of the plane concerned. Quickly the fox maneuvered the plane around and headed for a landing. The plants and trees around the area swayed as the plane settled on the ground. Once down they jumped off the plane rushing over to the blue hedgehog laying curled under a tree.

Tails panicked throwing himself to the floor. His knees hitting roughly against the grass and smeared stains on his Jean's.

"Sonic!"

He looked the body over before pushing and laying him flat on his back for better inspection. There was nothing physically wrong with Sonic and the panic was beginning to set in till he notice Knuckles knees down with a serious expression.

Gently he lowered his head to the blue hedgehogs chest. Silently, they stared in curiosity till Knuckles lifted his head back up and turned around.

"He's alive."

Blue sparkled with relief and Silver smiled putting a hand on the fox's shoulder.

"Cheer up, he's alright Tails."

The fox nodded and wiped his eyes. It didn't matter how old he got if anything happened to Sonic, he didn't know what he'd do. But there was no time to think about that now. He looked over at the others getting up from the ground and dusted off his pants.

"Come on, help me get him in the plane."

They nodded as the fox ran back towards the plane starting it back up. The others followed behind him with Sonics body and placed him in the back seat of the plane. He stirred a little as they put in the seat and an eye rolled open but it quickly closed and he asleep once again. Tails smiled, surely those were good signs but he was still really worried. Whatever was wrong with Sonic they'd be able to figure it out back at the lab.

There was a mix of muffled voices floating around and it was becoming more and more annoying as he tried to remain in the peaceful state he was in. The more he tried to ignore them the louder they got and his brows pushed together in irritation. Couldn't they see he was trying to sleep? He squeezed his eyes tighter and groaned.

"Ughh… Go away… five more minutes…"

He Grumbled and chuckle could be heard off to the side finally peeking his interest. An eye popped open and his arms quickly went up converging his face from the bright light within the room.

"Look guys, I think he's waking up."

The footsteps got louder as they grew closer and he tried to sit up with his sluggish body but apparently it wasn't being too responsive. Someone laughed and rushed over from somewhere and pushed up his back placing a pillow behind him.

"I don't think he's fully awake yet."

Finally green eyes opened wide scanning the room curiously. Tails was looking at some monitor readings while writing some notes down. Knuckles was leaning against a wall with crossed arms and Silver was standing besides the bed with a smile.

"Hey, nice to see you're awake. You really gave us a scare."

The hedgehog on the medical bed grew wide eyed with curiosity.

"What do you mean scare? What I do?"

Tails finally moved away from the screen staring at Sonic with an mixed expression of anger and annoyance.

"You're kidding, right?"

Sonic shrugged uncertain of what was going on, he just let fox continue.

"Damn it Sonic, you went out to look around Eggman bases hours ago and you wouldn't answer your communicator."

Sonic gave Silver a questioning look but the gray hedgehog smiled nervously.

"He was worried about you Sonic. He even called us out to help look for you."

Sonic looked away from Silver and looked back down to his own body. He felt fine, nothing hurt and there were no visible injuries that he could make out but Knuckles sighed from his corner of the room and Sonic knew this was serious. The red echidna looked up but kept his position by the wall.

"We found you passed out on Eggman Island. Took a damn good while to wake you up too."

The hedgehog hummed in thought. He looked back up at his friends, there was no way they were pulling a bad joke on him. He tried to think back to events leading up to that moment but he couldn't remember anything odd happening. Maybe there was a better explanation for what had happened. Sonic scratched his head in thought.

"I can't even remember laying down for a nap."

Tails frowned smacking the hedgehog with his rolled up paper work.

"You weren't taking a nap Sonic, you were passed out."

The hedgehog rubbed his head sheepishly, the others shook their heads. Knuckles finally stepped closer to the group, the serious expression still present on his face.

"This isn't a joke Sonic. Even when we moved you, you wouldn't wake up. I didn't want to be the one to say it but something like that… Maybe it was a good thing we got to you so quickly..."

Sonic looked down at his outstretched legs in thought. The way everyone was acting made it seem like something pretty bad happened but he felt fine. He honestly couldn't remember what had happened after he got to Eggman Island. One minute he was looking around then he woke up here in Tails lab with everyone looking at him like he was about to die.

The sound of footsteps moving further back in the room made Sonics ears twitch and he looked up to see Tails typing away at a computer.

"I ran some tests while you were asleep but that'll take a while to get back. In the mean you should be more careful when you run off on your own Sonic."

The said hedgehog frowned kicking his feet off the edge of the bed. This conversation was quickly becoming annoying and the others could see that Sonic wanted to be as far away from the topic as possible. He stood up rolling the sleeves of his sweater and stretched with a yawn.

"Alright already, lay off. Besides I've been out on my before and I've always come back fine." He smiled at his friends and gave a small spin. "See? I'm fine."

Despite Sonics cheerful mood, the other weren't convinced. He sighed walking away from the group.

"I'm gonna get something to eat…"

They all watched as the blue hedgehog walked up the steps of the garage and left the lab. No one spoke for a while and the room remained with a lingering awkward silence till Silvers phone rang making them all jump.

"Sorry guys, its Amy... Hey honey, how are the kids?"

Knuckles and Tails turned away to give him some privacy. It had been years since the Silver hedgehog had proposed, and the pink hedgehog grew tired of Mobius hero never returning her affections. Eventually she returned Silver affections and they married and had 2 children shortly after, Zero and Lily.

Tails ears flicked as he heard Silvers laughter. The hedgehog turned around giving them a smile before turning back to his phone call. Knuckles stared at the computer screen feeling a little annoyed. He didn't really understand the readings on the monitor but he knew it was taking too long for his liking. Looking over at the fox, he knew his friend wasn't any less thrilled about the waiting period. Before he could put a word in Silver pocketed his phone and walked back over to the group with a smile.

"Amy wanted to know if Sonic was alright."

The others nodded looking back at the screen.

That night Tails stayed up pacing around the lab. Sonic was upstairs sleeping in his bedroom. The tests were still running and it would be a few days before they got back any results. With a sigh he rested his hands on a desk.

He could only hope everything came back fine and he was only feeling paranoid.