Well, we know that one side of this romance is recovering, but what of the other? Lets find out, shall we?

Part Twenty-Three: Past Convictions

As welcome as peace and quiet normally was to Shadow's ears, this overdose was starting to get on his nerves. Not so much the absence of sensation through sights and sounds, it was the numbness and immobile arms and legs that had really started to annoy the ultimate life-form. Unable to twitch a finger or scratch this impertinent itch on the tip of his muzzle. But the absence of knowledge was the hardest of all briars to bite. And that little void had finally begun to claw its way from beneath his subconscious chaos and into the frontlines; Was I too late?... Is she alright?!...Why the hell won't anyone answer me?!

"Tsk tsk tsk, calm yourself Shadow. I didn't design you to be so impetuous" it seemed to reply, not wholly a voice but more of an echo from the darkness of a mind still too drained to function. Still, the callousness of its statement sparked visions the midnight hedgehog had buried so long ago. Suddenly, Shadow saw himself standing alone against the void, yet it was not the hedgehog he was today. The tubing embedded in his back and sides paired with the mask over his nose were just like the ones that had once imprisoned him in that cursed research tank aboard the Space Colony ARK. No…this isn't just a resemblance!...This is…!

"Welcome back, Project Shadow. It seems you have failed after all" the voice replied again, only from a much closer distance to the restrained warrior. Heavy footsteps and a slight wheeze for each breath signaled the approach of the echo's source until finally, a bulbous human form materialized. Shorter than the other example of its species Shadow had encountered earlier, the man still bore the outrageous mustachios and shielded eyes the onyx hedgehog had grown accustomed to. And even if his ruby eyes had not seen this man in over half a century, the stark white lab coat and the graying hair blockading his lip and crown had not changed, as they never did.

"Professor Gerald…why are you here?" Shadow's stunned thoughts could come up with nothing better.

"You don't know?" Gerald asked, also seeming perplexed "Well, I suppose that is partially my fault. I never thought to program such a mortal concept into your processes." The scientist moved closer still until his glasses were level with the hedgehog's "Simply put Shadow, you're dead."

All rational and logical capabilities possible within Shadow's being shattered into dust upon Gerald's last word Impossible…it…it can't be…

"At least tell me this; did you complete your mission? Did you avenge Maria?"

Still, the charcoal warrior could not respond. Words refused to connect into a sentence and coherent instinct only felt the cold touch of realization I failed them…I failed her…Amy, please forgive me.

Suddenly, two rough hands latched onto his shoulders and shook him violently "Did you avenge her!? DID YOU MAKE THEM SUFFER?!" Gerald screamed into his ears.

Shadow finally came to some form of reality and mentally shoved the raving lunatic away "Yes, I fulfilled my mission. Despite all obstacles in my path, I have fought to complete my task, destroying armies and even the laws of time and space themselves to resolve the duty she charged me with."

"Excell…wait. What did you just say?"

"That's right Professor. For the longest time, I was committed to the mission you gave me. Revenge, chaos and death. And just like you desired, I excelled in those fields. But you underestimated one critical factor. And that was Maria's compassion."

Gerald Robotnik's brow furrowed in frustration "What the devil are you on about?"

"Simple" Shadow mocked his creator's tone "Did you ever wonder why she spent so much time with you in the laboratory, or snuck in after hours after all those incompetent assistants of yours had left? Or even why enjoyed that little music box so much?" Suddenly, the Shadow in the memory came alive, eyes snapping open and searing with crimson energy. With only the sounds of determined pain, the hedgehog tore himself free from the attached tubes and breathing mask, masses of congealing fluids spilling outward onto the nonexistent ground "It wasn't just the fact you were using me as a Petri dish to find a cure for her disease. That was a mission I would have accepted regardless. No, it was because she cared about people. From the ones on the planet below that she would never meet to those pathetic soldiers who came to stop you. She cared about me, even. And when those troops came to silence the colony, it was her who freed me from your dammed testing chamber!! Even the last words from her lips were a plea to defy the very orders you gave me and bring happiness to those who were innocent!"

Befuddled by his creation's response, the mad professor began to ponder aloud "Hmmm, I never imagined your contempt for failure would rival my own. I guess that was one of your better traits. Still, it means nothing in regards to how in hell you dared to defy me!"

"Thanks to you, I've already lost my heart once! I will not have it taken from me again!" Shadow's reply howled back, instinct and anger overriding his normal clarity.

Robotnik quickly held back his own retort to analyze the hedgehog's declaration. This indeed should not be possible. I made sure to instill absolute loyalty in my research specimens. Perhaps using Black Doom DNA was a mistake after all, as it seems to have created an unbalanced emotional strata. Still… "I never created you to have a heart! You were designed to be perfect, pure and unstoppable!"

The ultimate life-form smirked at the professor's retort, however meek and predictable he knew it to be "Well then, it looks like I've managed to surpass you Gerald."

Then the human did something Shadow did not expect, and the chortle that erupted from his throat made even the battle-hardened hedgehog's satisfied smirk falter. "You called this … sham!... this debauchery, a leap beyond my expectations?"

Shadow gave only a confused glance as the elder human continued "Oh yes, I know all about your little 'adventure' with that pink rodent of yours. Surely you've realized by now the foolhardiness of this little…"

Whatever comment Robotnik was about to make was interrupted by a pair of sheathed midnight hands grabbing his coat collar and lifting him from his feet "How dare you refer to Amy that way!"

"Be that as it may, did you really think a simple feeling could have outlasted mortality? Think about it, Shadow! Where would you have been another fifty years? Will you build a memorial for her as well, or simple mourn her passing as another moment it time? "

There it was again, a passing thought that he had refused to focus on at first. Yet now, the way it had reared its ugly head once more succeeded in sapping the strength from his grip and dropped the robust human to the ground. Because, as much as his stomach revolted in the thought, the scientist was absolutely right. Would such a loss be any easier the second time around? How long could we stay in such an ignorant bliss?

But, I promised to make Amy happy…how can I do that if I must one day lay her to rest?

I suppose it doesn't matter now. Whatever the outcome will be now, I gave my life for hers, just as I vowed.

"Still, I suppose that malfunction again lies within your design. Since you were originally designed as a cure, it would stand to reason that my time-constrained reorganization of your priorities managed to overlook a minor error that had developed. Oh well, that doesn't matter anymore," Professor Gerald concluded, head lowered to examine some invisible object in his palm. "Come Shadow, our little discussion must draw to a close."

"What do you mean by that?" the hedgehog inquired, voice muffled by deep thoughts of logic and passion still waging war

"Simple. I am but a ghost of the mind, remember? A last ditch congregation of impulses, memories and confusion trying to come to a lasting peace with your untimely death."

The darkness around them began to reverse its shade into a growing light, which Shadow could only deduce as being the mythical 'end of the tunnel'. He had pictured this moment many a time, from his fall from the ARK to the final battle against his alleged father Black Doom. But every one of those perceptions had one element this instance lacked, the element of peace.

No, this isn't right… this isn't my time yet. I am Shadow the Hedgehog, and I refuse to let this so-called 'death' stand in my way.

And it seemed he was not alone in his resolution, for out of the growing whiteness did another voice call out to him, a soft, innocent plea that made his very soul freeze instantly "No, Shadow! Don't give up yet!"

Instantly, he spun around to make sure his ears were not casting a cruel deception, and sure enough, there she was running straight at him , golden locks waving like the softest ocean tides and bright cerulean dress doing nothing to slow her movement as she latched into a warm hug that he hadn't felt the likes of in a lifetime. Once his crimson orbs confirmed her presence, only her name dared escape his lips "Ma…Maria?!"

Her wide blue eyes locked onto his as she nodded "You remember, don't you? You remember my name!"

"Of course I do. There hasn't been a day since we met I haven't thought of you."

She gave a soft giggle in response, bringing some small amount of warmth back to his otherwise stilling heartbeat "I know you have. I've missed you too, just like she misses you now."

"Amy…"

"That's right Shadow. She's nearby, and she's crying out for you. Are you really going to give up so easily?" Maria asked in that lighthearted, yet smart-aleky tone she had always used to provoke him.

Normally, Shadow would brush off such challenges with a patented 'humph' and a demonstration of his abilities. This time, his arms slackened away from hers and his gaze closed "I'm afraid it's not so simple this time. I love her too much to lose her again to such an enemy as time and age."

"And do you think that's fair to her?" Her reply was scathing and unexpected, but completely accurate. Maybe it was the fatigue of battle that had clouded his judgment or the many unfamiliar territories he had not explored had taunted him into submission, but Shadow's thoughts now began to pull themselves back into reason.

"No, its not. I made a promise to protect her, to be with her. To fail that charge now is unacceptable."

"There's the Shadow I remember. Cocky, stubborn, but with more heart than he realizes." she replied as a sudden sense of warmth started to tease his quilltips and extremities "Never forget who you are, and all the wonderful things you can do."

The light around them began to blind his eyes as reality came to wash away the dream. The midnight warrior could feel her slipping back into his memories, yet that didn't seem to matter much. After all, she will always be there at least. Just like Rose will be, even when…!

Then the question struck him "Wait, Maria! What do I do when she…" he started, but could not finish. Still, it didn't seem to matter as Maria beat him to the answer "There's more than one way to live forever, Shadow. You'll see."

Before another question could escape his muzzle, the glow had completely washed over him, a complete contrast to the midnight of his fur. As unsettling as it had been to watch his own creator berate him, it was more comforting to know that even if Gerald's words had any grain of truth to them, Shadow had still be given a solemn task. And just as he had done with any other adventure, he would not balk, and he would not falter. Maria, thank you.

After that, any measure of time seemed to drag onwards as the first breaths of life invaded his lungs once more. His heart, once frozen in time, became immersed in fire as it too reset itself to the physical state. Slowly, his ears began to catch the beeps and clicks of whatever environment he found himself in, as his senses began to reactivate one by one.

After purgatory had given way to salvation and death itself cowered before his determination, Shadow's eyes opened once again to greet the evening stars.

I admit I havent had a chance to play any new Sonic game beyond Shadow the Hedgehog, so if any detail here is AU, I apologize.

Otherwise, tell me whatcha think!