Chapter 7: The Deal

"What do you want with me, Mephiles?"

"You're upset over someone you care for dying, and I just want to help the prince."

Shadow thought about it and nodded. "I'm listening."

"I can send you back in time, and you can stop yourself from killing Sonic. Then, he'll be alive and everything will continue on from there."

"I'll be in my past body?"

Mephiles nodded. "There will be a price to pay, however..."

"What price?" Shadow didn't like the sound of that.

Mephiles grinned evilly. "You shall become a hedgehog and live on the surface. I will care for Sonic."

"What?" Shadow shouted. "But that doesn't help me at all! I want him back so I can be with him!"

"And you will...in time," Mephiles told him. "I see you care deeply for Sonic, and love him. Therefore, my offer is this: if you learn to love someone other than him and live on the surface as a hedgehog, I shall give him back. If not...he is mine forever...literally."

Shadow was confused about this but Mephiles cast a spell, making Shadow immortal. "What did you do?" Shadow looked at himself as he felt some strange sensation settle over him.

"I have made you immortal," Mephiles said. "You shall spend eternity on Earth, searching for the one you love...but that person will not be Sonic."

Shadow hesitated and then nodded. "I'll do it." After a moment, something occurred to him. "But why would-"

Before he could finish his question, Mephiles sent him back in time. He found himself as a shark, swimming towards Sonic. Unfortunately, the same thing happened but this time Sonic was unconscious, and not dead, which he was grateful for.

"You have done your deed," Mephiles said, appearing in front of him. "Now pay the price."

He shot a bolt of magic towards Shadow, who vanished and appeared on the beach. He screamed in pain as he felt his lower body transform into legs. Looking down, Shadow was confused by what he saw. He recognized it, of course. They were on some of the statues he'd found before. But it was different to see them connected to his body. Moving a hand, Shadow touched one of his thighs. His eyes widened and he began to walk. It was hard at first but he eventually got used to it. Sighing, he began to walk into the city and looked around.

People were everywhere, walking around and talking. Shadow's eyes widened at the sight of the buildings. They were incredible. He smiled and looked around some more. Shadow had to find a place to live. He walked further into the city and soon found a house for sale. Unfortunately, Shadow didn't have any money, and he didn't know what he would be able to do for any. He sighed; Shadow had to get a job to get money. A few minutes later, he saw a fox with two tails go inside a house. Shadow smiled; perhaps he could move in with him until he found his own place. He recognized the fox from Sonic telling him who he was, after all. Shadow knocked on the door and it opened.

"Hi," Tails said after opening it. "Who are you?"

"My name is Shadow. Are you Tails? I recognize you from what Sonic told me."

"I am," Tails said. He smiled. "You're one of Sonic's friends? He never mentioned you before."

"I only recently met him."

Tails nodded. "He's a great person. I wonder how he's doing as a merhog...he must be having fun. The past few months have been kind of lonely without him."

Shadow thought of telling Tails that he met Sonic when he was a merhog, but decided against it. Instead, he smiled and thought of something else to say. "I could keep you company, if you'd like. I need somewhere to stay until I can afford a house on my own, anyway." Shadow just hoped he wasn't being too abrupt.

The two-tailed fox thought about it for a few moments. Finally, he nodded. "Sure, that would be fine. I take it you've recently moved to Station Square?"

Shadow nodded and walked inside the house, looking around. "This is a nice house," he said.

"Thanks," Tails said. "Take a look around. If you need me, I'll be in my lab working on some inventions."

Shadow nodded and continued looking around the house in curiosity. He sighed, thinking abut what Mephiles told him. Shadow sat on the couch and thought of Sonic. How was he supposed to fall in love with someone else? He sighed, putting his head in his hands. Shadow just had to find someone that fit him. No doubt it would take a long time, but now, he had all the time in the world. With a sigh, Shadow stood again. He might as well finish figuring out where all the rooms were.