You should have seen this coming.

Sonic shouldn't have been surprised. Despite his air of aloofness, Shadow had already demonstrated that he was not the kind to turn a blind eye to the happenings around him. Already he had found the throne room—it was really only a matter of time until he made his way out here as well.

Sonic just hadn't expected to be followed.

And now, with Shadow's look of hostility searing into him, he found himself at a loss for words, voice suppressed in a throat that felt like sandpaper.

What are you hiding from? The voice in his head chastised. Wasn't this the whole reason you wanted him to stay here in the first place?

He did not have an answer for himself.

You know how this looks. He has a right to be afraid of you.

Sonic exhaled with a resigned weariness.

Perhaps he really had lost touch.

—

"Most of them were guests at my coronation. Others came later, but their fates were all the same."

When Sonic finally spoke up, he did not look at Shadow. Instead, he just continued to stare at the wooden marker below his hand. "Hey—how much did Tails tell you about that night, anyways?" He added trepidatiously.

Shadow observed him suspiciously, a twitch to his muzzle.

"He did not go into details." Shadow responded after a moment, clenched fists finally releasing at his sides.

Sonic offered a plaintitive smile, though there was no joy in his eyes. "I'm surprised he remembers anything from that day. He was pretty far gone."

Only now did Sonic glance up, offering Shadow an expression that betrayed no emotion whatsoever.

"My coronation ceremony—it was to be the grandest celebration my kingdom had ever seen. I always hated crowds, but even I can admit it was quite the spectacle: the entire kingdom, gathered together like that," he chuckled. His face fell, a grimace pulling at his mouth.

"It looked like everyone was having fun, at least. And maybe that's why my guard was down."

Shadow watched as Sonic put a clawed hand to his chest, as if he was trying to recall a feeling from long ago.

"I was to call upon all seven chaos emeralds for the first time. But when I did, something was awoken. Something that shouldn't have existed on this planet," he muttered. "It attacked us, stealing the power from the emeralds and turning us into what we are now. Somehow, I managed to seal it to this place before it could spread to the rest of my kingdom, but by then, the damage was already done."

Sonic raised an arm, gesturing in a sweeping motion to the rows and rows of grave markers around them.

"Almost everyone who remained in the palace that night perished. The curse turned them into mindless monsters, beings with no regard for themselves or others. When we realized what they were—who they were, we tried to help them. We—"

Sonic grit his teeth together, the words not quite able to escape his throat. He stopped, closing his eyes with a sigh. When he opened them again, his expression was one of eerie indifference.

"In the end, a proper burial is all we could do for them," he finished.

Shadow held his silence, observing the other with contemplative eyes. In response, Sonic put a hand behind his head awkwardly.

"My friends and I were the only ones who made it out alive that night. But even to this day, I don't know why," Sonic sighed, gaze drifting away from him. "But hey, maybe that's just another part of my punishment. This life is its own kind of hell, after all."

The wording Sonic used was not lost on Shadow, and he narrowed his eyes. However, there was something else on his mind of more importance.

"You said there were others?" Shadow asked.

A melancholic smile crossed Sonic's face.

"It's funny—the night itself is so ingrained in my head, but I can hardly remember the days that followed it," he chuckled, shaking his head bitterly.

"I don't know how long it took, but eventually others did find this place. Some of them were searching for treasures, like your friend. Some were just unlucky. But their fates were the same. The whole castle is infectious, and my friends and I are the epicenter. As soon as they got close, it was over for them."

A realization struck Shadow. The curse was infectious—and Sonic seemed to imply the effects were instantaneous. But if that were the case, then there was something that didn't follow with everything Shadow had witnessed.

"Hold on," Shadow interjected. The prince glanced up, a questioning look on his face.

"You told me that my body transformed the night you brought me to the castle, just like the bodies of your subjects did," Shadow started, pointing a finger.

"Yes?" Sonic confirmed with a cocked eyebrow, clearly not seeing where Shadow was going with that.

"But that was not the first time I had stepped foot onto the premises. I had been there before," Shadow explained. "If the curse is so infectious, then why wasn't I—and for that matter, why wasn't Rouge affected back then?"

Sonic rolled his eyes. "Well, you're an anomaly in itself, for one thing," he grunted, crossing his arms across his chest.

However, his eyes suddenly hardened. He furrowed his eyebrows, a disturbed look on his face as he continued.

"As for your friend…you're right. Normally, she should have been doomed long before Knuckles had even found her, let alone when he actually grabbed her." Sonic noted, head craning up to the sky like he was still trying to make sense of everything he was about to say.

"But she wasn't. And the both of you were able to leave this place entirely unharmed. That was when I realized something about this place had changed."

A strong gust of wind blew through the valley, sending golden leaves cascading from the branches to the snow-covered ground around them, the question left unspoken in the air between them.

As the wind died down, Sonic promptly turned away from Shadow, hand slipping from the grave as he began to trudge through the snow. He shot an expectant look over his shoulder.

"Come on. There's something else you should see."

—

Upon departing the valley, the two returned to the shadows of the larger canopy. Shadow followed behind at a distance, a disconcerting silence lingering between them as Sonic led him through a wholly unfamiliar part of the territory. The only semblance of direction Shadow had was the knowledge that they were heading in the opposite direction of the castle.

More and more sunlight began to break through as the trees thinned out around them. The path began to slope, but unlike with the valley of the birches, it was a gradual drop.

The two trekked farther and farther until they had reached a ravine of some kind, situated between two snow-lined cliffs. At the bottom of the slope, Shadow caught sight of a familiar landmark, and yet, it was immediately clear something was horribly wrong with it.

The gnarled barrier of vines was unmistakable, draping from either side of the cliff and blocking their descent. However, this particular section of the wall was different. The vines lacked their characteristic teal hue and healthy-appearance. A sickly gray spread across the plants, cracks peeling back layers of epidermis and revealing what looked like a dark purple rot. Pin pricks of violet light emanated from lacerations along the vines. The whole mass pulsated, and from what Shadow could see, the rot seemed to spread far deeper than just the surface level.

"What…is this?" Shadow breathed.

The two of them had come to a halt only twenty feet before the wall. Sonic crossed his arms over his chest, unphased as he watched the mass with dark eyes.

"This," Sonic muttered, "is Dark Gaia. Or part of it, anyways."

Shadow shot a look at Sonic, expecting some form of elaboration. But Sonic only kept his gaze forward.

"I found this part of the wall the day after you left, and I think it may have something to do with why your friend was able to leave," he went on. "But judging by your later transformation, she must have only just made it. She must be really lucky."

Shadow grunted in response. You have no idea.

Sonic walked forward, approaching the mass with purposeful steps as Shadow stayed standing in place.

"This barrier emerged the day I sealed it to the castle. It was what stopped the curse from spreading to the rest of my kingdom, and it's what keeps this place hidden. That's the way it was for so many years."

The prince was right in front of the wall now. The vines seemed to lurch towards him, and Shadow tensed involuntarily. However, Sonic didn't even flinch.

"But now, this is happening. And it's only gotten worse."

He calmly raised his arms, hovering both hands over the splotches of violet rot. And before Shadow could even fully parse what was happening, Sonic plunged his claws into the wall.

Instantaneously, a torrent of thick smoke exploded from the vines. Dark purple miasma engulfed his body, and Sonic let out a cry, fangs gnashing as the smoke seeped into him. He fell to his knees, but his arms remained firm against the violent flow of energy.

On instinct, Shadow moved towards him, but a low growl just as soon stopped him in his tracks. Sonic, barely visibly through the violet haze, glared back at him with furious green eyes.

"Stay back!" He shouted, lips pulled back into a monstrous snarl.

Shadow, inconceivably frozen in place, could only watch in stunned silence as the smoke continued to sink into Sonic's body. But soon, Shadow noticed that the purple rot seemed to be draining from the vines, flowing out of the plants in the direction of Sonic claws.

Only once the last wisps of smoke had settled into him did the prince finally release his grip. The vines before him laid shriveled and stiff, but the spots of violet had disappeared entirely, as if they had never been there in the first place.

Sonic's arms dropped to his sides, body swaying precariously. Free from his trance, Shadow darted forward. He wrapped an arm around Sonic's torso, pushing up against the other before he could fall to the ground. Sonic draped a grateful arm over Shadow's shoulder.

"Thanks," he breathed, a hand held close to his heaving chest. "This gets harder and harder every time, but it should be awhile until it returns again."

"Don't mention it," Shadow muttered.

He supported Sonic to his feet, allowing the other a moment to regain his composure. But as soon as Sonic had shown a capacity for balance again, he took a step back, voice hard and quiet.

"What was it, exactly, that you just did?"

"What I had to do." Sonic flashed a weak smile. "If the barrier can no longer contain the curse, then it falls on me to contain it instead."

Suddenly, everything clicked into place for Shadow. This whole time, the reasons for Sonic's random disappearances had had nothing to do with the graveyard. At least, that hadn't been the primary reason.

"How many times?" Shadow asked.

Sonic took a moment. And then, he answered.

"This was the third."

Three times in just a month. And it was only getting worse. Shadow clicked his tongue.

"That doesn't seem sustainable," Shadow pointed out grimly.

Sonic shook his head. "It doesn't matter. I won't let this curse spread any farther. Even if that means I have to give up my body in the process."

From the resolve in his voice and in his eyes alone, it was obvious Sonic meant everything he said. Shadow just stared at him, awestruck at the foolish display of selflessness before him.

Sonic—the prince who had lost his entire kingdom. One that bore witness to the destruction of his throne and so many of the ones who knew. He had endured centuries of involuntary immortality trapped in this place, and had watched helplessly as his closest friends endured the same, without so much as a clue that things would ever change.

And yet, in the face of that, he had still risked himself for a trespasser for no other reason than it was the right thing to do. And now, he risked his own body to protect a world that had no idea he even existed.

How did he extend compassion to a world who had long forgotten him? To one that would have certainly regarded his existence with revulsion even if it didn't? How did he continue to fight?

Shadow clenched his fists tightly.

But all that aside, there was something else on Shadow's mind. If the vines were no longer sufficient in containing the curse, did that mean there was a possibility of the infection spread to the Nulle Forest? Could what happened to Sonic's kingdom so long ago happen to others? Shadow went pale at the thought of the quaint, cobblestoned town he had once called home. It was by far the closest population center to the forest.

"How did this happen?" Shadow suddenly muttered, words barely audible under his breath.

Sonic's ear twitched, just barely registering Shadow's voice. He leaned towards him questioningly. "What do you mean?"

"This. This curse. You said this was your punishment, correct?" Shadow snapped his head up, one arm thrown towards the wall to make his point. "What even is this 'Dark Gaia,' and why did it choose to punish you?"

Sonic blinked down at him blankly. Then, he began to scratch his cheek sheepishly.

"Well, Dark Gaia is an entity that went by many names," he murmured, "Legend says it's the physical manifestation of everything negative in this world, seeking to bring destruction to all life on this planet. But that's just what the stories say."

Shadow narrowed his eyes at the vagueness of Sonic's answer, but he was too impatient to press further.

Alright. Fine. An evil entity wrecking havoc upon a castle in the woods. What else could I have expected? He thought bitterly.

"But why attack this place—why curse you, of all people?"

Sonic shrugged. "I don't know."

Shadow's temper flared. Sonic was lying, and it was plain to see that he was positively awful at it.

"Don't give me that. There had to be a reason. Was it a bid for the throne? Sent by a jealous sorcerer? Or did an unholy evil really decide to curse your realm on a whim alone?" Shadow demanded.

Sonic's lip twitched at Shadow's outburst, his eyes turning cold.

"Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter anymore. Our fate is the same either way," Sonic glowered, "Looking to the past won't change a thing."

"To hell with that!" Shadow growled. "What about your companions, then? Do they know about this?" He gestured emphatically.

At this, Sonic seemed to go a few shades lighter. He broke eye contact pointedly, an uncomfortable grimace crossing his face that told Shadow everything he needed to know.

Shadow dropped his hands to his sides, eyes full of disbelief and at an utter loss for what to say next.

When he had first arrived, Sonic had seemed none the happier to answer his questions, an open book regardless of whether Shadow wanted him to be or not (and he usually didn't). But all Sonic seemed to want to do now was offer him cryptic statements and ambiguous nonanswers.

If things had really gotten this bad, why had he not mentioned it to anyone?

Shadow pulled his mouth into a tight line, crimson eyes boring into the prince who would still not meet his gaze.

Then again, Shadow pondered, Sonic had seemed rather content with them spending their time galavanting around the castle, racing and reading and engaging in petty competitions. When Shadow really thought about it, Sonic had always treated him more like a playmate than the means to an end—even as a potential disaster was brewing under their very noses.

"I spent my entire life running from my responsibilities," Sonic spoke up from in front of him, arms crossed over his chest stubbornly. "Now, this life is my burden to bear. And I'll do whatever it takes to make sure no one has to suffer like this ever again."

Wordlessly, Shadow pivoted his body to face the vine wall.

Sonic snapped to attention just as Shadow launched into the air, jaw falling open as the hedgehog landed at the top of the barrier.

"Hey—what do you think you're doing?!" Sonic called out to him. But Shadow did not respond. Instead, he began to stomp forward at a pace not quite a run but faster than a walk.

A frustrated growl sounded from behind him, and then, the noises of claws clamoring up the side of the wall.

Sonic continued to call after Shadow as he made his way across the vines, but the hedgehog paid no mind to him. Soon, Shadow had reached the other side and with one more step, dropped gracefully onto the ground of the Nulle Forest.

"Shadow, stop! Hey—listen to me! Where are you going?!"

Shadow could hear the sound of heavy stomps behind him, but made no effort to cease his forward march. That is, until a heavy hand came down upon his shoulder, halting him in place.

Shadow whipped around to face a perturbed-looking Sonic, teeth bared and a fire burning in his eyes.

"We. had. a deal!" Shadow hissed, emphasizing each word. "You keep me hidden, and I assist you in figuring out how to end this mess! But as of now, what have I done to hold up my end of the bargain?"

Startled by the outburst, Sonic took a step back. He stared down at Shadow, eyebrows knitted in distress and mouth slightly parted as if he wanted to say something but no words could escape his lips.

Not that Shadow would have given him the chance, anyways.

"Thus far, I have done nothing to justify my stay here. So there is no reason for you to keep me around," Shadow answered bitterly.

Finally, Sonic seemed to finally snap out of his stupor. He shook his head fervently.

"That's not true! Look Shadow, I don't know what exactly your connection to this place is, but I've seen your powers, and I know them. There's gotta be something there! The chaos emeralds…if we could just—"

"Oh, of course!" Shadow interrupted, a sarcastic lilt to his voice. "The rocks that lost their power centuries ago!"

Sonic's fur bristled. "You don't know that!" He bellowed stubbornly, leaning in and pointing a finger at Shadow's chest. "Just because you couldn't connect with them once doesn't mean they're a lost cause!"

"And what if they are a lost cause? What then?" Shadow snapped. "What else can I possibly do to help you when you won't even tell me the whole story?!"

Sonic bared his teeth, hands practically shaking at his sides. However, once again no words left his mouth. Shadow, in turn, just stared up at him with challenging eyes, an indignant lift to his chin.

Then at once, Sonic's scowl disappeared. A deep frown settled across his face, and his eyes fell downcast.

"You have helped me, Shadow. Even if you don't realize it," Sonic muttered.

His shoulders slumped, arms limp at his sides and a head hung low. Despite the significant difference in size between the two, the prince suddenly looked very small standing before Shadow.

"So please, don't go," he finished quietly.

Shadow observed Sonic's state of defeat with cold silence. Behind him, the barrier stood strong—a stark difference from its state on the inside.

Regardless of how badly Shadow wanted to knock some answers out of him or die trying, he forced himself to calm down. As frustrated as he was, now was not the time to get worked up.

Shadow exhaled through his nose, letting some of the tension leave his body.

This place was no longer something he could just walk away from.

At one point, Shadow had had little concern for the curse and the plight of its bearers. But if what Sonic said about the curse was true, a widespread infection event would be utterly disastrous. Shadow couldn't just ignore that.

And then, there was something else.

Whether he wanted to admit it or not, the truth was that Shadow had gotten to know each of the castle's occupants. He had seen the way they cared for each other, and he had seen the way they extended that compassion to others, even to strangers who had done nothing but take advantage of their kindness.

"Sonic seems to have some faith in you, anyways. And if he does, so do I," a voice echoed in his mind.

Now, Shadow's expression was the one that fell, scowl softening into a solemn frown.

"I still have full intentions of following through with my promise," He declared decisively, eyes lidded. "But I cannot force you to tell me anything."

Shadow opened his eyes, positioning his gaze squarely onto Sonic's still-averted eyes.

"However, you should have more faith in your friends. You said this was your burden to bear, but I don't think they would see it that way."

Sonic lifted his head, and Shadow caught sight of eyes clouded with a grief too old to know: the despair of someone who had lived with it in his heart for far too long. But just as soon as it flashed over his features, it was gone.

Without another word, Shadow passed by him. He jumped to the top of the wall, not waiting for the other to follow.