Greetings everyone! Here is the third chapter of A Painting's Shadow! Most of the chapter has the two interact more and came into an understanding and truce before they escape the Fabricated World with the yellow Chaos Emerald. As stated by the title of this chapter, it will be the start of their acquaintanceship that starts out as awkward and shaky, but will progress into a genuine bond and friendship, especially on Shadow's part.
Alright, let us delve into the chapter, everyone!
Two sets of eyes are staring at the part where the Fabricated World painting should be hanging/bolted on.
It should be there. They know it should. They saw the big painting many minutes ago, so they expected the painting adhered to the wall in one place without anything disturbing it.
So imagine their surprise, puzzlement and fright (more so for Mary) after arriving at the third floor when they saw a blank wall with two painted windows occupying it, red letters written on the floor that says, " Y" and another scribbled message in red color stating, "Into the darkness". No signs of a large painting on the wall, not even scuff marks to signify that it was there.
While Shadow remained composed despite glaring at the wall where the Fabricated World painting should be, Mary is close to panicking, walking a few steps forward out of disbelief the painting that she has gone through vanish without a trace. She never got close to the wall, ignoring the messages as she continued staring to that spot of the wall and windows that had appeared in place. The black paint continues leaking under it, leaving behind thin trails when it slid across the wall and formed a small puddle directly on the floor. For now, it seems to have stopped.
"It's… It's gone," muttered the fearful girl. "Our… Our only way out…"
"So it seems," stated the calm hedgehog. "The fake gallery must have removed it after we individually interacted with the painting, which teleported us in this imitation of the gallery. I believe it want us to be trapped."
"No…" She uttered in disbelief. Backing away, it is clear she does not want to believe the gallery is gonna let them off so easily. Just because the monsters were taken care of by Shadow doesn't mean it can guarantee them a way out from this creepy place. With all they had witnessed here in mind, Mary is close to crying as she states, "It's… It's my fault. I led both of us in this predicament because I want to get out." She lowered her head with eyes closed, continuing her scared tirade, "Why did dad create a world with a strict rule if any artworks want to get out? Is it bad for me to have a life in the real world…? Or is my existence so insignificant that I can't get out so easily? Why do you have to be gone, dad? I… I really miss you…"
"Hmph. Don't panic and assume that we definitely have no way out of here just because the painting disappeared," Shadow rudely told her, still assuming an aloof demeanor supported by his folded arms. "It is bold and clever for the gallery to prevent us access to the portal that can take us both sides of the place. Frankly, any normal person would be trapped here for sure…except me."
"H-Huh? Wha… What do you mean by that?" She faced him. "And how can you be so calm at this dire situation? I think we won't be seeing the last of those… monsters you easily disposed of. They might appear again and kill us for sure! And we are trapped here, so we are in the gallery's grasp from the start before we saw each other!" She is close to freaking out when she finished, and probably incensed at the hedgehog's calmness.
"…I admit," He puts his index finger to his forehead, as if he was thinking something. "We are trapped. The painting is gone and I've no doubt the same paint-like creatures will not stop trying to subdue us because I fend off the first group so easily. As I said, any normal person is doomed in the same situation we are having."
"So then why are you so calm and, and… indifferent?" She stated, unable to fathom his nonchalant behavior during this urgent situation. "Aren't you bothered at all?"
"I AM bothered. If I hadn't stayed calm, I would be panicking and talking nonsense like you," He corrected her with a sigh. "Don't assume I have no feelings regarding this matter because I stay calm. This is just how I like to act. I hope you understand that, because from what I can see from your behavior, you must have not known any people have different attitude born from their experiences."
Hearing his reply that sounds like he's chastising her, Mary didn't have it in her to be angry at him and instead, instantly feels ashamed that she thought he was uncaring about their predicament or taking it so lightly. She does not like his tone though, just to be clear.
Rubbing her arm with her hand, she looks down with a sad frown, saying, "I… I see. I have no idea. I thought you must be too indifferent to me because of your attitude. Guess I got a little carried away due to my panicking. I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. Everyone I know knew this is how I act: calm, cool-headed and distant with a touch of rudeness and gruff," he told her with a softened look. At least, the best he can considering his natural angular eyes. "I expected any sensitive person would look at me the wrong way due to how I act. You're not the first, and the last, to assume something negative from me, so I'm used to it."
"…Well, if you say so," replied Mary, somewhat relieved she's not in trouble for possibly upsetting him.
"Good." Shadow nodded. "Now then, going back to the possibility of us being trapped here forever due to the gallery's ploys, I already have no problems agonizing about ever escaping this pale imitation of the real gallery. I have you to thank for giving me an object that I can use to escape."
"H-Huh? Me?" Mary pointed to herself in surprise. "What… object are you talking about?"
Looking at her strongly that causes her to flinch, Shadow sees that she has no idea what the Chaos Emerald is capable of despite having apparently held on to it before he got here. Elaboration and explanation are required for her to realize what he is getting at. "Why, you brought a powerful gem that I synergize with so well: the Chaos Emerald."
"Chaos… Emerald?" repeated Mary. "Is that the name of the yellow gem?" she asked, looking at it in Shadow's left hand.
"That's right. You believed this is an ordinary gem, but it's not," continued Shadow. "It's a mystical stone that stores a powerful, albeit unstable energy that has been the center of our world's history. There are seven emeralds each, one of which obviously you had in your possession until I confiscated it. Even without all emeralds which can grant its user immense power that can be describe as miraculous, having one emerald should suffice to give the holder power to let them rule the world."
Mary's eyes and mouth are widened and agape at once. She never thought she was holding a powerful gem that could possibly give her so much power if she knew how to use it. Coming from a girl who adores shiny gems, this is a startling discovery.
"Wow… I have no idea I was holding such a unique gem all the time." exclaimed Mary, positively enamored. "Even when I thought it was an ordinary gem, saw it as my lucky charm, if only because how pretty and shiny it is. I was wondering what it is when I got ahold of it one day, but after learning what it truly is, I think my assertion that it is a lucky charm must be truer than I thought."
"Lucky charm, huh… Hmph, you might be on to something. Actually, no… You guessed correctly," Shadow admitted to her.
"I-I am?" She looked surprise after hearing his remark.
"You heard me," He unfolded his arms and raised his hand to show the emerald to her. "If I hadn't detected the Chaos Emerald when I passed by the building housing this gallery, I wouldn't know. Also, without me around you, you would surely die either from the fake gallery darkening your vision, or the creatures it summoned. You would have no way of defending yourself if that happened."
A shiver ran down her spine when she heard his guess and the implication behind it. Looking at the shining emerald illuminating the room so brightly that she would be disoriented from the light beaming to her eyes if they haven't got used to it, she really considered she might be lucky for having it in her possession when she decided to get out the Fabricated World.
"…And in an unlikely situation you survived the gallery's onslaught, you will never escape out of here because the Fabricated World painting is gone. At best, you are trapped here forever, which is obviously not a favorable outcome for you even if you avoided everything the gallery throws at you."
"That's… That's true." She looked down again with a frown, having reminded of their current situation.
"…Which is why you, or we, are really lucky a Chaos Emerald is here with us," He returns to folding his arms, gripping the emerald. "With this gem, I can get us out of here without effort."
"…Are you sure? Can that emerald let us escape from this world?" She looked up skeptically.
"You heard me. I can get us out of here using the emerald." He haughtily replied.
By now, Mary is looking at him like a deer in the headlights. If he's not making the story up, then she should consider what he said to be true. This black hedgehog claims they can use the emerald to get out of this creepy replica of an art gallery. Even if she now knows what a Chaos Emerald is, she finds it so hard to believe because it sounds so fantastic. And yet, seeing how assured he is, and aware of how easily he defeated the monsters earlier without a scratch on him, she hopefully believes they can really escape.
She has now another way of getting to the real world without the Fabricated World's interference, or following its rule.
Getting excited at the prospect of escaping at last, Mary gets close to Shadow and says, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's get out of here! Use the emerald so we can leave this place!"
"…"
"…"
"…No."
"…Huh?"
Coiling back when she heard his response, her excited face turned to a surprised look, then to an angry one, as she asked, "What? Why not!?"
Glaring at her, Shadow reminds her of what they got here for. "So you forgotten it. We did not come here just to find the Fabricated World painting gone."
"Then why are we here?!" She demanded an answer.
"So you tell me what is going on here, when and how did you got a Chaos Emerald and why the gallery has it out for you," He quickly reminded her. "I have many questions the moment I got here in the same room we are in. Witnessing the surreal and creepy events that happened earlier has convinced me something is up in what I now know to be the fake gallery. Central to it all is you, Mary. Since the gallery has it out on you, I believe you can explain everything I want to know regarding this strange location. Is that clear to you?"
"Ah! I… I guess it is," Mary now sees the reason why they are here. In her rising panic, she forgot Shadow's reason for coming to the third floor. And since he explained to her what the Chaos Emerald is, maybe he thought it fair that she gives out info he wants in return. "As you have witnessed the events that occurred, there is no point in not telling you, is it?" she sighed.
"Right. I am not turning a blind eye and won't stop asking until I'm satisfied with the answers," nodded the hedgehog.
"…Before I can answer you though, there is one thing I want to know from you."
"And that is?"
"Your name, please. You already know who I am, but I don't know who you are the entire time."
"…It's Shadow. Shadow the Hedgehog."
"Shadow, huh? That's a nice name." smiled Mary.
Raising an eyebrow, Shadow remarks, "…You're the first person who complimented my name."
"Well, I'm just saying my thoughts," she giggled. "Well then, I shouldn't delay any longer. I will tell you everything about the Fabricated World, Shadow."
"About time," muttered Shadow, closing his eyes with his arms still folded. Tapping his arm with an index finger as if he wants to hear a lawyer's conjecture to the court, he says, "Start explaining Mary. I will be listening."
Seeing he is patiently waiting, Mary decides not to make him wait any. She feels like she can trust Shadow thanks to his actions. He may appear nonchalant and brusque but he is concerned about their predicament and herself than he seemingly lets on. He must be a professional who can handle any situation being given to him and deal with it with little issues.
Taking a deep breath, Mary begins telling him. "Okay. As you may have suspected already, the... "gallery" we are currently in is not the same gallery you came into earlier. This "gallery" is actually one area of a world created by my dad where all artworks are alive and common sense is mostly in flux. This world is called "Fabricated World", which as you may know is the same name as the painting that you saw before."
"The one that caused me to enter this world without realizing it?" Shadow inquired, putting his hand on his muzzle.
"Yes, that one," nodded Mary.
"I see. It disguises itself as a surreal painting seen on the third floor to lure in unsuspecting bystanders to take a gander onto it, while entering the titular world itself before they know it," he summarized the process of going to the cursed gallery. "Even without hearing the rumors revolving around the Guertena Art Gallery, I would call into question the nature of the gallery if I found myself here. But since I was aware of the rumors, I think there is no doubt the art gallery is indeed cursed and haunted by the artist himself."
"What do you mean dad haunts the gallery? That sounds rude," she asked with a doubtful look.
"That you call Guertena?" he asked for clarification.
A smile appears on her face as she answers, "Yup! He was the one who created me and the other artworks here in the gallery! All of us saw him as our father who gave life to us and created this world for us to live in."
"Is that so?" Taking in her response, Shadow realizes one part of her statement that implies something concerning Mary. "...Hold on. 'The one who created you?'"
"Ah! Did I not... told you at any point?" Mary hovers her hand close to her open mouth when she flinches in surprise. She quickly recomposed herself, knowing she was planning to tell him the truth about her anyway. It is necessary so he can understand why the cursed gallery wants to end her existence. "Well, I shouldn't hide it from you anymore. The truth is... I'm actually a painting. The last painting dad ever worked on before he... disappeared."
"!" For once, Shadow has a look of surprise visible on his face. Scrutinizing her as he looked up and down and even walked around her in every conceivable angle, Mary's statement that she is a painting echoed in his mind when he inspected her. He returns to his position after he is done, asking, "You're... a painting? Not a human?"
Mary nodded sincerely, hoping to remove any doubts from him that she's part of the Fabricated World. "That's right. It's hard to believe, right? Dad must have spent his remaining days perfecting every stroke, color and detail on me as he painted to give me the look of a little human girl. I mean, the Lady paintings and mannequins do appear human but at the same time, they are not because of the details holding them back."
Despite her clarification, Shadow really finds it hard to believe Mary is a painting. At first glance, she looks like a little girl you can see playing outside their house or in the park together with other kids. And the part about her being born in the Fabricated World sounds like a lie to him due to the cursed gallery attempting to kill her, giving him the impression that she got lost here and is on the monsters' mercy, compelling him to kill them.
After grappling this particular info in his head, Shadow could only let out a sigh as he shakes his head, seeing he will hold himself back if he keeps obsessing over the fact she is a painting and perhaps trying his damnedest to deny it or provide proof she is not due to how... humanlike she is.
"I... I have...no idea you're...not human," he offered this response to Mary with his hand on his face. "I thought you're a lost little girl being put in danger. I'm... I'm really shocked, not gonna lie."
For her part, Mary finds his reaction amusing, which stands in contrast to the composed demeanor he carried with him the entire time. "*giggle* I suppose I did a good job imitating a human. You look so flustered."
"Tsk. I'm hoping this is the last time I did," sighed Shadow. "But enough rambling about your nature as a lifelike painting. Continue where you left off."
"Right, right. Let's see, what was I supposed to say next... Ah! Right," Mary did what he told her to with a smile, wanting him to get the bigger picture of how the Fabricated World acts. "As I said before, dad, which is Weiss Guertena, created this world, myself and the other artworks when he supposedly imparted his soul in all his creations. I don't know how he did that, but his dedication led to the birth of the Fabricated World where many artworks, me included, have lived ever since we were created."
"Hm. Maybe he wasn't babbling nonsense when he wrote if all objects have a soul in his diary," he puts one finger to his forehead again. "Then again, after witnessing so many extraordinary events, I shouldn't be surprised. Or at least I shouldn't until two minutes ago."
"Oh, so you know about his diary. That's good." Mary approved. "As I said, all of us have lived in this world for a very long time, and as such, some artworks have occupied many areas of the gallery that you will not see in the outside world. They are, in order, blue, green, yellow, red, gray, violet, and brown areas."
"...So basically, you called them that because of the colors they represent." guessed Shadow.
"And what's wrong with calling each area based on the color they have?" Mary pouted at him.
"Nothing, I can tell you that," he replied. "What it can tell me, though, is that you must be the one who called each area based on color. I suppose that's a given since you look like a little girl."
Mary would retort back, but after considering his statement, she sees he hit the ball in the park. In fact, she was about to tell him her motivation for escaping to the real world, the rules that prevented her from doing it so easily and the punishment she was due to receive thanks to her rash decision.
She has not finished listing all the locations of the Fabricated World however. She is annoyed to confirm his remark that she does act like a little girl with what she is gonna say. "Well, if it amuses you, the next area after the brown area is called Sketchbook, which is an area I created entirely through crayons and the only part of the gallery that dad did not have a hand in creating, other than this doll and the other dolls I left behind."
"You... call that stuff toy a doll?" He looked at the blue-skinned doll with shaggy black hair, red eyes and pink dress.
"Yeah! Isn't it cute? I spent a lot of time creating them back then because I want companions," she enthusiastically said. She shows the doll in her hands to him, a little close for comfort. "This one doll is my favorite. Do you think this is adorable, Shadow?"
Even without looking at it, Shadow already knows what to describe that toy. "...It's creepy. Any sane person would not find it cute."
"Huh!? Why not!?" she pouted again, retracting her dolls when she straightened her arms and balled fists down rigidly.
"Why the pouting face? Don't tell me you didn't realize what anyone may perceive your doll is like?"
"Of course I know! They will find it cute!"
"...Not sure what mental process you arrived at that led you think that a doll with red eyes, stitched-up smile and messy black hair is called cute."
"So you don't find it cute, then?"
"I did say that few seconds ago."
"Grrr...! You're gonna regret saying that to my face!"
"Just try."
After their one-sided argument that left her unable to change his mind, Mary sets it aside with a huff. "Well! As I was saying, the Sketchbook and the next area called Toy Box, is entirely created by me through my crayons and assistance of my dolls, making them appear like my crayon drawings on books. Unlike the rest of the gallery, everything you may see there is created based on what I read about the outside world: A house, pond, flowers, sun and trees, all within a small town I also created can be found there."
"As for the Toy Box, it is accessed through a blue well that you fall into, which lands you down on a black floor filled with my crayon drawings about the artworks from previous areas and anything that pops in my mind. This is where my own room is located, and my painting I broke out from when I come to life. Before I knew it, I created the entire Sketchbook and Toy Box, and filled my room with books, painting tools, accessories, and diary. Anything that I like or adore, I kept it there."
"After the Toy Box is the last area of the Fabricated World, which is a gallery replica similar to this one."
"…Are you saying it's the same?" He inquired.
"Actually, no. I remember the floors and walls being gray while this one is white. I wandered there before I got in this gallery, at least I thought it's the real one until I realized it isn't," She answered. "Maybe... there are three separate variants of the gallery: the real one, the "fake" one and the one after the Toy Box area."
"Hm, that's not confusing at all." He sarcastically implied with a huff.
"I did not understand at first, but… after seeing this and telling you everything I know about the Fabricated World, I am sure we are in one variant of the gallery before we entered the art world proper through the floor painting with a scary fish floating in it. I guess... the world tricked me by leading me here to what I thought is real one."
"...I believe that's all? The part about the Fabricated World and how you are connected to it, I mean?" asked Shadow.
"I'm almost finished," Mary shook her head. "I still haven't told you how I got the Chaos Emerald and what motivated me to try get out of here and live in the real world."
"Well don't keep me waiting then. Tell me... When and how did you get this Chaos Emerald?" He showed her the emerald again, hoping he could jot her memories.
Briefly glancing at the emerald, she finally reveals how she got it. "It was given to me by one of the dolls that found it."
"Given... to you?"
"It may sound simple, but that's exactly what happened. I got it thanks to one of my doll," she maintained. "I was drawing on a sketchbook one day when a doll with a yellow dress walked to me carrying that yellow emerald. The first time I laid eyes on it, I was instantly captivated by its brilliant, smooth appearance and shimmering body. Of course, I did ask where the doll got this emerald, and they said, 'It suddenly appeared in our room through a bright light.' I had so many questions about how it appeared and what kind of gem it is, but because I love shiny gems, I didn't ask about it and so, I have it with me ever since as my lucky charm."
"...So it appeared one day and you claim it as yours, then," Shadow summed up. "I believe the emerald appearing in the Fabricated World must be not that simple as you said. I know for the fact that a Chaos Emerald has more than it meets one's eye. There must be a reason why it appeared suddenly. Mary, have you stopped and think why you came into possession of a Chaos Emerald?"
"Well, if I have known what that gem actually is back then, I would seriously question it. I do find it weird how it got here a long time ago though," she shrugged her shoulders. "In fact, the appearance of the emerald coincided with the Fabricated World, or actually, the art gallery from the real world, having no visitors for a long time."
"No visitors?" parroted Shadow with a quirked eyebrow.
"Yes. Ever since that day, someone from the real world has not been visiting the gallery for some reason," she recounted. "At first I did not find it weird and I thought maybe we will receive a visitor tomorrow. But when that day came and went, and the next day, and the day after that, until one week had passed, no one had been visiting the gallery. Before I know it, six months have passed until someone finally appeared in this world, and even then, the gallery saw few visitors for the next three months."
"Six months?" Rubbing his muzzle in thought, Shadow has a feeling that there might be a reason why no one ever visited the art gallery and its cursed counterpart. The event that almost ravaged the world during those six months is still fresh in his mind. The world is still recovering from the aftermath, and quickly he might add, but that doesn't change the fact that the war put all lives at risk under the doctor's iron-fisted rule after subduing his arch-nemesis. There were more deaths than there are survivors, and the survivors will take a long time until they can move pass the outcome of the war…
Wait. The war…? Ah, I see. That must be the reason.
In fact, it reminded me about how the Guertena Art Gallery remained intact throughout the war. I think everyone is speculating about it, on par with the rumors about it being haunted…
"…Actually, there is one reason why no one had ever visited the gallery," Shadow confidently said. He locked eyes to Mary's surprised ones as he says, "It could be related either to the gallery's haunted nature or the emerald's appearance to you."
"Huh? What are you implying?" urged Mary.
"During those six months when no one visited the gallery, a great war occurred that nearly brought the world on its feet," he started explaining and walking back and forth, his footsteps echoing in the room. "I won't bore you with more details than necessary, so here's a quick summary: a mad scientist named Doctor Eggman defeated his arch-nemesis, and my main rival, Sonic, thanks to an illusion stone called Phantom Ruby and his henchman Infinite and conquered almost the entire world. A resistance group arose in response, and while they haven't made progress during those six months, Sonic's rescue, a rookie upstart and his younger self arrived in the time of need to force back the Eggman Empire until they are defeated. While the doctor must have escaped since no one found him after the final battle, the resistance emerged as a victor and started the effort of restoring the world back to its former state."
"A war… erupted!? I, I have no idea the world was in danger!" Mary exclaimed, clearly horrified.
"I bet you wouldn't," he shook his head. "You were cooped up here the whole time, somehow safe from the war. That is the reason why the art gallery hadn't seen visitors for six months and few people visited the place these past three months."
Locking eyes with her, Shadow believes the painting girl might know best about the next question he will ask. "Now, there is one thing I want to know again… Tell me Mary. Why hasn't the gallery destroyed during those months?"
"Destroyed?" repeated Mary.
"That's right. The city the gallery is in was struck hard by the robots under the doctor's employ, bombarding the buildings and roads with many weapons as possible. Needless to say, it was almost brought to ruin and many lives were lost…" He closed his eyes when he stated the casualties, before opening them again to look at Mary "But despite that, the Guertena Art Gallery stood strong amidst the attack. No matter how many weapons inflicted upon it, the building wouldn't get destroyed. The doctor decided to dismiss it and focused his troops elsewhere. If it was destroyed, I wouldn't be here this night and we wouldn't have this long conversation, nor would the gallery be standing in the present."
"Ah…! You're… You're right," she conceded with a terrified look. She never thought she and the other artworks were almost destroyed thanks to this Eggman character. "If what you're saying is true, then it does beg a question… Why am I alive and… why the gallery is still… intact…?"
"Well? Do you know why?" Shadow folded his arms once more, hoping she makes it quick. "And don't forget about the Chaos Emerald you got on the day the gallery stopped seeing visitors for a long time, or more accurately, why the war prevented the gallery from receiving even just one person."
"Are you sure that emerald is related?"
"…I am. There must be a reason why it appeared to you. Remember, they are mystical gems of immense power. It can do certain feats whether by someone commanding them, or more impressively, by themselves."
"A reason, huh…?" Mary stayed ponderingly silent. She continued staring at the still glowing emerald in Shadow's hand, as if thinking on pleading to it. Thinking hard is not her strongest feat, so she guesses it's gonna be hard for her to think one reason.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"gasps I… I-I see now!"
"Have you guessed the reason?" inquired Shadow, looking at her expectantly.
"Possibly…" Looking at him back with assured eyes, Mary gives him the answer he was craving for. Remembering how powerful even a single Chaos Emerald can be and the mysterious way it appeared one day in the Fabricated World, the portrait girl may have guessed the emerald's purpose for being in her possession.
"I believe that Chaos Emerald protected not only me, but also, the entire gallery, both real and fake."
"Protected…you?" Shadow finds her answer intriguing.
"I'm sure of it," She nodded affirmatively. "To tell you the truth, I haven't been holding on to the emerald always because it frequently fly off my hands as I go to the other areas of the gallery. No matter what location I was in, the emerald would always end up in one place: the Fabricated World painting."
"The big painting itself?"
"Yes. When it arrived there, it floats before the painting and stays that way for a while. I tried retrieving it, but the emerald would leave my hand not even a second I grabbed it. I was frustrated, but that soon vanished when it returned to me after it finished floating before the painting. Only to repeat the same procedure tomorrow and before I knew it, it became a habit for me to wait for the emerald to come back, even if it took me at least three days."
"So the emerald acted on its own. And going by what you claimed that the emerald is protecting you and the gallery…"
"…That could possibly the reason why," she stated. "I realize that it's not messing with me. It was protecting the entire gallery from the effects of the war you spoke of. I never thought calling it as my lucky charm is correct for its role ever since it appeared here. If it didn't appeared here, then… all of us would be destroyed, most likely burned into ashes…"
"Hm. Yes, that must be it," Shadow fully agreed with her notion. "That's the reason why the gallery isn't destroyed despite the escalating war and casualties. You are lucky to have one and protect you, Mary."
Giggling with a smile, Mary agrees with him, remarking, "Guess I have. I'm embarrassed that I haven't realized the emerald's reason for a long time."
"You wouldn't. You didn't know what a Chaos Emerald is until I enter your picture and explained it to you," Shadow remarked, tapping his arm. "Until at that point, you called it as your lucky charm."
"And also, I do like gems," she added.
"…Because of their appearance, not monetary value?"
"Yes, their appearance."
"…Hmm, someone I know would get along with her, provided she doesn't take her to go thieving," he mumbled that part, making the girl wonder what he said since he said it quietly. "Anyway, I think… I learned plenty about who you are, what the Fabricated World is and your relationship with it, how did you acquire this emerald and why is it with you in the first place. I am satisfied with your answers, Mary."
"If that's what you thought, then I am glad," Despite saying that, Mary feels the opposite. This is indicated by her frown supported by looking down with guilty eyes. "I guess we can…finally get out into the outside world."
"…" Shadow remained silent.
"After having lived here for a very long time, my dream of leaving this cursed world and start my life out there is about to come true," she half-heartedly continued, which she noted. This is brought up in her next statement. "I… I should be happy. I'm about to see with my own eyes the world that I had read from the books. I already met someone from there who can lead me without going through a big painting, and then I would be living my best life that I cannot afford being stuck here. So… why? Why do I fear getting out of the cursed world?"
"…" Shadow stayed silent, but he's gauging her behavior. He may not admit it, but he's getting a little concerned.
Feeling like she needed someone's approval, she looked at Shadow with anxious eyes and asks, "U-Um Shadow? Do you think…I can…get out of here and live in the real world…without exchanging someone's soul?"
"Huh? Exchange…someone's soul?" He repeated, seeing he's about to absorb another tidbit from her.
"If I want to get out without considering your option, I have to let someone take my place as this world's master," Mary starts explaining the last info regarding the strict rule the Fabricated World, or perhaps Guertena himself. imposed upon its denizens. "In other words, I have to take their life."
"!" Shadow's eyes widen in response to that. "So you must kill someone and be free from this gallery's shackles?"
"…That's the gist of it," she nodded with a frown. "Because I haven't killed someone when I made my decision to jump through the painting in spite of the gallery's warning, everything here starts falling apart before my eyes. For failing to take one's life, the gallery tried punishing me by coloring the surroundings in darkness and when that didn't work, monsters appeared. If you haven't showed up, that would be the end of me."
"My appearance is unprecedented then? Is that what you're implying?" He guessed.
"Yeah… Thanks to my impatience and being unable to take it living here anymore, I nearly doomed ourselves. It's all because I am my father's last work. A part of the Fabricated World. My heart, and my existence for that matter, is fabricated. A fake. Imaginary. In the end, I'm just a painting given life."
"I… I just… I just wanted to…" Unable to contain her tears, she covers her eyes as she dropped to the ground on her knees. Sobbing ensued from her as the weight of her existence and consequences of her action filled her non-beating heart with guilt, fear and most of all, sadness. "I just wanted to live in the real world. I really, really like there! Why did this world forbid me from doing so!? I don't care if I did not become human, all I ever wanted is to escape and be free to live as I want!"
"Mary." Shadow started, but she continued her crying tirade.
"I could make a lot of friends. I could eat lots of candies. I could visit any location I saw pictured in the books. I just… want to experience all of them!"
"Mary, listen-"
"Was the point of my existence to remain here for eternity? In this dark and dreary world I was born into? That's… That's not right. It's not right at all!"
"Would you stop crying already, I am calling for-"
She removes her hand to reveal angry eyes as red cracks form beneath her feet. "And my father… Even though I loved him, I am angry at him for putting me in this world when I would loved to live in the world he lived in. Since he's gone, I can't even express my anger toward him. If only he didn't created this world… If only he didn't put his soul to all of his works, including myself… If only he didn't subject us to this tired existence that is living in the Fabricated World…! And if only this world would just bend to my whims and do what I want it to do! It would have been easy, but no! Even it actually hhatesMS! Just why… Why does everything… HATES ME SO MU-!"
"MARY!"
Shadow finally shouted as he grabs her shoulders just as she hit her boiling point. At once, her anger vanished as she stared at the irritated eyes of Shadow after failing to listen and respond to him calling her name. While he's undeniably annoyed by her ignoring him, there don't seem to be any hint of anger in his face or eyes.
While it is hidden and Mary doesn't know it, there is some empathy and concern directed at her.
And Shadow wants to dispel them away, or at least diminish it.
"Calm. Down." He simply told her. "Getting angry will not accomplish anything except stressing yourself. And," He glanced to the red cracks formed under Mary's knees that reached near the walls. "You could mark the entire room with these red cracks."
"H-Huh?" She peered the cracks lining the floor in an erratic or zigzag pattern, partially covering the letters too. This is the first time she unintentionally created cracks due to her rising anger, emphasized by her blinking eyes and a sheepish look to replace her previous frustrated expression. "Did… Did those cracks came under me?"
"You did," bluntly answered Shadow. "What, are you going to tell me you didn't notice them because you got so angry that you yelled out your bottled frustrations out?"
"…Erm, well I… This is the first time I've done it," Mary averts her eyes, unable to get the sight of the red cracks out from her vision. "I never thought my emotions would bring those out from me."
"Hmph, either way, let's not discuss about your ability to form cracks on the ground. I want you to calm yourself down,"
"B-But… How can I calm down?" meekly protested the painting. She wipes her eyes with her sleeves as she says, "With everything that had happened here and thinking on how I was so lonely that I want to escape this place so much that I… *sniffs* I, I…"
"You are willing to kill someone so they take your place and guarantee you a safe ticket out to the real world," grimly guessed Shadow. Shaking his head disapprovingly of the thought, he adds, "Well, I am sure you might be thinking of doing the act while I am still here. I would stop you there because not only would it be a heinous action, especially from someone who looks like a young innocent girl, but you absolutely stood no chance against me."
"That's… That's the only way for me to leave the Fabricated World. I don't think there is another way that doesn't involve killing someone, aside from your suggestion," She weakly defended, getting to avert her eyes off from him again out of shame for even thinking about it. "If I did not do that, then the only option left for me would be…"
Mary trails off and does not complete the sentence. But she and Shadow guess the implication regarding the painting's agonizing dilemma of choosing two choices that does not favor her in some way. She hangs her head low, never thinking of looking to his eyes because she feels so upset, angry, ashamed, and most of all, guilty.
She remained silent, with the only sounds coming from her are her sobs, sniffs and hiccups. She never looked up, so her tears dropped to her dress, staining it. She could be scared that she may continue staring to his eyes that could be judging her over her action that didn't happen nor would ever happen. Even if he isn't, she believes that he will not forgive her over having to think of it.
What the gallery is telling her was right. Mary is a bad girl.
Seeing she has hit her low point not even more than few minutes after they met, Shadow lets out a sigh over what he learned about the Fabricated World and Mary's role in it and the event that she inadvertently, but undeniably caused. Someone who has a "fabricated" heart and is possibly the same as the hostile paint monsters that spawned when Shadow interfered Mary's planned death under the gallery's thumbs could not have the possibility of living in the real world. Perhaps it should be that way. A living painting will always be a part of the gallery and has no place outside. It must be her fate the moment she was brought to life by her creator that she would be stuck here forever, with her dream of escaping out of here just a fantasy.
…
…
…I believe… I made a decision.
It will change how I conduct myself everyday: Living alone and only ever involving myself with my friends and others when it's necessary…
…But that will not discourage me from what I will do to Mary.
After all… I have to make someone happy, like she promised me to…
First, I have something to say to Mary, then I will cheer her up. It will be tough for me since it is a rare action for someone like me, but seeing someone so distressed will not be tolerated in my eyes. I would be lying to myself otherwise, and it does not seat right with me if I, at least, did not try comfort her.
Unfolding his arms, Shadow starts the process of comforting Mary and cheering her up. "Mary. Look up to me."
"*sniffs* H-Huh…?" Stopping her crying, the painting looks up, showing her teary eyes that is now dripping along her cheeks due to the change of position and gravity doing its work. "Sh… Shadow…?"
In spite of his natural expression, Shadow tried sporting a softened look so he doesn't scare her when he's going to soothe her cries away. It must not be apparent, judging from her scared look that really emphasize her teary eyes, but he is trying.
Either way, Shadow crouches on his knee. Taking a moment to take a deep breath to organize what he will say to her, Shadow starts talking about his feelings to the notion of killing someone and escaping. "I do not want to add more to your current distress, but I have to say something regarding you potentially committing a morally-wrong act if it means securing freedom to the real world."
"…" Mary went silent, her tears not stopping.
Shaking his head with a sigh, Shadow speaks up to let her know the consequence of her potential act, "I will be blunt with you. Intending to take someone's life so they take your place and let the gallery grant you freedom at their expense is not right. That someone you killed has loved ones and personal life who are just getting by themselves until they suddenly found themselves stuck in a nightmare world full of artworks wanting to snatch their life without regard of their intent of escaping. Barring that, the fact that you, a little girl in terms of appearance, had thought of achieving freedom by killing anyone who entered here indicates that you are psychotic and possibly broken from having lived your whole existence in the Fabricated World, with only your fellow artworks and dolls to give you some sense of companionship."
"Me? Ps… Psychotic?" She recoiled in surprise over the word Shadow described her. She wants to be offended by what he called her as, but she didn't deny it. Deep down, she knows he's right, she was just ignoring it and want everyone to see her as a cheerful child who wants to make friends.
"Judging by your look, you have known what isolation had done to your mind and shaped your personality to your detriment," he stated. "However, don't expect to use that as an excuse that led you to plan to kill a real person so you can roam free, without considering what you've done. Again, coming from a child, that is most disturbing."
"E-Errr…"
"I will not pretend that it is not a hard decision to either submit to an eternal loneliness in this world or murder an unsuspecting victim for the sake of being free at last. Nor will I make light of what you've endured for possibly many years," he added. "But, as someone who must keep the world safe from all kind of threats, letting a mentally insane painting who killed someone walk free in the real world will not be tolerated. If this was a different circumstance, forgive me if I treat you as a threat to be eliminated. Not even having an appearance of a little girl will deter me from my decision to end your life."
"You… You wouldn't…!" If she isn't scared of him before, then she should be. Part of her wants to deny what he's saying to her and will do to her if she's the bad guy, but she can't deny it at the same time. He does raised good points over his duty of keeping the world safe from harm, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Mostly she couldn't believe what she's hearing from his mouth, so she's having a hard time believing him.
"I know it is harsh Mary, but you must be aware that you brought the potential punishment onto yourself if you have done it," Shadow glared at her, making her flinch.
"A-Ahhh… No, I… I don't…" She stammered, feeling dreadful that he will definitely do attack her, as if she's the same as the paint monsters from earlier. "I don't… want to die. P-Please, don't do it, Shadow… I-I…"
Before she start acting impulsively, Shadow puts his hands on her shoulders, noting immediately how uncharacteristic and rare for him to do it. He deems it necessary since Mary might get panicked from his harsh words and glare. His next words will hopefully put her mind in ease at last.
"*sniffs* Wha… What are you seeing in me, then?" Mary uttered with a frown, wondering if he's about to rebuke her for getting themselves in this predicament. She wanted to avert her eyes again, but they are stuck staring through his red eyes that hasn't changed from its perpetual fierce look.
"You are a painting born in this world by your father as his last creation," began Shadow. "I may not have visited the other areas you told me, but I do not deny that a dreary and foreboding mood is present when I found myself here minutes ago. I can immediately tell that this world is one place that an ordinary people mustn't visit. Even for me, I wouldn't thought of venturing deep in the Fabricated World just to sate my curiosity. Having lived here your entire life has deeply affected you so much that you became desperate to leave this place, to the point you are compelled to take someone's life."
"…So you see me as a bad girl, then?" resigned Mary.
"Bad girl? Perhaps…" replied Shadow. "But a lonely being, or more accurately, a lonely child who wishes to live outside and make friends? Yes."
"Huh?" After hearing his critique of her that she didn't really want to hear during her low point, she was surprised to hear his reply. Also, she noticed his sympathetic eyes that is slowly becoming pronounced after the glare she got.
"You may not be human, and you have a troubled mind caused by your crushing isolation and loneliness that affected your behavior beneath your cheerful and innocent exterior, but I find your circumstances rather tragic," continued Shadow. "The rule created either by the Fabricated World or your father is unfair. It shouldn't have been imposed upon you when you started longing for the outside world. I'm not one to guess how you conducted your life here everyday after you were born, but I believe you endured an unhappy existence living among your fellow artworks, who are hostile to outsiders."
"…Well, they do not try attack me because they see me as the Fabricated World's master," she clarified. "But you are right… It is unfair that the gallery will only let me out if I kill one person from the real world. If… If I did that, then I don't think… I will be a good girl regardless if they knew or not."
"I hope you won't go down that path Mary, as I take you with me to the real world," stated Shadow, conviction in his words and tone.
"Really? You will… get me out of here at last, Shadow?" asked Mary, hope filling in her eyes as she looked to him, silently pleading he is not lying.
"Hmph. Do you even need to ask?" Despite his reply, Shadow nods affirmatively. "If you're still unsure, then I will say this: Yes. I will get you out of here. So I would like it if you stop crying and don't think negative thoughts anymore. I imagine you are exhausted mentally after you told me everything about this world and yourself." He wipes Mary's tears off her eyes with his left thumb so his statement becomes true. Fortunately, Mary is done crying after listening to his rousing words.
The painting didn't dare ask him again from their long conversation alone, her dream of living in the real world became so close to her reach. This black hedgehog who always has a scowl and indifference was being empathetic and merciful for her plight who agrees to let her come with him to the real world after much consideration.
And while he does not see it the same way as she does, at least for now, Mary have finally made a true friend that she can be with together.
Overwhelmed with joy and relief, Mary pulled Shadow close for a hug, surprising him. "Haargh!?"
Laughing at the feeling of pure joy in her chest, Mary spins around with Shadow and her doll in her arms. Her laughter and spinning ceased after four seconds to speak her many gratitude to the uncomfortable hedgehog, which is not helped by the girl hugging him tightly. Any more than that and the hedgehog would be pleading to give him space to breath if he wasn't biologically unique.
"Thankyouthanyouthankyouthankyouthankyou… Thank you Shadow!" She exclaimed with a smile and tears in her eyes. "I'm sooooo… so happy! I don't think my many thanks aren't enough! How… How can I ever repay you?"
"…By letting me go?" deadpanned Shadow. "I didn't ask you to hug me."
"Oh! Sorry! I couldn't control myself," Muttering her apology while giggling, Mary lets go of Shadow. The hedgehog lets out a "hmph!" after the act.
"Well don't be impulsive next time," admonished Shadow. "You could make someone angry if you did something out of impulse." He further express his annoyance by folding his arms yet again. At least she's not like Sonic…
Seeing his hostile reaction to her hugging him, Mary asks, "Do you… not like hugs Shadow?"
Eyeing her, he responds, "No, nor do I like contact in general."
"Really? Geez, you are a killjoy," Mary folds her arms as well, pouting.
"I just don't like being around people for a long time," he grumbled. "I am not like you Mary. Not even the slightest."
"So you have few friends then?" She guessed and retorted.
"I do, but I never hang out with them," He shakes his head. Realizing Mary may take this the wrong way since they are about to get out this place, he quickly said to her, "That does not mean you cannot try be a friend to me, because you will live with me."
"Oh. I see. I was about to think you do not want to be my friend in spite of planning to live with you," replied Mary, sounding relieved.
Shadow lets out a sigh to her remark. I may not like living with her at first, let alone a painting with a disturbed mind, but declining her chance of living with me will not seat right with me…
"Now then," started Shadow, glancing to the Chaos Emerald. "It's about time we get out of here. I think your time being the Fabricated World's master and resident will be up, for your own sake."
Nodding fervently, Mary cannot wait to go to the real world with her first ever friend. "Of course I am! You haven't been here long enough, so how can you understand what's it like living here, Shadow?"
"What, are you telling me that you will miss this place?" insinuated Shadow.
The painting went silent after hearing his remark. She looked around the room they are in, ignoring the covered windows, ominous message in blue and red crayon cracks lining the entire floor outward from her position. She then looked at the place where the Fabricated World should be bolted on. As it wasn't present, she chose to imagine it being there, remembering the big rectangular frame and the canvas itself showing the real gallery with frolicking people painted in a semi-abstract fashion.
Mary did not say anything during her trance-like overlook of the room. Before Shadow can reply out of concern he may have stir her up, the girl returns to staring at him again, a nostalgic and sad look in her eyes as she says, "I think… I'm going to miss this place."
"…You seriously answered my question?" stated Shadow.
"Well you did ask me," countered Mary before continuing, "As I said, I will miss living in the Fabricated World. It's… an odd feeling. I don't have overall the best time being this world's master and resident, even if I have my sisters and dolls to be my companions and playmates. So why…" She looks down with a frown, her eyes getting glossy as she then says, "Why do I feel so wistful all of a sudden?"
Shadow understands her conflicted feelings about leaving her birth place. Deciding to reply, he says, "It's because you have been here for a very long time. I know the feeling well."
"Huh? You do?" She looks up to him in curiosity.
"I am," nodded Shadow. "…I was born somewhere else. Somewhere that is not on Earth. I don't want to dredge up bad memories during my time living in that place but… I used to live far from Earth, before circumstances force me there. As I chose to move my past behind and focus on the present, I do not plan on visiting my birth place. However, that doesn't mean I sometimes long for the days gone by when I was content and… happy to be living there. In other words, I miss the place I first known after I was born. Or created, actually."
The hedgehog felt awkward recounting some of his past to a girl who was a total stranger to him until now. He swore to himself not to remember his sordid past, but he ended up disclosing some of it. He does not like it, but felt it necessary to tell it so she knows that she's not the only one who feels wistful, or soon-to-be wistful, of the one place they have known for almost their entire life.
Also, while he hadn't told the entire story, he believes it is one step of getting even with her after hearing her entire story.
From the look of wonder, understanding and empathy in her eyes, it seems to have succeeded.
"…So you were… like me then," What hadn't succeeded is Mary's reply to him that sounds like she compared herself to him, and vice versa.
"What?" uttered Shadow, staring at her skeptically.
"You said that you were created, and… you used to live in your own birthplace…" she added. "…I am not sure if I want to say it again because I believe it's a bit of a stretch, but we actually are different from other people Shadow."
"Different, huh?" he repeated thoughtfully.
"Well, you can disregard that part. It's just my own thought," she shrugs, hoping the hedgehog doesn't take her words seriously. She blurted that out, actually. "Anyway, I understand what you said to me about missing, or going to miss the place we knew for our entire life. Not sure if that makes me happy or sad, but… *sighs* I'm going to miss the Fabricated World once we're out of here."
"Don't think that it's a bad thing Mary," Shadow finally said. "Whatever experiences we have, whether good or bad, definitely shaped our attitudes, perspectives and outlook to life. Try to disregard it and you will be unsatisfied with yourself. More so if you continue denying it."
"…" She did not have a response for that.
"Right now, you must be aware that you are unstable, meaning you could pose a threat to anyone regardless if you do not want to put yourself the same as other painting monsters," reminded Shadow. "If you want to live with me, you must behave yourself. I will be your judge of your actions and attitude to others. Expect to be scolded by me when you did something troublesome. I won't hold back in regard to that. Is that clear?"
With the outside world close to her reach and desperate to be friends with anyone, even a haughty hedgehog who is reserved at best and unfriendly at worst, as well as wanting to be a good friend to him, Mary's response is predictable to him. "Yes. I understand. I try not to be a bad girl you see me as, Shadow."
After staring at her resolute and pleading eyes, Shadow nods approvingly. "Good. Hopefully, you don't disappoint me not long after we go to the real world."
"Hey, you sound like you don't have a lot of trust in me, Shadow." Mary pouted again, offended of his low expectations of her.
"Better safe than sorry, Mary. Don't take it personally." Shadow simply said.
Mary is not pleased with his response, but she chose not to take umbrage. She could only huff with a pout though, averting her closed eyes from him. This lasted for two seconds.
She stared at the Chaos Emerald, which is now glowing brightly and emits sparkles around it. She takes this as an indication that Shadow is drawing energy from it, prompting her to ask, "Are we finally going to leave Shadow? You're gonna use the Chaos Emerald to get us out, right?"
Shadow sees no point in responding at first, but he decides to indulge her to confirm what she's been waiting for after she heard his statement about using the emerald earlier. "Yes. I will warp us out of here through Chaos Control. I must do it quick, because our this room is becoming darker again."
Mary almost start panicking when she noticed their darkening surroundings. Not only that, the sound of wet footsteps are heard again, meaning the Fabricated World will summon more paint monsters.
"T-Then do it! Get us out of here Shadow!" She exclaimed pleadingly, moving up close to him.
"Alright. Stay close to me Mary."
Without hesitation, Shadow raised the glowing yellow emerald in the air and shouted, "Chaos…CONTROL!"
Upon his command, a flash of light engulfed the two, and when it disappeared, they are nowhere to be found.
As of this moment, Shadow and Mary are no longer in the Fabricated World, with the latter having succeeded in her goal of leaving the false gallery.
Congratulations! You passed Fabricated World Zone, Act 3! You will enter the next zone and act, everyone!
...In the next chapter.
...
...Okay, please disregard my tangent up there. Just wanted to play around writing it as if this is the classic games.
Anyway, as written in the very last sentence, Shadow and Mary are finally out of the false gallery and will be taking foot to the real world. I can guess the blonde painting girl is happy that she's able to leave the gallery through a different method instead of taking someone's life, all thanks to the Ultimate Lifeform himself. This way, Mary won't be dirtying her hands and morals due to the gallery's stringent requirements just to let her leave. I believe we all know how she will go so far as to force two people to exchange objects that is linked to their lives during their tenure throughout the whole art world to leave. Her cruelty and lunacy are displayed for our eyes to see in one certain ending route...
In short, Mary is a cheerful and lively painting who desires to make friends, but she can be impatient who doesn't know a lot of things that she didn't read. Most of all however, she is an, in no certain terms, insane being with a warped mind as a result of having lived in the hostile world of Guertena her entire life, where being there for just one day is enough to send your mind faltering. With her character in mind, it is necessary for me to have her deal with her flaws while living in the world she wanted to be in for a long time. It won't be easy because she had lived as a mentally distrubed painting her entire life and harboured ill intents before Shadow appeared, but it is not impossible.
In their long conversation, I wanted to make sure Shadow is seen as a cold and rude person who acts like he doesn't care about other people's feelings when speaking in a professional and blunt way, but does possesses a compassionate heart who expresses sympathy and care for others. Motivated by his personality, Shadow didn't hesitate to point out her shortcomings, whether she likes it or not. He knows sugarcoating it will just downplay her issue and possibly let it fester to a worse outcome, so he was frank, uncompromising and harsh in rebuking her. However, he's willing to give her a chance to better herself once she starts living with him, as well as being willing to calm and cheer her up, even holding her.
I believe this chapter alone establishes the kind of relationship Shadow and Mary will have. Shadow will continue being his aloof self who maintains a distance-like relationship with her, which is challenging since they will live together in one house, while Mary intends of staying close to him at all times, to the point of being clingy, whose lively and sunny demeanor may or may not irk the hedgehog. Having such a clashing personailty and differences will surely be interesting to witness, and the way I picture their growing bond in the coming chapters, I predict it's not gonna go away entirely even when they eventually come to accept their presence comfortably.
Well then, I should stop there. This chapter was long enough, which is not what I intended at first until I saw the written interaction between the two, which has them asking and learning everything related to the Chaos Emerald and Fabricated World.
Oh, speaking of those two, expect them to get brought up in a later chapter. Shadow and Mary may have escaped the Farbricated World, but the world itself will not be ignoring them just because they escaped. How will the world of Guertena continue bothering these two, as well as how the yellow emerald they have in possession affect their lives, will not be answered for now.
In fact, I am planning how they would play later in the coming chapters.
Currently, we will see these two's growing friendship and their interactions as they live together, of which their differences will certainly not be excluded most of the time. I hope I can display their respective flaws and strengths and make their interactions entertaining, funny and pleasing.
Thank you all for reading, and please stay safe and healthy, everyone! I bid you all adieu for now!
P.S.: Man, I can't get enough of Honkai Star Rail. So many games to play, and few games I am still playing like Genshin, and yet, so much time will pass after I finished playing...
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...Well, I sure don't regret it, haha. I like gaming, after all.