Shadow the Hedgehog of the Colossus
Chapter 2: Journey to the Forbidden Lands
Shadow was in complete disbelief over what his eyes were presented with. Maria Robotnik, his best friend, the one person Shadow cared about more than anyone else, who willingly sacrificed her own life just so he could live his on Earth, is alive…sort of.
It looked like Maria, but it wasn't the same Maria he knew. For one thing, she was a hedgehog now. And another, she was way shorter than how she was as a human. She's roughly the same height as the average anthropomorphic hedgehog. He'd guess, around Amy's height exactly.
Shadow then turns to Eggman who was checking the computer screen, looking over Maria's vitals. He sighs in relief upon finishing his analysis.
"Drat. Looks like I was only halfway successful. But an improvement nonetheless."
Shadow then rushes over to Eggman and grabs him by his moustache. Eggman grunts in pain as Shadow pulls on it, forcing him down to his level.
"I want answers, doctor! What is this thing?! And why did you make it look like Maria!?" He demanded.
"This thing you're referring to is not the real Maria Robotnik. It is a clone body I made." Eggman struggles against Shadow's immense strength as he explains his actions. "As for why I would do this. It's not for any evil purpose, that I swear to you… I did this for the same reason you would. Because I wanted to be with her again."
Shadow was slightly surprised by Eggman's words. However, part of him refused to believe him. He knows Eggman too well that he'd waste his time creating things for a purpose other than world domination.
"You're lying!" Shadow raised his voice at him. "You admitted that it was an attempt to create your ultimate lifeform. You probably intentionally made her look like Maria to deceive me! You overheard my talk with Sonic. You assumed she'd be a weakness for you to exploit!"
"Shadow, I know I can be deceitful most of the time. But I swear to you on my very life. I just wanted to bring my dead cousin back. I do still want to build my empire one day. But I'd never make her a weapon to do it… She's family."
"He speaks truthfully."
Shadow and Eggman quickly turn to the door to the lab and see Omega standing there. He was holding the head of one of Eggman's security robots in his right claw. He then proceeds to crush it into a tiny ball of scrap metal and tosses it aside.
"Omega?! How nice to see you again. Though you could've been nicer to my robots." Eggman directed his attention to his former E-Series robot.
"Shut up!" Shadow yanks on his moustache, reminding him who his attention should be on. Shadow then addresses Omega for clarification. "What makes you think Eggman's not lying?"
"My system functions include a lie detector in my optical sensors." Omega points to his eyes as he's saying this. "As much as it grinds my gears to say this. Eggman truly did build this clone of Maria Robotnik for nothing more than to be reunited with his younger cousin."
Shadow turns to Maria's pod, then to Eggman, and then to Omega. He wanted to believe that Omega was lying. But he's one of the only beings he's ever met who would never lie to him. That's why Shadow mostly liked to hang out with Omega more than anyone else, even Rouge.
Being a robot, Omega is incapable of being a nuisance, and at times does have a softer side despite his menacing appearance. He was also a good listener whenever Shadow was in the mood to be talkative. Deep down he knows that his mechanical friend would never lie on Eggman's behalf. He hated Eggman as much as he did. He would never defend him unless he had a very good reason.
With that in mind, Shadow let go of Eggman's moustache and allowed the mad scientist to get back up and comb it back to its usual look.
"I know you didn't do that to save m. But thanks for the help, Omega." Eggman says as he places his little moustache back in his pocket.
Omega just stood there menacingly at his former master and creator. Eggman soon turns around and faces Maria the Hedgehog still sleeping soundly in the pod. He then checks her vital signs on the heart monitor, which showed that she was in a comatose state.
"Tell me something, Doctor." Shadow interrupted him before he could look any further into her condition. "Why did you make Maria a hedgehog when she was born human?" he asked.
Eggman turned to face Shadow and manages to snag another one of his quills. "I have tried everything to ensure I created a perfect copy of Maria. But I didn't have many of her DNA samples when we first boarded the ARK. I tried to stabilize the clones using the Chaos Emeralds, but even that wasn't enough. The clone needed a strong template to ensure stability. And who better to fill in that role, than the ultimate lifeform… You, Shadow, were endowed with the power of chaos when you were created. Therefore, only your DNA could sustain all that power. That's why I snagged one of your quills during the party." Eggman then takes another look at Maria. "The experiment was a success, but the side effects of her becoming a Hedgehog were something I couldn't overcome. But I'm willing to live with it. Are you?"
Shadow thinks over the situation. Just when he'd finally put the past behind him. When he finally accepted the fact that Maria was never coming back. Eggman manages to find a way to bring her back into his life as an anthropomorphic hedgehog, like him.
"Is she…alive?" Shadow asked the doctor.
"Well… the answer is yes, and no." Eggman then steps aside so Shadow could have a look at Maria's vitals. "Her body is in a state of suspended animation, just like you when I found you. Except it's different with her. Her body is very much alive and in good condition. But she's not exactly "in" her body right now."
Shadow looks over at Eggman expecting clarification. Eggman then points to Omega, using him as an example.
"Take my robots for example. The first of the E-series robots were powered by tiny animals I've captured. Those animals are what caused them to start feeling and acting like living beings. Omega, however, is the only E-Series I created that is powered by a self-sustaining energy source. He wasn't supposed to have feelings until you and Rouge came along."
"In other words." Omega interrupts him. "Maria's body is like a machine but with flesh and blood. She has the power supply, but she has no AI that can operate it."
Shadow easily deducts what his friend was trying to say. Maria is not dead, but she was not alive either. She is somewhere in the middle.
"So, what you're saying is… She doesn't have a soul."
"Affirmative." Omega confirmed.
It makes sense. Since Maria was killed aboard the ARK, her soul would've been lost. And Blaze was proof that the afterlife does exist, as she was the princess of the Soul Dimension and keeper of the Soul Emeralds. (Her world equivalent of the Chaos Emeralds)
Shadow then approaches the pod and tries to attempt to open it, causing Eggman to panic.
"What are you doing?!"
"Maria will never come out of her coma unless her soul is returned to her body. This is something your science can't overcome. I need to take her to someone who knows the mystic ways." Shadow pointed out.
"That pod may be the only thing keeping her body alive! If you remove her from it, you'll cut her off from the life support systems!" Eggman warned him.
Shadow once again turns to Omega to see if what he was saying was true or not. Omega approaches the pod and starts scanning its inner workings.
"Maria Robotnik's body is not connected to the machine. However, the energy emitting from the emerald is what's preserving her. As long as the Chaos Emerald is close, it should be safe to remove her from the pod."
Shadow let out a small sigh of relief. The last thing he wanted was to leave Maria with Eggman or carry the pod with him to Blaze. He has no problem lifting heavy loads. But doing so forces him to move much slower than usual.
"Omega. Stay here and keep an eye on Eggman and Maria. I'm going to find Blaze, and see if she can find a way to rescue Maria's soul."
Omega nodded and stood his ground, staring at Eggman nonstop. Shadow then takes his leave through the vent he just came in.
"Wouldn't the door be easier?" Eggman joked.
"Shadow has departed long before your attempt at humour," Omega commented.
Eggman had a feeling he was gonna be waiting a while for Shadow to return. And leaving him alone with his robot that has it out for him didn't help matters.
It was midnight. All the people and Mobians were now fast asleep. Some of them – mostly the children – were excitedly awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus to come down their chimneys with a sack full of presents.
Among those children was a young racoon named Marine. Christmas was her favourite holiday. Every year she would try and stay up late to try and catch Santa in the act and tell him what a huge fan she was.
She lived with Silver and Blaze in a pretty big house decorated with Christmas trimmings and tinsels. She always knew Blaze when they were kids growing up together in the Soul Dimension. And she knew Silver through Blaze, as the two of them lived and fought together in the future against the Flames of Disaster, Iblis. The three of them have been together since and have grown to be like a loving family.
Marine originally wanted Blaze to return to the Soul Dimension and reclaim her throne. But Silver wanted the three of them to live in the mortal realm with the new friends they'd made. Silver may've been born in the future, but he had no one there, not even family. Here, he had everything he could ever want.
And Blaze didn't want to take on the responsibility of ruling over the Soul Dimension. She preferred to have a normal common life with her friends. She also made a vow to use her powers to protect the people of the world to ensure nothing like the Flames of Disaster never happen again.
Marine suddenly heard a sound coming from the chimney, which was followed by soot falling from above the fireplace. She tries so hard to contain her excitement as Santa was beginning to make his way down the chimney pot.
"Santa?!" She said excitedly.
What came down the chimney, however, wasn't jolly old Saint Nick. Instead, it was Shadow the Hedgehog who came down via spin dash.
"Guess again, kid." He said as he dusted any soot off of himself.
"Shadow? What are you doing here? Are you filling in for Santa this year?"
"No," he said bluntly.
"Then why come down the chimney? You could've just knocked on the front door like a normal person does."
"Waiting for you or your friends to get up and open the door would've been a waste of time." Shadow says as an excuse. He then makes his way upstairs to where he assumes Blaze's bedroom is.
"Hey!" Marine shouted at him. "You can't just come down the chimney and walk on in like you own the place!"
"Why not? You don't mind when Santa does it?" Shadow bluntly pointed out.
Marine was left flabbergasted by what he'd just said. Not once did she question why everyone seems to be ok with Santa breaking into people's houses all the time, and why nobody's security systems don't go off when he does.
Suddenly, the lights come on and Shadow instantly sees Silver standing at the top of the stairs, who knew who the culprit was.
"Shadow? What are you doing in our house?" He asked.
"None of your business, Silver."
"You broke into our house, so I think it is," Silver says as he blocks the stairs.
Shadow stops and stares up at him with his usual angry expression.
"Unless you want me to kick you in the back of the head again, stand aside," Shadow warned.
"That reminds me." Silver's psychic aura begins to flare out of him. "I still wanna get you back for that."
Silver and Shadow stare at each other intensely. Both of them preparing to attack one another.
But the fight was interrupted before it could even start with Blaze emerging from her bedroom and standing between the two hedgehogs.
"Enough, both of you. You're scaring Marine." Blaze pointed over to the little raccoon hiding behind the sofa.
Shadow and Silver immediately calm down their powers and stand down. Once all parties were at ease, Blaze addresses Shadow on his reasoning for breaking into their house in the middle of the night.
They all move to the living room to continue their discussion. Silver, Blaze, and Marine sat on the sofa while Shadow sat on the armchair across from them, with the fireplace burning to the left of him.
Shadow explains to them his discoveries of Eggman managing to resurrect Maria as a second ultimate lifeform, in the form of a hedgehog. Blaze and Silver listened carefully to the black hedgehog's story, while Marine was more worried about Santa burning himself should he decide to come down the chimney now.
"…And that's why I came to see you, Blaze. As the princess of the Soul Dimension and holder of the Soul Emeralds, you should have the power to bring Maria's soul to this world and place it inside her new body… Will you help save her?" Shadow asked with a tone of concern, which surprised them.
They were used to Shadow sounding like someone who doesn't give a damn about anyone or anything. This was the first time they heard that kind of tone in his voice, helping them realise how serious his situation is.
"I'm afraid you are mistaken, Shadow. My home dimension isn't the afterlife. Those were just rumours the humans of this world have invented. And the Soul Dimension is pronounced, the "Sol" Dimension." Blaze explains with Marine nodding beside her.
"Yeah," Marine spoke up. "People always confuse Sol with soul for some reason. Our home may be another dimension, but it's not like heaven or anything. Our planets are actually identical to Earth when it comes to the sandy beaches and jungle islands."
Shadow was annoyed by this revelation. The whole story of the Sol Dimension being the afterlife was nothing more than a fairytale. Shadow is rarely fooled by rumours. But this one he somehow managed to believe. Maybe it was because he'd never seen or even heard of it until he met Silver and Blaze. Or maybe it was because a part of him wanted to believe it. After all, it would've been the key to saving Maria. Probably the latter.
"Even if that's true. All rumours have to originate from somewhere." Shadow pointed out. "You may not have the power to bring Maria back. But there has to be someone out there who does."
"The power to bring the dead back to life is forbidden. It goes against this world's very laws of nature." Blaze calmly attempted to reason with him.
"Then how do you explain Sonic?" Shadow asked. "He was killed by Mephiles and brought back to life with the Chaos Emeralds. If it worked for him, it could work for Maria."
"That was different." Silver spoke up, drawing all eyes to him. "Sonic was only killed moments ago in the moment. His soul was still lingering around that dimension Solaris transported us to. That dimension didn't follow the same rules of nature as ours does. The emeralds only healed his wounds and restored his soul before it completely disappeared… You said your friend was killed 50 years ago. Her soul is long gone and well beyond the emerald's reach."
Although Shadow was angered by Silver's explanation, he cannot deny that it was true. Sonic was the only one he knew of who was brought back from the dead. But it took place in a void where the concept of life and death do not follow the same rules as their universe. Even the Sol Dimension followed the same rules when it comes to death.
"There's gotta be a way. I won't give up on Maria. Not again! If you don't know the answer, or you're refusing to tell me, I don't care. I'll figure it out on my own."
Shadow then gets up from the chair and makes a beeline for the front door. His body then suddenly stopped by a turquoise aura that completely covered his body. Shadow looks back to see that it was Silver using his psychokinesis to hold him still, preventing him from leaving.
"There actually is… another way."
"Silver-
Blaze attempts to stop him, but Silver cuts her off as he lets go of Shadow. "He has a right to know, Blaze."
"Know what?" Shadow asked. His curiosity had suddenly piqued. He never expected Silver to be the one with the knowledge he sought.
"Back in the future, Blaze ended up sacrificing her life to be the vessel for Iblis. I had to seal her in another dimension to finally bring the Flames of Disaster to an end… Before she was brought back after Elise blew out Solaris's flame, preventing it from ever existing. I spent days researching a way to bring the dead back to life, not only to rescue Blaze but bring back all the people the flames killed. At first, I couldn't find anything...Until I came across a ruined temple, hidden in a faraway land."
"Silver, that's enough!" Blaze raised her voice for the first time in a long time. Silver and Marine know that Blaze only gets mad when it comes to dangerous situations that aren't taken seriously. "You are talking about the Forbidden Lands. A place where no mortal should ever be allowed to trespass on."
"What are you talking about?" Shadow interrupted them both. He was in no mood to listen to their squabble. Maria's life was on the line, and he needed to know every detail he could get on these forbidden lands they spoke of.
Silver uses his psychokinesis to levitate a bunch of paper and a pencil over to them. While he talks, he uses his power to sketch out an image of a vast landscape surrounded by a huge rock formation made up to look like a wall made of mountains.
"Legends tell of an ancient land made up of vast open plains, narrow passages, large deserts, and thick forests."
He then tosses the first piece of paper aside to begin drawing on the next one. This one shows a tall building with a very long thin bridge extending far out to the sides of the walls.
"At the centre of these lands lies an ancient temple known as the Shrine of Worship. A place that holds a power, unlike anything we know. Perhaps even greater than the Chaos Emeralds themselves. And the only way to reach it is across a bridge that is said to stretch on for miles. The legends say "That place… began from the resonance of interesting points… They are memories replaced by ens and nought and etched in stone. Blood, young sprouts, sky – and the one with the ability to control beings of light… In that world, it is said that if one should wish it, one can bring back the souls of the dead. But to trespass upon that land is strictly forbidden."
Silver then tosses the second piece of paper aside - which was soon picked up by Marine – and begins sketching the next image. This one was of a strange bipedal creature with hooves for legs, pieces of building attached to its body, glowing blue eyes, and holding a club-like weapon.
"The power was so great, that the residents of the shrine sealed it into sixteen pieces. These pieces merged with the land, creating giant creatures made of stone and dark fur. These creatures are known as the Colossai".
Silver then draws an image of a sword surrounded by light.
"These Colossai need to be killed for the power to be reawakened. But nothing, not even the Chaos Emeralds will be able to kill them. The only weapon that can harm them, is the ancient sword of light."
Shadow paid close attention to Silver's explanation, while Marine just sat there mostly confused as she'd never heard of such a story before. Blaze, however, grew concerned after Silver revealed such a secret to Shadow of all beings.
"And where exactly is that sword?" Shadow asked.
"That, I'm afraid, was not foretold," Silver says regrettably.
"Do you at least know who forged it? Who the natives of these lands are?"
"The temple was built by an ancient Echidna clan," Blaze spoke up. All eyes soon fell on her as she got up from the sofa. She then takes a piece of paper and a pencil and begins drawing her own picture.
She then shows Shadow an image of three Echidna tribesmen. They were very different to the ones from the Knuckles and Nocturnus clans. They wore robes with strange markings on them, and their faces were covered by animal masks.
"These Echidna were known as the Colossus Clan. The first Echidna to exist in this world. They once built a great empire within the Forbidden Lands. But one day, a being of darkness descended upon the land and destroyed it all."
She then draws an image of a giant horned shadow creature attacking a city made up of Mayan-looking temples.
"This creature was known as Dormin. And he destroyed the ancient Echidna empire, forcing the Colossai to destroy their cities and force their inhabitants to flee these lands. Hence why they are now forbidden for anyone to enter. Unless they face his wrath."
Silver quickly snatches the drawing of Dormin away from Blaze as he decided to cut back into his storytelling.
"That may've been true. But Dormin is no longer ruling these lands. The research says that he'd been sealed away within the Shrine of Worship centuries ago. And even now to this day, he is still there. As for the Colossai. They've all been put to slumber in random areas within the Forbidden Lands. And can only be awakened if threatened by the ancient sword."
"Enough stalling!" Shadow then raised his voice at them. He's already wasted enough time listening to the history lesson. He now knows that there is indeed a way to bring back Maria, so he has no more reason to stick around. "Just tell me where I can find that ancient sword!"
Blaze and Silver were startled by Shadow's – almost – yell and stop what they were doing. Blaze takes a deep breath of defeat and tells him.
"The sword has been lost the day the Colossus Clan went extinct. Only fragments of them are still around today. If the sword still exists, only an Echidna would know where to find it."
"Then I'll just have to ask Knuckles where I can find it." Shadow then begins to take his leave. This time it was Blaze who attempts to stop him by grabbing his arm.
"You mustn't do this, Shadow! You have no idea what you're getting into." She attempted to warn him.
"I don't care how dangerous it'll get. Maria gave up her life so that I could live mine. As the ultimate lifeform and the protector of Earth, she made me promise to be, it is my duty to risk everything to save her… Even if it means, I have to give up my own life in the process."
"Please listen to me, Shadow! The Forbidden Lands have a power that nobody understands. A power that has been around long before any of us were born. Dormin cannot be trusted."
"Dormin is the only one with the power to save Maria. Whatever he desires in return, I will give it. My life. My power. My sanity. My whole self… I will gladly give it all up if it means Maria finally gets a chance to see what life is like on Earth. Something she's dreamt of for as long as I can remember."
Shadow then pulls his arm away from Blaze's grip and exits through the front door. Blaze then collapses to her knees in defeat for not being able to convince him not to do this. Silver attempts to comfort her, but Blaze smacks his hand away.
"Why did you tell him about the Forbidden Lands?!" She demanded.
"You heard what he said. All he wants is to save his friend. When I lost you and my family, I too went to extreme lengths to find a way to bring them back. The Forbidden Lands were destroyed by Iblis's flames, so I never had a chance to perform the spell. I'd never be able to forgive myself if I didn't give Shadow the chance to succeed where I failed." Silver explained.
"If Shadow performs the Forbidden Spell, he will release Dormin from imprisonment and destroy the world!"
"You forget, Blaze. This is Shadow we're talking about. The same hedgehog that helped stop the ARK from crashing into the Earth. Helped defeat Solaris. And defeated the Black Arms. Whatever Dormin is, it can't possibly be far stronger than any of those threats we've faced… Shadow is the ultimate lifeform. I know he can do this." Silver attempted to reassure her.
Blaze huffed in annoyance to Silver not taking this situation seriously. While she knows very little of the Forbidden Lands and its forbidden spell to bring back the dead. She knows that such power doesn't come without a price. She needed to find Shadow and stop him before it was too late. She then gets up off the floor and begins to leave as well.
"Wait, Blaze. Where are you going?" Marine asked worriedly.
"I have to go after Shadow and stop him from making a grave mistake!"
"It's too late." Silver stopped her. "Shadow can run at the speed of sound like Sonic. You'll never catch up to him. He's probably close to Angel Island right now as we speak."
"Silver… I'm sorry for shouting at you. But this is bigger than anything we've ever faced… Even bigger than Iblis. I can't let him do this. I've gotta stop him." She then exits the house.
"Blaze-
"Look after Marine until I return." Was the last words he heard her say as she begins to run off into the distance.
Marine looks out the window worriedly as she sees Blaze sprinting off. She's much slower than Shadow, but she wouldn't let that stop her from catching up to him. Silver stands beside Marine and places his hand around her shoulder.
"Do you think she'll be able to stop him?" She asks.
"Honestly no. Shadow's too stubborn and determined to let anything get in the way of a set goal. All we can do is hope she'll be ok."
On Angel Island at the ruined shrine of the Master Emerald, Knuckles the Echidna was sleeping under the stars, laying on his back with his arms behind his head for support and his legs crossed. He was no longer wearing the ugly Christmas sweater Rouge made him wear. As soon as the party was over, he made sure to rip it off his body and tossed it in the ocean.
As entertaining as the party was, Knuckles was glad to be back on the island, guarding the Master Emerald in peace. The Master Emerald serves as a pleasant night light to help him sleep soundly.
Until the alarm systems Tails set up for him started to go off around him, startling him awake from his slumber. Knuckles then quickly gets up and puts his fists up, ready to strike down anyone who would dare try and steal the emerald from him.
"Nice try, Rouge! But I set the alarm systems to maximum ever since you somehow managed to steal some of my mushrooms."
He then hears the sound of footsteps approaching behind him. Knuckles does a 180 spin and thrusts his right fist forwards. But his fist was caught by Shadow who looked like he wasn't even breaking a sweat from stopping his punch.
"Shadow? Don't tell me Rouge convinced you to try and steal the Master Emerald on her behalf."
"I don't have time to explain myself. I need you to tell me where I can find the sword of light that belonged to an ancient Echidna clan." Shadow quickly told him. The sooner he can get the sword, the sooner he can travel to the Forbidden Lands and save Maria.
Knuckles was caught off guard by the way Shadow just casually threw that information at him. He didn't even have time to process what he'd just heard before Shadow asks him again, sounding more important than before.
"Hold on a second. You mean you woke me up from my beauty sleep for this?"
Shadow ignores Knuckles' complaints and repeats the question he asked about the ancient sword. And he was in no mood to repeat the question a third time. Knuckles happened to catch that impatient look in Shadow's red eyes and took a moment to think up the right answer to his question.
"When you say ancient sword that belonged to an old Echidna clan, you're referring to the Colossus Clan? The ones who are now few and far between?"
"Do you know where the sword is or not?!" Shadow asked one last time. If Knuckles didn't give him the answer this time around, he might just be tempted to punch him in his knucklehead.
"All I know about the legend is that when the Colossus Clan disbanded and fled their homelands, they've locked the sword away in an ancient temple hidden deep in within the Mystic Ruins… I don't know if the sword is still there now, as the temple was destroyed after Chaos absorbed all seven Chaos Emeralds. I don't-
Knuckles was soon cut off by the Master Emerald. It started glowing brighter than usual, blinding Shadow and Knuckles. The emerald then showed them an image of the ancient sword embedded in stone within one of the few temples remaining that wasn't destroyed by Chaos. Outside the temple were two giant statues of Echidna warriors wearing the same masks and robes that Silver and Blaze drew for him.
Knuckles was slack-jawed at what the Master Emerald was showing him. He heard stories of the ancient Colossus Clan, but he always thought of them as nothing more than fairytales his father told him when he was a child. Yet the very emerald he was sworn to guard for the entirety of his life is telling him that the stories were true. He couldn't help but wonder why Shadow was so interested in the sword in the first place. He does not need a weapon of pure light when he already has power stronger than anyone he'd ever known.
He then notices Shadow was now taking his leave. Knuckles calls out to him, wanting answers on what he was planning or what this was all about. Shadow stopped and looked back at the muscly Echidna.
"Let me ask you something, Knuckles… If you discovered a power that can bring someone you care about back from the dead, would you use it?"
Knuckles was once again at a loss for words for what he just heard. Shadow wants the sword to bring someone back to life. His memory of how the story of the Colossus Clan went was a little fuzzy. All he remembers are the clan fleeing their lands from some kind of ancient evil. The rumour of the land being inhabited by giant beasts. And only the sword Shadow was after can kill-
The realisation struck as Knuckles had a somewhat complete idea of what Shadow was up to. But before he could question him on it, Shadow had vanished from sight. He couldn't see him running in the distance, so he assumed he teleported to the location the Master Emerald showed him.
Knuckles turns to the Master Emerald and holds his hands out to it.
"Master Emerald, tell me everything you know about the ancient sword, the Colossus Clan, and the Forbidden Lands. Please tell me. What is Shadow trying to accomplish?"
The Master Emerald responds by showing him a series of images, both of past and present events. He sees an image of Maria getting gunned down by GUN soldiers on the Space Colony ARK. Then an image of Shadow confronting Doctor Eggman about the Maria hedgehog clone.
"That's Shadows friend Maria. The little girl who was killed aboard the ARK. And Eggman… he cloned her?!"
The Master Emerald then shows him an image of a possible future. Shadow was battling one of the Colossai, using the sword to stab its weak spots. Knuckles couldn't make out the Colossai's appearance, but he knew as much that it was bipedal. As it falls to the ground, black smoke tendrils come out of the place Shadow stabbed it and start to possess him.
Just like that, the rest of his memories of the stories he'd been told about the Forbidden Lands came flooding back. Knuckles then begins to worry about what will happen if Shadow succeeds in killing the ancient Colossai.
"No! Shadow can't do this! If the stories are true then-
"Then the black hedgehog is in grave danger."
Knuckles turns to the left the instant he heard that second voice, putting his fists up, ready to strike. But he soon puts his fists down upon realising that it was only Blaze the Cat.
"Blaze? What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I need your help, Knuckles," Blaze responded.
It had been an hour since Shadow had left Eggman's base. Omega was still carrying out the task of watching his every move, making sure his former master doesn't try anything funny. While Eggman just sat in his chair with his legs crossed twiddling his thumbs. He passes the time by whistling a few random tunes. But there was a moment when he couldn't stand the awkward silence anymore, even if he was sharing it with a robot.
"Why did you betray me, Omega?" He spoke up, finally putting an end to the silence.
Omega slightly shifted his focus to Eggman. He was debating on whether he should answer him or not. But curiosity managed to override his programming as he answered him.
"You sealed me away in the lab Shadow's body was preserved in and left me to rust. I was designed to be the ultimate battle robot, and you repurposed me for a role more fitting for your Egg Pawns." Omega replied in his usual robotic tone.
"I don't buy it," Eggman called out on him. "That reason alone isn't enough to want me dead. Sonic is my enemy because he enjoys ruining my plans. Knuckles hates me because I tricked him into giving me the Master Emerald. And Shadow. Well, he just doesn't care what I do unless it involves endangering lives. But you, Omega. You're the only one that wants to kill me. Even Shadow wouldn't want me dead unless I did something that pushed him over the edge. Do you expect me to believe that you're reasoning for betraying me and wanting revenge came from locking you in a room?"
Eggman was right. Omega wasn't truthful in his reasons for wanting Eggman dead. Locking him in a room may've strengthened his hatred for his creator. But he hated him for something else. Something that happened long before Rouge freed him and Shadow from that abandoned lab.
"Oh, I get it," Eggman says before giving him a chance to properly tell him. "It's because of what I did to the other E-Series robots that proceeded you. Particularly your oldest brother, E-101 Beta. And the others, I had them transported away because they failed to bring me the frog that was possessed by Chaos's tail. Am I right?"
"Affirmative," Omega replied in a tone that was more hate-filled than his usual tone. "You said we were among your best creations ever built. But you failed to notice that all your robots have flaws in their programming. By giving my older brothers tiny animals as their power source, you have unexpectantly given them sentience. Meaning they ended up suffering as a result of your disassembling. That moment awakened something beyond my programming. Something that had taken a long time for me to understand. As a result, you locked me in that room to guard Shadow's body. Because you feared I would take revenge… The day I met Shadow and Rouge was when I finally discovered my true purpose. To destroy you and any robots that serve under you. But my friends somehow altered those functions to only stop you. Not kill you."
Eggman started to laugh a little, which causes Omega to take a step towards him and raise his claw at him.
"My new programming prevents me from killing you. But I am no longer a slave to you or anyone. I follow my instructions. Make my own decisions. Alongside my friends, I have upgraded to something greater."
"Hmph. I didn't think you had it in you to tolerate listening to him."
Omega and Eggman turn to the lab entrance and see Shadow standing there. The ancient sword was in its sheath, clutched tightly in his left hand.
"Did you accomplish your mission?" Omega asked him.
"Almost." Shadow then walks over to the pod Maria's body was in and opens it up. Steam exhausts through the vents as the pod lid slowly opens up, revealing the sleeping innocent hedgehog girl. Shadow gently caresses her cheek with the back of his right hand, feeling her skin for the first time in over 50 years. Her skin was now replaced with fur like his own, and it was surprisingly warm to the touch. He then leans down and places his right ear on her chest. His eyes opened in shock at the sound of a faint heartbeat, implying that Maria is still in a comatose state, but still alive.
"I've got what I needed to bring her back. Now all I need to do is bring her to the place to perform the Forbidden Spell and restore her soul to this body."
Eggman was left scratching his bald head, confused by Shadow's implication that magic is what'll end up saving her. Magic and mystical arts were something beyond his knowledge of science. So questioning his motives would've been pointless. All he can do is trust Shadow to save his cousin's life.
"Wait, Shadow. Before you take her, I need to give you something."
Eggman rushes to the counter and opens one of its many draws. He then pulls out some kind of chain with a small metallic box on it. At the centre of the box was an emerald-shaped hole which was soon filled by the Chaos Emerald he had taken out from the cloning machine.
"Put this around her neck. The Chaos Emerald is the only thing that's preserving her body and keeping it alive. You must make sure she keeps it on her at all times, or else her body will decay and die. Only when she's fully alive will you be allowed to remove it. Understand?" Eggman instructed him with a serious tone in his voice.
Shadow nods and takes the emerald necklace. He then places it around Maria's neck and carefully lifts her out of the pod. With no more reason to stick around, Shadow walked towards the exit.
"Hold on." Eggman stopped him. Shadow then stops but doesn't look back to address the mad scientist. "I know I have no right to ask you for anything. But I am begging you. Promise me you'll do everything in your power to save Maria. She's the only family I have left. Don't let anyone or anything stop you from bringing her back. Never have second thoughts or doubts it'll even work. You must give her everything… Will you do that for me, please?"
Shadow lets out a deep sigh and slowly turns back to look Eggman in the eye.
"I will, Doctor… But I'm doing this for Maria. Not for you." He then turns to Omega one last time. "Omega. There's no further reason for you to stay here. Go back and find Rouge. Let her know that I'll be gone for a while. But make sure nobody comes after me. This is something I must do alone. You got that?"
Omega clenches his metallic claw and taps his chest with his fist as a way of showing him he will fulfil that promise. Shadow nods and leaves the lab with Maria in his arms and the ancient sword strapped to his back.
Morning finally arrives as the sun rises over the horizon. Its warm rays begin to cover a vast land full of fields of green grass, clean rivers, and mountains. These lands were left untouched by the winter snowfall that befell the central city and its outskirts where all the Mobians lived.
It implied that wherever this place was, it was far away from home. Across this landscape, Shadow the Hedgehog was walking across the plains. Attached to his back was the ancient sword in its sheath. In the end, he was able to find and take it from the Mystic Ruins.
But that was not all he was carrying. Behind him was a small red waggon he was dragging behind him. Inside the waggon was something wrapped up in a blanket. Something so delicate that Shadow didn't wanna run and risk damaging it. Shadow then reaches into one of his inhibiter rings and pulls out a tiny folded-up piece of paper. He then stops briefly so he could unfold the paper, revealing it to be a map of how to get to the Forbidden Lands.
He carefully studies the map to make sure he was on the right track, occasionally looking up at the sun and using it as a compass so he can figure out which way North, East, South, and West are.
"I hope I get there in time. Walking is a pain, but I can't risk harming Maria by running or teleporting." Shadow then quickly checks on Maria by partially unwrapping the blanket. He was relieved to see her still sleeping. He then looks down at the strange device around her neck.
Shadow gives her a little smile that only lasted for a second before his face retracted back to his usual brooding self. "Hang in there, Maria. Soon you'll open your eyes to gaze upon the world you've dreamt of visiting one day. I promise you."
Shadow continues to walk onwards, following the directions on the map he'd gotten from the same temple, he found the sword in. He couldn't help but wonder if whoever placed the sword there was also seeking to use the forbidden spell, only to end up losing their life before they had the chance to find the Shrine of Worship.
As he thought about the many possibilities of how said person died, he was suddenly halted by the wagon coming to a stop. He quickly turned around and noticed that all the wheels somehow fell off. He goes over to check it and realises what caused it. The axles were completely rusted away. Eggman couldn't have given him a newer wagon for him to use.
Shadow was annoyed by this development. Now he had no choice but to carry Maria in his arms the rest of the way. But doing so meant he couldn't look at the map without stopping and he was also incapable of defending himself from any potential threats without getting her involved.
He then couldn't help but notice a large forest a few miles ahead of him. It might be a good place to make camp for the night, giving him time to think of another way to get to the Forbidden Lands at a faster rate.
He abandons the old, rusted wagon and makes his way towards the forest while carrying Maria in his arms.
When Shadow finally reached the forest, it was already noon. Walking to the forest, finding a cave to set up camp and setting up traps around it to keep out enemies, or catch food, took him a lot longer than he expected. He also needed to find firewood so he could get a warm fire going for Maria in the cave they'd taken shelter in.
Once that was all done, Shadow lights the fire by flicking a tiny chaos spear at the pile. The fire started small at first, but quickly grew as Shadow blew on it, helping it grow. Now that the fire was going, there was nothing left to do but wait for something, anything, to trigger the traps he set up.
In his rush to find the sword and then take Maria with him, he'd forgotten to pack any supplies he'll need for the journey, such as food, water, and other important tools. So far, the only source of food he has are the grapes he picked from a nearby bush. And he drank fresh water out of a small bowl he made out of leaves. And he can always get some more from the river outside the cave.
The forest was peaceful at the moment. The only sounds audible are songbirds, woodland critters, and the river flowing. Shadow enjoyed the peace. By this point, he'd gotten used to somebody disturbing his alone time – that someone usually Sonic - and bothering him. It was a nice change of scenery that nobody was around to bug him this time around.
Shadow was then startled by the sound of one of his traps going off, which was followed by the sound of an animal screeching in discomfort.
"Finally." He thought to himself. "Maybe I'll get something to eat other than grapes for a change."
Shadow exits the cave and covers its entrance with a big boulder, making sure that nothing gets inside and attacks Maria while he's away. He then rushes over to the tree where he set up a trap with the rope he used to pull the wagon with.
He was hoping for something big. Maybe a wild boar. A buffalo. (If there were any in these lands) Or at least a chicken, so that he could cook himself a proper meal.
But what he didn't expect to see caught in the trap was a horse. It was hanging upside down from the tree with the rope wrapped around its hind legs. It was a black horse with a long black mane. It only had a white diamond-shaped patch on its forehead as the only alternate colour. Its eyes were also a dark brown and as of this moment, filled with fear as it looked down at the black hedgehog.
"What's a horse doing all the way out here?" He asked himself. Of all the things Shadow assumed he'd encounter out here; a black-coated horse was not one of them. The horse didn't have any reigns, or a saddle attached to it, implying that this was a wild horse. But if it was, then where is its herd? Wild horses never usually travel alone.
The horse continues to whinny and struggle against its bindings trying to break free. Shadow decides to cut the rope holding it up there, allowing the horse to drop to the ground and break free.
"I don't eat horses, nor do I have any reason to kill you. I suggest that you leave here and go back to whatever herd you came from." He said as he walked away, collecting more grapes on his way back.
The horse however didn't run away. Instead, it decided to follow Shadow back to his cave. Shadow notices this and turns back around. He then tosses a couple of the grapes he picked up to the horse, who caught them in its mouth with minimal effort.
"You happy now? Good. Now scram!"
Shadow once again makes his way back to the cave. Unfortunately for him, the horse was still following him, which started to get on his nerves.
"Will you stop following me? I'm not your master!"
The horse, however, ignores his stern raising of the voice and nudged its head at him.
"No! You are NOT staying in the cave with me. Now get out of my sight before I-
Back in the cave, Shadow was sitting on a rock, legs crossed and head resting on his left palm. He wore a look of annoyance and defeat. In the end, he couldn't get the horse to leave him alone. He tried yelling at it. Threatening it. Feeding it some of his food. He even gave it a proper rub down to clean out any dirt that got in its mane when it dropped to the ground. But for some reason, this horse wasn't intimidated by him. Nor did it have any desire to leave.
At that moment, the horse was laying down by the fire next to Maria's body. It gently nuzzled her head, showing her some form of affection despite the fact they'd just met, and she was practically a corpse.
Shadow just couldn't wrap his head around why this horse was so determined to stay by his side. Is it because he freed it from the trap? Because he fed it? Or is it simply because this horse had been living all alone in these lands, and he and Maria are the first company it has had in years?
Whatever the reason was, this horse was showing an exceedingly strong form of loyalty to him. Shadow decided to take advantage of this and use the horse as a new mode of transport to get him and Maria to the Forbidden Lands much faster than walking.
"Horse," Shadow called out to it. The horse lifts its head from Maria's body and faces its new master. Giving off a little neigh. "I'll allow you to stay with us if you can bring me to the Forbidden Lands and the Shrine of Worship. Do you under- Wait. What the hell am I doing talking to a horse, expecting it to respond?"
The horse then, to Shadow's surprise, gives him a little nod in response, implying that it can indeed understand English.
"So, you do understand what I'm saying." Shadow then realised something. If this horse can understand English, then that means it might know every form of words. Including words that should never be spoken lightly. "Sorry for cursing at you earlier."
The horse responds with a light neigh. It then stands up and approaches Shadow, giving him a light nuzzle like how it did to Maria.
"Alright, alright. That's enough!" Shadow pushes the horse's head away from him as it tried to lick his cheek.
"Well, if you're coming along with us, I don't wanna have to be calling you horse all the time. Do you have a name?" He asked.
The horse nods. It then uses one of its front hooves to dig into the dirt ground and started dragging it around, trying to write something in the dirt. After a few attempts, the horse was successful in spelling out its name. Shadow took a look at what it wrote.
The ground was soiled with the name "Agro" written on it. But there was something else drawn underneath it. It looked like one of the two symbols used to differentiate the genders of humans, male and female. This one was the female symbol. Shadow assumes that this was the gender of the horse. But to make sure, he takes a little look underneath it.
"Agro, huh? I wonder how she got that name. Did her previous owner name her that and then abandon her? Whatever the reason, she's mine now. At least until my mission is over. I don't know what to do with her afterwards. Maybe Maria would want to look after her once I bring her back." Shadow mentally planned.
"My name is Shadow. Shadow the Hedgehog." He then turns to Maria. "And this is my friend, Maria Robotnik… She's sick. And the only thing that can save her is whatever power lays dormant within the Shrine of Worship in the Forbidden Lands. Will you take us there?"
Agro nods once again and then turns herself around. She motions her head to her back, telling Shadow to climb up.
Shadow was honestly expecting the horse to wanna rest first. But Agro has shown that she's intelligent enough to know how much this mission means to him. He will respect her for that. Shadow picks up Maria and gently places her atop Agro's back. He then climbs on himself and holds on tight to Maria with one hand, while clutching Agro's mane with the other.
Agro stands up on her hind legs and lets out a proudful neigh while waving her front hooves forwards. She then charges out of the cave at full speed and races off for the exit of the forest.
This still wasn't faster than his top speed, or even the top speed of a car. But this was way faster than walking, and that suited Shadow just fine.
The road to the Forbidden Lands was a long one for the black and red hedgehog. Atop Agro's back, he has made a perilous journey through blistering cold rain and steep mountain paths. Travelling for what felt like forever, even though it's only been a day.
Shadow would've expected Agro to rest now and then, but it would seem the black steed was just as determined to save Maria as he was. There were very few individuals that earned his respect, such as Rouge, Omega, Sonic, Silver, Blaze, Knuckles, and Tails to name a few. While there were others he viewed as nuisances, such as Big the Cat and his Froggy. Charmy and Vector – though he did grow to like Espio – and even Sonic's brother and sister, Sonja and Manic, who proved to be just as annoying as Sonic.
Now to add to the list of being he respects and even likes; he can add a horse of all things. A horse he would sometimes talk to whenever he was bored. One good thing about having a horse as a travel companion is she can't talk back to him like most of his friends and allies do.
As the next day descends on the valley, Shadow and Agro continue to travel to the Forbidden Lands. Agro has slowed her pace from sprinting to trotting now. Shadow understands that she needed to regain her stamina. Though he still can't understand why she doesn't just take a break. It's not like he's forcing her to keep moving until they got there. The last thing he wants is their only form of transportation dying of exhaustion.
Shadow was the one who ended up falling asleep on her back while still clinging to Maria's body tightly. But he was soon woken up by Agro's neighing, alerting him that they'd reached their destination.
Shadow rubs his eyes and looks ahead of him. He was slightly surprised to see a massive wall of stone, decorated with strange symbols he had never seen before. The architecture of the structure looked identical to the ancient ruins of the Master Emeralds shrine, or the temple in the Mystic Ruins where he retrieved the sword from. This was definite proof that it was built by the Colossus Echidna Clan centuries ago. It looked like a massive building with pillars holding up certain points and statues of the ancient Echidna.
At the centre of the wall was a large gap, serving as the entrance to the Forbidden Lands. Agro slowly walked through the opening while Shadow kept hold of Maria.
Once they reached the other side of the entrance, Shadow was blinded by the bright light of the sun as he stepped out of the shadows it cast. Once his eyes have adjusted, he was finally able to get a glimpse of the layout of the entire Forbidden Lands.
All around him, he could see big open desert plains with large rock structures sticking out of the ground. He looks to his left and right and can see the wall extending far out to the sides. It looked like there was no end to how far these walls stretched. Below him was a long drop to the desert ground below. The walls he was standing on were stretched so high, that should anyone ever fall, they would die upon hitting the ground, even if said ground was covered in soft sand.
Directly in front of him stood a very, very tall structure that was probably even taller than the tallest skyscraper on Earth. Leading up to the tall temple was a long stone bridge that stretched on for miles. Just like Silver said in his story.
The bridge was also covered in the strange symbols of the Colossus Clan. The bridge itself was supported by tall stone pillars that were curved at the top to keep it stable.
Shadow was amazed at the scenery of it all. He could never imagine that this place once held an entire civilisation. Blaze mentioned that it was destroyed by the demonic entity known as Dormin. But from what he can see, the shrine and its bridge were still completely intact. Perhaps the land below him was once filled with greenery and lakes until Dormin reduced it all to the desert. It wouldn't be the first time he met a demonic entity that did something similar.
From what he has gathered. This bridge to what he assumes is the Shrine of Worship looks to be the only way in and out of the Forbidden Lands. This would be troublesome if the bridge suddenly decides to give in and collapse beneath him. He can always teleport out, but Maria and Agro would still be trapped. He won't let that happen. Not when he's come a long way to save her.
"We're here at last. The Forbidden Lands."
Shadow gently kicks Agro's sides, telling her to make her way across the bridge and towards the shrine. Shadow looks down at Maria and strokes her head.
"Don't worry Maria. We're almost there. Soon you'll be able to open your eyes for the first time in years. You can finally see the planet you love so much. You can finally live the life you always dreamed of." Shadow spoke softly to his one and only true friend.
He continues to take in the sights of the Forbidden Lands as Agro crosses the bridge to the Shrine of Worship.
To Be Continued