This is the second part of the happy ending!
Chapter 15: The Village with Two Heroes
The next morning, Shadow was awakened by Sally shaking his shoulders. She found him still on the floor.
"Shadow! Shadow, are you all right?"
He lifted his head a little and looked around. "I think so."
"You scared me! I came in to check on you and you were on the floor. I thought you had... well, never mind. Let's get you back in bed."
Shadow was feeling a little dazed from being woken up so suddenly. Sally got him back on his feet and she put her arm around his back to steady him and help him back into bed.
"Do you mind if I let Nicole check your vitals?"
"Go ahead. I'm curious myself."
Nicole beeped and buzzed before saying, "Vital signs are not ideal, but are within reasonable range. Vitals are significantly better compared to previous reading yesterday. Please allow me to check again later for more potential improvement. I have also detected an implant in Shadow's body that appears to be suppressing his innate Chaos energy."
"So that's what Robotnik put inside of me that kept me from regaining my strength."
Sally set Nicole down on Shadow's bed and hugged him. "I'm so happy you're still with us. How are you feeling?"
"Surprisingly, I feel okay. Even the pain is gone."
"Are you feeling up to company? I know the others will want to come in and see you, especially Sonic."
"Yes, I would love to see everyone."
After hearing the good news, the other Freedom Fighters began to pile into Shadow's hut, excited to see he had made it through the night.
"Ah'm so glad y'all are still here, you sweet little muffin! Don't you go scarin' us like that again!"
"I know I always feel better when Aunt Sally reads to me. How about I come back later and read you a story?" Tails asked.
"I'd like that."
Sonic high-fived him, and while he cracked jokes, it was obvious he was trying hard not to be emotional.
"Guess you're a real hedgehog after all. No faker could live through gettin' shot by a Swatbot."
Shadow grinned a little. "So are you saying it would have killed you?"
"What? Hey! No way! I coulda taken it no problem! It's gonna take more than some bucket of bolts to take me down!"
Shadow rolled his eyes. "I have never met someone so high on the fumes of their own ego as you."
"But we're friends now! You said it yourself! No take-backsies, Shadow!"
Shadow slammed his head against his pillow in exasperation. "You're going to make me regret saying that. I just know it."
Once everyone had been in to visit with Shadow, Sally tried to shoo everyone out of the room.
"I know you're all happy to see Shadow is doing so well, myself included. However, he is recuperating from a life-threatening injury and the best thing he can do now is rest. We should leave him alone and give him a little breathing room. I need to talk to him alone for a minute anyway."
As everyone filed out of the room, Sonic stayed behind. When Sally looked expectantly at him, Sonic held up his index finger, implying he wanted to stay for just a minute longer. She smiled at him and allowed him to continue visiting. Sonic took a seat at the foot of Shadow's bed and his tone changed from silly to more sober.
"You don't know how happy I am to see you still here. You gave us all a big scare. I thought for sure we were gonna lose you."
"I guess fate had other plans for me."
Sonic handed Shadow back his gloves. "You were wrong, by the way. So you're gonna need these."
Shadow slipped his gloves back on. Sonic's expression melted into a smile and he just stared at Shadow.
"What is it?" Shadow paused. "Wait. You're going to hug me again, aren't you?"
"Yup! And you can't escape because you gotta stay in bed! Sal said so!"
Sonic threw himself into Shadow and held him tight, and Shadow begrudgingly returned the gesture.
"I'll allow it. Like I have a choice. Is this going to be a regular occurrence?"
"Maybe. But that's what friends do! You said I was your friend, so if you don't like it, it's your fault!"
"What have I gotten myself into?"
Shadow may have acted like he was irritated, but he was smiling just as much as Sonic as they held one another.
"All right, I'll leave you alone for now. But I'll check on you later." As he left the hut, he said to Sally, "He's all yours, Sal."
Sally entered the room and closed Shadow's door behind her. She sat down on the edge of Shadow's bed.
"I hope it's okay if I ask you something?"
"Certainly."
"Is it true what Robotnik said? That you have the power to destroy a whole planet?"
Shadow's expression fell, for he feared where the conversation was headed. He was reluctant to answer.
"It's true. When I am at full power, I am capable of massive destruction. It's why the government kept me imprisoned – they feared I was too dangerous. I can control it, but humans seem to think I'm nothing but a wild animal acting entirely on impulse."
"And it's why Robotnik captured you, isn't it? He wanted to weaponize your power."
Shadow nodded. "Yes. These rings on my wrists and ankles help keep my powers manageable. Without them, I could do immeasurable damage, but I would also run the risk of dying. The people who made me wanted to keep me safe and allowed me the ability to control my powers, but someone like Robotnik would have no such concerns."
Sally didn't say anything, but Shadow continued.
"I understand completely if you want me to leave now that you know this about me. I imagine this information is frightening. I'd hoped I could leave that part of my life behind me."
He closed his eyes, preparing for eviction from his new home. Instead, he felt two hands holding his. Sally looked him in the eyes with sincerity and compassion.
"A wise person I know once said that he would not be defined by what he is, but rather, who he chose to be."
She smiled at him and continued. "You've proven to me and the others that you have chosen the path of good rather than living up to your destructive potential. While I can't stop you if you choose to leave us, I don't want you to go. None of us want you to go. This will always be your home. You're a Freedom Fighter, and more importantly, you're our friend. Please don't leave because you think we're going to be afraid of you. I promise, you are always welcome here, and you are one of us."
Shadow smiled. "Thank you. For everything."
"Nicole said you had an implant in your body that prevented you from harnessing your power. Maybe we can try to remove it so you can be totally back to normal."
"You know, maybe this should be my new normal. Maybe the best way to prevent others from trying to exploit my power is to not have it anymore."
"We can figure it out later." Sally cupped his face with her hands and kissed him on the head. "But for now, you really should get some rest. You have a lot of healing to do after what you've been through. I'll stop by and check on you again later, and I'm sure the others will drop by too. Please let us know if you need anything."
Once she left his room, Sally went to meet up with Sonic.
"I can't believe how much better he looks today."
"Yeah, you'd never guess he just got shot like twelve hours ago. Hey, I thought Nicole said Shadow's injuries were gonna kill him."
"Well, let's ask. Nicole, you said Shadow would die from his injuries. How did he survive when he was in such bad shape?"
Nicole said, "I do not have a logical explanation for Shadow's recovery. By all scientific and medical logic, he should have succumbed to his injuries. It is possible his extra-terrestrial DNA facilitated his recovery."
"Extra-terrestrial DNA?" Sally asked.
"Yeah Sal, I think Nicole's goin' crazy. You better run some tests and make sure she's still workin' because she was tryin' to tell me yesterday that Shadow's an alien."
"I can assure you, I am functioning properly, Sonic, my main hedgehog."
Sonic said, "All right, whatever. Shadow's alive and that's what matters. Maybe he had an angel lookin' out for him last night."
Later in the day, Antoine stopped by Shadow's room to pay him a visit, knocking on the door first.
"Come in."
"Allo, monsieur Shadow. I have not to be introducing myself proper. I am Antoine, Freedom Fightair Extraordinaire!"
"Um, hello."
"I hope to see you are feeling better soon, but I would like to ask if I could have ze conversation with you?"
"Sure."
"First, I must be thanking you for keeping my princess safe. I am thinking you must be ze okay person if you would protect my princess from danger. I salute you for being ze hero! I am glad to see someone else getting all ze attention around here that eez not Sonic Hedgehog, even if that person is not moi."
"Thank... you?"
"Second, I must be to asking you, what did having be shot by ze Swatbot feel like? How much was it hurting when it happened?"
Shadow was a little blindsided by this bizarre exchange. "Probably the worst pain I've ever felt. But I was not fully powered when it happened. Had I been able to recharge my powers, I would have handled it better."
"I am wanting to know zis because I see how much ze princess is impressed by you saving her. You see, I am thinking if I am getting shot for her as well also, she will have ze good impression with me and realize I am ze true hero!"
"You... want to get shot to impress Princess Sally?"
"Oui, it is ze genious plan, is it not?"
Shadow was thoroughly baffled. "Well, I wouldn't recommend getting shot because it could kill you. I was very lucky to survive my injuries."
"It is to be worth it if I catch the eye of my princess! Perhaps then she will finally notice me instead of being so enamored with that blue fuel! And if I am to die, then I will be ze mortar!"
"Mortar?"
"Oui!"
Shadow's puzzled expression did all the talking. Antoine explained, "You know, mortar! Ze person who is adored and praised because they are to be dead for ze good cause!"
"Do you mean a 'martyr?'"
"Oui, that is what I was to be saying! Mortar!"
Shadow shook his head. "Well, good luck if you choose to carry out your plan. I advise against it because it's dangerous, but I can't stop you either."
"Very well, it is decided! I will get shot by ze Swatbot laser in Robotnik's fortress and ze princess will swoon heels over head for me for my being so brave! Nothing could go wrong possible! Merci beaucoup for your wisdom, monsieur Shadow! I must to be going, for I have ze planning to do for ze next mission!"
Antoine raced out of Shadow's hut just as Sonic was walking in. Shadow watched him leave and thought out loud, "What just happened?"
"Good morning, Sonic Hedgehog!" Antoine said to Sonic as he bolted out the door, with Sonic dodging him on the way in.
"Hey. What was Antoine doing in here? He wasn't hassling you, was he?"
"No. He introduced himself and thanked me for saving the princess."
"Well that's good that he's not being such a jerk about you anymore."
"He also apparently plans to get himself shot to impress her."
"Wait, what? Back up and tell me that again."
"He wanted to know how badly it hurt to get shot so he would know what to expect."
"Ohh man, are you serious? He really is a head case. We'll have to keep an eye on him on the next mission so he doesn't get himself killed."
"I feel like this Antoine person might be in serious need of therapy. Is Nicole qualified to offer such services?"
"Ant? He's beyond therapy. At this point, I think we should just put him in a cage and charge admission."
"I didn't think it was possible, but there's someone here crazier than you by a wide margin."
Despite not getting out of bed for most of the day, Shadow still had quite a busy day visiting with his friends and teammates. As much as he enjoyed everyone's well wishes and company, he also appreciated being able to be alone with his thoughts as the hour grew late. The outpouring of love he received from so many people who had known him for only a little while astounded him and gave him much to think about.
Later in the evening, he got himself out of bed to stretch his legs and sat on his window sill, enjoying the cool night breeze and admiring the stars. His mind went to thoughts of Maria. While he still wasn't sure if their meeting was real or a dream, he could not ignore the feelings it caused him. Maria's visit caused him to feel so many things – sorrow, yearning, joy, comfort, conflict. She had asked him to stay on Mobius longer and went so far as to cure his deadly injury to ensure that he could. Clearly, it meant a lot to her that he remain on Mobius for the time being.
He chose to fulfill her request and live for the both of them. She said herself they would be together again one day, so all he had to do was be patient. Knowing for sure it wouldn't be goodbye forever brought him a sense of comfort that he hadn't known before.
"She's worth waiting for."
END
Author's Notes: And that's how Shadow found his way to the Freedom Fighters, if he were around in the early 90s. I know, probably not the most thrilling story, but just an idea that came to me and blossomed. I hope at least one person likes it. If you have been reading and made it this far, thank you for taking time to read!
Also, if you're itching for more, I will be releasing a Sonic Christmas fic in December that involves Shadow as well, just in time for the holidays! I got the idea for another story about halfway into writing this one, so I've got back-to-back Sonic content for you this year! I guess it was the Year of Shadow for me too. :) Sign up for alerts if you're interested in the Christmas story!