Vernon and Petunia Robotnik of number four Penders Drive were proud to say that they were quite normal thank you very much. The last people in the world you would relate to the words strange or mysterious. "Don't put up with that kind of nonsense" they would always say. Vernon was the director of a firm called Mad Gears, which made drills. Vernon himself was a bit large by Human standards although he hid some of that with the green suits he wore. His hair was brown but he had bright wide eyebrows and a very large bushy mustache. Petunia had orange hair but was very skinny and always wore flowery dresses. She didn't have a job, instead she spent her days craning her head over garden fence spying on the neighbors. They had one son called Ivo and if you believe what they said he was apparently the greatest boy to ever live. You'd think with all this they would have everything they wanted but there was one problem. A secret. And their worst fear was that somebody would find out about it.
You see, Petunia had an adoptive sister, Obsidian. Although you would never know Petunia had a sister as they hadn't spoken in several years. This was because Obsidian and her good for nothing husband were as different from them as possible. Vernon shuddered to think what the neighbors would say if those two came here. The only news Petunia ever received about them in all these years was that they had a son as well. Although the news of Petunia becoming an aunt didn't seem to encourage her to rekindle her relationship with her family. In fact the boy just seemed to be another reason to stay away. They didn't want Ivo mixing with a child like that.
Vernon and Petunia woke up on another dull Tuesday morning. Nothing about this day would indicate that anything strange was going to happen. And not just to this family but all over the country. Vernon's morning routine started. Putting on one of his identical checkered suits. Eating breakfast while only half listening to the gossip Petunia was giving on the neighbors as she wrestled the struggling Ivo into his high chair. None of them noticed a band of Flickys speeding past the window. Once Half past eight rolled around Vernon took his briefcase, pecked Petunia on the cheek and then tried to kiss Ivo's head but missed as the child was now throwing a tantrum over the cereal he was given. The cereal in question was then flung at the wall. Instead of the reaction one would expect from this Vernon just chuckled "Little tyke". He then got to his car and backed out of his driveway. This was when his strange day began. It started as he was driving around the corner at the end of the street. He glanced to his left and saw a Chao reading a map. After a moment of processing this Vernon slammed on his brakes and jerked his head around again to see. There was a white Hero Chao standing calmly on a wall. This on it's own was strange enough. Hero Chao are quite rare, especially around here. There wasn't a map however which was enough of a comfort to Vernon "Must have been a trick of the light" he thought to himself. That comfort started to disappear when he noticed the Chao staring at him. His car started moving again but he watched the Chao in his rear view mirror. It was now reading the sign for Penders Drive. No, no, looking at the sign, of course. Chao can't read. As it got out of sight Vernon pushed the Chao out of his mind by thinking about the new order of drills he had to complete today.
Once Vernon reached town his thoughts on drills left him again. Caught in the usual morning traffic jam he started to notice something. There were people on either side of the road on the pavements wearing odd items. Some with strange necklaces, bracelets. Some had jewels sticking to their skin and there were even one or two who were carrying swords. "It's blunt" one of these people had to explain to a police officer who questioned him. The boy, a young eagle, didn't seem at all displeased at being stopped by the police. In fact he was quite jovial at explaining this misunderstanding. After seeing this boy Vernon in his head began to blame the young people. All these strange items must be part of some stupid fad. This theory was quickly squashed however when he realised that many of these people weren't young at all. In fact some look twice as old as him. Vernon was enraged but quickly tried to come up with another theory. Maybe it was part of some silly stunt. These people were collecting for something. Finally the traffic started moving and by the time he reached the Mad Gears car park he managed to get his mind back on drills.
The next few hours were pretty normal mainly because Vernon always sat with his back to the window of his office. If he didn't he would have seen the Flickys constantly flying past or more of those strange people wandering out on the streets. Vernon however was able to have a normal morning. He yelled at five people and made some important calls. His good mood wasn't going to last though. At lunch he decided to go across the street and get some food from a van. And just as he stepped back now with his burger he saw a group of those strange people again. He gave them nasty looks, something about them made him feel uneasy. He walked past them to leave when he heard what they were muttering to each other "-Cloud and Obsidian? Their boy?" "Yes. Shadow". Vernon froze in place and fear took him. After coming to his senses he considered asking the group what they were talking about but decided against it. He rushed back across the street and closed the door to his office and picked up his phone. He was seconds away from calling his wife when he stopped. He slowly put the phone down. He was being stupid, other people might have those names. In fact he didn't even know if his nephew was called Shadow. He had never met the boy after all. He could have been called Sandor or Grey or something like that. No need to worry Petunia about it. She always got upset when her sister was mentioned. Vernon couldn't blame her. He shuddered at the idea of him having a sister like that.
He found it a lot harder to care about drills that afternoon. In fact when his shift finished he was still so distracted that on his way out he bumped into someone. "Sorry" Vernon muttered to the mole who was trying to steady himself. It was then Vernon noticed that this man was wearing a crown on his head. The mole didn't seem at all annoyed by nearly hitting the ground. In fact he suddenly gave a beaming smile to Vernon "Don't be sorry, my dear sir, for nothing could upset me today! Rejoice, for You-Know-Who has gone at last! Even Muggles like yourself should be celebrating, this happy, happy day!". Then the man hugged Vernon around the waist and walked off whistling to himself. Vernon was rooted to the spot. He didn't know what a muggle was but he hated that he was called it. He rushed to his car and headed home. He hoped he was imagining things, a rare occurrence from Vernon as he usually didn't approve of imagination.
He made it home but his problems hadn't ended. On the wall of his garden was the Chao. The same Chao he saw this morning "Shoo!" he yelled at it once he got out of his car. It didn't move, it actually gave him a stern look which reminded Vernon of his school years. He decided to drop it and went inside. Petunia had a good, perfectly normal day. Over dinner she told Vernon about the lady next doors' problems with her daughter and then said that Ivo had learned many new words that she didn't seem to care all meant the same thing "No". Vernon was still determined not to mention anything about today to Petunia. After Ivo, with great difficulty, was put to bed Vernon went to watch the evening news. The moment he turned up the volume his night was officially ruined "And finally, bird-watchers everywhere have reported that the nation's flickys have been behaving very unusually today. Although flickys normally hunt at night and are hardly ever seen in daylight, there have been hundreds of sightings of these birds flying in every direction since sunrise. Experts are unable to explain why the flickys have suddenly changed their sleeping pattern. Most mysterious. And now, over to Jim with the weather. Going to be any more showers of flicky tonight, Jim?" the human man asked the bee. "Well, Ted, I don't know about that, but it's not only the flickys that have been acting oddly today. Viewers all over the country have been phoning in to tell me that instead of the rain I promised yesterday, they've had a downpour of shooting stars! Perhaps people have been celebrating. I can promise a wet night tonight". Vernon couldn't hide it anymore. All these things had to be connected in some way and he thought he knew why. Petunia entered with two cups of tea. Vernon took a breath "Uh, Petunia, dear. You haven't heard from your sister lately, have you?". From the look on her face he might as well have told her he threw Ivo out the window "No, why?" she said sharply. Vernon nervously laughed "Well, funny stuff on the news today. Flickys. Shooting stars. Strange people out on the street" "So?" "I just thought maybe it… had something to do with… You know… Her lot". Petunia took a sip of tea trying to calm herself. Vernon wouldn't dare mention the names he heard so instead "Their boy. He'd be about Ivo's age. What was his name again. Sandor, isn't it" "Shadow. Nasty common name if you ask me". Vernon smiled despite his heart sinking "Oh, yes. Quite agree" he didn't dare say anything else.
Eventually the two went to bed and Vernon gave a quick look through the window down at the drive. The Chao was still there staring down the street as if waiting for something. Vernon looked away and made himself believe that he was imagining things. He couldn't bare the idea of the neighbors finding out about Petunia's sister. He didn't sleep easily that night. His only reassuring thought was that if Obsidian was involved she knew perfectly well what he and Petunia thought of her kind. He finally dozed off knowing there was no way he could get mixed up in whatever was happening. Oh, how wrong he was
Despite being in the dead of night the Chao outside showed no sign of tiredness. It didn't movie until after midnight when a man suddenly appeared at the end of the street. His appearance was so sudden that you might think he just popped into existence. Nothing like this man had ever appeared on Penders Drive before. He was an older echidna with a white beard, patterns on his dreadlocks and a brown tribal outfit. This echidna's name was Locke. Locke didn't seem to know or care that he had just appeared on a street full of people who would dislike his presence. He was busy rummaging through his pockets trying to find something. While doing this he noticed the Chao staring at him. This for some reason made Locke chuckle "I should have known". He finally found what he was looking for. A small black jewel was held in his open palm now. He held up in front of him and suddenly the nearest streetlight went out. He slowly moved his hand around putting all the lights out until he was in almost complete darkness. Finally Locke made his way to Number Four. He sat down on the wall next to the Chao. He smirked "Fancy seeing you here, Professor Echo". He turned to look at the Chao but it was gone. In it's place was a very severe looking purple dolphin wearing a golden helmet and wielding a bident in her left hand. If any of this was strange to Locke he was very good at hiding it. Echo looked annoyed "How did you know it was me". Locke laughed "My dear Professor, Chao can find comfort anywhere. I've never seen one sit so stiffly" "You'd be stiff too if you'd been sitting on a brick wall all day".
This surprised Locke "All day? When you could have been celebrating. I must have received a dozen different invites to feasts and parties". Echo sniffed angrily "Oh, yes. Everyone's celebrating, alright. You'd think they'd be a bit more careful, but no – even the Muggles have noticed something's going on. It was on their news. They're not completely stupid. Shooting Stars over Knothole, I ask you. I bet you anything one of them was Ron the Rabbit. He never had much common sense". Locke spoke gently "You can't blame them. We've had precious little to celebrate these past eleven years" "I know that but it's no reason to lose our heads but we're getting careless. Going out in broad daylight. No one hiding their Talismans. Rumors spreading". Echo stared at Locke expecting him to say something but he didn't "A fine bit of irony it would be that the day we are finally rid of You-Know-Who would be when the Muggles discover us all. I suppose it must be true then. He's gone?". Locke gave a slight nod "I suppose so. We have much to be thankful for. Would you care for a Mint Candy". Echo's eyes widened "A what?" "Mint Candy. They're a muggle sweet I'm quite fond of". Echo thought this wasn't the time "No, thank you. As I was saying even if You-Know-Who has gone-". Locke spoke calmly but Echo stopped when he did "My dear Professor, surely a sensible person like yourself can call him by his name? All this You-Know-Who nonsense – for eleven years I have been trying to persuade people to call him by his proper name: Mephiles". Echo flinched but Locke was too busy unwrapping another Mint Candy to notice "It all gets so confusing if we keep saying You-Know-Who. I have never seen any reason to be frightened of saying Mephiles' name".
Echo again flinched but she stared at Locke in admiration "I know you haven't. But you're different. Everyone knows that You-Know- Oh, alright. Mephiles was afraid of you". Locke smiled warmly "You flatter me. Mephiles had powers I will never have" "Only because your too… Well… Noble to use them" "It's lucky it's dark. I haven't blushed so much since Madam Vanilla told me she liked my new earmuffs". Echo knew she had to ask "The rumors are coming from everywhere. You know what they've been saying? About what stopped him?" this was what she was anxious to talk about. The reason she's been sitting on a brick wall. Locke said nothing so Echo continued "They're saying that he found where they were hiding. At Vigil's Hollow. People are saying that… Obsidian and Cloud are… that they're dead". Locke slowly bowed his head which made Echo gasp "I didn't want to- I couldn't believe it. Oh, Locke" her eyes watered. Locke gently patted her shoulder "I know. I know". Echo's voice trembled as she continued "And they're saying that he tried to kill their son, Shadow. But he couldn't. Something stopped him. And now he's gone". Locke didn't deny this, "So it's true? After all he's done ... all the people he's killed ... he couldn't kill a little boy? It's just astounding... of all the things to stop him... but how in the name of heaven did Shadow survive?". Locke gave a slight sniff "We can only guess". He checked his watch "Duke is late. I suppose he's the one who told you I'd be here" "Yes. I don't supposed you're going to tell me why you're here of all places?" "I've come to bring Shadow to his Aunt and Uncle. They're the only family he has now". Echo was broken out of her mourning "You don't mean- Locke, you can't mean the people who live here. You can't. I've been watching them all day. You couldn't find two people who are less like us. And they've got this son. I saw him kicking his mother all the way up the street, screaming for sweets. Shadow the Hedgehog come and live here!".
Locke for the first time spoke firmly "It's the best place for him. His Aunt and Uncle can explain everything to him when he's older. I've written them a letter". Echo had to sit back down on the wall "A letter. Really, Locke, you think you can explain all this in a letter? These people will never understand him! He'll be famous, a legend. I wouldn't be surprised if today was known as Shadow Day in future. There will be books written about Shadow. Every child in our world will know his name". Locke gave another glance at his watch "Exactly. It would be enough to turn any boy's head. Famous before he can walk and talk! Famous for something he won't even remember! Can't you see how much better off he'll be, growing up away from all that until he's ready to take it?". Echo opened her mouth to argue but decided against it "Yes, of course. You're right. But how is the boy supposed to get here" "Duke's bringing him". Echo didn't like this "You think it wise to trust Duke with something as important as this" "I would trust Duke with my life" "I'm not saying his heart isn't in the right place. But you can't pretend he's not careless. He does tend to- What was that?". A rumbling sound started to grow until it reached a roar. Locke calmly looked up and a huge Mobo-Cruiser landed on the road in front of them. If the Cruiser itself was huge it was nothing compared to the driver. A large muscular purple Cat with glowing yellow eyes took up both seats in the cockpit. In his arms was a bundle of blankets. Locke instead of looking worried or surprised was instead relieved "Duke. At last. Where did you acquire that vehicle?" "Borrowed it, Professor" Duke said as he climbed out of the Cruiser. He gestured to an acorn symbol on the personnel carrier at the back of the cruiser "Young Elias Acorn lent it to me. I've got him, sir".
Locke glanced at the blankets "No problems, were there?" "No, sir. House was almost destroyed but I got him out all right before more people started swarming around. He fell asleep as we was flyin". Locke and Echo both leaned over the blankets. Inside just visible was a little baby hedgehog "You got my letter about his eyes, Professor?" Big asked. Locke nodded and gently opened one of the baby's eyelids without waking him up. The eyes were a bright shade of orange but when Locke waved his hand the eye turned a red color. Echo watched with concern "What is that?" "A mark. He'll have it for the rest of his life" "Oh, can't you do something about it, Locke". Locke shook his head and gently closed Shadow's eye "Even if I could, I wouldn't. It's a scar like any other. And scars can be useful. I have one myself above my left knee which is a perfect map of the Knothole Underground. Well, give him here, Duke. We'd better get this over with". Locke took little Shadow in his arms and turned to Number Four "Could I… Could I say goodbye to him, sir". Locke stopped and Duke leaned over Shadow and gave him a kiss on his head. The moment Duke backed away he let out a howl. Echo tried to calm him "Shhh. You'll wake the muggles" "Sorry". Duke took a very dirty handkerchief and blew his nose "But I c-c-can't stand it. Cloud and Obsidian dead. And poor little Shadow off to live with muggles" "Yes, yes, I know. But keep your voice down or we'll be found".
Locke made his way across the driveway and gently placed Shadow down in front of the door to the house. He took the letter from his pocket and tucked it into the blankets before rejoining the other two. The three spent a full minute just staring at the little bundle. The warmth in Locke's eyes seemed to have disappeared "Well… That's that. We have no business staying here. We may as well go an join the celebrations". Duke wiped his eyes "Yeah. I'd best get the Cruiser out of sight. Goodnight, Professor Echo. Professor Locke" he gave them a respectful nod and then got back inside the vehicle. It roared to life and took off disappearing into the night. Locke took the black jewel out of his pocket again "I expect to see you soon, Professor Echo". Echo nodded before transforming back into a Chao and flying away. Locke walked back down the street and raised his hand. The jewel released multiple balls of light which entered the street lamps. The light let him see the blankets at Number Four "Good luck, Shadow the Hedgehog" and with a snap he was gone. Little Shadow rolled around in his blankets without waking up. One of his hands closed around the letter having no idea what it contained. Not knowing he was famous. Not knowing the screams of his aunt were going to wake him up in a few hours. He didn't know that at this very moment that people were meeting in secret all over Mercia and raising their glasses and saying with the utmost respect "To Shadow the Hedgehog. The Boy Who Lived".