Chapter 17:
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STUFF HAPPENS NO SPOILERS *
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The portal shimmered with temporal energy as Shade stepped toward it. His foot hadn't even crossed the threshold when he jerked back with a sharp gasp, amber eyes widening in horror.
A figure emerged from the swirling vortex - a green hedgehog wearing a red leather jacket and golden gauntlets. He couldn't have been more than a few years older than Shade.
Shade's mouth went dry. His carefully constructed plans crumbled with each step the newcomer took.
The green hedgehog scanned the workshop, his gaze sliding past the others as if they weren't even there before landing on Shade. He blinked several times, then his face broke into a relieved grin.
"Lil' cuz!" Before Shade could react, the hedgehog yanked him into a bone-crushing side hug. "We've been looking everywhere for you!"
The air rushed from Shade's lungs - both from the crushing embrace and the devastating implications of those words.
His face twisted into an expression of pure disbelief as his web of lies began to unravel.
[end of chapter 17]
Chapter 18:
The green hedgehog tightened his grip around Shade's shoulders, completely oblivious to the tension in the room. "Dude, you have no idea how crazy things got after you disappeared! Mephiles sightings doubled overnight - your dad's been tearing apart half of Westopolis looking for you. You're cooked."
"I-" Shade tried to interject, but his 'cousin' steamrolled right over him.
"And Professor Oak said if you miss one more class, you're definitely failing. Though honestly, that's probably the least of your worries right now. Your old man is gonna-"
A black blur slammed into the green hedgehog, sending him crashing into Tails' workbench. Shadow stood between him and Shade, chaos energy bursting around his clenched fists.
"Scourge." Shadow's voice dripped with venom. "I don't know how you got here through that portal, but I'm finishing this."
"Wait!" Shade grabbed Shadow's arm before he could launch another attack. "He's not Scourge! He's... he's a friend."
Shadow turned his burning crimson gaze on Shade. "A friend who just happens to look exactly like one of our worst enemies?"
"He looks like Scourge, I know, but that's not who he is. His name is Comet." Shade stepped between Shadow and the green hedgehog.
Shadow's stance relaxed slightly as he studied the newcomer more carefully. The malevolent sneer and cruel eyes he associated with Scourge were absent. Instead, the hedgehog's features held a familiar cockiness - one Shadow had seen countless times on a certain blue hedgehog's face.
"Uhm, ow…" The green hedgehog - Comet - rubbed his shoulder as he picked himself up. "Uncle Shadow, what was that for!? I mean, I know you're mad about Shade disappearing, but-" He froze, eyes widening as he took in Shadow's appearance. "Wait a second..."
Comet's gaze darted between Shadow's intact limbs and younger face, confusion etching deeper into his features. "But you were just in Westopolis, looking for..." His voice trailed off as his eyes landed on Blaze.
Comet's words died in his throat as his gaze fixed on Blaze. His face drained of color, hands trembling at his sides. The lavender cat stood there, vibrant and strong, not a single gray hair in sight. No scars from the many battles. No-
The funeral flashed through his mind - the empty casket, the rain, Shadow's bandaged form refusing to leave the graveside for days. Yet here she was, impossibly young and alive.
"Aunt Bl-" Comet choked on the word, stumbling backward. His eyes darted to Shade, who looked like he wanted to sink through the floor.
Rage replaced shock on Comet's features. He grabbed Shade's arm, yanking him closer. "What did you do!?" he hissed. "You didn't just travel back to stop Mephiles, did you? You came back to before-" He cut himself off, knuckles white against Shade's fur. "Do you have any idea what you've done? The timeline-"
"I had to try," Shade whispered, not meeting his accusing stare.
Comet's hard expression melted as he took in Shade's desperate face. The anger drained from his grip on Shade's arm, replaced by understanding.
"Look, I know why you-" Comet started, but Shadow's voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Uncle?" Shadow's crimson eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. The word hung in the workshop, heavy with implications.
Blaze's hand trembled as she stared at the floor, her vision blurring. The green hedgehog's words echoed in her mind - "Aunt" - but it was another truth that shattered her composure. A tear rolled down her cheek, dropping silently to the workshop floor.
The signs had been there all along. That perfect resonance with the Sol Emerald wasn't just compatibility - it was inheritance. The power had recognized its own. She'd seen it in the way the energy flowed through him, natural as breathing. The same way it flowed through her.
But it was his eyes that broke her final wall of denial. Those amber eyes that matched her own, set in Shadow's face. The way he'd looked at her with such raw emotion, such desperate need to protect. A son's love for his mother.
Her son. Their son.
Blaze's fingers brushed her cheek, catching another tear before it could fall. The truth she'd been fighting since he first appeared crashed over her like a wave. Every protective gesture, every awkward interaction, every time he tried to make peace between her and Shadow - it all made perfect sense now.
She lifted her gaze to Shade, seeing him clearly for the first time. Their son from a future where something had gone terribly wrong. A future he'd come back to change, no matter the cost.
...
Shadow's hands trembled at his sides with barely contained rage. The implications of what they were suggesting sent his mind reeling, refusing to process the impossible truth before him.
"What exactly are you saying?" Shadow's voice came out low and dangerous. "That I'm his father?" He spat the word like it burned his tongue.
His gaze darted between Shade and Comet, searching for any sign this was an elaborate deception. But their expressions held nothing but grim certainty.
"This is nonsense." Shadow backed away, shaking his head. "I'm an artificial life form. Gerald created me in a lab. I can't-" The word stuck in his throat. He couldn't even say it. Children. The very concept was absurd.
Rage boiled up, easier to handle than the other emotions threatening to overwhelm him. "This is all lies. Some elaborate setup. I don't know what game you're playing, but-"
"It's not a game." Shade's quiet voice cut through Shadow's building tirade. He glanced at Comet, who gave him an encouraging nod. "You are my father. And Blaze..." He inhaled. "Blaze is my mother."
Shadow stared at Shade, at those amber eyes that were so clearly Blaze's, at the face that mirrored his own. The truth he'd been fighting since Shade appeared crashed over him like a tidal wave.
"No." Shadow's voice cracked on the word. "No, that's not... I can't..."
"Shadow-" Blaze stepped forward, her voice wavering.
"No." Shadow cut her off with a slashing motion, his crimson eyes locked on Shade. "You've been playing games this whole time. Cleaning the building. Making us spend time together. What was your plan? Force us into some happy little family?"
The intensity of Shadow's fury made even Comet take a defensive step backward, his earlier cockiness evaporating.
Shadow's rings sparked with barely contained power as the pieces clicked into place. Mephiles' taunting words echoed in his mind.
"Did it hurt you, little one?"
"Watching me crush her head in front of your eyes?"
"Is that what happened?" Shadow's voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "Did Mephiles kill her? Is that why you're really here?"
Shade stood frozen against the wall, his eyes wide with a mix of terror and grief. The weight of Shadow's accusation had stolen his voice, leaving him trembling beneath his father's burning gaze.
Shadow inched closer, his presence dark and menacing. His fist slammed into the wall beside Shade's head, leaving a small crater in the concrete. "Answer me!"
Shade's mouth opened but no sound emerged. His throat constricted as memories threatened to overwhelm him - memories he'd fought so hard to keep buried since arriving in the past.
Comet stepped forward, placing a steadying hand on Shade's shoulder. The green hedgehog's usual swagger had vanished, replaced by grim understanding.
"Yes," Comet said simply, his voice heavy with shared pain. "He did."
The quiet confirmation hit the room like a bomb. Shade drew strength from his support, straightening his spine. He met Shadow's gaze and gave a single, sharp nod.
Shadow withdrew his fist from the wall, his hand trembling with a cocktail of emotions he couldn't process. Among the anger and confusion, something else lurked - a cold tendril of fear that wrapped around his chest and squeezed.
Shade took a shaky breath, his shoulders squaring despite the tears threatening to spill. "It won't happen. Not this time. As long as we stop the cult's plan, cut off their power source-" His voice grew stronger with each word. "These towers are feeding him. Every fragment they collect makes Mephiles stronger, lets him multiply his presence across time itself."
The workshop fell silent save for the quiet hum of machinery. Shade's gaze swept across the faces of those gathered - Sonic's uncharacteristic solemnity, Silver's dawning comprehension, Tails' scientific curiosity barely masking his concern. His eyes lingered longest on Blaze, who stood perfectly still, flames flickering at her fingertips.
"I'm sorry." Shade's voice cracked. "This isn't how I wanted any of you to find out. I never meant to-" He gestured helplessly at the chaos his revelation had caused. "I just wanted to stop it. To save everyone. To save..." He couldn't finish the sentence, his eyes dropping to the floor.
Shade took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders as he faced the stunned group. "Everything - everyone's future depends on what you do here. The towers, the fragments, Mephiles - it all has to be stopped." His voice steadied with each word. "I know it's a lot to take in, but we don't have the luxury of time to process it."
He turned away from their bewildered faces, unable to bear the weight of their stares any longer. Facing Comet, Shade's voice dropped low. "I'm ready to go home now."
Comet studied his cousin's face for a long moment, taking in the exhaustion etched in every line. The green hedgehog let out a dramatic sigh, reaching up to ruffle Shade's head quills. "Fine, let's head back. But dude, you have no idea what you put me through."
Shade raised an eyebrow.
"Uncle Shadow's had me running laps for days! He was convinced I knew where you disappeared to." Comet's shoulders slumped. "I've been stress eating cream puffs this whole time. If I can't fit into my suit for the school dance next week, that's on you."
"The towers are multiplying across time and space, and you're worried about a dance!?" Shade's hands crackled with dark energy. "I'll doom spear you right here-"
"Hey, hey! Don't take this out on me." Comet held up his hands defensively. "I'm not taking the fall for your little time travel stunt. You can explain to Uncle Shadow yourself why you vanished."
Shadow stood frozen, his mind struggling to process the scene unfolding before him. These two teenagers weren't discussing world-ending catastrophes or ultimate power - they were arguing about school dances and parental punishment. Somewhere in the future, there existed a version of himself who... worried about his son's whereabouts? Assigned disciplinary laps? Dealt with normal teenage drama?
The concept of such mundane domesticity felt more alien to Shadow than any interdimensional threat he'd ever faced. His carefully constructed image of a solitary ultimate life form cracked further with each word of their exchange.
Shadow's eyes darted to Blaze, who appeared equally stunned by this glimpse into their possible future. Their shared look of bewilderment only intensified as Comet continued complaining about his ruined dance preparations.
No.
This wasn't happening.
He wouldn't let these strangers waltz in and upend his entire existence with wild claims about the future.
Shadow's inhibitor rings sparked with chaos energy as his muscles tensed. In one explosive burst of speed, he launched himself forward, catching both Shade and Comet off guard. His shoulder slammed into Shade's back, sending them both tumbling toward the portal's swirling surface.
"What the-" Shade's startled cry cut off as Shadow's momentum carried them through.
"Holy shit!" Comet's voice echoed from behind them as the portal snapped shut with a thunderous crack, leaving the green hedgehog stranded in the present.
The world dissolved into a kaleidoscope of shifting colors and fractured time. Shadow felt Shade struggling against his grip as they plummeted through the stream of temporal energy. The sensation of falling through time itself tore at Shadow's consciousness, threatening to rip him apart at the molecular level.
Then everything went black.
...
Comet stared at the empty space where the portal had been, his mouth hanging open. His golden gauntlets clinked as he raised his hands to his head.
"No, no, no. This is not happening." He paced in a tight circle. "He did not just tackle my cousin through time. I did not just lose my ride home."
The workshop fell silent except for the hum of Tails' machines. Comet turned to face the others, their shocked expressions making him wince. He tugged at the collar of his red jacket.
"So... hi?" Comet offered a weak wave. "I'm Comet. And this is super awkward."
Comet sighed at the heavy silence filling Tails' workshop. His shoulders straightened as he gathered himself, green quills bristling with renewed purpose. From his back, he drew a gleaming sword with practiced ease, swinging it over his shoulder in a familiar arc.
Blaze's eyes narrowed at the gesture. The way he held the weapon, the casual confidence - it mirrored Amy's signature hammer stance perfectly.
"Well," Comet cleared his throat, "we can either stand here gawking, or we can do what my cousin came here to do." He adjusted his grip on the sword's hilt. "Those towers aren't going to destroy themselves, and Mephiles gets stronger every second we waste."
Comet fidgeted with his sword, spinning it between his fingers before sheathing it across his back.
"Oh, and like, whenever you have time..." He scratched behind his ear. "If you could help me get back home, that'd be great. Got a date soon - can't leave my girlfriend hanging."
The workshop remained silent, the tension thick enough to cut with Comet's blade. Until Sonic's laugh shattered it.
"Hold up - if grumpy old Shadow's actually Shade's dad," Sonic scratched his head, "then who's your dad?"
The green hedgehog froze. His emerald quills, styled in that familiar windswept pattern, suddenly seemed very telling. The sword stance, the attitude, even the way he tapped his foot - it all screamed heritage from two very familiar people.
Tails' twin tails dropped as his eyes widened, darting between Sonic and Comet. Silver pressed his palm to his forehead, muttering something that sounded like "seriously?" under his breath.
Blaze pinched the bridge of her nose, fighting back an exasperated sigh. Her golden eyes fixed on Sonic, waiting for the obvious to click.
"What?" Sonic glanced around at their reactions, completely oblivious. "Why's everyone looking at me like that?"
Comet stared at Sonic, his jaw slack. "Dude, really?" He gestured at his own face, then pointed at Sonic's. "Look at me. Really look."
He demonstrated a lightning-fast dash across the workshop, his movements a perfect mirror of Sonic's signature style. Spinning back around, Comet swung his sword in a wide arc, the motion identical to Amy's hammer technique.
Sonic scratched his head. "Nope, not seeing it."
"Oh come on!" Comet threw his hands up, his green quills bouncing with the motion. "It's right there! The speed, the attitude, the..." He waved his arms frantically between himself and Sonic.
Sonic shrugged. "Still drawing a blank, kid."
Comet turned to the others, desperation in his eyes. "Is he always like this?"
"Yes," Tails, Blaze, and Silver responded in perfect unison, their voices carrying the weight of years of experience with Sonic's obliviousness.
"Well, anyway!" Sonic clapped his hands together, completely missing Comet's exasperated groan. "Since you're here, you're helping us out, kid. Rouge just sent some coordinates for another tower." He pulled out his communicator, already heading for the door.
"Let's move!"