Kingdom Valley
[A huge thank you to Terrence Johnny Stanford for an incredible brainstorming session that helped bring this chapter to life! With his quick thinking, creative input, and dedication, we were finally able to pull Shadow's run through Kingdom Valley out of limbo. All credit goes to Terrence for his invaluable contributions to this chapter. Thanks buddy!]
Dark grey clouds loomed overhead as a large eagle swooped down, with Shadow gripping tightly onto its clawed talon. As the bird of prey swooped lower to the ground, the hedgehog let go, dropping down to the greenery.
Shadow landed on the grass and scanned his surroundings: a lone tree stood nearby, with a stone path stretching ahead. Looking into the distance, the ruins of Kingdom Valley spread across the land. It was a sight to behold and one that needed to be investigated.
"Let's get moving!" Shadow declared with determination, ready to press on.
But just before he could skate forward, the hedgehog felt a slight pain in his head. Shadow winced, pressing a gloved hand to his temple as a dull, throbbing sensation pulsed rapidly.
"What is this?" Shadow muttered to himself, his tone laced with irritation.
In the hedgehog's mind, a fragmented memory surfaced, its once-blurred details sharpening into view.
Shadow's Memory
Shadow's vision took him to the dimly lit underground cavern beneath Traverse Town. The air was damp, the rocky walls echoed the voices of the group surrounding him.
The hedgehog was standing with Leon, Aerith, Sonic and three other figures he did not recognise. One was a kid who had brown spikey hair, wearing mainly red and white clothing. The kid's yellow shoes were surprisingly huge for his feet. The other two, an impatient duck dressed in blue, and a tall dog with a clumsy demeanour, stood amongst them.
The group were discussing Shadow's power over Chaos Control, with the brooding hedgehog seemingly in a back and forth with Sonic.
"You know, for the 'Ultimate Lifeform,' you sure do underestimate people," Sonic quipped, smirking.
"I speak the truth, Sonic. No need to sugarcoat it for fragile egos," Shadow replied simply, his crimson eyes narrowing.
As the two hedgehogs bickered like an old married couple, the rest of the group exchanged awkward glances. The three newcomers, in particular, looked uneasy.
Aerith and Leon's eyebrows nearly hit the cavern roof in disbelief at Sonic and Shadow's bickering—if you could even call it that.
"Wow, Shadow sure is stubborn," Aerith said modestly to Leon, leaning towards his ear.
"I don't think it helps that Sonic is rather headstrong himself," Leon replied, folding his arms. His tone was tinged with rare amusement watching the two hedgehogs going back and forth.
"Gee, uh, fellas," the tall dog interjected, his voice cutting through the tension and catching the attention of both Sonic and Shadow. "Could we, uh, get back on topic please?"
"Yeah, Shadow," Sonic said teasingly, giving Shadow a playful smirk.
"Idiot. I was about to explain the simpler explanation of what Chaos Control is... Until you decided to keep talking," Shadow expressed, his tone stern.
The spikey haired boy's patience was wearing thin. He interjected, his voice tinged with exasperation.
"Shadow, could you just explain it please?" he urged.
"Ok," Shadow began, trying to dumb down his ability so everyone could understand. "Chaos Control is like... uh, picture a remote control for a TV, right? You press a button, and you're flipping through the channels."
"Yeah..." the boy replied, tilting his head to the side.
"Well, Chaos Control is kind of like that, but instead of channels, I'm shifting through time and space. I focus on where I wanna go, and tap into the power of the Chaos Emerald, and I'm there. Simple enough for you?"
"Wow, that's incredible," the tall dog admitted, impressed by the concept.
"Sounds rather convenient," the duck added.
"It would be, if Chaos Control was functioning properly," Shadow admitted, irritation colouring his tone.
"What's wrong with Chaos Control?" the boy asked, concern flashing in his blue eyes as he looked to Shadow.
"Chaos Control is unstable," Shadow said firmly. "The Master Emerald's shattering likely disrupted its energy flow. Plus, the darkness lingering across the many worlds is interfering with Chaos energy."
"Which means?" Aerith asked, unease evident in her voice.
"My link to Chaos Energy has weakened," Shadow revealed, his tone serious but calm. "The darkness is blocking it."
"So, no chance of you zipping off to catch the culprit of all this mess, huh?" Sonic asked, glancing at the brooding hedgehog.
"No," Shadow replied simply, frustration flickering across his face. "Chaos Control's instability prevents me from traversing to different worlds safely."
Sonic's smirk faded. Without Chaos Control working correctly, their chances of saving the lost worlds had just plummeted.
Shaking off the now-clear memory, Shadow steadied himself. The hedgehog's signature frown returned as he tried to make sense of what he'd just seen.
"Those three..." Shadow muttered to himself, his tone uncertain. "They've become clearer. But, who are they?"
Shadow paused, his gaze shifting to the stony path ahead.
"Questions for later. This place needs saving," Shadow said to himself, his voice full of resolve.
Without another word, Shadow launched forward at blistering speed, his mission now underway.
Kingdom Valley
Music: Kingdom Valley Act 1: Sonic x Shadow Generations
Shadow boosted along the stoned path that turned into a sleek, narrow bridge stretching out before him, connecting the pillar to another section of the valley. Just as he took a step forward, the sharp metallic stomps of Egg Gunners echoed from across the bridge. The machines, armed with powerful blasters, turned their cold visors towards him. Their weapons powered up with a high-pitched whine and unleashed a barrage of rapid gunfire.
"Tch" muttered Shadow, as he curled into a Spin Dash going forward with high speed.
Sparks flew as his spinning form carved through the bridge, smashing through the Egg Gunners like glass. Metallic limbs and robotic parts exploded into the air, scattering into the deep ravine below. Shadow uncurled mid-air, flipping and landing in a low crouch with perfect balance. As he rose to his feet, with the dust swirling around him, a deep ripple coursed through the ground.
From the shadows cast by the ruined arches, Neoshadows emerged. Their glowing, yellow eyes glared eerily in unison as they slithered along the ground like liquid, only to rise and take form around the hedgehog.
"Hmph. I'll defeat them all," declared Shadow stoically, his eyes locking onto the Heartless surrounding him.
The Neoshadows's bright but eerie eyes stared at the dark hedgehog, their clawed hands twitching in anticipation to attack. Suddenly, the first enemy lunged out towards Shadow, it was fast and aggressive. The Ultimate Lifeform side-stepped effortlessly, countering with a swift roundhouse kick that dissolved the creature into black mist instantly. The rest now followed it's fallen comrade, lunging at the hedgehog from multiple angles. With a swift flick of his wrist, crimson energy sparked in his gloved palm.
"Take this!" yelled Shadow, as he flung multiple Doom Spears at the Neoshadows. The attack destroyed all but one, which decided to lunged at him.
Shadow sidestepped with lightning speed, slamming a powerful fist into the creature's midsection. The force of the attack sent the Neoshadow hurtling through the air. It smashed directly into a glowing green orb structure embedded within a crumbling archway. The orb pulsed violently upon impact, emitting a resonant hum.
"What?" Shadow muttered as the orb flashed, releasing a surge of green energy.
Just then, a shimmering wind rail materialised in the air, swirling with turbulent winds. It stretched out over a massive gap, leading to the distant ruins of Kingdom Valley.
With instinctive precision, Shadow leapt onto the wind rail. The moment his air shoes touched it, a powerful gust propelled him forward at incredible speed. The wind howled around him as he grinded effortlessly over the steep watery chasm below. As he moved swiftly, Shadow could heard more mechanical machinery approaching, prompting him to turn his head to seek out the noise.
Egg Flyers swooped in from above, their sleek forms glinting in the sunlight trying to break through the dark, grey clouds. Their blasters powered up, unleashing a storm of plasma shots toward him. Shadow leaned forward on the rail, the wind whipping through his black and red quills. He then flicked his wrist launching more Doom Spears, each one tearing through the Egg Flyers with pinpoint accuracy. Powerful explosions lit up the sky, as several of the Flyers burst into flames, crashing into the ravine below. The hedgehog then ducked low to avoid incoming fire from the remaining machines, the wind rail now guiding him through a narrow stone archway.
As he neared the end of the rail, it spiraled upward. Shadow bent his knees, channeling his momentum. With a powerful leap, the hedgehog launched himself high into the air—right as the giant eagle swooped down from above.
The eagle's wings spread wide, casting a massive shadow over the ruins. Its talons passed just beneath him —and without thinking, Shadow reached out, grabbing onto them.
"Thanks," muttered Shadow to the eagle.
The wind roared as the eagle ascended, gliding effortlessly between towering spires of Kingdom Valley. As they passed over a stable stone platform, the eagle gave a sharp cry and released Shadow as he twisted mid-air, landing gracefully on the solid structure. Before he could catch his breath, more Egg Flyers appeared, descending in formation.
With no time to waste, Shadow curled into another Spin Dash, launching forward like a missile.
CRASH!
Shadow tore through the first Flyer with ease, sparks and debris flying into the air. Without slowing, he ricocheted off a stone wall, smashing into the next two Flyers in rapid succession.
BOOM! BOOM!
The remaining machines spiraled out of control, crashing downwards into the ravine below.
Shadow uncurled, landing smoothly on his feet, skating forward at blinding speed. His red and black form was a blur against the pale stone of the ruins. The hedgehog began leaping from one broken platform to the next with ease.
Suddenly, more Neoshadows erupted from the ground ahead, looking to block Shadow's progress.
"Out of my way!" shouted Shadow firmly, as he spun into another devastating Spin Dash, shredding through the dark creatures like a comet tearing through the night sky.
The impact of Shadow's attack made the Heartless's shadowy forms dissipate instantly. They were no match for the Ultimate Lifeform.
From above, Egg Flyers swooped down, unleashing volleys of plasma fire. Simultaneously, a squad of Egg Gunners emerged on a crumbling ledge, locking on with their cannons. With barely a pause, Shadow launched a barrage of Doom Spears at them.
BOOM! BOOM!
The Egg Flyers exploded in midair, while the Egg Gunners were reduced to scrap as the powerful spears tore through their ranks. Shadow landed on a narrow beam, balancing perfectly as more platforms loomed ahead. Leaping and dodging falling debris, Shadow dismantled more robotic enemies with brutal efficiency. His movements were a perfect blend of speed and power, leaving nothing but destruction in his wake.
Up ahead, the ruins funneled into a dark cave entrance. Without slowing, Shadow Spin Dashed into the cave. His spinning form became a destructive force shattering any Egg Gunners foolish enough to stand in his way. The cave echoed with the sound of grinding stone and metallic explosions as Shadow bulldozed through everything.
Eventually, Shadow burst out from the darkness, he skidded to a halt seeing another one of the green orbs. With a quick Spin Dash, he dashed into it.
The orb lit up and released a blast of wind, forming a new wind rail. The rail shimmered with glowing green energy, stretching across the chasm below him. As he leapt onto the wind rail, Shadow began effortlessly grinding along it. The wind howled in his ears, but his balance remained perfect as the world blurred around him.
However, more Egg Flyers weren't far behind. Plasma shots whizzed past him, whilst some enemies tried to flank him from the sides. Seeing this, Shadow launched several Doom Spears at the pursuing bots.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions echoed as some Flyers veered out of control—just in time to crash into a narrow stone gate along the wind rail. The survivors that escaped Shadow's attack smashed into the archway, reduced to wreckage.
However, as Shadow leapt off the wind rail and onto solid ground, a colossal Big Body Heartless slammed onto the path. The sheer impact sent cracks spiderwebbing across the stone. The Large Body let out a low growl as it glared at Shadow with its glowing, yellow eyes.
Without warning, the Heartless ripped a chunk of debris from the earth and hurled it at Shadow. The hedgehog quickly sidestepped the attack dashing forward, readying his fists before somersaulting to the side, avoiding another chunk of debris thrown at him.
The Heartless wasn't done. It raised one leg high before stomping the ground, sending a shockwave racing toward Shadow.
Shadow leapt backwards, barely avoiding the brunt of the blast. The shockwave obliterated a portion of the ruined platform where he once stood.
In a burst of speed, he curled into a Spin Dash, striking the Heartless's stomach, but it barley flinched. Its tough exterior absorbed the blow.
The Heartless lunged forward with a crushing arm swipe. Shadow teleported behind it using Chaos Control, keeping his distance as his crimson and black aura flared in his fists before he blurred forward, delivering a series of rapid power punches to the Heartless's torso. Each hit echoed with explosive force. The large Heartless stumbled, struggling to recover from the relentless assault. Shadow charged one final strike—a devastating spinning kick.
"HRAAAAH!" grunted Shadow, with the kick connecting with the Heartless's head, sending it flying backwards.
Due to the force of the attack, the Large Body smashed through multiple stone pillars, finally crashing into the side of a ruined wall. The huge and round Heartless broke into a dark mist among the debris and rubble.
With the big enemy taken care of, Shadow turned his gaze towards the colossal tower structure, which loomed in the distance. However it was crawling with more Egg Gunners and Neoshadows, with some turning their attention to the hedgehog as he zoomed forward.
Shadow activated his Boost ability to crash through many of the Egg Gunners before they could even fire at him. With the robots taken care of, Shadow curled up into a powerful Spin Dash, tearing through the Neoshadows, leaving behind nothing but dark mist as they disintegrated.
"Pathetic," mumbled Shadow, unimpressed with the enemies he had destroyed with ease.
As the last Heartless faded, Shadow spotted a rope bridge hanging loosely between two crumbling buildings. The rope sagged, but Shadow narrowed his eyes and leapt onto it. The rope stretched under his weight and with a fierce push, he slingshot himself high into the air, leaping from one crumbling building to the next. Using this momentum, Shadow leaped from one crumbling building to the next, finally propelling himself over one of the towers.
As Shadow descended, he spotted two Black Arm soldiers below. The hedgehog activated Chaos Control and teleported in front of them, appearing in a flash of blue. The soldiers froze, caught off guard.
With Doom Blast surging through him, Shadow unleashed a rapid flurry of punches before launching the soldier skyward with a brutal kick. Whilst the enemy was airborne, Shadow's attention shifted to its comrade, who looked alarmed by the hedgehog's raw power. Without hesitation, Shadow delivered a devastating side kick, sending the soldier hurtling through the air. The enemy smashed into a nearby tower, the structure crumbling on impact.
Shadow glanced upward, spotting the first soldier plummeting towards the ground. With a flash of Chaos Control, Shadow warped above his enemy, twisting into a powerful spinning kick to its head. The soldier slammed into the earth with a resounding crash before dissolving into a mist of darkness.
"Too easy!" Shadow remarked with confidence as he landed. However, his crimson eyes picked up something close by.
Looking to the side, Shadow saw another one of the green orbs.
"CHAOS SPEAR!" he commanded loudly.
Shadow swiftly hurled the bright projectile, striking the orb dead-on. The artifact hummed as a bright emerald glow pulsed from within, materialising a new wind rail.
The rail spiraled above the water as Shadow leapt onto it, grinding past the towering ruins of the valley. It twisted and dipped, leading straight into a massive, shadowy tunnel.
As he shot out from the tunnel, Shadow leapt off the rail and landed on a bridge, his red eyes widening in surprise.
"What…?" Shadow muttered, his crimson eyes darting around in awe at the sight before him.
The water under the bridge had risen up and split, towering on both sides like walls. This phenomenon created beautiful yet powerful reversing waterfalls, surging upward and defying gravity itself.
Narrowing his eyes and focusing on his mission, Shadow picked up speed and skated through the ruins, the sound of rushing water echoing around him.
Up ahead, a group of Black Arm Soldiers spotted his arrival, swords raised as they charged. Shadow smirked and surged forward.
The first soldier swung its sword downward. Shadow sidestepped at the last second, retaliating with a devastating roundhouse kick, launching the enemy into a crumbling pillar.
Another swung horizontally, but Shadow ducked, sweeping its legs before delivering a Chaos-infused punch to its chest. The impact was brutal—the enemy crumbled into dark dust, blown away by the wind.
Two more leaped at Shadow from both sides. With a flick of his wrists, Shadow conjured Doom Spears, launching them at both soldiers. The glowing projectiles pierced through their forms, sending them plummeting into the watery abyss below.
Only one remained. It lunged, swinging its sword—Shadow caught the blade effortlessly. The Black Arm soldier scrambled in astonishment as Shadow glared, with red Chaos energy crackling around him.
"You should have just given up," Shadow mocked darkly.
If the soldier could gulp in fear, the sound would have echoed across the ruined path and reversing waterfalls.
With a swift yank, Shadow pulled the soldier forward and delivered a powerful spin kick to its head, sending it crashing into the ruins. Like its comrades, the Soldier disintegrated into nothingness.
"This has been a waste of time," Shadow muttered, unimpressed. His signature frown returned.
His gaze swept the area, locking onto something up ahead. In the distance, the familiar Goal Ring shimmered—his mission was nearly complete.
Shadow lowered his stance and surged forward. But this world wasn't done with the hedgehog just yet.
Suddenly, the ground trembled violently as a massive, metallic fist slammed down in front of the hedgehog; sending shockwaves that cracked the stone bridge. Shadow skid to a halt, he knew there was one last obstacle that needed to be overcome.
A deep, ominous hum filled the air as disjointed metallic limbs began to levitate from the shadows of the ruins. The gauntlets, hammer-like feet, torso, and head each floated separately, their movements unnervingly precise. Piece by piece, they came together in a blur of motion, forming the towering figure of the Guard Armour Heartless. Once fully assembled, the Heartless loomed over Shadow like a living fortress, its armour clanking like the toll of a war drum.
Shadow's crimson eyes narrowed as he glared at the enemy infront of him. He had heard about this creature before.
"I remember hearing about this Heartless," Shadow remarked, his muscle tensing as he got into a defensive stance. "Sonic fought one of these back in Traverse Town."
The Guard Armour's massive gauntlets clenched, twisting at the wrist as if in anticipation. Without warning, the Heartless launched a devastating spin attack, its arms and legs separating and whirling toward Shadow in a whirlwind of destruction.
Shadow reacted instantly, warping out of harm's way with Chaos Control, reappearing midair above the fray. As the gauntlets crashed into the stone bridge, sending debris flying, Shadow retaliated with a barrage of Chaos Spears. The bolts of Chaos energy rained down upon the spinning limbs, each impact resonating with a crackle. The force pushed the disjointed parts slightly backward, but the Guard Armour hardly faltered.
Landing smoothly on the cracked terrain, Shadow prepared himself as the Heartless recomposed. Its hammer-like feet lifted high before stomping down, sending shockwaves that ruptured the ancient ruins beneath them. The force nearly unbalanced Shadow, but he swiftly skated backward, keeping himself poised.
"You're going to have to do better than that," Shadow muttered, summoning two Doom Spears into his grasp.
The Heartless answered with a vicious charge, its massive feet pounding forward in a Trample Attack. The ground crumbled further under the weight of the beast, and Shadow swiftly sidestepped, dodging the crushing blow. As it passed him, he hurled the Doom Spears at one of the towering hammer-like legs. The moment they struck, the spears exploded, causing the Heartless to stagger slightly.
Taking advantage of the momentary imbalance, Shadow leaped forward with blinding speed, activating Doom Blast. His fists and feet became a blur as he unleashed a relentless flurry of rapid attacks upon the detached arm floating before him. With one final, powerful strike, he launched the gauntlet skyward before warping directly to its location, delivering a devastating kick that sent it plummeting into a ruinous pillar.
The Guard Armour gave off a metallic screech in defiance, its limbs shifting erratically before initiating its deadly Mow Down Attack. Both gauntlets spun in opposite directions, sweeping the battlefield in an attempt to crush Shadow between them. The air howled with the force of the attack.
Shadow flipped backwards, avoiding one incoming gauntlet, then ducked under the second. As they crossed paths midair, he dashed forward, vaulting onto one of the spinning arms and riding the momentum. With a calculated leap, he spiraled through the air, gathering Chaos energy in his hand. As he descended, he slammed a Chaos Spear directly onto the center of the Guard Armor's torso. The impact sent arcs of energy pulsating across its body, forcing it to recoil.
Now was his chance. With a flick of his wrist, Shadow summoned another set of Doom Spears, this time targeting both hammer-like feet. The spears shot through the air like crimson lightning, embedding themselves into the armoured limbs before detonating in a controlled explosion. The Heartless was momentarily thrown off balance, as one of its legs broke apart into darkness.
"You're nothing but a hollow shell," Shadow taunted as he skated forward. "I will send you back to the Realm of Darkness!"
The Guard Armour retaliated with another Spin Attack, its arms and remaining leg rotating at high velocity. Shadow dodged one, two, then three sweeping blows before using Chaos Control to teleport above its spinning mass. Hovering midair, he channeled Chaos energy into his hands before launching a devastating Chaos Spear aimed directly at its torso. The explosion rocked the bridge battlefield, sending ripples through the airborne waterfalls.
As the Heartless began to reassemble itself, Shadow decided it was time to end this. Gathering every ounce of Chaos energy within him, Shadow's form crackled with raw power. The Guard Armour sensed the impending devastation.
"Chaos... Blast!" bellowed Shadow defiantly.
On command, a crimson explosion erupted from Shadow's form, engulfing the Heartless in a sphere of annihilating energy. The ruins of Kingdom Valley trembled under the sheer force of the attack. The Guard Armour convulsed violently, its limbs flailing before being engulfed in the raging, crimson blast.
As the red light dissipated, all that remained was a mist of darkness, slowly fading into the swirling currents of the reversing waterfalls. The blasts power had eradicated the metallic Heartless into nothingness. All that was left was darkness floating away into the winds of Kingdom Valley.
Shadow landed gracefully, the glow of his Chaos energy fading as he straightened up, dusting off his gloves.
"Tch. Too easy."
With the bridge now silent, the only sound was the ceaseless roar of the defying waterfalls around him. Shadow turned his gaze forward, his eyes locking onto the shimmering Goal Ring in the distance.
With one last glance at the spot where the Heartless had been vanquished, he smirked slightly before dashing into the spinning Goal Ring to end his mission.
RANK: S
Shadow's crimson eyes fixated on the reversing waterfalls that enclosed the bridge. The sight was mesmerising yet unsettling, their unnatural motion defying the laws of nature. A strange nostalgia tugged at him, though no memories surfaced to explain it. The shimmering cascades defied gravity, rising instead of falling, their beauty undeniable. He exhaled as he observed the unnatural scenery.
"This place certainly has something to it," he muttered, his voice low. "But I don't remember ever being here. Maybe Cloud was right. Maybe it's from my future… or another timeline entirely."
Just as he turned to leave, a soft voice broke the silence, carrying with it an air of unfamiliarity.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" the voice said gently. "The waterfalls are my favorite part. They have a sort of peace to them, don't they? Even if everything else is uncertain."
Shadow turned sharply, his eyes locking onto a girl with blonde hair, a white dress, and blue sandals. Her piercing blue eyes mirrored the cascading waters. Yet, something about her presence felt... off.
"And you are?" Shadow asked, his tone edged with impatience.
"I'm Naminé," she introduced herself with a small nod. "And you're Shadow the Hedgehog, right?"
Shadow's frown deepened as he regarded the girl, his tone blunt.
"So, you know my name."
"That's right. You're the Ultimate Lifeform. I know of you," Naminé said simply.
Shadow scoffed, impatience flaring in his tone.
"Then let's skip the pleasantries. What do you want?"
Naminé hesitated at his sharp tone but steadied herself. She took a slow breath, pushing aside her initial apprehension. If she wanted to make a difference, she couldn't afford to waver now.
"Shadow, I'll get to the point. Sonic needs the Chaos Emerald you have. It may be the key to fixing everything," she explained, her eyes looking to the brooding hedgehog.
"Sonic? Why?" replied Shadow curiously, his voice low.
"Like you, he's trapped in White Space too," Naminé explained calmly, still focusing her gaze on Shadow.
"Because of Terios, correct?" Shadow replied sharply.
"You… know about Terios?" asked Naminé, her eyes wide with suprise.
"Black Doom told me," Shadow said flatly. "I also saw him in a vision before I was pulled from the ARK. He's not just another enemy, is he?"
Naminé's expression darkened.
"No. He's worse," she explained grimly. "And Black Doom is leeching off Terios's power. That's why things are spiraling out of control for you."
"I already know that," Shadow cut in, irritation flickering across his face. "Just get to the point."
Naminé clenched her hands but kept her composure as she continued.
"I want to stop Terios and the Organization," she expressed firmly. "Their actions are hurting innocent people. You've seen it yourself."
Shadow folded his arms, scrutinising her with an intense glare.
"Are you with them?" he asked bluntly. The hedgehog's tone was sharp, laced with suspicion. Was she a spy, or did she have her own reasons for opposing the Organization?
She hesitated. That pause was enough for Shadow. With a huff, he turned away.
"I don't have time for this."
"Wait!" Naminé called, urgency in her voice. "I need your help."
"I don't help the enemy. Even if they're suddenly growing a conscience," Shadow remarked curtly. He waved a hand dismissively as he walked away.
"But the emerald could help Sonic fight the Organization—and restore lost memories. Don't you want to know the truth?" Her words struck a nerve, and Shadow stopped mid-step.
"Memories?" he muttered under his breath. Turning back, he fixed her with a piercing stare. "What do you mean?"
"The Chaos Emeralds are helping Sonic and the others remember Sora, Donald, and Goofy," she explained. "Piece by piece. Each emerald found brings clarity."
"Those names…" Shadow said looking away, frustration tightening his jaw. A vague sense of familiarity gnawed at him, as if he should know them, yet the memories remained just out of reach. His fists clenched. "I saw them. In a fractured memory. But why do I care?"
"Because you have a connection to them," said Naminé cryptically.
"A connection?" mused Shadow perplexed, his features raised slightly.
"Even if it's a small connection. You were there with them, Shadow. You just don't remember," explained Naminé with a small nod, her voice reassuring.
Shadow stepped closer, scrutinising the girl further.
"And you know this how?" he questioned firmly, his frown deepening.
"It's… complicated," she admitted. "But with the two Emeralds found, everyone's memories are slowly coming back."
"You know a lot about this," Shadow said, his tone sharp. He stared at the girl with a frown. "You're behind it, aren't you?"
Naminé's eyes widened slightly, but before she could respond, Shadow continued.
"I'm the Ultimate Lifeform. I can sense things others can't. And there's something… off about you."
Naminé sighed, conflicted.
"I… I'm different, yes. The Organization used my abilities for their own gain."
Shadow's gaze didn't waver as he continued questioning the girl.
"And what abilities do you possess?"
"I can manipulate and rewrite memories," she admitted, voice laced with guilt. Her eyes dropped to the ground.
"So, you've been tampering with everyone's memories," Shadow replied, his expression hardening.
"I'm trying to fix things," Naminé said firmly. "The Organization's hold needs to be broken. Castle Oblivion needs to be freed. But I can't do it alone."
"So, White Space is connected to Castle Oblivion," Shadow deduced, his suspicions confirmed.
Naminé nodded, "Yes. And that's why you can help. You can change this.
"By handing over my Emerald?" Shadow asked bluntly.
"Yes," she replied urgently, nodding.
Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken tension. Naminé's breath hitched as she searched his face for any trace of doubt, but his crimson eyes remained cold and unwavering. Then, Shadow gave his answer.
"No," he answered simply with his usual bluntness.
"What? Why?" Naminé gasped, her shoulders tensing. A flicker of desperation flashed in her blue eyes, a silent plea for him to reconsider.
"I have my own mission," Shadow said, turning away. "Stopping Black Doom comes first. I don't have time for your problems."
"Not even to help Sonic?" Naminé questioned, her voice wavered slightly.
"No." Shadow's tone was cold, his stride unshaken. "Sonic can have the emerald when I'm done."
"But the Emerald can restore more memories," Naminé pressed, desperate now. "It could be the key to stopping the Organization and Terios. He has a date with destiny—if things go as planned."
Shadow stopped, pausing for just a second.
Then, without turning back, he muttered, "Well then… he has a date to die for."
Naminé stood frozen as Shadow disappeared into the distance, his decision final. But she clenched her fists, determination igniting her.
"I have to keep persuading him," she whispered to herself. "Everything depends on it. I won't give up. Not now. Not ever."
Kingdom Valley is now finally complete!
Apologies for the delay—there's been a lot going on on my end, plus a horrible flu that completely knocked me out.
A big shoutout once again to Terrence Johnny Stanford for his assistance and contributions to this chapter. The majority of Shadow's run-through was Terrence's work, with a few tweaks here and there to fit the narrative. I'm really happy with the teamwork and how it all came together.
We're slowly seeing the connection to Sonic's story unfold. Sonic now holds two Chaos Emeralds (Blue and Red), while Shadow has the Yellow Emerald. In the original Chain of Generations, the yellow emerald is given to Sonic after defeating Perfect Chaos. Since this is a rewrite of the original, things will be explained and adjusted to ensure smooth continuity.
Shadow's memory sequence was taken from the first story, though sharp-eyed readers may notice some small changes to the writing and dialogue. Some of the earlier chapters of the first Blue Blur Edition were quite rushed. If I had the time, I'd love to remix the first story to improve the dialogue and refine certain scenes—but that would be a huge project in itself.
Did anyone catch the "Date to die for" line? That was a nod to Sonic Heroes and Sonic x Shadow Generations!
Just a quick note—Doom Surf will not be included in Shadow's story. The next worlds and boss gate won't require it.
A quick update on my writing projects: I'm currently juggling three stories—this one, KH BBE II, and When Legends Meet: Speed Meets Survival. I've also enrolled in a Creative Writing course, which will take up most of my free time. I have two to three chapters of ReMiX I want to complete before I take a short hiatus from the Blue Blur Saga to focus on my studies. My goal is to improve my writing style and skills, and this course will play a big role in shaping my future works.
I'm also aiming to finish Speed v Survival in the next few weeks. So to summarise: three more chapters of ReMiX will be released soon, then I'll be stepping away from Blue Blur Saga for a little while.
Apologies for any inconvenience this hiatus may cause, but my studies and personal life take priority at the moment. If this helps me grow as a writer and improve future releases, then I need to do what's best for my craft.
Thanks, everyone!