Into the Void
After the relentless pursuit through the labyrinthine of the ARK and the harrowing distortions of the Doom Zone, Shadow stepped into a dimly lit chamber. The faint pulse of Chaos energy had guided him here, but now the air felt dense, charged with an electric tension that prickled against his dark fur. The room was deathly silent save for the faint hum of dormant machinery, its rows of ancient, dust-covered terminals standing like forgotten sentinels. The oppressive stillness hung thick, amplifying the sense of unease.
At the center of the lab, the energy's source glimmered—a golden Chaos Emerald. It floated effortlessly atop a sleek, black pedestal, its soft glow cutting through the shadows.
"Well, well," Shadow murmured, his voice breaking the silence. Curiosity and caution laced his words as his crimson eyes narrowed on the artifact.
He approached the pedestal, his footsteps echoing ominously in the cavernous space. The gem's golden light reflected off his black-and-red fur, bathing him in an otherworldly hue. The closer he got, the more the Chaos energy pressed against him, faint but distinct.
"The fake Chaos Emerald," Shadow muttered, his voice carrying a tinge of recognition. "Tails' creation… meant to deceive the doctor."
Reaching out with a gloved hand, Shadow took the gem. Its surface was warm, pulsing faintly as if it held a heartbeat of its own. From his quills, he retrieved the real yellow Chaos Emerald, holding the two side by side. The genuine article radiated an intensity that seemed to hum in tune with the faint vibration of its doppelgänger.
"Hmph," Shadow grunted, his sharp gaze scrutinizing the subtle differences. "Even I have a hard time telling them apart."
He studied them for a moment longer before pocketing both Emeralds. Turning to leave, a sudden burst of violet light flooded the room, freezing him mid-step. The light wasn't natural—it burned with an unholy brilliance, pouring in from the observation windows like liquid fire.
Shadow instinctively raised his arm, shielding his eyes from the onslaught of energy.
"What in the—?" he muttered, his voice trailing off as the ARK's surrounding darkness was consumed by the light.
A deafening hum followed, low and resonant, vibrating through the room like the growl of a leviathan. The walls trembled, monitors sparked to life only to short out moments later, and the entire colony groaned under the strain. The violet energy twisted unnaturally, pouring into the ARK like a tidal wave, bending the room's metal walls and distorting the air itself.
The ground beneath Shadow rippled like liquid, the once-solid floor shattering into fragments of green light. Time and space buckled, and the ARK itself seemed to dissolve into a kaleidoscope of swirling colors. Shadow staggered, chaos energy flaring around him in a desperate attempt to anchor himself to reality.
"What is happening?!" he growled, his voice barely audible over the roaring chaos.
Mobius – Meadow - Sonic's Birthday
Meanwhile, on Mobius, the idyllic meadow that had moments earlier been filled with celebration was now a scene of panic and chaos. Strange, swirling rifts hung in the air, their indigo edges rippling like disturbed water. These portals shimmered with scenes from distant places and times, flickering images distorted and fragmented like shattered mirrors.
A mysterious indigo hedgehog stood at the epicenter of the disturbance, his form shadowed against the chaos he had unleashed. His presence felt wrong, his every movement laced with an aura of unease. The rifts began pulling everything toward them, an irresistible force that defied gravity and logic.
Team Chaotix was the first to succumb. Vector, Espio, and Charmy cried out as they were torn from the ground, each disappearing into a separate rift, their desperate shouts fading as they vanished into the swirling void.
Knuckles, Rouge, and Amy followed, their forms spiraling helplessly into the rifts. They reached for anything to anchor themselves, but the force was too powerful.
The vortexes showed no mercy. Leon, Aerith, Yuffie, and Cid tried to hold their ground, but they were no match for the chaos. Cream hugged Cheese tightly as they were swept away, their terrified cries piercing the air until they, too, were gone.
Tails clung desperately to a tree, his gloved fingers digging into the rough bark. The wind around him roared like a feral beast, the pull of the rift tearing at his body.
"Help us…" His voice trembled.
The bark splintered under the strain. His fingers slipped.
"SONIC!" Tails screamed, his voice cracking with terror as his body was wrenched into the air. He flailed wildly, reaching out for his best friend, his final cry echoing before he disappeared into the swirling void.
Sonic lay battered on the ground, his body barely responding. He could only watch in helpless horror as Tails—his closest friend—vanished. His hand twitched, weakly reaching toward the place where Tails had been, but it was too late.
Space Colony ARK
Back on the ARK, the violet energy reached a deafening crescendo, shaking the colony to its core. The observation windows shattered, jagged shards spiraling through the air. Shadow stumbled as the shockwave struck, his air shoes flaring to stabilize him.
The distortion grew, tearing apart the station piece by piece. Entire sections of the ARK twisted and folded into the rifts, vanishing into the void as the fabric of reality unraveled. Shadow's crimson eyes burned with determination as he fought against the chaos.
"No!" he growled, chaos energy swirling wildly around him. "I won't be taken by this!"
"CHAOS CONTROL!" Shadow shouted above the roar of destruction.
A burst of blue energy flared around him, but even his Chaos abilities could only slow the inevitable. The rifts' power overwhelmed him, dragging him into their swirling depths. His surroundings disintegrated into a kaleidoscope of shifting colors and fragmented images.
Shadow's vision blurred as the ARK disappeared from view. Time and space collapsed around him, and with one final surge, he was consumed by the void.
The ARK was no longer visible, and Shadow was lost to the chaos.
Outside Castle Oblivion
The air around Aqua shimmered like a living veil as she stood steadfast in the sprawling courtyard of Castle Oblivion. The intricate stone and rock beneath her boots glowed faintly, its pale patterns pulsing as if echoing the twilight void overhead. The castle loomed above her, an imposing monolith of twisting spires and impossible geometry, its silent presence heavy with secrets yet untold.
A soft blue aura surrounded Aqua, radiating outward in steady pulses as she focused her power. The Master's Defender glowed faintly in her hands, the Keyblade's steel reflecting the growing light of her magic. Her silver boots were planted firmly, her blue hair swaying in the wind that now swirled with increasing ferocity. Her sharp blue eyes narrowed with determination, the task ahead demanding every ounce of her focus.
Behind her, Omega stood like an immovable sentinel, his massive metallic frame unyielding against the ethereal storm gathering around them. His optics flickered rapidly, streams of data running through his systems as he analysed the energy Aqua was summoning. For once, his typically blunt commentary was replaced by silence, a testament to the tension in the air. His presence, a pillar of unyielding logic, was an anchor for Aqua in the maelstrom of uncertainty.
The ground beneath them began to tremble, a deep, guttural vibration that resonated through the courtyard. Aqua's focus faltered for a fraction of a second, her aura flickering as her eyes darted toward the towering white doors of Castle Oblivion.
"Wait… where is the Keyhole?" Aqua murmured, her voice tinged with confusion. Her gaze swept the massive expanse before her, searching for the glimmer of the Keyhole she had come to unlock.
"NO KEYHOLE DETECTED," Omega announced, his voice like a metallic drum beat, echoing through the courtyard.
Aqua blinked, her heart skipping a beat. The glow of her aura dimmed slightly as uncertainty gripped her.
"Impossible," she muttered. "The Keyhole… it should be here."
Her words were swallowed by the ominous creak of the castle's massive doors, their ancient mechanisms grinding to life. The sound reverberated through the courtyard, a haunting groan that seemed to echo from the depths of the void itself. Aqua's grip on the Master's Defender tightened as she stepped back, watching in wary anticipation.
"The doors…" Aqua's voice wavered slightly, her unease breaking through her calm exterior. "They're opening… on their own?"
"THIS IS NOT NORMAL, I GATHER?" Omega replied, seeking clarity.
"NO!" Aqua shouted back.
The doors parted slowly, revealing not the interior of Castle Oblivion but a seething, violet light. It poured outward like liquid, thick and suffocating, washing over the courtyard in waves of oppressive energy. The light pulsated as if alive, its chaotic rhythm vibrating through the very air. Aqua instinctively raised her Keyblade defensively, her posture firm despite the unnatural force pressing against her.
"Omega, what is this light?" Aqua demanded, her voice cutting through the tension.
"ANOMALOUS ENERGY DETECTED," Omega replied, his deep, mechanical tone unwavering. "SOURCE: UNKNOWN. RECOMMEND EXTREME CAUTION."
Then, through the pulsing light, a shape began to emerge. It was vast, towering beyond comprehension, its silhouette blurred and shifting. Aqua's breath hitched as her focus locked on its most chilling feature—two glowing lime-green eyes staring through the chaos, brimming with malevolent intent.
"What?" Aqua gasped, her voice trembling.
The figure remained obscured within the chaotic light, but its presence was overwhelming, radiating power that seemed to crush the air itself. Before either Aqua or Omega could react, the violet energy surged forward with a deafening roar. The ground cracked and splintered under its force, jagged fragments of stone tearing free and rising into the air like shards of glass.
"GET BACK!" Omega commanded, his voice booming as his servos whirred into action. His massive metal arm reached for Aqua, but the wave of light struck first.
The explosion of energy engulfed them both, a tidal wave of raw distortion that tore apart the very fabric of reality. Aqua staggered as the force hit her, the ground beneath her feet dissolving into nothingness. Her body was weightless in the chaos, the Keyblade glowing faintly as she fought to summon a barrier against the onslaught.
"Omega!" she cried, her voice straining against the deafening roar of the vortex.
"WARNING: REALITY DISTORTION IN PROGRESS!" Omega shouted back, his mechanical voice cutting through the chaos. "HOLD POSITION! DO NOT LOSE FOCUS!"
But the violet light was relentless, dragging them both into its swirling heart. Aqua's grip tightened on the Master's Defender, her magic flickering as she struggled to maintain control. Pieces of the courtyard floated around her, fractured into radiant shards of light that spiraled into the void.
"Stay with me!" Aqua called out, her voice tinged with desperation as the storm intensified.
Time and space bent wildly, the violet energy swallowing everything in its path. Aqua's vision blurred, her senses overwhelmed by the magnitude of the distortion. Through the chaos, the massive figure with lime-green eyes loomed closer, its presence a harbinger of cold malice. Aqua's breath caught in her throat as she met its gaze, the sheer weight of its power pressing down on her like a physical force.
Then, the courtyard shattered entirely. The world dissolved into fragments of blinding light, scattering like broken glass. Aqua felt herself falling, the distortion consuming her completely. The violet energy swirled faster, the sound of the storm roaring in her ears until it became a deafening silence.
The last thing Aqua heard was Omega's voice.
"PROTECTING ALLY: INITIATING FULL SYSTEM STABILIZATION."
And then, there was nothing.
Shadow
The blinding whiteness receded, fading into a muted gray, and Shadow slowly opened his eyes, lowering his arm as the light dimmed. His crimson gaze took in his surroundings, and a rare flash of surprise crossed his face, breaking his otherwise composed demeanor. Shadow jolted his head slightly, his disbelief palpable as he processed the alien environment around him.
The void stretched infinitely in all directions, a bleak, colorless expanse devoid of life. The skies were a swirling mixture of pale gray, their ever-shifting patterns giving the impression of a realm in constant flux. Beneath Shadow's air shoes, the ground was featureless and flat, a vast white canvas without texture or definition. The space around him felt eerie, sterile, and oppressive—a void where time itself seemed to have no hold.
Shadow turned slowly, his movements deliberate as he scanned the area, his red eyes sharp and focused. The usual confidence etched into his features was replaced by an intense, determined expression, his mind racing to comprehend this strange, lifeless domain.
Nearby, his gaze locked onto a grand structure—a castle-like wall standing resolutely against the desolation. The wall's ornate design stood in stark contrast to the emptiness around it, its surface crafted from pristine white stone with intricate carvings and angular patterns. A large circular door sat at its center, its mechanical locking mechanism adorned with glowing purple circular symbols embedded into the wall. The faint hum of the symbols' energy reverberated through the air, a mystery in this silent world.
"What is this place?" Shadow muttered under his breath, his voice low but steady. His eyes lingered on the strange sigils, their enigmatic presence fueling his suspicion.
As he observed the wall, a faint metallic rustling reached his ears, breaking the oppressive stillness. Shadow turned sharply, his movements swift and calculated. His gaze locked onto the source of the sound—a familiar figure knelt on the colourless ground.
It was Omega.
The massive robot's bulky frame jerked erratically, as he struggled to reboot. Shadow's expression hardened as he strode toward the struggling machine. With a sudden flash of red light from Omega's optics, the robot jerked upright, his systems fully reinitialising. Omega stood tall, his mechanical form imposing and steady.
"Omega?" Shadow asked, his tone measured yet edged with concern as he approached the robot.
Omega's body swiveled toward Shadow, his movements swift and precise. His optics glowed brighter as he scanned Shadow with a burst of infrared and electromagnetic signals.
"SHADOW," Omega responded, his voice reverberating with mechanical certainty. "YOU ARE PRESENT IN THIS DOMAIN AS WELL?"
"Yes," Shadow confirmed, stopping a few steps away. "I was on the ARK when a bright light overtook everything. It was… blinding." His tone betrayed a hint of frustration at his inability to prevent the anomaly.
Omega's optics flickered briefly, his systems processing streams of data as his scanners surveyed their surroundings. His response came after a pause.
"THE LIGHT WAS A TEMPORAL DISTURBANCE. ANALYSIS CONFIRMS IT RELEASED A MASSIVE ENERGY WAVE—TYPE UNKNOWN."
"Temporal anomaly…" Shadow echoed, his voice tinged with suspicion. "And you? What happened to you?"
Omega's metallic frame shifted slightly, his internal systems whirring as he recalibrated his sensors.
"I WAS ACCOMPANYING AQUA TO CASTLE OBLIVION. SHE ATTEMPTED TO SUMMON THE KEYHOLE WHEN THE DISTORTION OVERTAKEN US. MY SYSTEMS WERE DAMAGED TEMPORARILY, BUT DATA LOGS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. NEW DATA: INCONCLUSIVE REGARDING LOCATION AND TEMPORAL COORDINATES."
Shadow's expression darkened. The mention of Aqua stirred a flicker of concern. He glanced around the desolate void.
"And Aqua? Where is she?" he asked, his voice calm but underscored with urgency.
Omega paused, his head swiveling as his scanners activated. A low hum filled the air as his sensors swept the void, streams of analytical data filling his internal systems. He paused for a beat before responding.
"ENERGY SCAN FOR KEYBLADE SIGNATURES AND NOBODY PRESENCE: INCONCLUSIVE. NO DETECTABLE SIGNALS WITHIN IMMEDIATE RADIUS. INTERFERENCE FROM THIS VOID'S PROPERTIES IMPEDES SCANNING."
Shadow's fists clenched slightly, his frustration beginning to surface.
"She's out there," he muttered, his voice steely. "She has to be."
Omega's optics flickered as he processed the situation further.
"PROBABILITY CALCULATIONS: 65% CHANCE AQUA IS WITHIN THIS VOID. HOWEVER…" He paused, his tone shifting slightly. "CHRONOMETRIC ERROR DETECTED. TIME AND SPACE PROPERTIES OF THIS LOCATION ARE NULLIFIED. WE EXIST IN A REALM WITHOUT TEMPORAL FLOW."
"A space without time," Shadow murmured, his red eyes narrowing. His mind worked quickly, piecing together what he knew. "If this place exists beyond time… then where do we even begin to search?"
Omega's servos whirred as he tilted his head, his response matter-of-fact.
"BEGINNING SEARCH PROTOCOL: ADAPTIVE LOCATOR. I WILL CONTINUE SCANNING FOR ENERGY SIGNATURES. CAUTION ADVISED—THIS DOMAIN MAY CONTAIN HOSTILE ENTITIES," Omega declared, his voice steady but mechanical, reverberating through the void.
Shadow's sharp crimson eyes scanned the lifeless expanse, searching for anything to anchor this strange reality to some form of understanding. Almost immediately, something caught his attention.
"Hmm," Shadow remarked, his gaze locking onto a structure in the distance. His posture shifted slightly, his body tensing. Omega turned his massive frame to follow Shadow's line of sight.
Before them rose the hollow and fragmented shell of the Space Colony ARK. It stood as a familiar yet alien figure in this timeless void, its once-vibrant form drained of life and color. The towering spires that once gleamed with purpose now stretched upward like skeletal fingers grasping at nothingness. The intricate network of machinery that had defined the ARK's brilliance now lay dormant, its spirit extinguished.
The central pathway spiraled upward into a labyrinth of mechanical loops and intersecting pathways, yet they were devoid of the energy that once flowed through them. The usual hum of power was absent, replaced by an oppressive silence. Dim, ghostly lights flickered along the structure, their glow faint and cold, casting long, distorted shadows that seemed to mock the ARK's former glory.
Fragments of jagged rock clung to the edges of its frame as though the ARK had been violently ripped from its place in space and thrust into this timeless abyss. The vibrant blues of its energy cores and the gleaming metallic sheen of its surfaces were replaced by dull greys and whites, as though the structure itself had been stripped of its identity. To Shadow, it felt like the ARK was a mere echo of the station he knew—an incomplete memory of its grandeur.
"The ARK?" Shadow muttered, his tone carrying an edge of suspicion. He stepped forward slightly, his eyes narrowing as they traced the jagged edges of the structure. "It's here… but it feels different. There's no connection. No… life."
Omega's red optics flickered, scanning the fragmented station. His servos clicked audibly as his scanners worked overtime to analyse the phenomenon.
"SCANNING," he announced, his tone flat yet methodical.
Shadow continued, his voice sharp with thought.
"Could it be? Did the light that brought us here also drag in the ARK?" His words carried weight, as if voicing the question might offer clarity.
"ANALYSIS IN PROGRESS," Omega replied, his massive frame standing firm as streams of data filled his systems. His red optics flickered rapidly, processing variables against the void's interference. After a pause, his voice returned, steady but mechanical. "ANALYSIS COMPLETE."
"Report," Shadow demanded, his tone resolute.
"WITHOUT FULL CHRONOMETER FUNCTIONALITY, THIS UNIT OPERATES OFFLINE IN TEMPORAL SCANNING. HOWEVER..." He paused, his voice taking on a tone of calculated precision. "THE STRUCTURE BEFORE US IS NOT IDENTICAL TO THE ARK YOU LAST OCCUPIED."
Shadow's brow furrowed, his body tensing as he processed Omega's words.
"Not the same ARK?" he repeated, his tone low and suspicious. "Explain."
Omega's servos whirred softly as he continued.
"THIS VERSION OF THE ARK EXISTS IN A STATE OF TEMPORAL DISCONNECTION. DATA INDICATES THIS STRUCTURE MAY HAVE BEEN PULLED INTO THIS VOID FROM ANOTHER POINT IN TIME—A FRAGMENT OF THE ARK'S HISTORY RENDERED INCOMPLETE."
Shadow's arms crossed, his sharp gaze returning to the ghostly station.
"So, this ARK… it's from another timeline. Another version of its existence?" Shadow questioned. The hedgehog's voice was calm, but his tone carried an undercurrent of unease.
"CONFIRMATION PENDING," Omega replied. "FURTHER ANALYSIS REQUIRED WHEN CHRONOMETER FUNCTIONS ARE RESTORED. VOID INTERFERENCE OBSTRUCTS TEMPORAL ALIGNMENT AND LIMITS DATA PRECISION."
Shadow let out a faint huff, his stone-faced expression betraying a flicker of frustration. The implications of Omega's analysis left questions that demanded answers.
"So, this place isn't just a void—it's a prison for fragments of other times," Shadow mused, his voice cold and deliberate. He glanced toward the ARK again, his mind racing. "And if the ARK is here… what else might have been pulled into this place?"
"CONCLUSION: ADDITIONAL STRUCTURES OR ENTITIES MAY BE PRESENT, OR REMNANTS FROM DISPLACED TIMELINES," Omega stated, his calm yet ominous voice echoing through the void. "ENERGY SIGNATURES AND KEY ENTITIES UNDETECTED. TEMPORAL INSTABILITY LIMITS RANGE OF SCAN."
Shadow unfolded his arms, his crimson eyes narrowing as he glanced around the emptiness once more. His sharp gaze swept the horizon before drifting upward, catching sight of something that made him pause. Suspended high above in the pale expanse of the void was a massive, spherical object—dark and foreboding, its surface encased in intricate, orbiting rings. The edges of the rings gleamed faintly, their light defying the oppressive emptiness that surrounded them.
Shadow's breath hitched slightly, his body stiffening as he focused on the monolithic sphere. Across the rings were what appeared to be dark, oval shapes—closed, like unblinking eyes in a dormant slumber. The outer rings rotated slowly, their movements deliberate and ritualistic, as if part of an ancient mechanism whose purpose had been forgotten. The sphere itself pulsed faintly, its rhythm eerily similar to the beat of a heart. To Shadow, it felt… alive.
"And that thing?" Shadow asked, his voice laced with intrigue and caution. He pointed upward with a slight tilt of his head, his red eyes narrowing at the ominous sight.
Omega shifted his massive frame, angling his head upward. His optical sensors flickered as his systems focused on the structure, zooming in and analysing every detail. A soft hum emanated from his servos as he processed the anomaly.
"SCANNING," Omega stated, his monotone voice steady but filled with purpose.
Shadow's gaze lingered on the sphere as Omega worked. A faint unease gnawed at him—a subtle, almost imperceptible connection to the object above. It was as though it called to him, though the reason remained elusive. Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, Omega's voice broke through the silence.
"SCAN COMPLETE. AERIAL ANOMALY DETECTED," Omega announced. "PRELIMINARY BLACK ARMS RESEARCH FROM G.U.N DATABASE IDENTIFIES IT AS 'BLACK MOON.'"
Shadow's fists clenched involuntarily at the name.
"Black Doom…" he muttered, his voice heavy with anger. "I knew it would be tied to him and the Black Arms."
"SOURCE OF DISRUPTION APPEARS TO BE UNIDENTIFIED LIFE FORM," Omega continued, his voice unwavering as he relayed the findings.
Shadow's sharp eyes flicked toward the pulsing sphere once more. The faint sense of familiarity now solidified into a suspicion.
"It's Black Doom," Shadow replied, his tone sharp and cold. "I chased Doom's Eye through the ARK, and he managed to shift the entire environment. This has his darkness and manipulation all over it."
"POSSIBLE CORRELATION IF TRUE," Omega acknowledged. "HOWEVER, ADDITIONAL TIME IS REQUIRED TO CROSS-REFERENCE DATA AND VALIDATE CONNECTION TO DOOM'S EYE OR BLACK DOOM."
Shadow huffed, his gaze never leaving the ominous sphere above.
"Fine. I'll give you the time to gather your data. But if that moon moves, or if Doom's Eye appears again—"
"THREAT ASSESSMENT IN PROGRESS," Omega interrupted. "NO IMMEDIATE HOSTILE ACTIVITY DETECTED. AERIAL OBJECT 'BLACK MOON' APPEARS INERT. HOWEVER, REMAIN ON HIGH ALERT AND PROCEED WITH CAUTION."
Shadow let out a low growl, the tension in his body unrelenting.
"It doesn't matter if it's inert now. That thing… it's connected to everything that's happening here. I can feel it."
Omega's optics flickered again, his massive frame pivoting toward Shadow as his servos whirred softly.
"CONFIRMATION OF THREAT LIKELY. DATA ON 'BLACK MOON' SUGGESTS ITS FUNCTION IS TIED TO THE BLACK ARMS' TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL MANIPULATION. PROCEED WITH STRATEGIC AWARENESS."
Shadow continued to glare at the ominous sphere above, his crimson eyes blazing with determination. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, his mind racing. The faint pulse of the Black Moon felt like a mocking challenge, daring him to uncover its purpose. It was tied to Black Doom—he was sure of it. And if Doom had manipulated this place, there would be answers here, somewhere.
Shadow's thoughts lingered briefly on Aqua. He gritted his teeth, shaking the thought aside. There was no time to focus on what he couldn't confirm. Yet deep down, concern gnawed at the edges of his stoic demeanor.
Omega's mechanical voice broke through Shadow's storm of thoughts, bringing him back to the present.
"SHADOW, HURRY TO THE ARK HUB," Omega suggested, gesturing with his massive, clawed hand toward the hollow, colourless structure nearby. Its once-luminous pathways and mechanical brilliance now lay as a pale, lifeless husk in the void. "PERHAPS IT WILL AID IN RETURNING THIS PLACE TO FUNCTIONALITY—AND COLOUR. I WILL CONTINUE SCANNING THE VOID FOR FURTHER UPDATES… AND TRY TO LOCATE AQUA."
Shadow's eyes darted toward the hub. He hesitated for a fraction of a second, his stoic façade unbroken. The thought of Aqua crossed his mind again, her fate in this strange void unknown. Shadow wouldn't admit it out loud, but he hoped she was still alive—and more importantly, unharmed.
"You'd better find her," Shadow said firmly, not looking at Omega. His tone was curt, but it betrayed his resolve.
"ACKNOWLEDGED," Omega replied. His optics glimmered as he resumed his scans.
With a burst of speed, Shadow dashed toward the ARK hub, his movements precise and deliberate. The pale, lifeless environment blurred around him as he surged forward, his mind sharpening its focus on the task ahead. Whatever secrets this void held, whatever ties it had to the ARK, Doom, or Aqua—Shadow was determined to uncover the truth.
As the lifeless ARK hub loomed closer, Shadow prepared himself for whatever mysteries awaited him.
Aqua
The void was still and silent as Aqua stirred. The faint glow of white and gray enveloped everything, the air heavy with an eerie calm. Slowly, her eyes opened, and she pushed herself up from the smooth, colourless ground. Her breathing was steady but measured as she rose to her feet, her silver boots steadying her against the unsettling stillness of the world around her.
The expanse stretched endlessly, an infinite canvas of white and pale gray. Above her, the sky swirled with fragmented clouds, their shapes shifting and twisting in unnatural patterns. Aqua's sharp blue eyes scanned her surroundings, taking in the featureless landscape. Yet, in the far distance, something broke the monotony—a strange, spherical object hovered in the void. It was massive and ominous, surrounded by faintly glowing rings that rotated slowly and deliberately. The sphere pulsed faintly, as if alive, its rhythm unsettling. It was far off, but Aqua's gaze lingered on it.
"What is that?" she murmured softly, her voice barely louder than a whisper, carried away into the infinite void.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a faint sound—a groan from behind her. Aqua's instincts flared as she turned sharply toward the source, her blue eyes narrowing. A figure knelt on the ground a short distance away, their form stirring weakly. Aqua's tension eased slightly as the figure raised their head, a familiar voice breaking the silence.
"What… happened?" the figure muttered, holding his head with a gloved hand. A faint green aura flickered around him, casting brief, shimmering light in the void. As the aura faded, the figure shook his head, brushing off the disorientation.
"Silver?" Aqua's voice carried a mix of surprise and relief. She moved quickly toward him, her boots making soft but steady sounds against the void's ground.
Silver blinked, his golden eyes meeting Aqua's as he straightened. His face carried equal parts relief and confusion.
"Aqua?" he said, his tone soft but uncertain. "What's going on? What is this place?"
Aqua stopped just short of him, glancing around the void once more before returning her gaze to the hedgehog. Her expression was serious but laced with uncertainty.
"I don't know," she admitted, her voice calm but tinged with unease. "The last thing I remember… I was outside the doors of Castle Oblivion, trying to unlock it. I was going to restore it to the Land of Departure. But then—" She paused, looking away briefly as she pieced the memory together. "A bright light took over. And then… I woke up here."
Silver's brow furrowed as he lowered his hand from his head. Her words seemed to resonate with him.
"A light…?" he echoed, his tone reflective. "I was in some town with a big clock tower," he said, his voice steadying as he recalled the details. "I was investigating something when a violet light swept across everything. The next thing I know, I'm here too."
He stood fully now, brushing himself off and taking a moment to survey their surroundings. His golden eyes scanned the endless expanse, his expression shifting from confusion to quiet focus.
"This place…" he murmured, his voice dropping as he narrowed his eyes. "Something feels… off. I can't quite place it, but it's like everything here is warped. Like this space shouldn't even exist."
Aqua nodded slightly, her eyes glancing past him toward a structure that caught her attention. Rising in the distance, was an enormous door. Its ornate design stood out starkly against the void's lifeless expanse, its surface intricately carved from white stone. The door was imposing, its massive frame barring any attempt to pass through. However, this door bore no visible Keyhole.
Aqua's gaze lingered on the door for a long moment.
"That door… it's blocking the way forward," she observed. "It doesn't have a Keyhole. What could it mean?"
Silver turned toward the door, his eyes narrowing as he extended a hand toward it. A faint green aura flickered around him again as his psychokinetic powers reached out, brushing against the strange energy emanating from the door. After a moment, the glow faded, and Silver lowered his arm, shaking his head.
"I don't know," he admitted, frustration creeping into his tone. "But this place… it's not normal. I can feel a distortion around us, but it's faint. It's like…" He paused, his gaze falling to the ground as he searched for the words. "Like this whole space is folding in on itself. I need more time to figure out exactly what I'm sensing."
Aqua crossed her arms, deep in thought as she tried to make sense of Silver's observations. Something about this void felt inherently wrong, as though it wasn't a natural part of existence. She turned her gaze back toward the distance, the looming sphere in the void sky catching her attention again. Its oppressive presence hung over the place like a specter, its faint glow pulsating slowly.
But something else tugged at her senses—a presence she hadn't noticed before. Turning around, her blue eyes widened as she beheld what lay behind them.
In the pale distance, rising out of the colourless ground like a forgotten monument, was the Land of Departure. Or, at least, what remained of it. The once-beautiful sanctuary she had long called home stood as a hollow shell of its former self, stripped of all color and life. The castle's golden towers, which once shimmered under the sun, now appeared dull and muted, their intricate carvings barely visible against the pale, gray stone. The expansive greenery that surrounded the castle was gone, replaced by flat, lifeless ground that stretched endlessly. The mountain it rested on seemed fractured, its edges jagged as if the entire structure had been torn from its place in the universe and thrust into this void.
Aqua's breath caught in her throat, disbelief washing over her as she took a hesitant step forward. Her hand instinctively went to her chest, as though trying to steady the emotions rising within her. Her sharp blue eyes remained locked on the distant structure, a hollow echo of the place she once called home.
"The… Land of Departure?" she gasped, her voice trembling with both shock and sorrow.
Beside her, Silver followed her gaze, and his golden eyes widened as they took in the lifeless structure. For a moment, he was silent, the weight of what he saw rendering him speechless. He took a cautious step back, momentarily stunned.
"That's… where you, Terra, and Ventus came from, isn't it?" he asked, his voice quieter than usual, his tone laced with unease.
Aqua nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving the ruined castle. The sight of it, stripped of colour and life, sent a chill through her.
"Yes… but it shouldn't be here," she said, her voice cracking slightly as she tried to process the scene. "The Land of Departure was locked away… hidden behind the magic I cast to protect Ven. It shouldn't even be accessible. Not like this."
Silver's expression darkened, and his brow furrowed as memories of the past crept into his mind.
"Ven's slumber…" he murmured, his voice barely audible. He glanced back at the castle, its faded spires standing as a haunting monument to a forgotten past. "I remember. You said you locked him away to keep him safe. I didn't know where you placed him. None of us did."
Aqua closed her eyes briefly, her chest tightening at the memory of those events.
"I had to," she said softly. "Ven needed to be safe while he rested. I didn't have a choice." Her voice wavered before she took a steadying breath, her gaze returning to the colorless ruins before them. "But why is it here? Why is it like this? I didn't unlock it… did I?"
Silver crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful as he studied the structure. Something about it felt off—more than just its hollow appearance. He could sense something beyond what his eyes could see, a subtle but undeniable wrongness in the air.
"I have a theory," Silver said, breaking the silence. He turned to Aqua, his golden eyes meeting hers with an intensity that spoke to his determination.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice steady but tinged with desperation. She turned her gaze to him, her piercing blue eyes searching his face for answers.
Silver hesitated for a moment, organising his thoughts before speaking.
"It's… weird," he admitted. "But I'm sensing some kind of temporal distortion around this place. Like it's… out of sync with time itself."
"You can sense that?" Aqua asked, her tone shifting to surprise. Her expression softened slightly as her curiosity replaced her initial shock.
"Perks of being a time traveller, I guess," Silver said with a faint, almost apologetic smile. He rubbed the back of his neck, but his tone quickly turned serious again. "It's more than just the Land of Departure being here. It's like… this isn't the same Land of Departure you remember."
Aqua frowned, her gaze flickering between Silver and the lifeless structure in the distance.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice steady but heavy with concern.
Silver stepped forward slightly, gesturing toward the castle as he continued.
"I think this is a fragment," he explained. "It feels like it was pulled from another point in time, not the one you came from. Like… it's stuck here, out of place and incomplete. That would explain why it looks so empty, so lifeless. It's as if whatever brought us here didn't just bring us—it brought echoes of the worlds we're connected to."
"Fragments of time…" Aqua murmured, her voice soft as she absorbed his words. She glanced back at the castle, her chest tightening at the thought. "So… this isn't my Land of Departure?"
Silver shook his head.
"Not exactly," he continued. "It's like a shadow of it—something that exists here, but not in its full form. This void… it's distorting everything it pulls in. I've seen temporal anomalies before, but this feels different. Whatever brought us here… it's powerful enough to tear pieces of the past, present, or even future and trap them here."
Aqua's hand instinctively went to her chest again, her expression darkening as the weight of Silver's theory settled over her.
"If that's true… then this place is more dangerous than I thought," she said softly. Her voice carried a mixture of sadness and resolve as she turned back to Silver. "But why? Why would something pull the Land of Departure here? And… if this is only a fragment, what's happened to the rest of it?"
Silver looked down briefly, his mind racing as he tried to piece together an answer.
"I don't know yet," he admitted, his tone apologetic but honest. "But this distortion—it's connected to whatever's controlling this place. That much I'm sure of. I need more time to figure out exactly what I'm sensing."
Aqua nodded, her resolve hardening as she looked back toward the castle.
"Then we'll figure it out," she said firmly. "We'll figure out what's happening here and why. And if the Land of Departure is a fragment… maybe we can find a way to set it right."
Silver's golden eyes met hers, and he nodded.
"I'll do whatever it takes to help," Silver said, his voice steady with resolve as he turned slightly to glance at the massive, ornate door standing imposingly behind them.
The intricate carvings on its surface seemed almost alive, faintly pulsating with a strange energy that Silver could feel but not entirely understand. It lacked the warmth or familiarity of a Keyhole—it was something else entirely. His golden eyes narrowed as he studied it, his hand twitching slightly as his psychokinetic energy stirred within him.
"If you go investigate this version of the Land of Departure," he continued, turning back to Aqua with a determined expression, "I'll try to open that door. There might be answers on the other side—answers we need."
"Do you think you can open it?" Aqua asked, her voice calm but laced with concern.
Silver's green aura began to flicker faintly around his form, a faint hum filling the air as he stretched out his hand toward the door.
"I can try," he replied. "Whatever's behind it… I can feel it's connected to this void, to this distortion. If I can just—" He paused, focusing his energy, his fingers splayed as the green glow around him intensified. "I'll use my psychokinesis to pry it open. There's something strange about it, though. It's resisting, like it doesn't want to be touched."
Aqua frowned, her instincts urging her to caution.
"Be careful," she warned, her voice firm. "If this void is as dangerous as it seems, forcing something might make it worse."
Silver glanced back at her, offering a faint, reassuring smile.
"I know. But we need answers, and this door feels like it's hiding something important. You focus on the Land of Departure. If this place is an echo of your home, then maybe it holds some kind of clue."
Aqua studied him for a moment, her gaze softening slightly before she nodded.
"Alright. Be careful, Silver. If anything feels off, stop immediately."
"I will," he said, his voice steady as his focus returned to the door.
The green aura around him surged, his psychokinesis wrapping around the massive structure. Aqua watched for a moment longer before turning toward the distant and colourless Land of Departure, her resolve hardening.
As Aqua began walking toward the void ruins of her once-vibrant home, Silver stepped closer to the door. The air around it seemed heavier, thicker, as though the door itself was resisting his approach. He stretched out both hands, the glow of his psychokinetic energy flaring brighter as he concentrated.
"Come on…" Silver muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as he pushed harder.
His energy wrapped around the edges of the door, attempting to pry it open, but it resisted stubbornly, as though some unseen force was holding it in place.
The green glow around Silver intensified, and the air hummed with the sheer force of his effort. The door began to tremble slightly, the carvings rippling as though they were alive. Silver gritted his teeth, sweat forming on his brow as the pressure increased.
"There's something… it's fighting back," he muttered, his voice strained.
Aqua glanced back briefly, her blue eyes filled with concern as she caught sight of Silver, his glowing green aura flickering around him as he strained against the massive door. She parted her lips, about to call out to him, but stopped herself. She could see the resolve etched into his expression—Silver wouldn't back down, not until he found a way to pry the door open. Aqua sighed softly, her concern lingering, but she knew they couldn't waste time. She turned her attention forward, quickening her pace, her Keyblade Master instincts urging her toward the hollow, colourless hub of the Land of Departure.
The closer she got, the more unsettling the sight became. The castle loomed larger, its ornate spires and walls stripped of their former brilliance. The golden accents and radiant light that once defined the Land of Departure were gone, replaced with dull grays and lifeless stone. Even the air around it felt stagnant, as though the very essence of the place had been drained, leaving only a shadow of what it once was.
Aqua's steps slowed as she neared the broken path leading into the hub. Her blue eyes scanned the lifeless surroundings.
"What… will I find here?" Aqua murmured to herself, her voice soft but heavy with uncertainty.
Her gaze drifted upward, tracing the spires that reached toward the grey, swirling void above. For a moment, she felt as though the castle was watching her, its hollow form silently judging her every step. Aqua shook her head, steeling herself as she crossed the threshold into the hub.
"If this is an echo of the Land of Departure, then maybe it still holds pieces of its truth," she said softly, her voice steadying with resolve. "I have to believe there's something left here… something worth saving."
With that, Aqua pushed forward, stepping fully into the lifeless courtyard of the hub. Her boots echoed faintly against the stone, the sound swallowed quickly by the oppressive silence. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching her, lurking just out of sight, but she refused to let it deter her.
Whatever secrets this version of the Land of Departure held, Aqua was determined to uncover them. And if there was even the faintest hope of restoring it—or understanding why it had been pulled into this void—she would find it.
[Collection Room from Shadow Generations Plays]
Character Biographies:
Shadow the Hedgehog
First Appearance: Sonic Adventure 2
Voice Actor: Kirk Thornton
Bio: At first glance, Shadow looks like a grim version of Sonic. In fact, he is the "Ultimate Lifeform" created by Dr. Eggman's grandfather, Prof. Gerald. The professor was a genius and developed Shadow to have the ability of "Chaos Control", allowing him to warp space-time with the power of a Chaos Emerald. Shadow will use any means necessary to achieve his goals.
E-123 Omega
First Appearance: Sonic Heroes
Voice Actor: Roger Craig Smith
Bio: Omega is the last, and strongest, of Dr. Eggman's E-100 series of robots. He seeks revenge for being sealed away and unused. His rampage is meant to prove he is the strongest of all. He is heavily armoured and his massive arm contain a wide variety of weapons that can cycle in to replace his hands.
Aqua
First Appearance: Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
Voice Actress: Willa Holland
Bio: Aqua, a steadfast Keyblade Master, is a warrior with unmatched mastery over magic. Though her journey seemed to begin at the Land of Departure, her origins trace back to Aetheris, a planet once home to the Lumarian race, wiped out by an 'apocalyptic event.' Left as the 'sole survivor', Aqua was placed into the care of Master Eraqus, who guided her through years of rigorous training. Her determination and skill led her to become a Keyblade Master, but her destiny took a tragic turn when she fell into the Realm of Darkness to save her closest friends, Terra and Ventus.
In the darkness, Aqua's heart was ripped apart by Mephiles, creating her Nobody and Heartless: Aqua (the Nobody) and Oscura (the Heartless). With her heart missing, Aqua lived as a Nobody, holding onto fragments of her memories. Shadow the Hedgehog, sensing her connection to the void between light and dark, stayed by her side, helping her piece together her identity and defeat Oscura and Mephiles. Despite Oscura's destruction, Aqua's heart remains lost.
Now back in the Realm of Light after nearly a decade, Aqua fights not only to unlock Castle Oblivion and awaken Ventus but to restore her heart and reclaim what was taken from her. Even as tragedy looms over her journey, Aqua never stops moving forward.
Silver the Hedgehog
First Appearance: Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
Voice Actor: Bryce Papenbrook
Bio: Silver hails from 200 years in the future, a broken and apocalyptic timeline ravaged by endless destruction. Gifted with psychokinetic abilities, Silver can manipulate objects with his mind, giving him a unique edge in battle. A decade ago, he was tricked into traveling back to the events of Birth by Sleep, believing Terra, Aqua, and Ventus to be the "Triggers of Darkness" responsible for his world's demise.
After discovering the truth, Silver allied with the Wayfinder Trio to take down Master Xehanort, fighting bravely alongside them. His ability to sense temporal distortions and travel through time makes him an invaluable ally. However, Silver has been trapped in the past since returning to confront Maleficent and Ansem The Seeker of Darkness. Despite his predicament, Silver's determination to save the future and protect the present never wavers.
A hero with a kind heart and unshakable resolve, Silver's psychokinesis and time-bending powers make him a formidable force. While the weight of the future rests heavily on his shoulders, Silver refuses to give up, standing as a beacon of hope for a better tomorrow.
A big chapter wrapped up, introducing Shadow and Aqua's "White Space" in this mysterious void. It seems like Silver has found his way here too, bridging the gap to his role in the original Chain of Generations and not the variant that Sonic fights/fought.
I also thought it would be fun to add Character Bios, similar to the ones you gain in Sonic x Shadow Generations. It's a great way to deepen the connection to these characters and give them a moment to shine outside the main story. On another note, the Collection Room music continues to be a highlight—so soothing and relaxing, the perfect backdrop for gathering lore and reflecting on the journey.
Thanks as always for the reviews and support—it truly means the world to me. Your feedback fuels my creativity and pushes me to keep refining these ideas.
What's Next:
Next week, I'll be shifting focus to Sonic Colors and Kingdom Hearts II, while still plotting out Shadow's Phase 2 ARK run and Aqua's exploration of the Land of Departure hub trapped in White Space. These sections are pivotal and will reveal more about the fragmented worlds and the dangers they hold.
Speaking of hubs trapped in White Space, I'd love to hear your ideas:
Which worlds should Aqua visit in her story?
What boss gates should appear for her?
Your suggestions might just shape the story and add exciting new layers to Aqua's journey, so feel free to share!
For Shadow, his path stays somewhat aligned with the events in Shadow Generations, but expect a few surprises along the way. (And if you've read most of Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix – Blue Blur Edition, you'll know which boss battle is in store for him.)
Thanks again for sticking with me on this adventure. There's a lot more to come, and I'm so excited to bring you along for the ride! Let me know your thoughts and ideas—they're always welcome!