Final Feelings

[Shadow Fire]

A long time ago, I wrote a fanfiction that depicted the events that occurred at the end of Sonic Adventure 2, but with a twist. Now, anyone who's ever played Sonic games after SA2 will already know that

Shadow doesn't really die, he is found, alive and taken care of

. For the sake of this story, I made it tragic. Also, Sonic and Shadow were never in love, but in this story, they are. Now, as I have a lot more experience with writing fanfiction, I decided to write this story from the ground up. So now, there's more words, and a little more emotion. Sentences in italics are inner thoughts, and there is a flashback sequence, indicated by lots of text that is in bold italics. So here is my newest work, a remake of my original fanfiction, Final Feelings.

Rating:
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Final Feelings

"No way that's getting through!"

Sonic the Hedgehog, in his super form, held his hands up in front of him, attempting to push the falling colony away from Earth's atmosphere. Beside him, also in super form, the hero's doppleganger did the same. Shadow's fangs were clenched together in determination, to right the wrongs he had committed. That's when he heard the voice.

"Shadow..." the young, feminine voice echoed in his mind. "I beg of you..."

His head turning slightly, eyes widened slightly, he knew exactly who it was.

"Maria..."

His fur could feel the heat from the atmosphere, but no pain was felt. He was too focused on his task, and the voice speaking in his head.

"Give them a chance..." Maria's voice echoed. "...to be happy..."

Shadow gritted his teeth together, not noticing the stolen glances from his nearby rival.

Shadow... when this is over... I'll tell you...

The space colony suddenly shuddered and groaned from its entry into the atmosphere of the planet, causing Sonic to snap back to reality. The naturally blue hedgehog called over to the Ultimate Lifeform.

"Now, Shadow!"

Snapping back to reality, Shadow glanced over at Sonic, giving him a nod as the other hedgehog did the same. Both began to release Chaos Energy.

"Chaos Control!"

There was a blinding flash of light, which surrounded the colony, as well as the two hedgehogs. Moments later, they all disappeared, the colony reappearing the next second in a stable orbit. Shadow glanced down at Earth, his power weakening.

"Maria..." he mumbled. "This is what you wanted, right? This is my promise I made to you..."

Sonic flew next to Shadow, an exhausted grin on his face.

"We did it, Shadow..." he murmured. "C'mon... let's get back to the ARK."

Shadow glanced at Sonic solemnly and shook his head.

"It's too late..." he whispered. "I've got no power left. I'm not going to make it. You need to hurry, Sonic. You've got enough rings."

Sonic began to tremble. He didn't want to leave Shadow behind.

"No..." he whimpered. "I can't... I won't..."

Eyes narrowing, the naturally dark hedgehog looked confused.

"But why?" the Ultimate Lifeform asked. "I've fulfilled Maria's wishes and will now join her for eternity. I'm not needed here anymo--"

Shadow stopped speaking, perplexed further by the heroic hedgehog's actions. Sonic was now crying. Closing his eyes as if to accept his fate, they shot open once more when he felt strong arms flung around him. Sonic was embracing him.

"You are needed here!" Sonic sobbed. "We need you, Shadow... I need you!"

The doppleganger realised what Sonic was trying to convey. His cheeks lightly reddened, and he closed his eyes, concentrating the last of his power.

"I'm sorry, Sonic..." he murmured. "But I can't go back. There's only enough power for one of us. It should be you. You have many friends, a world that needs you. Goodbye."

Sonic cried out in protest as he felt a familiar energy ensnare him. Before he could call out Shadow's name, he felt himself fading, as if in slow motion. Clinging desperately to Shadow, he intended to bring the Ultimate Lifeform with him, but in vain. As he vanished, he caught sight of something he never thought he'd see... Shadow's sincere smile.

"Sonic..." the Ultimate Lifeform whispered as the last of his power drained. "Thank you..."

Sonic reappeared inside the colony, just in time to see Shadow return to his natural black colour. The dark hedgehog's eyes closed as he succumbed to the gravitational force of the planet, sinking through the atmosphere. Sonic cried out in anguish, not even noticing his own power fading back to its original force, his fur returning to its blue shade. He couldn't tear his gaze away as Shadow was burned up in the atmosphere. A strange sparkling in Sonic's hand made him notice that one of Shadow's bracelets had appeared in it. Clutching it to his chest, Sonic turned and walked away.

-----

In another room, the others waited for the triumphant return of Sonic and Shadow. They had expected things to have turned out smoothly, which is why, when the door opened, and Sonic walked in alone and crying, they were confused. Rouge broke the silence by asking where Shadow was, leading to a brief shake of the head from the blue hedgehog and more tears.

Gone... he's gone...

The words went unspoken, but everyone had already realised, Shadow wasn't coming back. Walking over to Rouge, he handed her Shadow's bracelet and said nothing.

"Hey..." the bat said softly. "Do you really think that the professor created him... Shadow... to carry out revenge on all those who lived here on Earth?"

Hands clenched into fists, Sonic stared out the window, a faraway gaze in his teary eyes.

"He was what he was..." the blue hero mumbled. "A brave and heroic hedgehog, who gave his life to save this planet... Shadow the Hedgehog..."

I loved you... but you left me... so you could die...

Rouge stared out the same window, mumbling that Sonic was right. The blue hedgehog walked away, leaving Rouge to go and 'pester' Knuckles, although for once, their conversation was civil. Sonic ignored it though, feeling as if he had lost himself. Remembering Shadow's words to him during the battle, Sonic felt his heart skip beats.

"Am I really..." he mumbled aloud. "...the Ultimate Lifeform?"

An annoying voice broke through his thoughts. Amy had asked Sonic what was wrong. Clenching his fists tighter, he had to will himself not to lose it at the pink hedgehog.

It's not her fault... After all, she's just a naive little girl...

Forcing a smile to his face, the hedgehog shook his head.

"Oh, it's nothing..." he lied. "Come on! Let's go home, to the planet as cool and blue as me."

The others left, allowing Sonic a moment alone to say his final goodbyes to the hedgehog who'd come into his life unexpectedly, causing much adventure and mayhem in his wake.

"Sayonara..." he mumbled. "Shadow... the Hedgehog..."

As he was about to leave, his inner demon spoke to him.

You can see him again. There is a way... for you to be together for eternity... if you're strong enough to do it... Just go left here... and not right.

Eyes narrowing, Sonic gave in to the suggestions of his inner darkness, and headed left.

"Shadow..." the blue hedgehog whimpered softly. "Please wait for me..."

The emerald eyed hero continued to walk, past a sign which read the ominous words, Airlock β.

-----

Approaching the door that stood between him and the airlock, he placed his hand on the handle, unlocking it and stepping inside the small room. Now, there was only a few inches between him and the cold vacuum of space. His eyes closing and releasing more tears, he remembered back to when he had met Shadow.

**FLASHBACK**


"It all starts with this..." the black hedgehog muttered, holding a Chaos Emerald in front of him. "A jewel containing the ultimate power."

Sonic stared at Shadow in surprise, his eyes drawn to the green jewel in his hands.

"That's the... Chaos Emerald!" the hero called out, before realising something. "Now I know what's going on! The military has mistaken me for the likes of you. So, where do you think you're going with that emerald? Say something, you fake hedgehog!"

As Sonic rushed towards Shadow, the black hedgehog held the Chaos Emerald in front of him.

"Chaos Control!"

A bright green light surrounded him, the dark hedgehog suddenly appearing next to Sonic, before disappearing and reappearing on the roof of a tall building. Sonic stopped in shock.

"Woah... he's fast..." he murmued, before shaking his head. "Hey, it's not his speed. He must be using the Chaos Emerald to warp!"

Shadow smirked down at him, his eyes gleaming.

"My name is Shadow..." he purred. "I'm the world's Ultimate Lifeform. There's no time for games; farewell!"

Using the Chaos Emerald once more, the self-proclaimed Ultimate Lifeform vanished again, leaving Sonic to be captured by the military.

**END FLASHBACK**

The blue hedgehog sniffled, wiping the fresh tears from his eyes.

"Shadow..." he choked out. "Why? Why did you leave?"

Another surge of sobs assaulted him, causing the hero to drop to his knees. His fists clenched so tightly that he began to seep blood from the palms of his hands.

It just isn't fair! We only had a few days... it wasn't enough!

"Shadow..." he whimpered again. "SHAAAAAADOOOOOOOOOW!"

His voice echoed throughout the empty section of the ARK, his sobs the only answer to his cries. Shakily standing up, he glanced around in search for the switch to activate the airlock's override.

I'll join you soon.

-----

Tails was following everyone else, his ears drooped to indicate his sadness at Sonic's despair.

"Sonic..." he mumbled to himself. "This isn't like you..."

Glancing back to check up on Sonic, his heart freezing when he saw an empty hall. Stopping in his tracks, the vulpine attracted the attention of the group.

"Where is he?" the fox whimpered. "Why hasn't he caught up yet?"

Eggman stared down the hallway, seeming rather solemn.

"He's suffered a crippling blow..." the scientist muttered. "Through our rivalry, I've never known him to get so emotional, but then again, nobody dear to him has been affected. It's always been he against I. Come. Let's all wait for Sonic at the airlock..."

The others began to continue on, but Tails remained, the kitsune in deep thought.

"Airlock α..." he mumbled aloud. "Airlock α? There's two airl-- Sonic! NO!"

The kitsune turned around and began running the other way, causing the others to gasp out in confusion and follow. Tails ran as fast as he could, following signs around the empty colony, until he noticed the sign reading Airlock β. He sniffed, managing to pick up a scent.

Sonic's definitely been past here recently... but he can't really mean to...?

As Tails and the rest of the group rounded a corner, they stopped in shock, staring ahead in complete horror.

"Sonic!" they all yelled in unison. "SONIC!"

The blue hedgehog turned his head so he was looking over his shoulder. The tears flowing from his eyes, he gave a sad smile. Whimpering, Tails ran over to the airlock entrance portal, and attempted to open it.

"Please, Sonic..." he begged, tears beginning to pool in his eyes. "Don't do this... don't throw your life away!"

Sonic shook his head. The hatch was sealed tight. His sad smile widening, he pressed a hand onto the glass, an act which Tails mirrored.

"I'm sorry, little buddy..." the hedgehog said softly. "I can't live in a world without him. I... love him... and I'll do anything... to be with him..."

Giving a loud wail, the kitsune shook his head, pounding his hands on the glass in a futile attempt to break it. Sonic smiled his sad smile, before turning away, his eyes closed.

"Take care, guys..." he murmured, his hand reaching for the override button. "Goodbye..."

As everyone screamed out in desperation, the hedgehog pressed the button, sending the airlock open, his body flying out into the freezing vacuum that was space. His eyes opening, he stared down at the beauty that was Earth, staring even though he began to feel the effects of vacuum exposure. As inertia pushed him towards the planet, he could feel the gravitational pull drag him towards the atmosphere. Eyes closing a final time, he pushed away the pain as he felt himself drifting away from this reality.

Shadow... I can join you at last...

Those were Sonic's last thoughts as he stopped breathing. As his body burned up in the atmosphere, tears sparkled from his eyes, shooting back a final message to those aboard the ARK as he died.

We will meet again... someday.


The End