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Chapter Text

Thing had started spiral out of control quickly when Shadow heard the news that Eggman had managed to kill Sonic. Sonic had always been the first and last line of defense nobody believed they could win without him. And when nobody believed they could win they did not. So, the rest of the world was left in chaos while Eggman expanded his empire, unfortunately uninterrupted.

The resistance had been pushing back but they did not have enough resources to keep any of the bases they captured. It was common that they would liberate one base or city only for the one they just freed to be taken out from under them. Shadow had been running himself ragged fighting and looking for Sonic. Because despite Eggman’s frequent and loud proclamations, Shadow refused to believe that Sonic was dead.

Shadow would not fall for Eggman’s deception. He knew Sonic was out there because he could not handle a reality where Sonic was not out there. So, he pushed himself to work until he collapsed. Barely sleeping because every time he shut his eye nightmares plagued him. Nightmare where in Maria’s place Sonic lay dying while all he could do is watch.

Shadow desperately searched for any sign that Sonic was still alive. He spent every moment he could look through Eggman’s files for even a hint of Sonic’s whereabouts. The other members of the resistance did not understand why Shadow held onto the belief that Sonic was still alive. Not just because they did not understand the depths of Shadow’s feelings for Sonic, but because they gave up on Sonic. Far too quickly in Shadow’s opinion.

Amy was the first to truly start believing Sonic was dead. Insisting they hold a funeral, so they could move on as the fighting raged on. Knuckle never spoke of it but once he confided in Shadow that he still believed Sonic was alive. Only he knew that Sonic was not going to sweep in and save the day this time.

Shadow could not really blame the resistance for giving up on Sonic. He could see the weight of lose weighing heavy on their shoulders as they fight to protect the world Sonic loved. It was hard to keep hope when cities were filled with screams and the sky were covered in smoke.

The only one who seemed to share Shadow’s unwavering hope was Tails. While he was still with the resistance Tails spent countless hours searching for Sonic. He never gave up hope that Sonic was still out there. However, the young fox had disappeared as the fighting wore on. Shadow felt guilty that he could not protect Sonic’s brother. He knew that when Sonic came back, he would be disappointed. But Sonic was not here though and in Shadow’s obsessive searching he let Tails slip away.

Shadow spent every mission looking for a sign of the blue hedgehog. Taking every chance, he got to search Eggman’s files for some sign of Sonic.

That’s what he had been doing when he blacked out. He was hacking files from an Eggman computer during one of the resistance. Shadow had broken away from the group to go to the central computer to try and hack into Eggman’s system before it shut off from the central hub. He had been so close cracking through nothing.

_____

Shadow woke up in a cold metal cell. There was nothing but smooth shining metal walls, and no indication of how he got in. That meant no indication of how he could get out. The room was lit, but Shadow could not tell where the light was coming from.

Shadow pushed himself off of the floor peering around at his unexpected surroundings. The air was cold but not chilling. There was air flow but just like the lights he could not tell where it was coming from. Shadow ran his hands over the walls along every corner and edge but there was no difference between the smooth metal that made up the room.

How had he gotten here? Shadow wondered, he had not even seen who attacked him.

Shadow banged his fists against the walls, but it did not make a sound. He let chaos energy flow through him before tucking into a tight ball and ramming against every surface in the cell. No matter what he did the sides of his cell remained unaffected. On the plus side though he still felt the flow of chaos and energy. It was perhaps a little weaker but that was likely due to him being in the center of the industrial Eggman empire. He could feel the flow of energy and knew he was still on earth. Even though he could not see or hear anything outside of the metal box.

It was a little disturbing how quiet everything was. Shadow often preferred solitude, but he had spent months in close contact with many people. Now the only thing he could hear was the sound of his own breathing and his own shouts as he silently pounded against the walls. No matter what he did when he hit the wall it made no sound.

Shadow had no idea what type of Eggman tech could block out sound like that. And it had to be Eggman that had captured him, there was really no other option. Shadow is angry that Eggman would even attempt to overpower the ultimate life form. But there was a flicker of hope he had not fully felt since Sonic vanished. If Eggman captured Shadow, he had probably have taken him to the same place he kept Sonic.

Shadow almost felt giddy at the prospect of seeing Sonic. He was overjoyed at the idea of just knowing Sonic was alive. Shadow could imagen it. Eggman’s overconfidence will be what gives him away. The doctor would be sure to boast how he had captured both Shadow and Sonic. Once Shadow knew that Sonic was alive, he would grab Sonic and run. Proving that he was the superior hedgehog and sweeping Sonic off his feet like a princess in the story books Maria used to read him.

Now if only Eggman would quit stalling, so Shadow could get out of here. It seems like he will not have to wait long because just after that though a masked jackal seemed to step through the wall. So that was how he got in here, but how could the jackal get in and Shadow could not get out.

The red and black hedgehog scanned the stranger up and down. He did not know what he was expecting but it was not this. The jackal wore a sharp metal mask that completely covered his face. One eye was red while the other was a dark, jagged space in the mask. Even his ears were covered making his demeanor much sharper than an organic mobian should be.

A large, sharp, red stone sat in the center of his chest, but other than that black and white fur sprouted from around the inorganic parts of the jackal. The claws extending from the jackal’s gloves would be something to watch out for, but Shadow had claws of his own. He doubts this guy could best him.

Shadow is braced for an attack. He Clenches his fists and bares his teeth at the threat, but the jackal makes no move to attack. Seeming to just want to stare at him through mismatched eyes of his mask. An unpleasant shiver ran down Shadow’s spine. Eggman would not normally work with someone so fleshy. What made this guy different?

He could still not hear anything outside the cell, but he could hear the mysterious mobian. Soft breaths hit the inside of the jackal’s mask, harshly filling Shadow’s ear. There an unsettling energy the mobian gave off. That made Shadow uncomfortably aware of the others’ presence.

The silence stretched between them. The jackal seemed to be enjoying making Shadow uncomfortable, but with the mask it was hard to tell. Shadow was growing irritated though. He had spent months searching for Sonic. He was so close to something just out of reach and this fool was standing in his way.

“Well? Who are you? What do you want?” Shadow barked out. Quills on his head unconsciously rise as the strange energy the black mobian gives off invaded his sense. Shadow stood his ground though. He would not let some nameless loser stand in his way.

The jackal does not respond, his silences seemed even more overpowering after Shadow broke it. It takes a moment for Shadow to realize it is because the quiet rhythmic breathing stopped coming from behind the mask. The silence stretches between them. Making the dark fur on Shadow’s arms raise. His only warning before the jackal charges forward is a scream of rage before the other mobian lunges.

Chaos energy floods Shadow’s veins at the sudden action but before he can fully brace himself the jackal slams into him. Pain laces through Shadow’s sides and back as the jackal digs his claws into Shadow’s back. Shadow’s head slams back into the wall when the mobian grapples with him. The only sound of impact is Shadow’s grunt and the jackal growls as he painfully tears his claws into Shadow.

Shadow charges up a chaos blast, energy crackling in the air. However, before he can force the mobian off of him darkness tinges his vision, and he is quickly blacking out again.

_____

Shadow wakes up again in the same metal cell. Adrenaline and chaos energy rush through his veins. He looked around wildly still ready for a fight, but he found nothing. His breath stung roughly in his lungs, his body not quite able to contend with the rapid changes in energy.

What was that? How could someone just incapacitate him like that?

Shadow was the ultimate life form he could survive anything. He had stood in space without protection. No disease could harm him. Even when he falls from space or was frozen for fifty year there was no effect. He was created to be perfect. He was created to win any battle, to cure any disease. Even not Shadow remembers the pain of the jackal’s claws but there is not a sign of a wound.

Whoever that mobian was must have been the one to grab him from the resistance raid, but how? Was he the reason that Sonic has not escaped? If the jackal could best Shadow, so easy then Sonic would not stand a chance. Shadow could not imagen Eggman killing Sonic, but maybe this mobian…

No, Shadow was not going to think about that. He would find Sonic alive somewhere and rescue him. The jackal threw a wrench in his plans, but Shadow would be the one to triumph. He always was.

He would just have to be smarter about it. Conserving his energy would be his best bet in this situation. The more energy he wasted now the more tired and hungrier he would get. Only making it harder to escape later. He just needed to wait until he found Sonic then they could get out of here.

_____

Hours had passed or at least Shadow assumed hours had passed. It was impossible to tell since there was no indication that time was even passing in the sterile cell. Shadow was ready this time, so when the jackal reappeared Shadow did not hesitate to attack.

Shadow bared his teeth letting out an animalistic snarl as he leapt straight towards the masked mobian. But before he could even touch him, the hedgehog was blasted back. He crumpled against the wall as his vision wavered. That blast of energy the jackal wielded was not like anything Shadow had ever felt before.

Shadow made to stand and attack again, but dizziness overtook his senses, and his legs shook as he tried to support his weight. The jackal started laughing. While Shadow glared at him trying to regain his senses.

“And you call yourself the ultimate life form.” the Jackal sneered “Not feeling so ultimate right now huh?”

Shadow wishes the dumb lackey would keep his mouth shut and stuck to the angry glaring. “Grrrrh, shut up” Shadow growled. He was not going to let the mobian’s words stand. He was the ultimate life form, and he would best this pointy loser.

He lunges forward again claws poised to tear into the jackal’s flesh, but there is not enough force behind it. The jackal grabs his arms and Shadow’s vision is filled with darkness. Instead of blacking out like before he sags to the floor. His arms still held tight in the jackal’s sharp hands. He tries to fight when the jackal reaches out and hulls him to his feet, but he feels like he can barely move.
They move towards the wall; Shadow’s dizzy mind barely processing as they pass right through. The Jackel leads him down a metal hallway with wires running along the walls. This is definitely an Eggman base. Shadow tries to pull away, but the strange energy returns filling his mind with fog.

They enter a laboratory and the Jackal hulls Shadow up onto a table in the center of the room. Shadow just stares dazedly up at the ceiling. The bright lights sparkle in Shadow’s eyes, and he does not even notice the other mobian move away.

Shadow tries to focus on the laboratory around him, but his mind is spinning. It takes a moment to focus enough to look around the room. There is medical equipment lining the walls and a desk in the corner. On the opposite side of the room there are two large fridges filled with vials. As he becomes more focused, he realizes that the jackal has strapped him to the table, and he starts to struggle. Growling in frustration when he cannot get away.

The Jackal ignores Shadow’s struggle as he moves about the room. Preparing something, but Shadows mind is still too fuzzy to focus on anything beyond getting up from the table. Until his frantic movement is interrupted by the sound of a door opening.

Chapter Text

A woosh of air brushes over Shadow’s fur and his eyes snap up to the entrance of the laboratory. In the doorway Eggman’s imposing figure draws Shadows attention away from his struggles against the straps on the table. The two of them stare at each other for a moment, Eggman’s gaze heavy and foreboding. His shoulders were drawn back and tense as he examined the room before briskly walking towards Shadow.

Shadow’s head had become clearer, and his chaos energy sparked beneath his skin. Yet just like the walls of his cell no matter how much he struggles he cannot get free. Shadow is tempted to demand to know how Eggman overpowered him, but the need to know where Sonic is strong enough to make Shadow hold his tongue.

“When my grandfather was cooking you up in his lab, did he make you impervious to every illness?” That was not what Shadow was expecting. He thought there would be gloating and Eggman’s regular level of showmanship. Instead Eggman’s behavior was clinical.

Shadow would have thought that mad scientist would have asked about his chaos energy or speed not his immunity. Something that would lead to a weapon, so Eggman could finally be unopposed in his takeover. Eggman’s question throws Shadow off for a moment but like always his mind returns Sonic.

The dark hedgehog needs answers about Sonic if he is going to rescue him. So instead of answering the doctors question Shadow asks, “Where is Sonic? What did you do to him?”

Eggman huffs and leans away ignoring Shadow’s question, “Well, it doesn’t matter if you do not want to answer. We will just find out for ourselves.”

Without Shadow noticing the jackal had moved beside the doctor with a try of syringes. Eggman turns back to Shadow with a syringe in his hand. The Hedgehog is not afraid of needles; they can inject him with any sort of disease and nothing will happen. But an instinctual part of himself panicked at the sight of the needle. Something left over from the ark. When he was poked and prodded while they tried to find out what made him tick.

It was fine Shadow could handle it.

Shadow tenses when the doctor inserts the first needle in his arm, but experience has taught him to jerk away. Eggman does not stop after just one syringe. Needle after needle slides into Shadow’s vein depositing what Shadow assumes is a myriad of diseases.

Shadow does not feel anything but searing rage at not being ignored. He can do nothing but glare threateningly at the doctor. Who just huffs setting down the last syringe. Shadow is ready for Eggman to start gloating, but it never comes. Shadow is forced to just lay there as Eggman turns to the door.

“Wait.” Shadow shouts panic slipping into his voice at the doctors retreating back “Where is Sonic? What did you do to him?”

Shadow fights against straps on the table. This was happening too quickly. The Doctor cannot just leave. He needed to know Sonic was alive. He would give anything to just know if Sonic is alive. However, Eggman did not even pause through as he hurried out of the room.

The door opens and closes with a mechanical whoosh of air. Leaving Shadow once again alone with the jackal. Who seemed content sitting at a computer in the corner ignoring the struggling hedgehog.

“Hey, no” Shadow screams. Frustration and fear swirling in his voice. “Come back here. Where is Sonic?”

Rage boiled over in Shadow at how quickly Eggman came and left. Like had had something more important than capturing Shadow. Leaving Shadow helpless and without answers. Shadow growls at his situation, he growls at Infinite, but mainly he growls to stop tears from spilling over his eyes. Letting anger replace his fear.

Eventually, though growling is not enough and he falls quiet as he is forced to lay there. Emotions twisting in his stomach. Tears pooling in his eyes, causing his vision to blur.

The tired hedgehog is glad the jackal is more interested in his computer than him. He does not want anyone to see him tear up like this, but he is just so tired. The months of fighting with Sonic absence weighed heavy on him. He wants a moment to rest, but he will not be able to until he knows that Sonic is safe.

_____

It had been hours since Eggman had left. The doctor had come in quickly, but after that it felt like time was stretching and slowing. Shadow has never minded sitting still for hours. He is not like Sonic who needs to constantly be in motion. He and Rouge have been on stakes out for GUN that lasted days before any action.

However, He never liked being strapped down though it only happened a few times on the ARK when the tests called for absolute stillness. Unlike on the ARK through fear filled Shadow at not being able to move. There was no professor here to unstrap him if he panicked only the masked jackal.

Something about the other mobian tickles at the back of his mind. Shadow is quick to attribute the strange feelings to the energy the other mobian exudes. The grey jackal seemed so angry the first time they met. Right now, he seemed almost tranquil, but Shadow could see the tension that ran through his body.

Shadow should probably leave the jackal alone since the jackal has proven how dangerous he can be, but Shadow does not want to keep sitting here feeling useless. He needs to do something, anything at this point to stop just laying here after hours.

‘Hey, you” Shadow shouts sharply across the room “What are you doing following around Eggman like a dog?”

The jackal’s ears twitch and he let out an irritated huff but does not turn and makes no other acknowledgement of Shadow’s presents. The red stripped hedgehog is satisfied to have gotten some sort of reaction from the stoic jackal, some sort of control over his situation. Shadow is about to open his mouth and ask again hoping to provoke the mobain into some sort of action. But before he can get a word out a sharp beep fills the air.

The jackal finally looks away from his computer and taps on a screen off to the side to stop the beeping. Shadow’s mouth falls shut as he watches with sharp eyes as the masked face of the jackal stands turning to face him. The jackal’s unseen stare heavy sending prickles along his skin. His fur rises when the strange energy grows stronger as the jackal draws closer.

Shadow’s red eyes tracked the jackal’s movement as he moved around the room. The mobian works clinically putting medical supplies away and noting down everything he measures. Though Shadow could not see his eyes through the mask Shadow could tell the mobian was studying him.

Shadow felt violated by the other’s eyes. Every time the jackal touched him to attach the blood pressure cuff or draw his blood shiver ran down his spine. He hated feeling like an experiment. Like he was something there to just to study and measure.

Shadow felt like he was frozen though. Unable to fully process the world around him as the energy surrounding the jackal invaded his mind. All his earlier confidence is gone, and his body feels heavy.

Shadow is finally able to jerk out of his trance when the jackal’s clawed hand wraps around his arm. Shadow tried to jerk away growling “Don’t touch me.” but he could do nothing to stop the grey mobian’s firm gripping his arm.

His body had felt heavy before, but now he was paralyzed as the masked jackal makes quick work of the restraints on his arms and legs. He can do nothing but fight against the fog in his head.

The jackal hulls Shadow off the table as he faintly struggles. He wants to fight, to push the strange mobian way. He is the ultimate life form. He should be able to fight against this, but all he can do is be dragged along as the jackal pulls him back through the metal hallways.

He cannot escape the confusion in his head and the weakness in his body as they enter the strange doorless cell again. The jackal releases Shadow and he collapses to the floor harshly. The masked face of the jackal looms above Shadow and even though the face is blank it looks like it is sneering down at him.

Shadow feels like the cell is spinning. The world rocking as the jackal glances at something behind the black hedgehog before turning away. Shadow panics when the jackal seemingly vanishes into thin air. His mind is not able to process the others’ disappearance. He tries to push himself up, but he cannot get his body to respond.

He is not paying attention when something suddenly touches him. Shadow jumps flailing slightly at the sudden touch. Shadow flings out his arms shouting as he tries to fight against the intruder. The black hedgehog’s arm connects, and he hears a grunt. Shadow fights against the fog to face the intruder when blue fills his vision.

He looks blankly at the new colorful addition to the cold grey walls of his cell. Not understanding at first. It takes a second to understand that Sonic the hedgehog is sitting next to him in his cell.

Chapter Text

It takes a moment to register in Shadow’s mind that Sonic is sitting on the floor beside him. His bright blue coat stands out against the cold grey metal that surrounds them on every side. Shadow’s heart lights up and he can barely believe what he is seeing. But he can feel Sonics paw against his arm like a grounding weight.

Shadow blames it on whatever Infinite did to him as tears fill his eyes. Shadow blinks rapidly, but just Sonic smiles gently at him and reaches out to wipe his tears away.

“Hey” Sonic says gentle like he need to sooth Shadow or else he will break. Maybe Shadow will break he feels like he is falling apart and being put back together in Sonic’s presence.

Sonic guides Shadow up into a gentle embrace. Shadow easily follows Sonic’s direction and sinks into the blue hedgehog’s arms. Shadow’s body feels boneless and fuzzy. He wishes that Sonic would squeeze him tight if only so he could know that Sonic is real.

If he had more of his wits about him, he would say something. But his tongue feels heavy, and his mind is filled with nothing but static and thoughts of Sonic. All he can do is smile at Sonic and laugh lightly.

Sonic’s eyes seem to light up with delight. “Man, you are pretty out if it huh?” Sonic says shifting away, amusement dancing in his eyes. An involuntary whine leaves Shadow when Sonic’s warmth disappears. Leaving him feeling cold even as his cheeks heat up at the unexpected noise.

Sonic smiles at Shadow and moves his hand to just under the red and black hedgehog’s chin taking his pulse. Shadows pulse picks up as Sonic’s gloved hand caresses against his throat. Sonic huffs out an amused laugh before his hand falls away. “Well, you seem out of it, but I think you will survive”

Shadow stares at the blue hedgehog unable to tear his eyes away. Sonic seems happy enough to just sit with Shadow and let him stare. After a while though the light seems to grow brighter and a headache starts behind Shadow’s eyes.

Shadow lets out a huff as pain pulses in time with his heartbeat and Sonic starts to look more like a blurry blue blob than a hedgehog. Final not able to take the blinding light anymore Shadow slumps forward his eyes shutting as he presses his face into Sonic’s chest. Maybe the many diseases running through his veins right now are making him loopy, but the more likely option is the jackal did something to him.

Shadow is distracted from his thoughts as Sonic runs a gentle his hand over Shadow’s back, smoothing the ache that had been building since he went missing. Shadow is content to sit there in some Eggman cell in the middle of a war because Sonic is there, alive. A rumbling purr builds in Shadow’s chest as the dizziness fades from his mind chased away by Sonic’s hand in his fur.

_____

They sit like that until the Shadow can think again and his headache resides. Shadow realizes that Sonic is not just an illusion conjured by his mind. Shadow opens his eyes, and the metal walls of the cell are still there, but Shadow can feel Sonic’s hand against his back and the warmth of his body against his cheek.

Shadow feels so relaxed after being so afraid and tired for so long. Running with the resistance and the panic and fear he felt being trapped exhausted him. He feels like he could fall asleep right now.

Shadow won’t though. It takes an unreasonable about of resolve to pull away from Sonic to look him in the eyes, so he can ask “Sonic what happened? How are you alive?”

Sonic lets Shadow pull away a small frown on his face that only lasts a moment before he takes a deep breath and starts explaining. “I had been growing more tired, more quickly. I could not run as fast as I should. Eggman and I got into a fight. Nothing was too big, but I got knocked down and could not get back up. Tails got us away and I told him not to worry about it. I thought I would just bounce back, but after the fight with Eggman things started to get worse.”

Tension sits heavy on Shadow’s chest. It is hard to imagen Sonic not being able to run. Shadow almost unconsciously reaches out to Sonic. Running his hands up and down the blue hedgehog’s arms. He does not know if it is for his own comfort or Sonics.

“Then Infinite showed a couple days later. Maybe if I had been at full power I could have stopped him, but I did not even stand a chance.” Apology bleeds into Sonic’s voice an uncomfortable sound in the normally confident tone. “I am sorry I should have told everyone what was happening, but Eggman figured it out first.”

They sit in silence for a moment, but Shadow’s mind raced. He and Sonic need to escape. Eggman must have done something to Sonic to make him sick. That was why Sonic had not escaped, why Eggman had so easily been able to take over.

Shadow squeezes Sonic’s arms trying to assure him that everything will be ok. “We need to get out of here Sonic. Do you have any ideas how to escape?”

Shadow glance around the room like an answer will present itself. When he looks back to Sonic his brows are furled and his tan lips dip down. “No, Shadow I can’t leave. Eggman is looking for away to cure me. He wants me to get better.”

What?

What is Sonic thinking. Eggman really must have done something messed up because Sonic is spouting nonsense.

“No.” Shadow says sharply “It’s a trick, Eggman does not want you to get better he is the one making you sick. We have to figure out a way to get out of here.”

Shadow’s grip on Sonic’s arms tightens, like if he holds him close enough Sonic will start to see reason. Red eyes scan almost frantically around and with no other solution presenting itself. Shadow starts to punch the wall behind Sonic but just like before nothing happens there is not even a sound.

“Shadow, stop. That’s not going to work. I cannot leave. Even if you could get us out of here, I can’t not run.” Sonic tries to calm him down.

Shadow is not going to fall into Eggman’s trap. He and Sonic will get out of here; he just has to make Sonic see reason. Shadow stares down at Sonic and starts to notice how tired and pale the blue hedgehog looked. His blue fur has lost its usual shine and dark bags color under his eyes.

Shadow needs to protect him; he could not let anything happen to Sonic. Shadow had missed him too much and had searched for so long there was no way he would let anything happen to Sonic now.

Suddenly though he is ripped away by cold metal hands. Metal Sonic throws Shadow away Sonic. He lands harshly against the wall.

Shadow sits up quickly taking note of the machine’s presence. How had Metal gotten in her he seemed to just appear out of thin air. Shadow growls at Metal standing between him and Sonic.

Sonic’s eyes nervously look between the two of them, but he makes no move to intervene. Despite Metals unexpected and rapid intrusion Shadow recovers quickly lunging at the machine, but he is barely able to scratch Metal’s surface before he and Sonic disappear through the wall.

Shadow carried by momentum slams against the wall. Somehow the wall is still solid under his touch. He growls and pounds his fists against the wall desperate to get Sonic back.

Chapter Text

Days have passed since Shadow last saw Sonic. He spent most of his sitting in the cell waiting for a chance to see Sonic again, but despite his desperate need to make sure Sonic was still alive and well there was nothing. It is torture knowing Sonic is so close and not being able to do anything about it.

He was almost thankful that the doctor did not leave him alone or he may have been driven out of his mind. Every so often the jackal comes into his cell and drags him into the same lab as before. Sometimes Eggman is there, sometimes he is not.

The tests changed each day Shadow never knows what to expect. Each time Shadow was restrained. He could not escape from the doctors prodding gaze. All the jackal has to do is touch him and a wave of dizziness would overtake him.

He wants to protect Sonic, but he feels so useless and tired.

_____

Shadow is falling in the faintly familiar route of experiments, but even just a couple of days after he was captured it is familiar to start the day being dragged down the hallway the leads to a laboratory. There is an ever-present threat with the jackal’s paw wrapped around his arm. At any moment, Infinites strange energy could flood Shadow’s system. Shadow has learned that it is better to keep his senses than fight. Even if he could break away he will not leave without Sonic, but that is hard to do when Shadow has no idea where Sonic is.

Shadow is used to the harsh grip on his arm, so it is a surprise when he feels the jackal’s paw slip away. It only takes a second for Shadow to understand why. Sonic kneels gloved paws clutching his head just down the hallway.

The jackal rushes forward to hands wrapping around Sonic’s wrists to peel them away from his face. Sonic’s eyes look dazedly at Infinite a trickle of blood dripping from his nose.

Shadows heart soars like it is trying to escape his chest when he sees Sonic. However, the joy of seeing Sonic is overridden by the strangeness of the situation.

It is odd that Sonic would be left alone is some random hallway. Where he and Infinite just stumbled upon him, but he hears two pairs of footsteps rushing down the hallway. Eggman led by Metal Sonic come around the corner sprinting up to where Sonic has collapsed.

Clarity rushes through Shadow as he watches Eggman and Metal get closer to Sonic. In a blur Shadow yanks Sonic away from the jackal’s grasp. Shadow tucks Sonic against is chest before taking off in the direction Eggman just came from.

Neither Eggman nor Metal Sonic can react, Shadow is turning down the hallway just trying to put distance between him and the villains. Shadow is not going as fast as he would like though. He is too tired from Eggman’s experiments and long night trying to sleep on the cold metal ground. Sonic is no help; He is a limp weight in Shadows arms. He keeps blinking dazedly at Shadow like he is on the verge of falling asleep.

It does not take long for Metal to catch up to Shadow. The machine is as fast as Sonic and does not get tired like Shadow does. He tackles Shadow to the ground sending the three of them tumbling. Shadow hisses at Metal kicking him way and scooping Sonic back into his arms. Before he can get up, however, Metal Sonic is up and looming above them. From down the hallway footsteps are heard as Eggman and Infinite come around the corn.

“Carful Metal” Eggman shouts, stopping Metal in his tracks where he was reaching for Sonic. Who is uncurious now and held firmly in Shadow’s arms.

They crowd Shadow and Sonic against the wall. Shadow’s eyes dart around looking for a way out. When Eggman reaches out to take Sonic from Shadow he lashes out snapping his teeth and growling at Eggman. The doctor seems to get the message and puts his hands up in mock surrender.

“Now, now Shadow what are you doing. Just give Sonic here. No need to be so defensive.” Eggman tries to reason, but Shadow will not believe him.

Shadow bares his teeth threatening to bite Eggman for real this time. “What did you do to him?”

Eggman frowns almost mockingly at Shadow’s question “I haven’t done anything to him.” Shadow growls at the doctor’s response not willing to let Eggman trick him.

Eggman pulls back slightly as if to prove his point. “I really haven’t. Sonic told you himself. Just look at him.”

Something is wrong with Sonic, and it has been in Eggman’s clutches for six months. His fur has lost its shine, and his eye bags seem darker since the last time Shadow saw him. They need to get out of here. He can feel the strange jackal’s energy swirling through the air getting closer and stronger.

Not stopping as Eggman shouted after them, Shadow took off again. Brushing past Metal Sonic and turning down another random hallway. He needed to lose both the Jackal and Sonic’s doppelganger.

Shadow was no state to outrun them. His muscles burned with exhaustion from just the short dash. Disuse is quickly wearing him down, but he does not have the choice but to keep going. He can hear the clanging steps of Metal tirelessly running after him and he can feel the jackal getting closer faster then what should be possible.

The black and red hedgehog does not know where he is going, but he does have Sonic finally in his grasp. He will not stop until they are both out of here. Sonic deserves to be free, and his friends deserve to know that the blue hedgehog is alive. So, Shadow will keep running blindly through the cold metal halls of Eggman’s base until they can escape.

Shadow takes as many erratic turn as he can hoping to lose his pursuers. Eventually their footsteps fall behind and he comes to a quiet hallway with more than blank metal walls or snaking pipes. Imbedded in the wall about halfway down the hallway there was a small circular window that cast a soft glow on the opposite wall.

It seemed he had made a mistake. He assumed that they were still on earth, but through the window Shadow could see the stars. They were a little higher up then Shadow thought. With sinking feeling in his stomach Shadow realizes that this situation just went from mostly hopeless to totally hopeless. Shadow was not getting out of here on his own, much less dragging Sonic with him.

As much as he hated to admit it, he needed help, but the resistance had no idea this was even up here. He needed to somehow get a signal out to them which would involve using into Eggman’s radio without being detected.

The undetected part suddenly got a lot harder when red lights started flashing through the hallway as an alarm went off. Shadow’s ears pressed against his head at the loud and sudden noise. Sonic seems to dislike the blaring alarm as well because he shifts in Shadow’s arms and lets out a whimper that is drowned out by the screech of the alarm.

They needed to keep moving. Eggman was surely sending robots out to look for them and Shadow was not sure he could fight and keep a hold on Sonic at the same time. He needed to find a place to hide Sonic so he could get a message out to the resistance.

_____

Sonic woke up alone in the dark.

He was laid out against the floor in pitch black with is arms resting comfortably on his chest. There is a strange absence of the nauseating energy that had plagued Sonic for months when he remembers Shadow. He had come for him even when Sonic as conviction that he was sick. Shadow came for him.

Shadow was not here though. Sonic was alone, but Shadow must have put him here.

Sonic felt the ever build need to move fill him like static through his fur. He has to find Shadow they had been apart too long and now that Sonic could think clearly for the first time in months, he felt like he was being pulled to Shadow like tide is pulled to the moon.

Sonic does not care about the dark as he stumbles to his feet. He reaches out blindly feeling along shelves until he finds a door. He his gloved hand wraps around the door handle and wretches open the door flooding the closet with light. It takes a moment for him to adjust to the fluorescent lights of Eggman’s space base. Sonic blinks the spots out of his eyes to focus on the desolate hallways.

Without another though Sonic takes off sprinting down the hallway looking for any sign of commotion that would point him in the direction that Shadow was. He does not have a very clear memory after being scooped up into Shadow’s arms. He was too overwhelmed by fighting against Infinites control. If Shadow were not there to take him away from the jackals twisted magic, he would never have broken free. He would still be convinced that he was sick and Eggman was the only one who could cure him.

Sonic runs through Eggman’s lifeless hallways trying to shake off the memories of the twisting force that was Infinite’s dark energy. He remembers the feeling of sickness and fighting against the jackal force on his mind. The Hedgehog valued freedom so much the feeling of losing control over his body was enough to make him nauseous. The jackal had taken his free will away, creating illusions until the blue hedgehog truly had felt sick. The corrupting power mixing with Sonic’s resistance against the control until he really was sick. Sonic needs to end this now not just to save himself anymore, but now he needs to save Shadow too.

Like answering his call, a massive explosion goes off shaking Eggman’s Space base. Sonic’s ears swivel towards the sound and he changes direction to race towards the fight. He pushes himself as he runs through the maze of hallway until he comes to an ostentatious control room that all Eggman’s bases seem to have.

The room is massive with a chair embedded in the center. Control panels span along the edge with numerus buttons and knobs that Sonic will not even begin to guess what they do. Most of the walls are made of a glass dome that faces the earth. There are other smaller ships surrounding this central hub, but they are hard to see in the shine of the sun over the green and blue earth.

With a glance around the room Sonic seen neither Eggman nor Metal Sonic. What he does see is the source of the explosion. Shadow and Infinite are locked in battle clashing together near a scorched control panel. Shadow is surrounded by horrible scarlet energy that comes off of Infinite in waves.

Sonic’s heart clenches in fear and awe, because despite how exhausted Shadow looks, he keeps fighting. He keeps fighting because Shadow will always keep fighting, but it looks like he is moving through molasse. Shadow looks like he is fighting desperately against hopeless despair. Shadow fights like it’s the only thing that will stop the other hedgehog from giving up all hope.

Sonic does not feel like he is fighting against despair though he is feeling like he is fighting for the hope and love that blooms in his chest at the sight of the other hedgehog who never stopped fighting for him. Sonic may be tired, but when he fights for love it not labor it is a gift.

Infinite is not expecting the blue hedgehog, so when he is knocked back by the blow of a blue streak it takes him by surprise. Sonic does not hold back, and the jackal is sent flying into the floor.

Sonic is satisfied to see that the mobian has to extract himself from a dent on the floor. The blue hedgehog smiles widely and turns to Shadow. He looks at him expectantly like he is expecting Shadow to praise him for job well done. Shadow does not offer any words of encouragement, but the look in his eyes is clear. The fear is gone; the hedgehog’s red eyes are shining.

Warmth fills Sonic’s chest at the other’s unspoken approval. Shadow quickly shifts his attention falling into a battle stance. Sonic tears his focus away from Shadow to turn towards their enemy. Energy takes shape into familiar villains as Infinite lifts off the floor. Very quickly they are locked into battle, bouncing off of each other they fight side by side.

This is not a battle they can win though. They are both exhausted and Sonic could barely hold his own the first time he faced Infinite. He may have gotten wise to the jackal tricks, but even together they are severely outclassed.

It is hard to tell how long they fight for, but sooner than Sonic would like he starts to see Shadow slowing down. The blue blur tries to defend him as much as possible as Infinites gallery of villain’s attack. There is only so much that he can do though and soon they are both taking blow after blow unable to keep up with the jackal’s manifestations.

That is until he hears a shout and a bang on the glass of the command room. The occupants of the room pause their attention snapping to the source of the banging. Outside hovers a yellow fox with two tails spinning behind him.

Sonic almost sobs with joy at the sight of his brother. He had missed him so much in his time captured by Eggman. All he wanted for those six month was to see his friends again.

There is hardly time for a joyful reunion though because the young fox is waving at them frantically as he pushes away from the glass. Shadow realizes why a second before the explosion goes off. He leaps for Sonic holding him tight as the void of space pulls all three of them through the hastily made opening.

The two hedgehogs are yanked away from Eggman’s base. Spinning rapidly as the pressure changes. It takes a moment for them to reorient themselves as the drift without the artificial gravity of the Eggman base. They do not have long to gather their bearings before Infinite is speeding towards them.

He knocks onto Shadow and neither of them are able to slow down in the zero gravity of space. Tails though able to propel himself to where Sonic is knocking into him much more gently than Infinite barreled into Shadow.

The young fox wraps his arms tightly around his brother, both of them savoring the moment they have to be together before they both have to face their opponent again.

“Amy and Knuckles when after Eggman. They sent me to find you find you because…” Tails reaches for his bag and opens it to show Sonic seven glowing emeralds within “I have theses”

Sonic laughs in delight at what Tails has brought him grasping the fox’s shoulder. “Tails you genius. How did you even know where to find us?”

“That was all Shadow. He sent us a message of where you guys were and impressed upon us the importance of hurrying.” Tails laughs sheepishly “Not that that he had to. We missed you Sonic’

“I missed you too buddy.” Sonic says warmly, “Now lets get this show on the road”

Sonic let the energy of the chaos emeralds washes over him as the lift from Tails’ bag to swirl around him. Blue fur bleeds into gold as renewed power washes through Sonic’s veins. Sonic does not waste another moment going after where Infinite and Shadow went tumbling.

The two are mobians locked in battle again as Sonic rushes in. This time though he does not go for Infinite. Sonic goes for Shadow, gently grabbing him by the shoulder as they spin away from the jackal. Sonic lets the energy of the chaos emerald flow through both of them. The familiar feeling connection fills them both as they are reunited on a familiar battlefield.

The had shared this power before fighting together in the void of space before. They fight together again as they face the jackal. Two golden hedgehogs wielding power beyond them. It does not take long for their foe to be defeated. The strange crystal knocked from his chest, its power dissipating into space.

Once Infinite is no longer a threat the power of the chaos emeralds fades from the two hedgehog’s bodies. Energy quickly being replaced by bone deep tiredness. They hardly care though as Sonic and Shadow use the last of their energy to push towards each other.

There is no dramatic declaration between the two there is only quiet love as two tired hedgehog finally come together again. They hold each other tight, both too worn out to do anything but stare into each other’s eyes.