Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The wind howled through the crumbling remains of an abandoned facility deep in the northern mountains, where snow had long since stopped falling and started freezing to everything it touched. The chill in the air didn’t bother Shadow.

He stood at the edge of a shattered landing pad, red eyes scanning the ruins below, booted feet crunching over blackened debris and jagged metal. The stars overhead flickered faintly behind gauzy clouds, and the moon—full, silver, unblinking—hung low over the horizon like a distant eye.

Static crackled softly in his ear.

"You’ve gone radio silent again, Shadow," came Rouge’s voice over the comm, smooth as velvet but edged with impatience. "You doing that broody lone-wolf thing again or are you actually seeing anything out there?"

"The energy readings spiked again near grid point F-7," Shadow said, his voice low. He swept past a collapsed satellite dish, eyes flicking to a half-buried terminal still blinking faint red.

Rouge sighed. "Omega’s bored and wants to blow something up. I’m trying to keep him occupied with a Rubik’s cube. I don’t think it’s working."

A second voice chimed in over the channel—flat, mechanical, and loud.

"IT IS INSUFFICIENT STIMULATION. RECOMMEND DEPLOYING ME INTO HOSTILE TERRITORY IMMEDIATELY.”

"No. Stay put," Shadow growled, cutting across the old tarmac toward a yawning hole in the facility wall. He passed a scorched Eggman insignia, half-melted, its edges curling like burnt paper.

Rouge’s tone shifted, softer now. "You’ve been different since the planet cracked. G.U.N. noticed it. I noticed it."

Shadow didn’t respond. He ducked into the ruin, boots splashing in thin layers of melted ice as he moved silently through the dark.

"Still no word on Sonic, by the way," Rouge added after a moment, her voice quieter. "Last anyone saw, he went into space in his Super form chasing Eggman’s mobile fortress. That was... three days ago."

Shadow stopped.

The silence pressed in around him.

"He can take care of himself," he muttered.

"Sure," Rouge said. "But it’s unlike him to disappear without a flashy reentry. Especially with the world like this."

Shadow closed his eyes, listening. Deep within the walls of the ruin, something pulsed. A faint thrum of chaos energy—weak. He followed it.

Corridors stretched ahead like veins. Shattered lights buzzed above him. The walls were scorched with burnt marks—essence of a past chaos emerald user. Shadow’s hand hovered near the wall, his inhibitor ring sparkled under the singular small beady light of the hallway.

Then he felt it. Heat.

Not from outside—from within.

“NGH—?!”

It started low in his back, just beneath the shoulders. A crawling sensation that crept through muscle and bone, then flared into something sharp and burning. He stumbled, one hand gripping the nearest wall.

"Ngh—damn it," he hissed.

The comm crackled again.

"Shadow? What’s wrong? You went quiet," Rouge asked.

"Nothing," he gritted out.

But it wasn’t nothing. The heat spiked, and a searing wave of pain shot through his spine. Something shifted inside him—like tendons stretching in places where there shouldn’t be any.

He fell to one knee.

The air around him rippled, disturbed by chaos energy… His own chaos energy. His vision blurred.

“Shit,” he managed to cuss through gritted teeth, trying to make out anything that could resemble his inhibitor rings, because if they were intact then he could rule out accidentally unclasping them.

They were there. 

‘You are the rightful heir’... a deep, raspy voice whispered. ‘You were made for this.’

He growled and forced himself upright, stumbling into a large chamber—an old testing floor. The consoles were melted, the floor cracked open. At its center, an inactive generator rested. Shadow approached slowly.

Then they came.

The creatures burst from the walls—shadows that resembled twitching, inky flesh, eyes glowing crimson. They shrieked as they rushed him.

SCREEEEEEEE—

Shadow’s instincts flared. In a blur he was moving, Chaos Spears lighting the room with gold and violet flashes. He kicked one monstrosity through a console, ducked a swipe, and landed hard strikes to another.

But they didn’t stop.

Something… fed them…

Snarling, Shadow leapt into the air, charged his palm—and released another massive burst of chaos spears.

"Hmph!"

The shockwave of spears erupted outward, disintegrating the remaining creatures—

Silence for a few seconds.

And that’s when it happened.

His back convulsed. The heat returned—no, not heat, pain—and his knees gave out. He screamed. Bone cracked. Something tore through his skin.

“You are not broken. You are becoming.”

“Who… are you?!” Shadow managed to speak out towards this voice, but to no avail. He couldn’t find the source of the voice.

Black wings—massive, skeletal at the base with veined membranes—erupted from his back in a spray of chaos sparks and blood. An intense, painful heat accompanied the blossoming wings, the sounds of ripping flesh and crackling of these newfound parts echoing throughout the room. Shadow couldn't help but give out a pained grunt, this was too much. It was way too intense. The chamber filled with shrieking wind as his body hunched forward, panting, shivering.

He looked up, eyes wide with bewilderment as he felt the pain subside slightly, gasping for air.

The wings twitched.

Outside, the wind had stilled.

Shadow fell forward on one hand, trembling, the wings slowly, achingly, folding behind him as if they had always been there. As if waiting.

Rouge’s voice returned, tinny but urgent. "Shadow?! Talk to me! What just happened?!"

He took a small moment for himself, before standing.

"I found something," he said hoarsely.

A beat of silence.

 "...You’re scaring me, Shadow."

Shadow looked up. Through a shattered skylight, he saw the distant city lights of Spagonia on the southern horizon.

"Send me the data on Sonic’s last coordinates."

"You’re going after him?"

The wings flexed.

"...He may know more about this than I do. Patch me through to G.U.N. Command. I’m heading to Spagonia."

And with a final glance at the corrupted generator, Shadow stepped back out and into the night, the whispering in his mind not entirely gone.

Chapter Text

The G.U.N. outpost on the edge of Apotos was quiet, tucked beneath the cliffside like a forgotten memory. Outside, the wind carried the scent of salt and sea, curling through cracked windows and ruffling the stack of mission reports Shadow hadn’t touched.

Inside, the room was still—dimly lit by a single overhead light and the pulsing glow of a holographic world map. Red energy signatures flared across the globe like open wounds, each pulsing dot a reminder of the day the planet cracked apart. Shadow stood before it, unmoving.

He hadn't slept. Couldn't.

Not since the incident.

Not since the wings.

He rolled his shoulders slowly, as if that alone would ease the ache lodged deep beneath his shoulder blades. The pain came in pulses now—heat that simmered under his skin, igniting with each memory of that night. When the wings tore out of him like fire, like instinct, like something old waking up inside his DNA.

He hated how natural it had felt.

"This is different," he murmured, almost to himself.

Rouge's voice buzzed in his earpiece, dragging him back. "Anything new, bat boy?"

"Nothing substantial," Shadow replied, his voice low, distant. He hated the new nickname Rouge gave him. It was only natural that she would give him such nickname, after he decided to let her in on his newfound flight ability.

He zoomed the map in on Spagonia. Dozens of eyewitness accounts had begun trickling in: blue fur, claws, rooftop sightings, feral screeches in the night.

He was almost certain it was Sonic.

"You really think it's him?" Rouge asked.

"Fast. Blue. Avoiding attention. It matches."

"So do a dozen other anomalies since the planet cracked. You sure you’re not projecting?"

Shadow's jaw tensed. Projecting. He wasn't Projecting.

Was he?

He had been trained for precision. Facts. Cold, irrefutable logic. But something tugged at him beneath the data. A feeling he couldn't shake. Something... pulling.

Since the incident at the ruins a few nights back, his dreams had twisted. He'd wake in a cold sweat, breath ragged, chest burning. Sometimes he could feel more than just his wings. Not on his back— everywhere within him. This horrible sensation prickling throughout his body, threatening to unleash new limbs, new unwanted abilities like nightmare fuel, like his body decided to go against him just for the hell of it. Taunting him.

And in those dreams, he heard a voice.

Not Rouge. Not Eggman. Not even Maria.

It was low. Ancient. Alien... Familiar.

He hadn’t told anyone about that.

Rouge broke the silence. "Omega says you haven’t reported to medical. That those... things you fought emitted a radiation your body shouldn’t be absorbing."

"I’m adapting," Shadow replied sharply.

"No one said you had to alone."

That stung more than it should have. But he shoved it down, like everything else.

He turned from the console and walked toward the window. The moonlight reflected off his gloves. "Tell Omega to keep scanning. I’m heading to Spagonia."

Rouge hesitated. "Be careful. Whatever this is... it’s not just Eggman."

He clicked the comm off.

The hovercraft sliced through the night sky like a blade. Shadow stood by the window the entire trip, eyes locked on the stars, though his mind was far from them.

The ache was growing stronger.

Every mile closer to Spagonia made it worse.

He gritted his teeth. It wasn’t just pain. It was this... heat . A wildfire under his skin, clawing for release. His breath caught when the craft began to descend. Something about this place felt... wrong. Or familiar. He couldn’t tell.

The city opened before him like a painting—terracotta rooftops and golden lights. It should have been beautiful.

Instead, it felt like a trap.

He slipped through the city like smoke, invisible on the rooftops, silent in the alleys. Every corner offered some new fragment of the trail: a torn piece of red shoe fabric on a balcony rail. Deep claw marks in tile. Scorch marks. Witnesses whispering of the blue beast with burning eyes.

He heard it all.

But none of it told him what he wanted to know:

Was Sonic still himself?

Or was he lost?

Shadow paused on the edge of a bell tower, crouching low. The air was crisp, laced with cinnamon and roasted coffee. Normalcy. People laughing in cafés, students gathering for late-night gelato.

And yet the rooftops above them told a different story.

He stared at the moon, full and luminous. His fingers twitched. He was reluctant to use his wings—but he could feel them stirring again. They ached for movement. Tension coiled in his spine like a loaded spring.

He closed his eyes.

Where are you?

The wind shifted.

And then—a flicker of motion.

Enough for his ears to twitch with recognition, that this was more than the wind shift, it was someone else. He opened his eyes to the sound. 

A shape moved across a rooftop in the distance. Tall. Broad. Fast. It landed heavily, paused, then moved again.

Sonic.

It had to be…. right?

Shadow straightened slowly. His breath was steady, but something inside him cracked with the force of quiet urgency.

This wasn't just recon anymore.

This was a reunion.

And if Sonic had changed as much as he feared—

Then Shadow needed answers.

Now.

Chapter Text

The streets of Spagonia were bathed in golden light, where the romance of old-world architecture kissed the sky and laughter danced on every breeze. But high above, the city took on a quieter rhythm.

Shadow moved like smoke through the city, a flicker between chimneys and terraces, his eyes sharp and glowing. The moonlight painted everything in silver, casting long shadows and setting the edges of his quills aglow. His body ached more with every step, but it was manageable. Familiar. Like a wound that refused to heal, but you learned to walk with anyway.

The beast wasn’t so far from him now, and Shadow decided to dart forward, no hesitation, no wasted movement. He launched himself across the narrow alley, landed in a crouch, and sprinted up the slope of the next roof. The blur moved head again, slower this time, clumsier than Sonic should be.

When Shadow crested the final ledge, he saw him.

And froze.

The creature before him stood with its back turned, hunched and breathing hard. Blue fur, longer and shaggier than usual, rippled in the wind. Clawed hands rested on bent knees. And a tail—wild, twitching—swung low behind him. All this under the watchful eye of the full moon.

“Sonic?” Shadow called.

The figure snapped its head toward him, and Shadow saw the glowing eyes. Green, yes. But wrong. They shimmered too much. Held too much instinct. Too much...

Hurt.

Sonic growled low, confused and defensive. His ears twitched. Then, recognition.

“Shadow?”

The voice was deeper, more guttural. But unmistakably Sonic.

Shadow didn’t move. Neither did Sonic.

The silence stretched.

Then Sonic took a shaky step forward. “You found me faster than I thought,” he muttered.

Shadow blinked. “You didn’t exactly cover your tracks.”

Now that he was viewing him from this close, he noticed the extra amount of fluff all on Sonic’s body- and dare he might say, it looked absolutely lush and snuggly, and of all of the softest things the universe had to offer all in one. And Shadow couldn't help but clear his throat in order to catch himself from accidentally making any noise that wasn't a grunt or a huff, as to let his blue counterpart know of his newfound obsession over the fluff.

But that moment was brief, naturally.

Sonic huffed, folding his arms across his broad chest. “Didn’t think I needed to. Not like I planned on staying like this forever.”

Shadow stepped closer, his crimson eyes narrowing. “What happened to you?” he asked, covering his original intent to ask something along the lines of ‘How’d you get so damn soft and fluffy?’ and ‘ Can I dip my face into that real quick?!’

Sonic hesitated. The wind tousled his fur. For a moment, he looked almost small. And that just made Shadow feel guilty for ever thinking of such inhumane requests in the first place.

“Eggman,” he said finally. “That freak machine he built to split the planet... it did more than crack the crust.”

Shadow’s fists clenched. “He altered your DNA.”

Sonic glanced over at him. “Maybe. I don’t know. I just remember flying up there to stop him... going super...” He touched his chest lightly, clawed fingers ruffling the chest fur in the process. “Then everything went white. When I woke up, I was like this. Stronger at night. Slower during the day. And hungrier than ever.”

Shadow took another step forward. The pain in his back flared again—sharp, insistent. He grunted, reaching up to touch his shoulder blade.

The blue hedgehog didn't let this go unnoticed. “You okay?”

“No,” Shadow said honestly. ‘Something’s changing in me, too.’ Was what he would have said, if he weren't so clingy with his privacy in the first place.

They stood there for a moment, watching each other. One twisted by darkness, the other by blood. Both were altered by forces they didn’t yet understand.

Then, to Shadow’s surprise, Sonic laughed.

“What?” Shadow asked, as if the beast offended him by breaking the silence with such an act.

Sonic shrugged. “Just... funny. Of all people, you're the one who found me. Not Tails. Not Knuckles. You .”

Shadow frowned. “You're… disappointed…?” That was to come out as a statement, but sounded more like a question instead.

Sonic smiled—an expression full of exhaustion and something gentler as he gathered the next few words to speak. “Nah. You just never struck me as the search party type.”

Shadow looked away. The city lights glittered below like fallen stars.

“I didn’t come to rescue you,” he said. “I came because I need answers.”

“Figures,” Sonic muttered, then chuckled softly. “Well, lucky for you, I might have some. But first...” He stepped toward the edge of the roof and dropped to sit on the ledge. “I could really use some food. Got anything on you?”

Shadow rolled his eyes.

Then Sonic’s stomach growled. Loudly.

Shadow blinked. "...Seriously?"

Sonic rubbed his gut with a sheepish grin. "Hey, transformation or not, metabolism’s a beast. I’m running on empty here."

Shadow sighed audibly. "There’s a café two blocks down. Try not to eat the table."

"Wow, is this a date? Will there be breadsticks?"

"If you speak again, I’m punching you."

Sonic perked up. "Aw, Shads. I didn’t know you cared!"

"I don’t. But you’re loud when you’re hungry." The ebony hedgehog sneered, his crimson eyes narrowing, a clear sign of irritation.

“Come on baby,” Sonic teased, his brows wiggling slightly. “Let’s go on our honeymoon, don’t want to spend the night just chit chatting now do we?”

“You’re lucky I didn’t bring a tranquilizer,” Shadow replied dryly, following the werehog down those two blocks.

Sonic grinned, his fangs catching the moonlight. Shadow's breath hitched at the sight, feeling his heart pound strangely, harshly. “Still got that sense of humor, huh?”

Shadow didn’t answer.

But as they walked side by side beneath the moon, he felt a strange fluttering from within his stomach. And worst of all, he didn't want to sprint and leave the beast behind from the sheer amount of annoyance he gave him.

He kinda wanted to see the end of this.

_

The café in Spagonia was quaint, its outdoor seating tucked into the corner of a lively street. Fairy lights twinkled above the tables, casting a warm glow, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. It was almost peaceful… if not for the sound of Sonic absolutely demolishing a pile of food at their table. Turns out this cafe did more than serve pastries and drinks.

Sonic, still in his werehog form, was going to town on a plate of pasta like it was his last meal. Fork, spoon, claws—none of it mattered as long as the food reached his mouth. Across from him, Shadow sat with his arms crossed, eyeing him with increasing irritation.

“Do you… ever eat like a normal person?” Shadow asked, his voice low but laced with annoyance.

Sonic paused mid-bite, strands of spaghetti dangling from his mouth. He blinked, chewing slowly before swallowing. “Huh? What do you mean?” Shadow sighed, resisting the urge to rub his temples. “You’ve got sauce all over your face. It’s like watching a toddler eat.”

Sonic grinned, a bit of sauce dripping from his muzzle. “Hey, I’ve been fighting bad guys all day. I’m starving. Besides,” he gestured vaguely at his current furry state, “I’m working with big appetites here.”

Shadow’s eye twitched, his gaze flicking to Sonic’s muzzle again. The sauce. The crumbs. The absolute chaos of it all. Finally, unable to take it anymore, he leaned forward and—before Sonic could react—swiped a napkin across Sonic’s muzzle in a quick, firm motion.

Sonic froze, wide-eyed, as Shadow wiped away the mess with all the care of someone handling a broken appliance. His brain stuttered for a second.

“W-What are you doing?” Sonic sputtered, voice an octave higher than usual.

“Cleaning you up.” Shadow deadpanned, tossing the napkin onto the table.

Sonic blinked rapidly, heat rising to his face. “Oh, I see what this is,” he said, his voice suddenly full of mock realization.

Shadow raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re flirting with me,” Sonic said, half-joking but also… maybe not? His tone wavered somewhere between teasing and curiosity. He leaned in slightly, wiggling his eyebrows. “Could’ve just said so, y’know.”

Shadow looked like he’d been slapped in the face with a freaking fish. “What?”

“I mean, the whole ‘let me wipe your face for you’ thing? C’mon, that’s classic rom-com stuff right there.” Sonic’s grin stretched wider, but the underlying awkwardness was unmistakable.

Shadow’s wings screamed to flutter (but DID NOT-)  in irritation as he shot Sonic a withering glare. “Don’t flatter yourself. You were eating like an animal, and it was disgusting.”

Sonic threw up his hands in mock defeat. “Hey, hey, no need to get all defensive. If you wanted to hold my paw and feed me spaghetti, all you had to do was ask.”

Shadow clenched his fists, his patience wearing thin. “Sonic. Shut up.” Three seconds away from beating him up. Two...

Sonic interruped his mental countdown with a chuckle, leaning back in his chair with his hands behind his head. “Alright, alright. But you gotta admit, that was kinda romantic.”

“It wasn’t.” Shadow’s tone was as cold as the dark sky above them, but his face was noticeably redder than it had been moments ago.

Before Sonic could fire off another round of teasing, Shadow abruptly shifted the conversation. “Listen. We need to focus on what’s happening to us. Ever since the planet split apart, I’ve noticed… changes. You’ve got this werehog form, and…” His voice trailed off. ‘My Black Arms DNA has been flaring up more than usual.’ he mentally finished that sentence, and instead, verbally added “There’s something about what Eggman did—it’s affecting us. It's affecting you.”

Sonic’s teasing grin faded as he mulled over Shadow’s words. “You think it’s all connected? My transformations and… the planet. Not two separate events happening coincidentally?”

Shadow nodded, his eyes narrowing. “It has to be. The timing is too perfect. And if Eggman’s behind it, we need to figure out what his next move is. If he’s tampering with ou-your DNA or whatever, then you’re more vulnerable than we think.”

Sonic let out a sigh, running a clawed hand through his messy quills. “Yeah, yeah, you’re right. It’s just…” He gestured to his burly werehog form. “This whole thing’s still kinda weird, y’know? I mean, I’m a giant fuzzy monster who loses his shoes half the time.”

Shadow’s wings twitched as he held back a smirk. “You’re always weird.”

“Gee, thanks,” Sonic muttered, stuffing another forkful of pasta in his mouth. “I thought you liked me this way.”

Shadow shook his head, turning his attention back to the people passing by. “We need to figure out our next move. We can’t stay in Spagonia forever.”

Sonic paused, glancing over at him. “You in a hurry to leave? I kinda like it here. The food’s great, the views are awesome… and you get to watch me eat.”

Shadow’s wings flared slightly in annoyance. Luckily, thankfully, Sonic didn’t catch this. “My Gaia- I’d rather fight Eggman alone than sit through another meal with you .”

“Oh, don’t be like that, Shads ,” Sonic teased, playfully kicking him under the table. “Admit it, I’m growing on you.” He cooes softly, and with that he earned a nasty response from the dark hedgehog.

Shadow kicked back, harder. “Stop calling me that.”

Sonic winced but grinned through the pain. “No can do, buddy. It’s just too much fun messing with you.”

Shadow didn’t respond, but Sonic noticed the way his eyes lingered on him for a second longer than usual before he turned away. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was the moonlight playing tricks on him. Or maybe—just maybe—there was something brewing between them that neither of them wanted to admit just yet.

Sonic wiped the last bit of sauce off his face and stretched. “Alright, so what’s the plan then, genius? How do we stop Eggman from turning me or potentially anyone else into science experiments gone wrong?”

Shadow’s expression hardened, all business now. “We find out what his next move is. He’s the one behind this, and if we don’t stop him soon, we might lose control of these… transformations.” He gestured vaguely to Sonic’s being. “Whatever happens, we have to stay focused. No distractions.”

Sonic leaned back, crossing his arms with a smirk. “You’re no fun. But fine, I’ll play along for now. Just try not to get too jealous when I save the day again.”

Shadow rolled his eyes. “I think I’ll manage.”

_

The night air in Spagonia was cool, the stars twinkling above as Sonic and Shadow wandered down the narrow cobblestone streets. The faint sounds of music drifted from a nearby plaza, and the soft glow of lanterns lined the path. It could’ve been peaceful—if Sonic wasn’t humming loudly to himself, kicking pebbles as he walked, and Shadow wasn’t glaring daggers at him for it.

“Do you ever stop making noise?” Shadow muttered, his patience wearing thin.

Sonic grinned, stretching his arms behind his head. “Nah, keeps things lively! Plus, it’s just so quiet out here. Kinda spooky, y’know?”

Shadow rolled his eyes. “You’re the spookiest thing here right now, with that fur and those claws.”

“Hey, that’s Werehog to you,” Sonic teased, flexing his burly arms in Shadow’s direction. “Aren’t I just the fluffiest little nightmare?!”

Before Shadow could retort with something biting, a small voice chimed in from above. “Sonic! There you are!”

Sonic blinked and looked up just as a tiny glowing figure zipped down toward them. It was Chip, flying in his usual carefree manner, a bright smile plastered across his face. He landed on Sonic’s shoulder, settling in like he owned the place.

“Oh hey, Chip! What’s up, buddy?” Sonic asked, his tone lighter now.

Chip gave Shadow a quick glance before looking between the two of them, an innocent yet mischievous grin forming. “Who’s that? Is he your lover? Are you married, Sonic? You look like such a cute couple!”

Both Sonic and Shadow froze mid-step, the silence between them palpable.

Shadow’s eye twitched. “We’re not—”

“—a couple!” Sonic finished, waving his hands in front of him so quickly that Chip nearly lost his balance. “Whoa, easy there, pal! Shadow and I are just… working together.”

Chip raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Uh-huh. Sure. Because partners always share intense looks across candlelit tables, right?”

‘He saw that?’ Shadow thought to himself, a growl forming within his chest. He scowled, eyeing the flying rat.

“That was not—” Shadow began, but Sonic cut him off with a nervous laugh (That was rude-), his face reddening.

“C’mon, Chip! You know how Shads here gets all serious and broody. No romance there, just pure… serious… uh, business!” Sonic stammered, feeling the heat creep up to his cheeks. “Anyway! What’re you doing here, buddy?”

Chip smirked, clearly enjoying himself but decided to let the teasing go—for now. “Oh, right! I actually came to tell you guys I overheard something interesting. One of the Spagonian citizens mentioned seeing some strange things prowling around near the edge of town. And something about weird creatures, too.”

Sonic perked up, his usual grin sliding back into place. “Weird creatures, huh? That sounds like Eggman’s mess.”

Shadow crossed his arms, his wings shifting slightly behind him. “If it’s Eggman’s doing, we need to check it out. No time to waste.”

Chip nodded enthusiastically and began leading the way, zipping ahead as Sonic and Shadow followed. They moved through the dimly lit streets, the sounds of the city fading behind them as they ventured into a quieter, more isolated part of Spagonia.

Before long, they arrived at an alleyway where a Spagonian man stood, clearly nervous. He glanced at them, his hands shaking slightly. “You’re… Sonic, right? The hero?”

Sonic grinned, giving a thumbs-up. “The one and only! What’s going on, mister?”

The man rubbed the back of his neck, eyes darting around nervously. “I saw something… strange, near the outskirts. Creatures. They looked like they were made of shadows themselves, almost...”

“Sounds like fun,” Sonic muttered. “Thanks for the tip, mister! We’ll check it out.”

As they started moving toward the outskirts, Sonic’s eyes darted toward Shadow. “You ready for some action, Shads? I bet I can take down more of those shadow creatures than you.”

Shadow’s response was a simple, icy glare. “We’re not competing, Sonic.”

“Oh, sure, sure,” Sonic said with a smirk. “Because you know I’ll win.”

"ooooohoooooh!" Chip hooted after Sonic's competitive statement.

Before Shadow could snap back, Sonic interrupts him with a question he had been wanting to ask since first meeting him that night. 

“ Shadow… I noticed you’ve been trying to hide something so painfully obvious this entire time. Can I.. See them?”

Shadow slows to a stop. Crap. 

The werehog skids to a halt next to Shadow, before standing upright. He points towards Shadow. 

“Lets see ‘em, I showed you mine after all, and it’s not like I’m able to hide this transformation behind my back.” 

Shadow scowled, before crossing his arms and facing the moon. It was way past midnight by now according to the moon's position.  Slowly, he lets them lose. Sonic’s slight cocky attitude turned to what one could describe as awestruck. They just kept expanding, growing in Sonic’s eyes until his vision was almost completely covered with… Well, Shadow. He stumbles backwards, a soft gasp escaping his lips. 

“You… hid those huge ass wings behind your small frame all this time?” 

That was the incorrect reaction. Why? Because Sonic found himself face planted on the floor in mere seconds, eating pebbles from the stony pathway. Shadow had pinned him face down, and gave a small growl against one of Sonic’s twitching ears. “Call me small again and you’ll end up being fed through a drinking straw for the rest of the year, hedgehog.”

A nervous laugh escaped Sonic, before he gave a small nod. “Sorry, sorry!! I didn’t mean it that way! I was just shocked by how huge those wings are!!”

Shadow lets him go, brushing imaginary dust bunnies off himself. “We don’t have time for this idiocracy. Let's go.” He mumbled, pulling his wings against his back once more. That whole interaction was stupid. Completely, and utterly useless.

_

They reached the outskirts of Spagonia eventually, where the streets turned into a more barren landscape. The moonlight cast long, eerie shadows. The Moon itself was slowly inching to kiss the horizon soon, which meant their nighttime shenanigans would soon come to a close (Thank Gaia). And there—just as the man had described—were the night creatures. 

 They looked like twisted figures made of dark energy, slithering and clawing their way across the ground...

Sonic cracked his knuckles, his fur bristling. “Alright, let’s show these creeps who’s boss!”

With that, he charged forward, leaping into the fray, claws outstretched. Shadow was right behind him, his wings flaring wide as he launched himself into battle.

The creatures hissed and screeched as they lunged at the two heroes. Sonic tore through them with swift, powerful strikes, while Shadow unleashed bursts of dark energy, cutting through the creatures like a blade through paper. They worked in sync, their movements flowing together, despite their constant banter.

“Hey, you’re falling behind, Shads!” Sonic called out, mid-swipe.

“I’m not,” Shadow growled, sending a blast of energy that obliterated three creatures at once.

The battle raged on, the two of them working in perfect (if begrudging) harmony, until finally, the last creature disintegrated with a screech.

Sonic landed gracefully on his feet, panting slightly but still grinning. “Phew, that was fun! We should do that more often.”

Shadow said nothing, his eyes narrowing as he felt something strange—a sudden, sharp pulse of pain deep within him. His wings twitched involuntarily, and for just a brief moment, he heard a voice—whispering something unintelligible in the back of his mind. It was low, menacing, and definitely not his own.

He winced, pressing a hand to his head as he dragged out a groan.

“Hey, Shads, you alright?” Sonic asked, noticing the sudden change in his demeanor.

But before Shadow could answer, the first rays of the sun began to peek over the horizon. Sonic’s eyes widened as he felt the familiar, uncomfortable sensation of his werehog form starting to revert.

“Aww, not this again,” Sonic whined, his body shrinking back to normal, his fur smoothing out. He winced as his bones cracked and shifted, his claws retracting painfully. “This never gets easier…”

As Sonic stood up, now back to his usual self, he glanced over at Shadow, his grin returning. “Well, at least I’m back to normal. How about you, Shads? No mysterious powers acting up on you, right—”

Sonic paused mid-sentence, his eyes catching something strange—just for a split second, Shadow’s eyes seemed to… dilate unnaturally, almost glowing with an eerie light. Then it was gone, just as quickly as it had appeared.

Sonic blinked, unsure if he’d really seen it. “Uh… Shadow? You feeling okay?”

Shadow clenched his fists, his gaze hardening as he forced the voice in his mind into silence. “I’m fine. Let’s keep moving. We need to find out what Eggman’s planning. And this little competition isn’t getting us anywhere.” He sounded more desperate than annoyed. Like he was ready to let everything go really soon. But Gaia knows that this was only the beginning of a long adventure.

Shadow storms off, trying to find something- anything that could serve as a clue to finish this unwanted mystery. 

Sonic, though still slightly unnerved, nodded and followed after him. But in the back of his mind, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was… off.

Chapter Text

Spagonia during the daytime was just as lively as its nightly counterpart. Pedestrians bustled about, the scent of fresh bread and cut flowers drifting through the streets. Chatter echoed between whitewashed buildings and sun-warmed cobblestones. A man strummed a guitar near the plaza fountain, the melody twining through the air like a thread.

Sonic slouched on a bench at the edge of the plaza, his expression weary. Now that their nighttime adventure had paused and made way for Mr. Sun, he was feeling rather exhausted. And from what Shadow could see, Sonic had been rocking eye bags and a more hunched position for a while now. The warm sunlight caught the edges of his fur, making him appear softer than usual—gentler. Shadow stood nearby, arms crossed, scanning the busy street as if it were another battlefield.

“When was the last time you slept?” Shadow asked, keeping his voice flat but not unkind.

Sonic squinted at him through bleary eyes. “Before I chased Eggman... I think?”

“That was more than three days ago.”

“Nah, that was yesterday.”

“I found you yesterday.”

“Oh.”

Sonic blinked slowly. The way his shoulders sagged told Shadow everything he needed to know. The days had blended together.

Shadow sighed, running a hand through his quills. He should’ve reported back to G.U.N. But he didn’t. Couldn’t. Not yet. Why? 

I don't know why , he thought to himself.

“Get up,” he said.

Sonic groaned. “Can I not rest here a bit more?”

“We need a clue. Then somewhere for you to rest. You’re on borrowed energy.”

Sonic stood with a stretch, wobbling slightly. “Tails would’ve known what to do. Or Chip, for that matter—uh... Chip?”

They both scanned the crowd. Shadow’s sharp gaze spotted the small creature hovering near a bread shop.

“There.”

Without hesitation, Shadow strode over, snatching Chip mid-air by the wings.

“Heeeeey!” Chip yelped.

“You can’t wander off,” Shadow scolded.

“I was hungry!” Chip whined. “And honestly? Safer away from you.”

Shadow unceremoniously tossed Chip to Sonic, who caught him with a huff.

“Alright. Now where do we even start—”

“Soooniiiic!”

A blur of orange and white zipped through the air. Sonic turned just in time to be caught in a tight hug.

“Tails!”

The fox buried his face into Sonic’s chest, his body trembling. “I thought I lost you... I thought—Eggman...”

His voice cracked, devolving into quiet sobs.

Sonic held him close. “I’m here. I’m okay. I wouldn’t leave you hanging, buddy.”

Shadow stood silently a few feet away, eyes shadowed. A ghost of another memory touched him—Maria’s smile. Her scent, her laugh. The ache settled deep.

After the reunion, Sonic motioned to Shadow. “Tails, meet our surprise ally.”

“Shadow? Oh! Didn’t see you there, hehe.”

Shadow raised a brow.

Tails rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, there’s someone I want you guys to meet. Professor Pickle. He’s been helping me research what’s going on.”

—

Professor Pickle’s office was old but elegant, filled with aged books and dusty relics. There were two floors, a ladder that one could use to reach the highest shelves above the first floor.  Sunlight streamed in through high arched windows, casting patterns across the mosaic-tiled floor. Across from the entrance was a very old grandfather clock that read 11 AM. A blue bird with a yellow beak popped out, cuckooing to the newly arrived guests.

“Welcome, welcome!” the Professor greeted, placing a tray of cucumber sandwiches and fruit punch on a crowded desk.

Chip dove in instantly.

“Nice to meet you properly,” Sonic grinned.

“Likewise! Tails spoke of you nonstop yesterday.” Professor Pickle nods over to Sonic. The fox flushed.

Shadow on the other hand continued to study his surroundings, tuning the conversation out with his own thoughts. The smell of books were heavy. This, he enjoyed. He used to read a lot during his time in the Ark with his dear friend and sister.

 He took particular notice of the display that decorated the right side of the entrance. A beautiful oak table with books stacked on top of each other- he counted five. And a gorgeous statue that reminded Shadow of someone from way back then. Near the statue, on the other side of the book stacks was a golden vase, and above this were frames and two display cases. One was of different seashells? Fossils, perhaps? He wasn’t sure, but three were aligned in this first display case. The next one, just above this one was a beautiful butterfly display case, and out of all of them the one in the center was a big, blue common butterfly. It was interesting to note that on its left was a very tiny yellow butterfly, and he couldn't help but think of Maria. 

Shadow turns around, to take in the room completely. Sonic, Tails and the professor were seated at the brown couch in the center of the room. Chip was munching on a cucumber sandwich on top of the huge globe situated in front of the couch. He tuned back into the conversation.

Pickle adjusted his glasses and pulled out a clipboard. “Now then... the planet. It’s happened before, long ago. A primordial being—Dark Gaia—was disturbed. This separation? Not just structural. It’s spiritual. We need to restore the balance.”

He flipped to a marked page. “Find the Gaia Temples. Each landmass has one. Reunite the energies, and the planet will realign.”

“How much time do we have?” Shadow asked.

“Not long.”

At this, Shadow moves towards the other side of the room where the professor’s table sat. Books on the right, a quill and ink bottle next to them, and to the far left there sat what seemed like a miniature telescope, facing away from the dark hedgehog. The chair behind the desk looked elegant; embroidered patterns of light blue on beige, and dark wooden accents adorning the borders of this study chair. Shadow took special notice on the moose head display above the study table, and a huge canvas of the continents underneath it.

 “The longer the split remains, the more chaos spreads. And Dark Gaia grows stronger.” Professor Pickle said shortly after studying the ebony hedgehog move from his old spot.

“ I see you’re interested in my relics and collection? Is there anything in particular that catches your eye?” 

Shadow huffs, shaking his head slightly. 

“Looks more like a hoarder’s paradise to me,” he said flatly, before crossing his arms over his chest.

In truth, he enjoyed the scent of books, and seeing all of these shelves it had secretly ignited his childlike wonder. Wanting to go through each shelf, each book and opening them just to find out what lies beyond the binds of the leather. 

“Shadow, be nice! Professor Pickle is being generous and helping us out on our mission here!” Sonic stated, his gloved hands curling into fists and having them rest on his hips.  He looked way too sassy, and at this Shadow scoffs, but says nothing more.

Sonic, Pickle and Tails went straight into the situation at hand.

“So, guys, I know we are addressing the planet first but i think it’s good that I should let you know that I turn into a strange, hairy beast during the night, and all of this started when I went off and chased Eggman to his stupid space empire.” Yep, very typical of Sonic to just straight up drop a sentence bomb and expect everyone to act normal about it. Luckily, Tails was used to Sonic’s… Unique situations by now, and his way of handling information so he wasn't as surprised. Pickle on the other hand had been shocked that his eyes were visible for a split second, his hairy brows raising and making way for the big googlies that laid underneath them normally. 

“This is true! Sonic becomes Mister Big-Monster-Guy at night! So scaryyyy! He rocks these bad boys!” Chip exclaims, spreading his mouth open to reveal his tiny fangs. “ They’re like these but so much bigger! And scarier! I thought he was gonna eat me when we first met!”

Professor Pickle placed a hand on his chin, scratching it slightly as if he was lost in thought.

“This is definitely the work of Dr. Eggman,”  Tails stated the obvious, before going over to Sonic with this look of pure curiosity. “Can I see it? Your uh, other form?”

Sonic shrugs. “Well bud, we’d have to wait ‘til the sun’s gone so you could see it properly… and honestly? I'd like to find somewhere to rest tonight… I haven't been sleeping since I plummeted back to earth… Maybe tomorrow night?”

Tails’ expression once full of curiosity changed to a more disappointed look, before nodding and replacing the frown with a sad, knowing smile. 

“That’s right, you haven’t been resting, have you? And you have a long journey ahead of you too… Yeah, I think you should go get some sleep. Come back when you can Sonic, I decided I want to stay with Professor Pickle here to help out in any way I can in the meantime. Oh, and I'll investigate this weird transformation of yours while you rest, okay?” Tails nodded with reassurance.

“Thanks, little buddy.” Another warm embrace was shared between the both of them before Sonic ruffled the fox’s head of fur. 

Just as Sonic and Shadow turned to leave, Professor Pickle handed Sonic a device.

“Sonic, wait, here. The Uncanny Camera. It dispels Dark Gaia’s influence on corrupted beings. Use it wisely.”

“ I see…” He looks over to Chip, who was marveling at the camera, before handing it over to the little guy. 

“Yaaaaaay! Thank you Sonic! I’ll treasure it forever!!! And uh, put it to good use of course, heheh!” Chip stuck his tongue out mischievously, before fluttering off.

“There is a hotel not far from here. Go and check it out, it’s also pretty economic if you’re ever short on coins,” Pickle stated just as Sonic waved goodbye. The blue blur nods.

“I'll check it out then, thanks again!”

—

Outside, Shadow stood alone against a pillar, watching the sky. Sonic joined him.

“You ready?” he asked.

Shadow didn’t look at him. “We agreed. Clue first. Then rest.”

Sonic grinned and cooed dramatically, “Aww, you do care—”

Shadow punched his arm. Hard.

“OW?! What was that for?!” The blue blur rubbed at the spot Shadow punched, before receiving a whack on his head by Shadow’s gloved hand.

“Ow- AGAIN?”

“You’re extra hittable today.”

Sonic lets out a hearty laugh at this, that he had to bend over and rest his hands on his knees. For some odd reason the Sun accompanies this laugh, its light reflecting off his quills, spreading a bit of prismatic specs around the blue hedgehog. This was enough for Shadow’s breath to hitch– 

“Extra hittable? Seriously dude?” Sonic was grinning from ear to ear, those words Shadow uttered enough to make him smile like a crack addict. He laughs a second time, this time a bit less dramatic, standing up straight to wipe a tear that had formed from his earlier laugh.

Is it bad that I want to kiss you? Can you stop laughing like that?

It makes my stomach take a nose dive. My head is spinning.

Shadow shook his head, clearing these unwanted thoughts off. That was the effect of hanging out with this blue loser, most definitely. Yeah. I’m simply becoming desensitized .

He cussed underneath his breath, before storming off in front of Sonic. 

They found the hotel Pickle advised them to visit tucked near the square, with faded walls and stained carpets.

“Two rooms, please,” Sonic said, then subtly lowered one finger at the clerk.

The receptionist winked. “Only one left! One bed. Lovely view!”

“Great, thanks! Put it under my name, cuz we’ll both take that room!” Sonic went ahead and slapped a small but hefty amount of rings on the desk, sliding it towards her. She giggles, before handing Sonic the key to the room.

“ The number is 301. You’re here to stay as long as you’d like, Mister…?”

“ Sonic the Hedgehog.” He swiped at his nose with a finger before grinning. 

Shadow grimaced. Oh, boy.

They made their way up the stairs and down the narrow hallway, passing by rustic wooden doors until they finally reached their room. 301. As soon as the door swung open, Sonic practically melted onto the singular bed, his limbs sprawled haphazardly across the comforter. He didn’t even bother removing anything, face buried into a pillow as he let out a long, contented sigh. 

“Ahhh… this is perfect,” he mumbled, his voice muffled by the soft fabric. “ I’m not movin’ for the next ten hours.”

Shadow rolled his eyes, standing stiffly by the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. “ You have exactly five hours,” he said flatly.

“Five?! C’mon, Shads, be reasonable!” Sonic’s head lifted just enough for one vivid green eye to glare at him balefully. “We just chased monsters before getting here. I deserve at least, uh… five more hours.”

Shadow snorted. “If you need five more hours to recover, then you’re not in shape to save the world at all, idiot.”

“Hey, I’m plenty in shape,” Sonic shot back, flopping back down onto the bed with a dramatic groan. “Just… give me…some time…”

Shadow turned away, ignoring the banter. He glanced around the room– a modest setup, with a small table by the window, and a single dim lamp casting a warm glow over the dark wood furniture. Despite the simplicity, it felt surprisingly cozy. Quaint, almost.

Shadow sat by the window, gazing into the streets below. There was still plenty of daylight, and he felt like his time here was being wasted away when he could be doing something else entirely, like putting an end to this fiasco.

Sonic’s breathing slowed into a steady rhythm. Peaceful. Vulnerable.

“Idiot,” Shadow murmured.

Shadow didn’t feel the tug of exhaustion like Sonic did. He rarely slept more than a few hours at a time, and right now, even the idea of rest seemed impossible. His mind was too busy– too alert. Too aware of the lingering anxiety in his chest.

Eggman’s up to something. Something more than just this Werehog form and… my own changes. 

The thought made his fists clench involuntarily. 

I need to know what he’s planning… and why it’s affecting us like this.

He closed his eyes, forcing himself to focus. Meditation had always been a way for him to center his thoughts, to regain control over his body and mind. But as he slipped into the familiar calm of the void, something dark and oily brushed against his consciousness.

But then—

“Such vigilance... watching over your beloved.”

Shadow’s eyes snapped open, his gaze sharp and dangerous as he looked around the empty room. But it was pointless. The voice wasn’t coming from anywhere physical. It was echoing inside his own head, slithering through his thoughts like a parasite.

“Get. Out.” His voice was low and lethal, but the only response was a soft, mocking laugh.

“Oh, Shadow… always so hostile. Haven’t you learned by now? I’m a part of you. And you? You are a part of me.” The voice hummed, a dark amusement lacing every word. “But I’m not here to fight. Not now. I’m here to help.”

“Help?” Shadow snarled, barely keeping his voice down. He glanced at Sonic, ensuring the hedgehog was still deep asleep. “The last thing I want is your ‘help.’” It was definitely the voice of Black Doom. Who else had the power to speak telepathically towards Shadow if not him?

“Oh, but you’ll change your mind. Just wait.” The voice’s tone shifted, growing almost gentle, teasing. “After all… you care for him, don’t you?”

Shadow stiffened, his breath catching in his throat. “I—what are you—?”

“No need to deny it.” The voice was a soft murmur now, dripping with false sweetness. “Look at him… so peaceful. So defenseless. Don’t you want to protect him? To hold him? Maybe even—” He chuckled darkly, “—kiss him?”

Shadow felt his entire body go rigid. This is stupid. “Shut up,” he hissed, voice low and dangerous. “Stop this.”

Shadow’s breath caught. A tremble in his limbs. Muscles twitched. Darkness pooled under his skin.

A dark, creeping pressure, winding through his limbs. His muscles twitched, and despite his every effort to resist, his body hunched forwards, and he found himself on the floor with a thump. “No… stop—” His voice was strained now, panic flashing in his eyes. But the pressure only increased, and he decided it was best to slowly, quietly, crawl towards the bathroom. He felt his limbs transfiguring- his metal boots seeming to come off one by one as he moved across the wooden floor.

The blue hedgehog was completely oblivious, sprawled out on his stomach, one arm hanging off the side of the bed. His mouth was slightly open, a faint smile still lingering on his lips. He hadn't even noticed the door to the bathroom slowly closing but never all the way, the darkness of the bathroom barely visible from outside. 

He struggled to control his breathing; heaving and panting, as he felt his skin burn up, and his fur turning into something smoother, less hairy. Extra limbs sprawled out from him as he felt his body trying to consume itself into one blob of inky madness. His final attempt at keeping his sanity escaped his grasp as he saw the corners of his eyes darken, and then blur into what he could have guessed was double vision, no, triple? Quadruple??? Maybe more? It was dizzying, and nauseating, and he was so close to just releasing whatever acids he had in his stomach out when he felt himself go flop ! Right onto the floor. There was a bit of a slimy, inky mess from underneath him, and when he reached for his head what came at him was a dark tentacle. He froze…

“Call this an immature awakening, offspring. There are side effects, but hopefully you'll manage it with time. Enjoy this gift, Shadow. Oh, and beware the light, at least for a while. Doom morphing is always hard to manage at first, and daytime hours would prove a sure weakness.”. A hiss escaped him. Guttural. Not his voice.

Then silence.

—

Sonic’s eyelids fluttered open hours later, the sun starting it’s descend not so long ago, two green shining orbs peeked through. He heard faint panting and gasping in the distance. With a groan, he slowly sat up and glanced around.

“Shadow?”

“Ngh- nn-nn…”

He followed the sound to the bathroom. One of Shadow’s boots lay discarded on the floor.

“Shadow, are you alright?” The sound of Shadow’s moan made him feel funny. That hedgehog never let his weaknesses show, was he hurt?

He noticed the bathroom door cracked open just slightly, the darkness teasing Sonic. He heard the panting much louder now. He pushed the door open.

Shadow was curled on the floor, part of him... unrecognizable. Inky black limbs flickered in and out, twitching violently under the weak light.

Sonic pushed the door open, letting the light flood the dark bathroom. The remainder of Shadow’s clothes scattered on the bathroom floor. And right there– Shadow sat up, back against the wall, half his body contorted with inky tentacles. They flared upon contact with the light from outside, and flailed about sporadically. Shadows' crimson eyes widened as he saw the blue figure standing by the bathroom's doorframe, and he gave a low, warning growl. 

“Go away!”

“Shadow, you're obviously not alright,” Sonic turned the bathroom light on, trying to focus his vision on the once shadowy figure to make sense of the whole scene unfolding behind him. 

“Shadow, what are those-" Three tentacles shot out and latched onto sonic. That brought him off guard, and just as quickly he was dragged close to shadows morphing body. 

“I-idiot! It's daylight! Flick the switch off! It’ll slow the transformation.” He gasped between pants. Sonic squirmed under the tight grasp, before huffing. 

“Yeah, if only you’d let me turn it off dude?!” 

“It.. it hurts… it makes me feel…” Shadow choked a sob, before feeling the rest of his body fully morphing, the tentacles holding Sonic abruptly letting him go. His transformation had reached its peak. Sonic crawls backwards, setting up distance in between the both of them, emerald eyes wide in shock from this whole commotion. 

Sonic slowly stood up, shaking slightly. 

A malformed creature lay on the floor. Shadow—what remained—twitched under the light.

Sonic stared. He didn’t move.

Then slowly, he switched off the light.

“Shadow?”

No answer. Just a twitch. A soft, pained movement.

Sonic knelt.

“Hey... I’m still here.”

“What happened while I was napping?”

Of course, Shadow was in no such state to speak. So Sonic sighs and passes a hand through his quills, feeling stressed. He was glad Chip wasn't around and was out frolicking doing Gaia knows what or else he’d have to explain some strange alien thing in the bathroom to the poor little guy. 

“Shadow, are you even conscious?”

 He took the time to study the figure laying on the floor before him. Black, inky, and red beady eyes adorned on each side of his head. They gave a slow blink. 

Sonic took that as a yes.

A sickening slosh echoed from the floor. 

Squelch. Slither. 

A faint drip followed. Shadow was more than alive and conscious. 

“okaaaay then… Well, I wouldn't know the first thing to help you.. You’re not even speaking, and if you are? It’s definitely not in my language…”

Shadow then began to move, closer to Sonic. The room filled with the faint suck-pop of slick tendrils shifting against tile. It sounded like raw flesh sliding through syrup—wet and wrong.

“uhh…?”

Shadow never touched Sonic, however. He kept moving, until he reached the doorframe. The tendrils slapped weakly against the tile, leaving trails of mucus-like slick.

“Outside? Did you want me to leave you here?”

A gurgle, low and close, bubbled up beneath the mass of limbs.

“Was that a yes?”

If Shadow could facepalm he would. That wasn’t what he was trying to say at all. He was trying to tell Sonic about how the daylight is affecting him.

He wiggled out of the bathroom, the black oily goo trailing behind his body. Shadow made it to the center of the room, then with a tentacle he raised it and pointed in the direction of the window.

Sonic follows, his head tilting before looking towards the window. Outside, the sun was officially kissing the horizon, which meant he too would be changing.

“ I see… I'm going to transform soon, yeah.”

A rumble could be heard from the beast.

The sun slowly hid behind the horizon, though it was barely noticeable from the window. Sonic’s body had begun his transformation to the werehog, a groan escaping his lips as he felt his body double in size, and claws screaming as it peeked through his gloves once again. He gave a growl of displeasure as it ended, sitting up on the floor and placing a hand on his face to hide any evidence of pain and discomfort.

But just as he was undergoing his transformation he had heard extra noise, not coming from him, but from his unfortunate friend. So when he moved his hands away and refocused his green orbs to the alien, he spotted the alien’s tentacles squirming around. The hiss and slick patter reminded Sonic of blood slipping off a blade, but then he realized what was going on. Shadow’s inky alien form was morphing to a much more recognizable version of himself. Fur, quills, a set of eyes only. Two hands and feet that replaced the tentacles. Shadow shuddered, exposed and in front of Sonic for Gaia’s sake. He wheezed, standing up and quickly walking to pick up his shoes from the bedroom and what remained in the bathroom. He locked himself in the bathroom.

Sonic, concerned for his friend, wanted to go and check on him. But knowing Shadow the Hedgehog, he’d get his ass beat if he tried to show any form of concern and pity towards him. And truth be told he was not in the mood to fight, so Shadow quietly leaving the space for the time being was the best option right now. However… Was he not going to sleep in the bed tonight?

Sonic grumbled, before deciding to give in to his kind hearted nature. He knocked on the bathroom door.

“Shadow?”

“Leave me alone.”

“Uh, I can’t do that?”

“ Yes, you can. Now leave before I start pounding you.”

“Shadow, You do realize I’m a bit stronger in this state, right? I can just as easily end you with one of my slams.”

He heard a scoff on the other side of the door. Shadow found that amusing. Sonic grinned.

“Yeah, have you seen me back when we fought those monsters???”

Silence.

“Come, I’ll let you sleep on the bed tonight. I’ll take the rug by the bed.”

There was a click and a turn of the knob. Shadow was scowling. 

“You need to rest. Go and sleep. I don’t need sleep right now.”

Sonic couldn’t ignore how Shadow’s gaze softened slightly, his eyes that were a usual crimson red looked more of a soft amber.

“ And you?”

“ You fool, I don't need to sleep. Did you not hear me the first time?”

”Alright, alright. I’ll go.” Sonic wasn't going to push him anymore, and instead headed straight to bed.

Shadow took this time to go and sit on the chair and collect his thoughts.

So much has happened today, and he’s honestly not looking forward to tomorrow.

Chapter Text

Before the Doom Morph sank into Shadow’s bones, his future had already been sold.

The room thrummed with the low hum of electricity. Each keystroke from Eggman’s gloved fingers echoed with a hard clack-clack-clack , followed by a high-pitched beep! as lines of code scrolled down the console screen.

Nearby, a mechanized arm whirred to life with a hydraulic hissss-thunk , adjusting the angle of a crystal core suspended in a stasis tube. A soft drip… drip… of condensation fell from a pipe overhead, striking metal with a hollow note.

Screens blinked to life— pop-fzzzt —as a grainy silhouette flickered onto the main display.

And then—

“You seek control over what you do not understand…Typical of your lineage.”

Eggman continued to fumble with his latest contraption. 

“Oh, so we’re doing this again. You shadowy types always show up right as things get interesting. He smirks. “But I’m listening. What do you want, and why should I care?” 

Black Doom decided to float right into view, his three red-orange eyes narrowed in contemplation. Under the dim light of the room he appeared quite sinister. “Because we both desire power. Your grandfather knew this… when he made a pact with me. To create perfection. The Ultimate Lifeform.”

Eggman stiffens, then scoffs. “Yes, yes, the great Gerald Robotnik, playing god in a lab coat. And what— you were his devil? How poetic. How is your son by the way? I heard he hasn’t really gotten close to you after you tried controlling him into submission a few years back.”

Black Doom decided to ignore Eggman’s sarcasm for the time being, and instead went back to his offering. “Your grandfather. He gave me access to his research. In return, he had a prototype. A being with potential. But flawed. Shadow belongs to me .”

Eggman passed a hand through his mustache, combing it slightly with his fingers. “So you want Shadow back. And in exchange... You help me control Dark Gaia? Build a new empire on the corpse of the old?”

The tall floating figure nodded. “Precisely. You provide the technology. I provide the energy. Once the temples are fully corrupted, we begin… the Rebirth.”

Eggman grins widely. “You drive a hard bargain, but I do like the sound of a ‘Rebirth.’ One with me at the helm.”

Black Doom moves closer to Eggman, his arms folded in front of him, resting on his chest; the gems of his gold-spiked medallions sparkling as he approached the evil mastermind. His Black Arms’ insignia swayed ever so gently against his brown robe, and Eggman couldn’t help but marvel at the creature. He knew he was looking at death reincarnated. He knew better than to push all the wrong buttons so early in their meet up.

“Give me Shadow. Corrupt the Gaia Temples. And you shall be Emperor of a new world. One shaped by darkness.”

“Heh. Well then, consider him yours . But don’t damage him too much just yet. I might still need his brain later.” Eggman clasped his hands together, his grin widening even more.

“...To answer your earlier question, he’s been leaving me on voicemail, and he doesn't seem to be interested.” 

Well, that was…. Unexpected . 

Black Doom sighs, his straight posture faltering after the deal they made, and he passed one of his three fingered hands on his face, shaking his head slightly.  It honestly caught Eggman off guard for a second.

“ Excuse me?”

“ Shadow. He won’t listen to me no matter how much I reach out to him.”

“Well that's simple, really. All children want is to be heard and understood. And a toy. Give them that and they’ll flock around you, always the loyal bunch. Trust me, my babies love it when I reward them with a good upgrade.” Eggman shrugs, before going back to mess with his console, muttering something incomprehensible. 

The alien stood there, letting the advice sink in.  He could try to understand his feelings. But what good would that be? He’s just an offspring with his inherited ultimate power. Shadow shouldn’t even be worried about unnecessary feelings in the first place. Unless… Baiting ?

“ You’re right. It is high time I reward my son for becoming such a strong force, maybe if he sees that I care about his progression… He’d be more willing to bend towards my commands.” And with that he leaves, Eggman finally alone and able to focus on his console. Eggman couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

“ Black Doom has a soft side for his offspring now, how surprising. I’ll use that information to get what I want when the time comes.”

___

The Sun greets both hedgehogs with its bright rays shining through the glass and onto their faces.

 And what was supposed to be a peaceful transition from nighttime to morning was a rather chaotic event.

Sonic wakes up, rather groggy, rubbing at his eyes and realizing that he was back to normal for now. But that happiness was short lived when he heard Shadow’s pained moan from where he was resting on the chair.

And it was in that very moment when Sonic tried leaving the bed to address the ebony hedgehog when he saw the transition once more, but in much more excruciating detail making him stop in his tracks. Flesh and bone murmured and crackled, sending a wave of anxiety down the blue hedgehog’s spine as all he could do was watch in horror. Shadow flashed his fangs before clenching them, eyes shut from the sheer amount of pain and agony coursing throughout his fragile body. He had to open his mouth and scream, but all he could do instead was let out a sound of what resembled choking; and it was then that Sonic snapped back into reality. Shadow looked like he was in pain. He rushed over to Shadow, worried. 

“Shadow??? Can’t you control this? You were fine last night, why’s it coming back out??”

A string of words that shadow couldn't really understand, or bother trying to answer. 

My stupid donor gave this to me. It is all his damn fault. And until I’m able to learn how to use it, it’ll keep flaring like this until it’s satisfied.

His thoughts were cloudy, and he felt his arms smooth, the same inky, gooey feeling covering the surface of his body like yesterday afternoon. 

“ Ssss…ngh-!” His head jolts back at the feeling of a hand on his slimy arm other than his own; his face contorts with something unrecognizable to Sonic, but he couldn’t unsee how Shadow was opening his mouth, strings of beaded saliva hanging from the roof of his mouth as he let out soft pants. 

Should he not have touched him? 

Why is he so slimy? Ew-

The daylight , Sonic remembered. He briefly lets go, shaking his hand to rid of the goo that contaminated the glove. He made his way to pull the black-out curtains, covering the room in complete darkness.

That brief touch. Shadow wanted more . It made him feel better. He became hungry.

Shadow was mid transformation when Sonic realized that the light somehow affected his body. He had a total of about three, four? long tendrils sprouting out from his back, flailing weakly. His forehead displayed a third eye, beady red, soulless. 

The half morphed hedgehog was wheezing, looking rather sweaty, and slimy, and honestly Sonic thought he was losing his alley right then and there.

“Shadow… Did that help?”

“Yeah.”

The hand to arm contact, that is.

“Mind telling me what is happening…?”

Shadow turned to face Sonic, looking like he was ready to belch. 

“This…” he let his words falter for a second as he recollected his thoughts. “... Is the work of Black Doom… and… I’m sensitive to light… This form burns through my energy rapidly, and I can’t control it. I become immobile… unless I…”

“ Unless you what? Shadow, I can’t read your thoughts…” Sonic walks back to the alien-hog, looking rather annoyed now. This is the first- no, second time he's encountered this scenario and Shadow in either instance wasn’t able to finish anything to make sense of what's going on with him.

Shadow couldn't answer, however. His three eyes widened at the sudden realization hitting him in the face. 

The morph acts parasitic.

“ This… is how he planned to enslave earth,” Shadow mutters. Not through war, but through hunger.

“ I’m sorry, what kind of nonsense are you talking about??” 

Shadow shifts his vision from the blank space next to Sonic over to his green orbs.

“Sonic… I’m useless during the daytime, and need an energy source from outside my body for the time being.”

Sonic took five long seconds to process this information, before laughing.

“ Dude, you’re hungry?”

“ Yes. Wait- No! Not actually hungry… I’m… It’s complicated, you blue buffoon. And you’re out here trying to make me speak of these things. I don’t even know you like that,” Shadow snaps, looking more annoyed at himself than at Sonic for even willing to answer that question.

“Well excuse me for worrying about you Shado-”

That was it. The ebony hedgehog was quick on his feet, dragging himself from the chair over to the standing blue hedgehog; mimicking a modern crippled zombie film. The tendrils he sported shot out, latching themselves onto Sonic’s body. One around the waist, one by the wrist. 

“Wh-”

He was going to test it out. Test what out, exactly? His theory that this transformation was parasitic, that’s what.

Sonic gasped—not from pain, but from the sheer alien sensation crawling across his skin. The tendrils didn’t hurt… but they pulsed, almost like they were breathing. One coiled lazily around his wrist, the other slithered across his waist with an unsettling familiarity.

“Uh… Shadow?”

The black hedgehog leaned in slightly, face contorted in visible restraint. The tendrils weren’t attacking—they were absorbing . Energy. Warmth. Vitality. Sonic felt it leave his body in strange, goosebump-raising waves. Not enough to weaken him… but enough to jolt him.

Shadow exhaled, the tension briefly leaving his frame. His third eye dimmed just slightly, and the tendrils relaxed.

“…Okay,” he muttered, voice hoarse. “Interesting. You’re... stable.”

“ I’m not stable, dude! What was that? Did you just—parasite’d me?!”

“You offered.”

“I didn’t!”

“You didn’t stop me.”

Sonic rubbed his arms, scowling. “This is the weirdest morning I’ve had in months. And I was already a werehog, mind you.”

“I didn’t know this would happen. Black Doom didn’t give me instructions . Just… pain.”

Sonic was going to retaliate, but what came out his open mouth was a gasp—not from pain, but from the strange, intimate sensation crawling across his skin so suddenly.

“Wait woah woah-”

The tendrils wrapped around him like ribbons of heat, slick with that inky sheen, alive with motion. The first that had slid slowly around his waist earlier started coiling , pulling him closer like it was learning the shape of him. The second that latched onto his wrist began caressing it, pulsing gently with each beat of his heart. It wasn’t hostile.

It was... hungry.

“Shadow… what are you doing?” Sonic’s voice was quiet, uncertain. But he didn’t move.

The ebony hedgehog said nothing. His mouth was parted, his breathing shallow—those low, rasped inhales punctuated by subtle pants, like he was fighting something inside. He licked at one of his top fangs; his third eye glowed, dimming slightly as the tendrils pulsed against Sonic’s body. The effect was immediate.

Sonic shivered. His knees weakened.

Holy shit. He looks hot-

Whatever energy was being drawn out of him—it wasn’t painful. It was warm. Tingling. His fur stood on end, the draw subtle but deeply personal, like something brushing against his soul. Shadow leaned in, fangs bared not in threat, but in restraint.

“…Okay,” he murmured finally, voice husky and low. “That’s helping. You're stabilizing me.”

“I still don’t feel very stable, you know,” Sonic muttered, still standing frozen in the tendrils' grip. His hand gripped the one at his waist—it was firm, warm, and flexing ever so slightly against him, as if responding to his touch.

“Well,” Shadow’s red eyes opened slowly—his normal ones, not the third—and locked with Sonic’s. “I needed to try,” he said, his voice like gravel softened by breath. “I can’t move in daylight without this.”

“Yeah, well… maybe a little warning next time?” Sonic tried to laugh, but his voice cracked slightly.

Shadow’s eyes darkened. “You didn’t pull away.”

Sonic blinked. Damn, did he catch on?

“I could feel your hesitation. But not rejection.”

Yeah, you’re being way too touchy with me, and I don’t really shy away from touch-

The tendrils curled tighter, pressing into the groove of Sonic’s back, the side of his neck, his inner elbow. It was too much—not painful, but too personal. Shadow took a shuddering breath, pupils dilating slightly.

“This form is… instinct-driven. I can feel what people have , and what I need. And right now…” He leaned closer, brushing the edge of his nose near Sonic’s jaw. “You’re overflowing with what I need.”

“You’re sounding kinda creepy now.”

“I am creepy. I’m infected.” It was definitely his Doom Morph speaking.

Sonic’s heart was pounding. Not from fear. From adrenaline.

“Is this going to hurt me?” he asked softly.

“No. Not if I’m careful.”

“And if you’re not ?”

Shadow didn’t answer. But the way his grip tightened, the way the third eye flickered, how the tendrils pressed into Sonic’s body, almost possessively—it gave him an idea.

The energy draw had shifted from survival… to something dangerously close to pleasure. Heck, it really was a pleasure. Shadow wasn’t feeding. He was indulging .

“Hey…” Sonic finally murmured, a little breathless. “You gonna… let go of me yet?”

Shadow’s eyes fluttered half-lidded. “I don’t know if I want to.”

That made Sonic stiffen, a different kind of tension running through him.

“…Well. This just got weird,” he said, but his voice lacked conviction.

“Tell me to stop, and I will.”

The tendril at his wrist loosened a little. The one at his waist pulsed again.

Sonic didn’t say anything.

Shadow’s breath was shallow now. He looked desperate—but not in a vulnerable way. Like he was starving and finally tasting something he’d forgotten he needed. Slowly, gently, he leaned forward and rested his forehead against Sonic’s, their breath mingling, the third eye dim and almost closed.

“I could live off you,” he whispered. “You glow.” Maybe Shadow was under the influence of this form, but that phrase was way too sensual for his liking. 

“…You sound like Rouge,” Sonic said faintly. “That’s something she’d say when she wants a favor.”

Shadow chuckled low in his throat—deep, rough, amused. It sent Sonic’s stomach for a dive–

“Then you better give me one.”

Gaia, was Shadow…?

“Are you flirting with me and feeding off me right now?”

“I’m improvising.” Shadow’s voice was barely a whisper, yet it filled the space between them like heat. “ Sonic, I..”
 

The way he said his name shouldn’t have made Sonic’s chest tighten, but they did.
A beat passed, heavy with breath. The tendril wrapped around his wrist slithered higher, brushing the inside of his arm—up to the curve of his bicep—and paused, like it was listening for a pulse. The one at his waist shifted lower, easing around his hips like it was learning the rhythm of his breath.

“Hmmnn, You’re really not letting go, huh,” Sonic murmured, trying for levity. But his voice betrayed him—too hushed, too shaken.
Shadow leaned closer still, their noses nearly touching, the third eye on his forehead fluttering shut as if savoring the moment.

“I don’t want to let go.”

The words vibrated in Sonic’s chest.
Something soft and slick brushed the underside of his chin—A third tendril, it seemed—and the sensation made him gasp aloud. It didn’t push. It simply rested there, curving against his throat like a phantom hand. Sonic’s breath hitched as Shadow finally reached out—real gloved fingers this time—resting one clawed hand on Sonic’s waist. It was almost flesh meeting flesh.

Heat surged through them both like a circuit closing.

“Shadow…” Sonic’s voice faltered. “This isn’t just about energy anymore, is it?”

Shadow’s eyes opened— all of them. Red irises glowing faintly, sharp with awareness.

“Not sure,” he said plainly. “I can’t explain myself right now.”

The way he was looking at Sonic—it wasn’t just hunger. It was fascination. Craving. Reverence. Like Sonic was light in physical form, and Shadow had been crawling in darkness for way too long.

“You feel good,” Shadow admitted, voice lower now. Almost reverent. “Too good. I didn’t think anyone could… feel like this. That’s all I can think of right now.”

“You’re… really making this awkward, you know,” Sonic tried to deflect, but his heart was hammering in his chest, and the tendril at his throat was still there , tracing lazy circles against the sensitive skin just beneath his jaw.

Damnit damnit damn-

“Then stop me.”

Sonic didn’t.

Instead, he exhaled shakily and brought one of his own hands up—fingers brushing the place where the tendril met Shadow’s back, warm and alive and twitching faintly in response to his touch.

“...Does this hurt you?” he asked, barely above a whisper.

“No.”
Shadow leaned forward, forehead grazing Sonic’s again.
“It heals me.”

There was a long pause.
And then, slowly, deliberately , Shadow tilted his head—just slightly—his tongue escaped his lips and brushed against Sonic’s cheek. Not quite a kiss.
But hey, Shadow isn’t really in his right mind right now.

A spark erupted between them, not from friction, but recognition . Something old, or maybe something new. Something parasitic… or symbiotic?

Shadow pulled back just an inch.
Sonic’s breath was shallow. He didn’t speak.

“Still want me to stop?” Shadow asked.

“…No,” Sonic replied, quietly. “But I think I’m in trouble.”

Shadow flashed him a smirk before replacing it with his usual calm demeanor. “I think I am too.”

Sonic would scream- Seeing the smirk creep up on the dark hedgehog’s face for that brief moment made his head spin. Why did Shadow feeding on his energy seem so… erotic? And the better question here is why didn't Shadow do this sooner ? Because Sonic was sure as hell willing to be his five-course meal if it meant he could see Shadow’s more personal, sensual side of him often; and heck, those damn tendrils Shadow sported all on his body? Yes please? He remembered their first encounter a few nights ago, how he’d tease Shadow till no foreseeable end as they (well, he) had pasta to satisfy his hunger. How it was Shadow that appeared out of nowhere, and not some other person that came to find him. Did Shadow actually like him in some sort of way? 

I mean, it’s obvious that Shadow puts up with me, but tolerating is one thing. Does he like me, though?

Shadow’s tendrils pulsed against Sonic’s frame—warmer now, steadier. And something in him shifted . He went quiet. Still. Eyes lidding with a strange kind of calm, like a hunger finally satisfied. Then suddenly—

His entire body began to dissolve into liquid goo .

“Whoa—Shadow?!” Sonic tried to pull back, but too late.

Inky energy surged through the tendrils, threading along Sonic’s skin before sinking in . It was painless, but not subtle—like warm smoke slipping into his lungs, spiraling along his spine, nestling into his core.

And then it was over.

No Shadow in sight.

Just Sonic. Alone

He stumbled backward, breathing hard, gripping the edge of the bed. “What… what the hell just happened??”

Inside his mind, a voice rumbled—dry, familiar, amused.

‘Don’t panic.’

“Too late!”

‘It’s temporary. Your energy stabilizes me. I can’t survive long in daylight, not yet anyways without… merging.’

“You merged into me???”

Silence.
Then:

‘Yes. You’re warm.’

Sonic’s face went red instantly. “Oh great . You’re not just in my head, you're flirting in it. You just—” Sonic stated outloud, pressing his palms against his chest. “You moved in .”

‘Again. It's temporary.’

“Oh, that makes it so much better—”

But before he could be any more sarcastic, SLAM! 

The door flew open with a cheery shout, arms full of fruit skewers and candied nuts. It was Chip.

“ Sooooniiiiiic! Sonic! Hey! Sorry I vanished earlier, there were too many snacks at that fruit cart.  You will not believe the honey mango I just found—oh hey, where’s—where’s Shadow? Didn’t he say he’d stick around till nightfall?”

Sonic froze.

‘Lie.’

“Oh, thanks for the tip,” he muttered under his breath. Then casually stretched his arms out just a little too wide , letting out a very forced chuckle. “Haaaaah yeah, about that… he… uh… had to go!”

Chip blinked. “Go? Go where?”

‘I went on a mission.’

 “Oh! Uh, yeah, Shadow got a call. Suuuper important top-secret mission—something-something Chaos. He said he’d meet back up with us tonight. Definitely before we head to the Professor’s place.”

“Where exactly is this mission?”

“To uh…a church?”

A pause.

“Church?” Chip repeated, completely deadpan.

‘This host is an idiot, I'm moving out.’

“I mean a temple!” Sonic corrected quickly, waving his hands. “He wanted to get a head start, y’know? Felt the call of destiny or whatever.”

Chip floated closer, squinting at him. “Are you okay? You’re sweating... Kind of pulsing too? Did you exercise while I was out?”

Sonic looked down—his body was sweaty. He immediately crossed his arms. “Nope! Totally normal post-werehog glow. Happens all the time. Definitely not housing a genetically modified alien inside me.”

‘Again, You’re stupid.’

Say one more bad thing about me and I’m gonna have to ask you kindly to leave my body and rot under the sun- Sonic mentally scolded the alien hog literally inside of him.

There was a long pause.

“…You wanna sit down?” Chip asked gently.

“No. No sitting. Definitely standing today.”
He faked a yawn. “You know, so much energy ! Just raring to go corrupt some temples—wait, no! Save some temples. That. That’s what we’re doing.”

From deep inside, Shadow groaned.

‘This is the worst host body.’

Sonic scowled at the air. “I heard that.”

Chip raised an eyebrow. “Heard what?”

“Nothing!”

“...You sure you didn’t eat a cursed churro again?”

“ Nah, I’m good, really Chip!”

The flying chihuahua then smiled, way too brightly.
“Huh. Alright! Long as he doesn’t miss the reunion! Tails is dying to talk to him about the temple readings. Oh! I’ll lead the way to them! I also heard rumors from the fruit stands! I'll take you there while heading over,” Chip continued to chatter as he flew out of the room, excited buzzing following the little guy. 

Sonic needed a moment. This was all way too much for him to process, especially this early in the goddamn morning. He ignored Chip's offer of leading him for the time being.

Sonic sagged back onto the bed, exhaling.

“Okay,” he muttered to himself. “Okay. This is fine. I’m possessed by an alien ex-hedgehog war machine who wants to sleep in my ribcage during the day. No big deal.”

Shadow’s voice thrummed again, laced with smug amusement.
‘You’re adapting.’

“Not by choice!”

Pause.

‘...You still smell good.’

“SHADOW—!”

“SOOOOOONIIIIC are ya coming?!”

Sonic buried his face in his hands, groaning loud enough for the heavens to hear. “Y-yeah, Chip! Just… stretching my soul or something!”

He paused by the mirror. His reflection looked the same—just a bit more flushed, a little less composed. But the faint red glint in his eyes? That was new.

Inside, Shadow stirred.
‘You’ll get used to it.’

Sonic scowled at the glass.
“I really hope not.”

Chapter Text

The sun in Spagonia was beginning its slow descent, casting long golden streaks between the ancient buildings and clock towers. A gentle breeze tugged at Sonic’s quills as he walked through the cobbled streets alone—well, not quite alone. But it felt that way.

Despite everything that had happened, there was a strange hollowness inside him.

The walk helped—sort of. The city’s rhythm, the comforting clatter of distant trolleys, the smell of roasted street food—it all reminded him of normalcy. But with Shadow silent and unseen, that sense of strange warmth Sonic had grown used to was... gone. It felt like waking up after a vivid dream only to realize you were still in an empty room.

Was it wrong to miss him already?

Chip fluttered ahead cheerily, unaware of Sonic’s inner fog. “C’mon, Sonic! We’ll be late! Professor Pickle’s probably buried in books again!”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming,” Sonic called out with a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He quickened his pace.

As they reached the university’s weathered stone archway, the familiar clank and whir of Tails’ gadgets echoed from inside. The moment Sonic stepped in, a shout rang out.

“Sonic, you’re back already?!” Tails squeaked, flinging a wrench over his shoulder without looking.

“Hey, professor! Hey, Tails!” Sonic greeted with an exaggerated flourish. “You know me—I power nap, then power through! Thought I’d drop by before I start heading to the temple. And hey, I didn’t forget—I’ll show you my weird new form thing tonight. Pinky promise!”

Tails frowned, arms crossed. “I said rest , Sonic. As in more than a few hours. Saving the world with one eye half-closed doesn’t sound like a great strategy.”

Before Sonic could fire back a snarky reply, Professor Pickle shuffled forward, mid-chew on his ever-present cucumber sandwich. “Ah! Our blue hero returns. Sprightly as ever, I see.”

“Yup! So! Temple. Location. Hit me with it.”

Tails glanced at the professor, who gave a small nod. “We’ve made progress,” Tails said proudly, pulling up a digital map. “One temple’s actually right here in Spagonia! The other one’s further out—in Holoska. But this one’s definitely the closest.”

“Perfect! Then I’ll get moving after this. Appreciate it, buddy!”

As Sonic turned to leave, Tails tilted his head. “Wait—what about Shadow?”

Sonic froze for half a second. A beat too long. His fingers twitched.

“Ah, yeah, about that—he had, uh... a mission. Said he’d meet up with us later tonight,” Sonic said quickly, too quickly.

Tails narrowed his eyes. “Really? A mission here ?”

“Y-Yeah! I would’ve tagged along but... didn’t wanna cramp his style, y’know?” Sonic chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.

A voice curled inside his mind like smoke:
‘You are a terrible liar, faker.’

Sonic nearly choked on air, coughing as he waved his hands wildly to dismiss Tails’ concern. 

“Are you alri–”

“Haha—dust in my throat! It’s fine! I’m fine!”

Tails didn’t look convinced, but Chip’s chipper voice broke the tension. “Sonic, why don’t we go scout out the temple? I bet the view will be amazing from up there!”

“Great idea!” Sonic jumped at the change of subject. “We’ll catch you guys later!”

With a quick wave, he dashed off with Chip, leaving Tails mildly confused and the university behind.

___

As the wind kissed his face and the city blurred into a ribbon of warm-toned light, Sonic felt it again—that exhilaration, that freedom. His legs moved on their own, a joyful rhythm building beneath him. He stretched his arms wide, laughing as he picked up speed, the world a whirling dream around him.

“WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

But something was different.

He was fast—too fast.

His reflexes felt sharper than they should have, his awareness widened beyond what he’d ever known. Every flicker of light, every motion of the crowd, every pebble in the road—he dodged with impossible ease.

Was it him? Or was it them ?

When he finally slowed to a stop, panting, he realized he had left Chip far behind. His head pulsed. His balance wavered. A dizzy shiver crawled down his spine.

“Woah... ugh…” Sonic groaned, clutching his temples.

Then came the sigh. That familiar , tired sigh.

‘You’re too reckless... slow down..Don’t get too excited. The more energy you burn, the more I have to feed.’

Sonic grimaced. “Geez... you sure know how to kill a vibe…”

 Chip makes it eventually, huffing and puffing slightly from the unexpected exercise Sonic got him to do.

“Sonic, why’d you run away like that???”

“ Honestly Chip? I got carried away in the excitement of running, haha,” Sonic grinned sheepishly before turning to look at his surroundings. There, right smack in front of him was the first temple. Somehow, without noticing he had unconsciously made his way to their destination. Sonic shrugs at Chip, who was now staring at the entrance in complete utter awe, before entering the temple ahead without Sonic. The blue blur follows slowly, wondering if this was all a bit too easy. Shouldn't there be any-

‘60 degrees counterclockwise, three enemies, Sonic.’

Sonic quickly whipped his head back, startling Chip with the sudden action. And surely right there, three badniks in all of their clumsy glory with red artificial eyes beaming through the temple’s darkest corner.

“ Shadow, how did y-”

His body involuntarily lunged forwards, directly towards one of the badniks that was closest. Sonic became alarmed, seeing his feet move rapidly towards the machine.

“ WOAH- HEY?!” He exclaims, seeing the giant machine whirl to life and raise their guntlets at Sonic. 

The next scene unfolded like one in a movie: Sonic dodging huge ass bullets with ease, all while slightly moving; barely enough so that the impact never hit him and instead around him. Sonic was freaking out.

“ SHADOW, WHAT THE FUCK?!”

And just like that, his mind was able to gain control once more of his body. 

 Sonic’s hands trembled, finding it weird how he hadn’t commanded his limbs to do such things, much less engage with these badniks.  But he quickly shook those thoughts off as he almost got squished with one of those badnik’s metal palms. He performed a cartwheel, before hopping just in time out of the way from another incoming blow from the machines. 

“ Soooniiiic!”

“ Chip! Hide!”

Sonic couldn’t really play hero and protect Chip at this moment, since he was still trying to get used to sharing his body with Shadow, and now that they were more or less in a battle, Shadow was making things… Harder for him. 

“ But Soni-”

“I said to hide!”

The little light creature squeaked and zipped behind a crumbling pillar, peeking out just enough to keep Sonic in view. “Be careful!”

“I’m trying! ” Sonic barked, voice strained as he twisted away from another crushing swipe.

His body moved too smoothly. Too fast. Each dodge was flawless—unnaturally so. Like his instincts were wired ahead of time. The moment he thought to leap, his legs had already done it.

‘Turn left—now.’

Sonic barely had time to blink before his body spun sharply, flipping in the air and slamming into one of the badniks with a wild, glowing spin dash that tore through its armor in one clean strike.

“What the hell—!?” Sonic landed roughly, breathing hard. “Okay. Nope. That was you. That was definitely you! ”

‘You’re welcome.’

Another enemy lunged at him from behind, and Sonic whirled mid-shout, his elbow driving into its core like a piston. The red light in its eye flickered out.

His hands were shaking now—not from fear, but from the disconnect . He hadn't done that. Not really.

“Shadow—listen to me!” Sonic barked, ducking behind a stone outcropping to breathe. “I’m not some meat puppet! If you’re gonna pull this kind of thing again, I need you to ask! Or—or give me a damn warning!”

A pause. Static in his head.

‘You hesitated. I didn’t. You would’ve been hit.’

Sonic clenched his jaw. “That’s not the point.”

Another beat of silence. Then:

‘You’re the body. I’m the survival instinct. We both want to live.’

Sonic’s heart thudded at the phrasing. Not we both want you to live . We both want to live.

For a second, Sonic didn’t move.

A cold realization slithered down his spine.

This wasn’t just a passenger situation.

This was co-pilot , with a damn stubborn hand always ready to take the wheel.

“Sonic, look out!” Chip screamed.

Snapped from thought, Sonic somersaulted to the side as a third badnik surged toward him, steam pouring from its vents. His body reacted too fast again , dodging and landing a high-kick that sent the machine spiraling into the wall.

“Damn it…” Sonic whispered, panting. “This is gonna be a long day.”

After their glorious dancing with the machines, Sonic had followed Chip off to the back wall of the temple, the emerald's glow dull and flickering on his hand. The room had emptied out except for him. Chip was muttering something about snacks as he lightly grazed the wall to figure out what the strange symbols and marks meant. 

It was quiet now. Too quiet.

"Shadow..." Sonic spoke, lowering his voice to a whisper in the quiet chamber. “Hey… you still in there?”

The silence pressed in.

Then, like an echo under his skin, Shadow stirred. A pulse, a flicker of presence.

‘You should’ve let me take control.’

The voice wasn’t angry. Just… there. Close. Near his ear, even though it wasn’t.

“I couldn’t,” Sonic murmured. “Not with Chip. He already thinks I’m acting weird.”

‘You are.’

A small smirk twitched at Sonic’s mouth. “You’re one to talk.”

A pause. Then, unexpectedly: ‘…It’s disorienting.’

Sonic blinked. “What is?”

‘Being inside you. Feeling everything you feel. The light. The way your heart speeds up when you lie to them. It’s… foreign.’

There was a gentle throb behind Sonic’s ribs, not his own heartbeat, but something chained to it. Like a second presence adjusting itself to the rhythm of his body.

“Guess that makes two of us, huh?” Sonic whispered. “I don’t know how this happened. But… I’m not mad. Just... confused.”

Shadow didn’t answer right away.

Then, soft and low: ‘…You didn’t resist.’

Sonic’s cheeks colored faintly. Didn’t feel right to push you out. You were—are—hurting, he thought.

‘That’s dangerous.’

“Yeah? Well. So am I.” Whispered the blue hedgehog.

Their shared silence wasn’t empty this time—it was full of weight and quiet understanding.

Sonic finally stands before the elevated table, and placed the dead emerald on the perfectly shaped slot. The emerald flickered briefly before going dead silent —no glow, no hum. As if its connection to the temple had been… severed.

“Uh oh,” Chip's small voice echoed throughout the temple.

Sonic stared. “That’s not good.”

Shadow was still.

‘It’s rejecting me.’

Sonic’s brows furrowed.

The hell do you mean, it’s rejecting you? Sonic thought out, wondering if Shadow was able to listen to his complaint even though it wasn’t verbal. He could, by the way. 

He stepped back from the pedestal as if it had personally insulted him. The emerald—dim, glassy—sat cold in its socket, like a dead eye. No pulse. No light. Nothing.

That glow—it was supposed to answer them. That surge of harmonic energy they’d come to expect by now at this temple according to Tails and the professor’s Gaia manuscripts. But here? Right now? Flatline.

Shadow said nothing.

Sonic’s breath hitched as his thoughts began to spiral.

“C’mon… why isn’t it working?” he whispered, staring at the altar as if it might change its mind. “We’re here . We’ve got the damn emerald. We did everything right.”

He started pacing. Frantic footsteps echoing in the hollow chamber. His gloved fingers tugged at his quills. His stomach churned.

“Did we miss something? Was it too late? Is it because I—I’ve got you still stuck inside me?” His voice cracked slightly, and he clenched his fists. “Damn it. ”

Chip hovered near the wall, watching with wide, worried eyes. What did Sonic mean by having “him” stuck inside him??? 

“Sonic? Maybe it’s just… outta sync right now? Maybe it needs a little more time? Or…”

He floated closer, glancing between Sonic and the dead emerald.

“…Maybe it responds more when you’re, y’know… in your Werehog form?”

Sonic flinched.

The idea shouldn’t have hit so hard, but it did. The words slithered in.

Shadow had to be separated from him in order to work.

And in order for Shadow to be alright while outside his body, it needed to be well over midday at least.

… But he gave Chip the answer he was looking for instead of Sonic’s actual plan. 

Sonic forced out a shaky laugh, masking the tremble in his voice. “Right. Maybe it just wants the furrier me, huh?”

Chip smiled sheepishly. “Could be! Night’s not too far off. I say we come back then. Recharge, get a snack, maybe gaze up at the stars!”

Sonic nodded absently.

But he wasn’t hearing Chip anymore.

There was something dark pressing behind his ribs. Something silent and waiting.

And it wasn’t the emerald. 

“Hold on, Chip.”

Sonic turned, walking toward the edge of the chamber where the broken wall gave way to open forest.

“Gonna take a leak,” he called over his shoulder. “Be right back.”

Chip waved. “Okay, don’t fall into any cursed pits!”

Sonic didn’t laugh.

He slipped into the shadows of the foliage, the temple walls behind him glowing faintly in the dusk.

When he was sure he was alone, far enough that Chip’s voice wouldn’t carry, Sonic stopped.

He leaned against a tree, exhaling hard through his nose. “Alright,” he muttered. He glanced at the sunset, the horizon painted in beautiful shades of oranges and pinks. “You can come out now, it’s no longer day…”

No response.

“Shadow,” he hissed, quieter. “Don’t make me beg.”

A beat.

“Please…?”

Then, like a rupture in reality, something moved .

His breath hitched as a cold slither of energy crawled up his spine, curling around his ribs, tugging at the base of his skull.

“Nnh—ah…!” he gasped, stumbling forward, bracing himself against the bark.

His back arched violently as a pressure built in his chest. Something was unfurling inside him. Not claws. Not fur. Something darker. Silkier. A slow unspooling of wet, inky mass.

It wasn’t painful . Not exactly. But it was intimate.

A feverish, parasitic exhale dragged itself through his body—Shadow’s essence winding down his nervous system like a lover caressing every synapse.

“Ghh—hah—shh… Shadow,” Sonic groaned, trembling. His legs shook as the air grew thick, like fog and venom in his lungs.

Then came the sound: a wet, velvety slide , as Shadow began to extract himself. The silhouette of a tendril-like appendage pulsed beneath Sonic’s skin, tracing up his throat, bulging lightly in his neck before slipping out from between his shoulder blades.

A moan escaped Sonic’s lips—quiet, shaky, pleasurable to the ear .

“Ah—fuuuck…”

Dark mist intermingled behind him, forming into a tall, half-solid Shadow. His body still shimmered like oil, not quite whole. His breathing was ragged, as if he too had been straining to stay inside .

Sonic, panting, pressed his forehead to the bark.

“You…hah…. reeeally waited until I said please, huh?”

Shadow didn’t respond at first. His eyes were glowing faintly, gaze locked on Sonic’s back, where damp patches marked where he’d emerged.

“I didn’t want him to see,” he said lowly, voice husky from reformation.

“You were gonna keep hiding inside me forever?” Sonic shook off any gooey evidence marking his body.

“…If it meant staying alive? Yes.”

Sonic turned slowly, biting back another shudder as his skin prickled with the after-feeling of shared nerves.

He faced Shadow, flushed, vulnerable, chest rising and falling.

“Well…” Sonic muttered, licking his lips. “Now you’ve got some explaining to do.”

Shadow’s stare lingered.

‘You didn’t push me out,’ his voice echoed again—not with words, but with resonance.

And Sonic, heat still in his cheeks, didn’t deny it.

“You… You’re something else, Shadow.” Sonic crosses his arms over his chest, trying to mask the flush still clinging to his skin, the way his breath hadn’t fully calmed. “Seriously though. Spill it. That stunt you pulled—back there in the temple. You were way too chill for that kind of freaky reaction. Did you know that was gonna happen? What even are you now?”

Now then, Shadow knew this was going to happen, but he didn’t expect to be bombarded with so many questions at once. So instead of answering he simply crossed his arms, mirroring his blue counterpart, and huffed. 

Sonic, not liking that he chose to be silent instead of speaking, gathered himself before stomping over to the ebony hedgehog, and grabbed him by the arm.

“Shadow, answer me— woah—”

He didn’t get the answer he wanted.  

Instead, his world flipped .  

The sky spun once—twice—before his back hit the earth hard, breath leaving him in a ragged oomph .

Shadow was on him.  

One forearm locked against his throat—not choking, but heavy. His hips pinned Sonic’s down. Their faces were close. Too close.

Sonic’s eyes widened, breath shallow. “Wh-what the hell was—”

“Are you looking to get beat up, hedgehog?”  

Such violent behavior after being very calm and composed a few seconds prior sent Sonic for a loophole. He opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted once more.

“Just because I willingly showed you one of my weaknesses, it does not give you the right to push me around like I'm beneath you.” He snarled, before ultimately letting him go. He brushes off imaginary dust bunnies from his legs, and stands up straight as he stares daggers at Sonic.

The blue blur slowly sat up, raising his hands up in defense. 

“ Listen, Shadow. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way, I’m sorry. It’s just that… Well, this all has been a whole lot for me to handle all at once, okay?”

“ Yeah. And you think it isn't for me?”

“ Well, with the way you’re acting? I guessed that you were pretty well accustomed to this kind of lifestyle..”

Shadow rolled his eyes.

“  You fool. I’ll say this once, and only once. This is all just as new to me as it is to you. The fact that I was able to latch onto you was just a theory of mine, and I definitely didn't know I was able to protect you while inside your body. The fact that you, of all people, ended up being the one closest to me was a coincidence.”

“I could just as easily test this theory out with anyone else,” Shadow continued, though his voice sounded thinner now—more strained. “But that runs the risk of letting more people know of… well. This .” He gestured to his still half-formed body, shadows curling faintly at his fingertips. Seconds of silence ticked by, but during that silence his body had returned to its original state, one unclouded by the gooey tendrils and instead his hedgehog traits had been completely revealed.

“ I also didn't know until you went on that light jog earlier that in order for you to be more efficient I need to feed off your body’s energy and therefore lend you my abilities…” 

Seeing Sonic silent, Shadow decided to finish his thoughts under his breath; almost like he regrets it.

“Besides… something about you made it easier.”

“ So, you're saying…. That you’re learning along with me?”

“Yes.”

“And… you’re helping me whenever you're inside me, but that also means you have to use some of my energy?”

“ Kind of…? Look, I'm able to absorb anyone’s energy, it doesn’t matter who I get it from. But that means the host body will have their energy drained whoever that may be. But in return, you get stronger while I’m inside.” 

“That sounds… crazy.”

“What sounds crazy?”

Sonic went stiff, as if frozen mid-thought.

“CHIP?!” He turned fast enough to whip his quills. “How long were you—”

“Just now!” Chip blinked innocently, floating upside-down as if this was totally normal. “I thought I heard voices so I came to check, and—oh! Shadow! Hiiiiii! How was your super-secret mission to that one, uh… church? That’s what Sonic called it, right?”

Sonic’s eye twitched. “Temple, Chip.”

Shadow huffs, straightening his posture once more before crossing his arms. 

“ My mission was to investigate a nearby ancient architectural site which just so happens to be this very temple. I am supposed to keep a recording log of my findings, which proved useless upon seeing that this blue faker had already infiltrated the site and snooped around… And damaged property.”

“ Ahhh, it was??? I thought you had already arrived here then, Shadow? How come you only just now found it?” The little guy flew up to Shadow, curiosity showing with his every movement.

“ I was sent the wrong coordinates. I came here purely by sheer luck.” A smooth ass lie if Sonic had to guess.

“ Well, then you’re just in time then! We are waiting a bit until Sonic becomes Mr. Big-Monster-Guy again! Maybe that way we can restore this piece of land then. We tried it earlier and it couldn’t work…”

“ Hmph. As to be expected from a much inferior life form.”

“ Hey, Shadow, be nice!” Sonic whined, before sticking his tongue out at him. Shadow could only turn away.

“ Anyway, very soon we will go ahead and attempt it once more.”

__

Time slowly passed; the moon once full now a waning gibbous hung like a watchful eye in the sky, casting pale light over the fragmented landscape. The three of them—Chip hovering nervously, Sonic’s heavy werehog form lumbering forward, and Shadow trailing silently behind—stood at the temple’s entrance. The air felt different this time. Charged.

Sonic paused, one clawed hand brushing along the stone as he looked toward the inner sanctum of the Gaia Temple. It had rejected them earlier. Cold. Silent. But now… something stirred.

The moment they stepped past the threshold, a low hum echoed from the earth. Sonic's ears twitched, his glowing pupils narrowing as he felt the pulse of the planet thrum through his bones.

The Chaos Emerald he held was dormant in his grip—barely perceptible at first.

Shadow, still walking at his side, glanced down at the Emerald. "It should respond," he muttered, narrowing his eyes.

"Wait…" Chip whispered. "There is a charged feeling in the air. It wasn’t here earlier. That means…!"

Sonic grunted. The weight in his chest—the other presence—was receding.
With the shift into nightfall and his full Werehog form active, Shadow had been pushed out, forcibly separated from within him.

A shadowy figure now stood behind him in full, detached presence—arms crossed, back leaned against a pillar, as if he hadn't just spent the day riding passenger in Sonic’s skin.

With Shadow fully outside and Sonic's beastly self in control, the Emerald could finally be restored.

A sudden, sharp resonance cut through the air.

"Now, Sonic!" Chip yelled, and Sonic lunged forward with the Emerald raised. He slams the emerald onto the slot in the pedestal, and watches it flicker to life.

The temple shook violently. A tectonic groan cried out from the earth beneath them as stone ground against stone. Light burst from the altar in a pillar that stretched through the heavens, and a cascading wave of emerald-green energy swept through the land.

Outside, hills cracked and realigned. Floating debris spiraled in mid-air before slamming down, locking into place like puzzle pieces finding their fit. Trees shook, the sky flashed, and the floating fragment of land they stood upon settled with a final thunderous jolt.

The Gaia Temple had been restored.

The ground was still again. The air rang with silence.

Sonic fell to one knee, panting heavily, claws digging into the stoned floor.

"...Whew," he finally exhaled. "Guess the second time’s the charm."

Chip was already spinning in place with a cheer. “You did it!! We did it!!”

Shadow remained silent, gaze turned toward the newly reformed landscape through the open archway. He didn’t say anything. Not a word. But his posture was no longer stiff with mistrust. His eyes then lingered on Sonic, unreadable.

Sonic offered a half-smirk despite his exhaustion. “Bet G.U.N. didn’t brief you for that kind of seismic activity, huh?”

“...Hmph,” was all Shadow gave him, but the absence of hostility in his voice said more than his words ever could.

Chip pulled out Sonic's communicator and chirped into it, “Tails! Professor! You won’t believe this—we got the temple working again!!”

Crackling static gave way to Tails’ voice: “No way! That’s amazing! Wait— did you say ‘we’ ?”

Sonic and Chip exchanged looks before Sonic tilted his head, glancing over at Shadow again.

“…Yeah,” Sonic said, with a softened voice. “We.”

___

Night air cooled the crumbled edges of the newly grounded temple. Moonlight trickled through cracks in the stone ceiling above, casting silvery shapes across the floor. Chip had already zipped off ahead toward the university, and Tails had offered to relay their success to Professor Pickle, giving Sonic an unspoken window to stay behind a little longer.

And so he did.

Sonic stood at the edge of the cliff that overlooked the glowing landscape below — the chunk of land they had just brought back into place, now humming faintly with returned life. His quills shifted a little in the breeze. Behind him, the heavy footfalls of someone reluctant to join him grew louder.

“You’re not leaving yet?” Sonic asked without turning.

A low, gruff exhale. “I was considering it.”

He turned now, meeting Shadow’s crimson eyes — or at least, the way they caught the moonlight and gleamed faint red. Shadow stood there, arms folded as always, silent and composed. But there was something else in him now. Sonic could see it. A restlessness.

“…You okay?”

“Hmph.” Shadow looked off to the side. “My body feels… off. Even after separating.”

Sonic stepped away from the cliff edge, approaching slowly. “It’s the daylight, right? You felt it earlier.”

A pause.

“…Tolerating the sun inside your body is… one thing,” Shadow murmured. “But once apart, even proximity seems to wear on me.”

He didn’t sound proud of that. He sounded frustrated — like his pride had taken another hit just for admitting it.

“I think,” Sonic said quietly, “we both know what happens if you wander too far during the day. Without a host body, I mean…”

Shadow didn’t respond.

The wind whispered past them, ruffling Sonic’s quills again. The ground beneath had only just stopped trembling — but his chest still felt tight, like the echo of that quake hadn’t quite settled.

“…You don’t have to rush off, you know.” Sonic looked at him again, gently. “You could stay.”

Shadow finally looked at him, but his expression was unreadable.

“Not forever,” Sonic added with a little smirk. “Just for a bit. ‘Til we figure out what this whole deal is. You, me… the morphing, the temples… there’s still a lot we don’t know.”

“I don’t work on blind hunches.”

“You’re working with me, aren’t you?” Sonic grinned wider. “That’s the definition of a hunch.”

Shadow scoffed — but it was soft. Less annoyance, more resigned amusement.

“…I’m not staying because you asked.”

“No?”

“I’m staying,” Shadow said, stepping closer, “because the sun is dangerous. Because I need your energy to function during the day. Because this body is still unstable…Tch. My body is… compromised. The light agitates the mutation.”

Sonic nodded once. “Yeah. I figured.”

“…But,” Shadow continued after a breath, his voice quieting, “also… because we’re not done.”

Sonic blinked.

“The temples. The changes. You. Me. There’s something about all of this…” His voice faded into a hum of thought. “I don’t like not knowing.”

Sonic’s smile softened. “Good. Then we’re in it together.”

For a second, silence passed between them again, this time comfortable.

Shadow shifted his weight, arms uncrossing.

“You know I don’t… do this,” he muttered. “The waiting. The resting. This kind of quiet.”

“Yeah. I know,” Sonic said, rubbing the back of his neck. “But maybe… just this once?”

They stood side by side now, facing the horizon. The stars stretched above them, pinpricks in a dark velvet sky.

“I can handle the quiet,” Sonic said after a moment. “If it means I’m not alone in this.”

Shadow didn’t reply right away.

But he didn’t leave either.

He stayed.

___

The rumbling had faded. The stone beneath their feet no longer shifted, and the fractured earth had knit itself back into place with the pulse of the awakened Chaos Emerald. What had been one trembling ruin was now  whole—silent and still beneath the soft violet veil of night.

Sonic strolls through the streets of Spagonia, werehog arms loosely resting behind his head, chest still rising and falling from exertion. He hadn't realized how much his own heartbeat had synced with the tremors of the world.

Chip floated just above, nibbling the remains of a chocolate bar with a satisfied hum. “Mmmm! Nothing beats a good planetary restoration! Feels like the earth is breathing again!”

Shadow walked a short distance away, silent, arms crossed. The red of his eyes gleamed subtly beneath the starlight.

The “parasite” had separated again. Shadow’s body—freed, for now—was rigid, like it hadn’t quite settled back into itself without resistance. Sonic could feel the after-echo of the connection between them slowly dimming, like a thread fraying at the edges.

“...You okay?” Sonic asked quietly, slowing down just enough to match the brooding hedgehog’s pace. Shadow didn’t answer right away. His eyes flicked toward Sonic, then away, like he was weighing his words too carefully.

“I don’t like the stillness,” he muttered finally, his voice low. “It feels… false.”

Sonic tilted his head. “False?”

Shadow closed his eyes. “Like something’s waiting. Watching. Even now.”

There was a long pause between them. Sonic closed the gap between them as he walked, letting their shadows overlap under the moonlight.

“Well,” Sonic said softly, “if something is waiting, we’ll handle it. Like always.”

Shadow’s fists clenched at his sides, then relaxed.

“...It’s different now,” he admitted. “I can feel the heat when the sun rises. Even when it’s miles away. It licks at my skin like it wants to burn me. Without your presence, my body resists the light.” He looked down at his gloved hand, flexing it slightly. “It won’t last long– I , wont last long.”

He hated how vulnerable he sounded just now. But honestly speaking, no one else was able to understand what he was going through. At least Sonic had a gist of his abnormal changes. Sonic was almost becoming his personal journal at this point.

And with that we could say that the thread between them hadn’t severed completely. Sonic knew it. Some part of Shadow still lingered in him—and vice versa. A shared pulse. A resonance that the Chaos Emerald had briefly acknowledged, if only when Sonic was fully transformed.

“Then... maybe you shouldn’t go just yet,” Sonic said quietly, breaking the silence.

Shadow turned, narrowing his eyes.

Sonic met his gaze. “I mean—if it’s a risk being out there alone. You don’t have to pretend you’ve got it all under control.”

Again with the whole You don’t have to do things alone , schtick. He heard it once from Rouge. This is the second time he’s heard it. And honestly? It dampens his pride even more of being an independent person.

“I do have it under control.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Sonic waved a clawed hand lazily, “but even ultimate life forms get singed sometimes. Look, I’m just saying… the next Gaia Temple isn’t too far. Tails and the professor already have the coordinates. It’d be dumb to split up now, not when we’re making some kind of progress.”

He gave Shadow a lopsided, almost sheepish grin. “Besides… I wouldn’t mind the company.”

That last bit came out quieter than the rest.

Shadow studied him. The silence between them stretched, delicate as spun glass.

I want to stay.

Not that he’d say it outright—but there was a tension in the way his jaw set, a flicker of hesitation in the usual certainty of his movements. Maybe it was discomfort. Maybe it was survival. Maybe, just maybe, it was something gentler beneath the surface.

“I’ll consider it,” Shadow finally said, and turned his head slightly away.

But he didn’t ignore it. Didn’t vanish into the darkness like he usually did.

He just walked there, beside Sonic, while Chip softly hummed in the background and the wind carried the faint scent of olive trees and herbs growing along the Spagonian vegetation.

They both looked up at the stars in quiet, shared stillness—like they were waiting for something neither of them had the words for yet.

This hopeful silence stretched on until they’ve reached the steps of the university.

Chapter Text

The old university’s doors creaked open with a familiar groan. The air inside was warm and musty with old paper and polished wood, a sharp contrast to the crisp Spagonian night air they left behind. Tails was already sprinting ahead, pushing the doors wider as Sonic and Shadow stepped inside together.

Tails’ eyes sparkled the moment he laid eyes on Sonic. “Whoa!” he gasped, dropping his toolkit in favor of circling his friend. “You really are the Werehog! Are you in any pain??? Do you feel cold? Hot? Hungry??? Wait—are your teeth sharper than before? What about your bones? Did they snap or morph cleanly? Can you feel vibrations better with those claws now???”

“Geez, Tails,” Sonic laughed. “Let a guy breathe.”

Professor Pickle leaned around the corner with a half-eaten cucumber sandwich in hand. His spectacles slid to the tip of his nose as he blinked at Sonic’s hulking form. “My word. Remarkable. You’ve certainly maintained muscular density. Do you feel any increased aggression?”

“Only if someone steals my chili dog,” Sonic quipped.

While Sonic fielded questions and jokes, Shadow went ahead and sank into the couch in the center of the room. The cushions dipped beneath him, but he barely noticed. The voices around him felt distant, muffled by the weight pressing into his chest.

He should've left the moment the sun went down.

He sat there, arms crossed, watching Sonic joke with his friends; the flick of his tail, the warmth in his eyes. And yet... he still hadn’t sent Shadow away.

Why?

Shadow's jaw tightened. Sonic had no reason to keep him close—not with the weight that blue fool carried now. A monstrous form. Questions about his health. The fragile balance of the Gaia Temples mission. Shadow was a liability, no matter how calm he looked on the surface. The longer he stayed, the more obvious it would become.

So why hadn’t Sonic told him to leave?

“Hey,” Sonic’s voice pulled him out of his spiral.

Shadow glanced up to find the blue hedgehog standing over him, his gaze steady, posture relaxed.

“You okay?” Sonic asked, crouching down just a little. “You’ve been quiet. Quieter than usual, I mean.” His voice was gruff, and yet full of warmth. His bright eyes shimmered under the room’s light.

“I’m fine,” Shadow said flatly.

Sonic tilted his head. “You sure? You don’t look fine.”

Shadow sighed, eyes flicking away. “I’m not your responsibility.”

“Didn’t say you were.” Sonic leaned in a little. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t care. Even if I can’t read your mind, I know something’s bothering you. I just want you to know I’m here. Whether you want to talk about it or not.”

Shadow didn’t reply. His eyes softened just a fraction.

Sonic gave a little grin and nudged his arm. “You’re not dead weight, Shadow. I wouldn’t ask you to stick around if I didn’t want you here.”

There it was again. That infernal warmth . So casual, so genuine. How could he remain this way even after what Eggman’s done to him? It unsettled Shadow.

Tails reappeared with a holopad in hand. “Okay! So, preliminary readings show that your Werehog form is tied to Gaia energy, obviously. No major health risks detected—yet. My best guess? You’ll go back to normal once we restore the planet's balance. Which means we’re back on Temple Duty!”

Chip pumped a fist in the air. “Next stop: Holoska! Ooh, I hope they have ice cream!”

“I’ll get the Tornado up and running!”

___

The journey to Holoska was frigid and long.

They arrived on the outskirts of a quiet snow-covered village nestled between icy cliffs and frozen lakes. The wind howled through the pine trees, carrying the scent of frozen moss and burning cedarwood all over.

Sonic zipped through snowbanks with a laugh, fur fluffing out even more than usual. "Alright! I’m finally not the weirdest-looking guy in the village."

Shadow followed behind, his breath visible in the cold; black cloak fluttering around him like a curtain of smoke. The chill didn’t bother him as much as it should—it was the ambient sunlight peeking near the horizon that made his skin crawl. But with Sonic nearby, the discomfort dulled.

“Well,” Sonic muttered, hugging his arms. “I forgot how cold this place was.”

“You insisted on running cloak-less,” Shadow said flatly.

“I have fur!”

Tails led the group toward the local inn, explaining the Gaia Temple should be nearby. But first, they had to deal with a few minor setbacks.

“The bridge to the cave of the temple collapsed,” said a bundled-up man. “And the snow machines are jammed. Also, the local ice sprites are throwing tantrums again. Sorry!” He added, which earned a frown from the fox and a nervous smile from the blue hedgehog.

"Our delivery mammoth went missing!" another, much more elderly local explained as they walked up to the bunch. "No one can pass through the ridge until we recover the poor dear."

"...A delivery mammoth?" Shadow echoed blankly.

"Named Cupcake," the elder nodded gravely.

Sonic tried very hard not to laugh. "Shadow. We’re saving Cupcake."

"This is beneath us."

"Cupcake needs us."

"I’m going to vaporize something." Shadow tugged at the hood of his cloak, hiding his disappointed face even more.

“ Before you heroes go, I have a few more favors to ask of you!”

Tails tilted his head slightly, before giving the man a nod of reassurance.

“ Sure, what can we help you with?”

“ Besides our missing village mammoth, we would appreciate it if you could find us some fuel cores, the very thing that keeps this village up and running in warmth? We would have done it ourselves if it weren't for the fact that there is a snow blizzard on its way soon…”

Sonic bared his fangs as he grinned. “ Thats it? I thought there would have been more of a challenge!”

Both Shadow and Tails eyed Sonic like he was a madman for stating such a bold claim.

“Hahah, well, see…. There is that and…Our Snow-blower had stopped working from our last blizzard… Think you could fix that too?”

Sonic’s ears lowered with guilt, upon realizing way too late why his friend—and friendly rival for the time being, both gave him such stares in the first place. 

“Ahh, sure… That too.”

Aaaannnnnd Cue the several moments of errand-running.

Shadow did, in fact, end up vaporizing a chunk of ice to free the mammoth. With the help of his mighty Chaos Spears, that was light work. Sonic cheered. Cupcake trumpeted.

The next few were… Not so easy.

Like the Fuel Core collecting. These oversized pebbles packed quite a punch in terms of extracting them from the ice glaziers near a frozen lake. And it didn't help that Sonic had volunteered to do most of the work. Yes, him in all of his beastly, furry, glory.  

Sliding across the icy terrain with wild grace, Sonic clutched a glowing fuel core under one arm. The second one bobbled dangerously in his other hand. “Whew—cold fingers, don’t fail me now…”

He leapt over a jagged ice ridge, landing in a crouch with his claws digging into the slick frozen ground for balance. A burst of steam from a nearby geyser nearly knocked him off his feet.

“Hot, hot, hot—cold, cold, cold!” Sonic yelped, spinning mid-run to stabilize and dart through the narrow crevice that led back to the seemingly  snowed-in village.

Behind him, the core he'd dropped a bit earlier was sliding after him like an angry puck. “Nope, not losing you—c’mere!” He snatched it mid-skid and slid the final stretch on his belly like a penguin, whooping all the way to the “finish line.”

All this, while Shadow glared daggers at him from the agreed upon point of meetup, along with a mildly amused twin-tailed fox.

This next errand gave them quite a doozy.

Because as soon as Tails had readied his toolkit outside a small village house to work on the snow-blower, the blizzard hit the village.

And it was way too cold. So cold, in fact, that Tails thought he'd started experiencing the early stages of hypothermia.

Tails was elbow-deep in a stubborn snow-blower unit, caked in frost and furiously buzzing with static. Tools rattled from his belt as he fought the wind that howled around him like an angry ghost.

“Just… hold together for five more seconds!” he growled, tail fluff flapping as he cranked a torque wrench with one gloved paw and slammed the side of the machine with the other.

A bolt snapped.

He went still.

“Okay… maybe three more seconds?”

With a spark and a cough, the snow-blower sputtered back to life—just in time for a wall of snow to collapse onto him from the roof above.

Buried under the fluff of snow, he poked his head out and muttered, “I’m gonna need hazard pay…”

A wheeze could be heard from Sonic. Shadow managed to huff, his visage of amusement couldn’t be mistaken.

And somewhere between all the chaos, the cold, and the laughter, Shadow realized something unsettling.

He wasn’t in a rush to leave.

This last sequence of events was less of an errand and more of a misfortune. 

Shadow wasn’t entirely sure what he had kicked. He was munching on a ball of soft snow, which, by the way— Sonic found that to be the most adorable thing to have ever happened on this journey yet– when his boot struck the small, glittering mound near the trail to the elderly’s home, it hissed. A pair of angry blue eyes blinked open, and with a shriek, the snow sprite launched itself at his chest.

He staggered, slipped, and promptly fell flat on his back. His hood fell back, exposing him to the premature morning with the moon still out, and the sun finally curling its fingered rays out the horizon.

By the time he got up, the small creature was already sprinting down the frozen hillside, shrieking in victory.

“Coward,” he muttered darkly as he pulled the hood back over him—and dashed after it.

It became a ridiculous chase: Shadow gliding down the slope with skating finesse, the snow sprite tossing icicles behind it like a fleeing thief. Chip stopped mid-yapping with Sonic to watch them fly past—then quickly ducked from the quickly approaching danger that was Shadow’s newfound fury.

The last thing Sonic and Chip heard before the two vanished into the pine trees was Shadow’s furious growl: “YOU WILL RETURN MY PRIDE.”

__

They were rewarded generously for their hard work by a meal lovingly made by the village elder. It was disastrously made of boiled fish and “ mystery roots” as the elder called it, in which Sonic could only gag from the appearance and stench of the food. Shadow, on the other hand, as to not disrespect the effort this poor old soul had made? Ate the whole thing silently.

Sonic gapes at his cloaked, dark friend.

“You're a monster.”

“You’re just soft.”

Chip laughed nonstop. “This is the best mission yet!” He was sipping from a cup of hot chocolate and the yummy gooey-ness from the marshmallows floating above the hot drink. He was oblivious to the hedgehog bickering for now. 

Sonic offered Shadow a cup of hot cocoa.

“So,” Sonic said, smile easy and tired. “Still think you should’ve left?”

Shadow took the cup, fingers brushing Sonic’s. That small accidental touch ignited something from within; he subtly flinched, and yet he felt a deep sense of longing just as brief as their fingers meeting.

He didn’t answer him.

But he didn’t leave either.

After a while of chaos and the blizzard had subsided, they bid their farewells to the nice locals to  head out to the Gaia Temple they’ve been so eagerly waiting to get to since the start of this ridiculous adventure. The moon was finally yawning by the horizon, and made space for the sun that would start his morning routine. Tails had mentioned he would be waiting by the Tornado, and that he’d be waiting for their safe return after their visit to the Gaia temple.

At one point Shadow's pace had slowed, feeling that all too familiar sensation of burning creeping under his skin. He glanced up at the sun, its full body finally exposed in the sky yet still pretty low. It was a beautiful dawn, but that was an indicator for his time coming to an end, and he would need to find a source of energy and a host body–fast. Sonic and Chip were oblivious to Shadow’s sudden change of pace, and hadn’t realized Shadow making his way to the frozen pine trees not far from the broken bridge that teased at the entrance of the Frozen cave, where the temple was promised to reside in.

His skin burned, ached for release, and Shadow’s cloak was the only thing that prevented the unbearable and torturous from happening. He groans, seeing his vision blur just like when he first transfigured in that hotel bathroom. He was going to have to deal with this whole mess in one way or another. He closes his eyes, focusing on regulating his breathing, hoping to Gaia that it would be enough. It really wasn’t. 

He heard a dark voice slip right into his mind, one he knew way too well. 

‘My son. I see you’re still adjusting to the new form?’

Stop this madness, and let me breathe. Shadow was seething; his expression darkened from all this pent up anger. He slams a gloved fist against the nearest pine tree, a dent was made with quite ease. 

His icy breaths escaped him as he felt his skin slicken, less fur and more inky. He was morphing right here and then, and he can’t seem to stop it.

‘I think you’re actually grateful for the gift. I’ll take that as a positive notion. Let us meet up soon. I have grand plans with you, offspring.’

“ LEAVE. Me alone…”

A brief moment of relief, and calm washed over him. As if what he was struggling to hold back no longer mattered. As if this was all just in his head, and he wasn’t undergoing any transformation at all.

“Grrr…agh-!” Psyche.

He found himself slamming his back against the dented pine tree bark, sliding down to the frozen ground as he curled up in a fetal position; his cloak a comfort blanket for the time being and trying to block out the rays of the sun from caressing his malforming body. This was all a game to that…. monster …

“Hhh..urts..”

He was surprised that his disappearance didn't concern the other two.

Figures, He thought. I’m nothing more but a leech on this journey. I should have left. At least by now I would have found another host and energy leaking wouldn’t have been a probl-

“ Shadow?” Sonic’s less gruff voice ripped through his train of thoughts, and he realized just by his tone of voice, that the blue hedgehog was back to his normal state. It was extra dewy and sweet, and full of concern.

“Shadow, why are you back here? I told Chip to go ahead and investigate the broken bridge without me while I searched for ya. He didn't wanna leave me after I turned back, but I told him I was good on my own and that–Oh…”

 His voice had trailed off, and in mere seconds Shadow’s hood was uncovered; green orbs met crimson ones. Shadow felt like he would pass out right there and then. No, not from the sun. But because Sonic was viewing him again in his weakened state. His embarrassment skyrocketed, and all Shadow could do right then was cover his half alienated face once more with his shaky, sticky, gloved hands.

“ Hey, Shadow, It’s okay.”

Those words gave Shadow chills even though he was sweating from this cursed transfiguring. He gave a shallow exhale before answering.

“It’s not okay.” 

His voice came out raspy, ragged, and impatient. He didn't like any of this. He was experiencing tunnel vision; his breath quickened as he curled up even tighter in this fetal position. He was shaking, feeling his body slowly melting into this sticky, contaminated version of himself. It felt completely and utterly gross… It reminded him of that time when he was nothing more than a science experiment back in the ARK... The constant needles poking at him, the tests, the nausea he’d get from their training, the way his cries became swallowed out as he was forced to bear these so-called programs of improvement…The baths of unidentifiable liquids they'd force him to take, that would leave a sting and slimy outer coat almost consistently. 

He hadn’t realized he was hyperventilating.

A warm, naked hand was placed on his forehead, which startled the poor hedgehog. Apparently during his minor flash back Sonic had removed a glove and went to reach out for him. The touch made the ebony hedgehog flinch. He felt the soft paw pads lightly nudge against his head, the way the palm radiated gentle warmth. He craved more of it.

“Hey. Take a deep breath, Shadow…”

‘Shadow, take a deep breath.’ 

Maria’s voice echoed at the sound of Sonic’s request.

Sonic’s index finger traced light circles against his head, right where the third eye had existed before. The connection was just what Shadow needed. It was a soothing motion, and he vaguely remembered his old friend and sister performing these same strange movements.

 ‘One… Two…. Three… That’s it, there you go.’

“ That’s it, there you go Shads…Four… Five…. You’re alright… I’m here now.”

The hand passed from his forehead up, and soon his quills were being brushed in a backwards motion in a repeated pattern; the sensation almost calming him completely . He lets out another shaky exhale, completely melting from the hand’s gentle touch.

 ‘I'm here now. See? That wasn’t so bad now was it? I’ll tell grandpa you passed this series of tests, and maybe he could both get us some delicious cookies for a job well done… Maybe we can skip the next round of tests too…’

Sonic somehow, and in some way, had managed to ground the ebony hedgehog.

“Good jo- Woah?! Shadow?!”

Shadow latched onto Sonic, bringing the blue hedgehog down to the icy grounds with him as his body shook violently from the whole experience. He hugged him tightly, like his life depended on it.

“Didja really need to bring me down to the floor like that Shadow? Haha…. What? Are you ready to hide inside my body again or something?” He retracted his hand from Shadow, slipping his glove back on. 

“Sonic.” His voice cracked.

Shadow’s hug gravitated lower until he met Sonic’s waist. The blue hedgehog’s breath hitched; Shadow was like a frightened child gripping onto a mother for dear life. Like the child had a nightmare and came crying to her. The dark hedgehog buried his face onto Sonic’s lower body, stifling what sounded like a bunch of sniffles, the only indication of his crying were the shoulders shuddering, before glancing up at his source of comfort.

The blue hedgehog was rendered speechless at the view. Just his slightly elevated breathing from the sudden physical contact initiated from Shadow himself , and wide green eyes that threatened to pop out of its sockets. He couldn’t help but get lost in those mysterious red orbs, and the way Shadow widened them just now? It made him feel butterflies in his stomach. He was a beautiful person, when he wasn't always scowling and brooding all the time. And right now, even with Shadow experiencing some sort of anxiety attack, he couldn't help but feel… closer to him than ever before. The corner of Shadow’s lips pulled slightly upwards, it was an awkward attempt of a smile, that was for sure.

Tears. They were threatening to come out. Shadow felt his body finally giving in under the pressure. In mere seconds, his half formed body melted completely into this corrupted sticky state, right onto the blue hedgehog. It crawled right up Sonic’s body. And like smoke settling in place, Shadow found himself seeping into Sonic's skin with a hiss.

Sonic gasps, both shocked from this whole ordeal and uncomfortable from how Shadow decided to leave him just like that.. He could have sworn he saw Shadow tear up before morphing just now. But what shook him the most was the lingering sad smile that crept on the ebony hedgehog’s face.

Sonic was now alone, sitting up on the ground, the whistling of the wind rustling against the pine tree leaves in such a melancholic way that it made Sonic feel an achy pang in his heart. Shadow, just now… Did Sonic interrupt a panic episode? Did he even do the right thing by finding him? Was touching him a good move?

  Did Shadow even want to be found?

‘Thank you, Sonic.’

Relief washed over him.

“Well, you can thank me later. And we could talk about this when you’re ready. For now, I have a temple bridge to mend maybe— and a huge pit of icy water to not fall into.”

Silence.

Well, that was awkward.

Sonic stood up, and drew out a very long and tiring sigh. This whole scenario was not to be forgotten. He was definitely going to talk to Shadow about it. He finally decided to make his way over to where Chip was, the chihuahua looking rather displeased.

“Sonic? Uhmmm there’s a problem? I can’t find anything to fix the bridge, and the only one that could fly over is me. I mean, Tails could have helped but he’s back by the village…”

Sonic starts to ponder. He paced back and forth, before looking at the huge ravine displayed right smack in front of the cave entrance, and where they stood. Below it was the icy depths of a river that roared; one’s skull could be smashed from the sheer power it possesses.

“ Maybe I could perform a spin dash? I just might make it.”

“ Aaaaannnd if you don't?"

“ Huh. Then I won't make it I guess.”

Sonic studied his surroundings a bit longer. The cave was dug into the side of a huge snowy mountain, and with this bridge beyond repair he was going to have to improvise crossing over in some way.

I could try knocking a tree down and hope that the tree is long enough to reach the other side?

‘You blue buffoon, that won’t ever work.’

Oh yeah? Strong talk from a guy who– Sonic cuts that thought off, realizing how harsh it was to think it in the first place. Not nice.

Chip frowns before observing his surroundings. And then–

“ Hey, where’s Shadow?”

‘I went to scout the area for any signs of possible danger.’

“ He went off to take a shit, and left to wash his ass afterwards. We’ll see him later I suppose.”

“ Ew, gross!”

‘Sonic, what the actual fuck–’

Sonic grins widely at Chip, before doing his signature nose wipe from how amused he was.

“ Alright, let's see… Spin dash it is!”

Chip looked rather horrified by the suggestion, before silently fluttering to the side, avoiding any future collision from this crazy hedgehog. Sonic turned away from the ravine, and jogged quite a distance back, so that he had enough space and distance for a leap—or rather spin dash he was about to perform. 

He gets into the launching position, and begins to hype himself up.

Alright Sonic. You’ve leapt over huge pits before. This is nothing. Yeah those other times were due to avoiding danger and chasing bad guys but… This isn’t any different.

There was a snort from within his mind somewhere. Shadow was tuning into his thoughts again.

“ Very mature, Shadow.”

‘Go ahead and run. If you fail I’ll laugh at you.’

Sonic rolled his eyes. Somehow Shadow is much more obnoxious when inside him than when he is out. How? Only Gaia knows.

He began his sprint, quickly picking up the rhythm of his fast running. The seconds ticked by as he neared the edge of the ravine, before performing his stunt. He gave a small hop mid air, revving up into a ball and shooting out, off the edge. This moment was exhilarating for Sonic; Feeling himself become momentarily airborne with nothing keeping his feet glued to the ground was something he secretly enjoyed. It was borderline pleasurable for him. 

But this excitement ended when he uncurled his body, seeing that he had only made it halfway across the raving, and he was approaching the pits rapidly.

“ SONIC?! YOU’RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT-” He heard Chip’s scream, and honestly that lack of confidence the chihuahua had for him was enough for Sonic to panic himself. 

“Woah?!’

Water. Icy cold water teased Sonic as his body betrayed him and began to plunge right into the ravine. He was increasing in speed, and he tried so hard to reach the other wall of the ravine to latch onto something—anything to stop the fall. His stomach took a turn, this was it. He was gonna drown.

I'm gonna drown and die in the icy cold!I

‘Tch’

It all happened way too fast; black, veiny wings sprouted out from Sonic's back, but where Shadow had felt pain, Sonic found a hissing pleasure and thrill of something new that wasn't him falling to his doom. Because in a second he had these powerful wings flap rapidly to have him change direction from down, to up. 

Whoooosh!

Sonic landed rather clumsily onto the other side of the ravine finally, his breathing quick from adrenaline rush. He felt the wings abruptly pull back and seep right into his skin like smoke.

Shadow saved his life. And it was kind of awesome?

Chip fluttered over the ravine, completely speechless from the spectacle that was displayed not that long ago.

“ Sonic…. Was that a hidden talent? Did you know you could fly all this time???”

Sonic shook his head, still panting from the rush.

“Chip… Lets focus… on the task…at hand…” Sonic murmured after his breathing calmed. The little guy tilts his head with concern, before following the blue hedgehog into the darkness of the cave. 

‘You’re welcome. Again.’

Chapter Text

The cave yawned wide like the mouth of a beast, its jagged teeth made of frost-covered stone. A bitter wind howled out from its depths, carrying with it the scent of ancient ice and secrets long entombed. Sonic stood at its threshold, one hand pressed to the icy wall, the other shielding his eyes from a sudden gust of snow that spiraled out of the gloom.

Chip hovered beside him, bundled in a scarf Tails had tied around his tiny frame. “I don’t like this,” he mumbled. “It feels… cursed.”

“Everything lately feels cursed,” Sonic muttered, the weight in his chest far heavier than he let on. A dull throb pulsed behind his eyes—the aftershock of whatever connection still bound him to Shadow. Even now, in the silence, he could feel him. Not present… but lingering. Like a half-finished thought.

He stepped forward, the snow crunching under his shoes, and the temperature dropped so sharply it made his quills bristle. The deeper they ventured, the darker it became. The walls shimmered faintly with embedded ice crystals, reflecting their last minute makeshift torchlight in strange angles. Whispers of wind ricocheted through the tunnel, distorting sound. It was as if the mountain was alive—watching.

Chip’s wings flickered. “Sonic… Do you think Shadow is okay?”

The question hung in the air like a frozen breath.

Sonic hesitated. “I don’t know. But I can’t shake the feeling he’s still with me.”

They reached a wider chamber, the air oddly still. Ancient carvings etched into the stone glowed with faint blue light—symbols unlike anything Sonic had seen before. He approached a pillar in the center, where something pulsed softly beneath a thin veil of frost. All they needed now was a dull Chaos Emerald, something they already possessed. The missing piece they needed to restore this landmass.

He reached out to touch it—and then froze.

A sharp pain stabbed through his chest. He staggered backward, gasping, as something within him bucked violently against his will. His vision blurred—dark tendrils, like smoke, curling at the edges of his sight.

Chip darted to his side. “Sonic?! What’s wrong?!”

“Get out,” Sonic growled, his voice low and trembling. “Go outside. Find Shadow. I think… I think he’s coming back.” A lie. He was getting good at lying at this point.

Chip looked torn but obeyed, darting off with a frightened flap of wings.

Sonic fell to his knees, clutching at his chest. The cave pulsed around him, as if recognizing the presence building within. A storm was coming. One that would split him open.

The frost beneath Sonic’s knees cracked. Not from his weight—but from the pressure building inside him.

A low growl escaped his throat. His pulse throbbed unnaturally. Something cold and foreign slithered under his skin, crawling up his spine, whispering in a voice not quite his own.

‘You’re warm… but I’m not useful right now.
Let me go, hedgehog.’

Sonic clenched his fists. “Shadow…? I can’t do that to you. Let’s find another way around thi—”

The voice inside him cut his speech short. It snarled.
‘ I said let me GO!’

A jolt surged through Sonic’s body, arching his back with a cry. It felt like claws dragging their way through his internal organs. His chest burned—no, split—like he was being peeled in half from the inside. Darkness pooled from his shadow, thick and oily, twisting upward like a vine torn from the roots. It briefly wrapped itself on Sonic’s contorted body, the blue blur could only let out shaky pants from this momentary…. Pain? Pleasure? Both?

The figure that rose out of him was writhing, unformed—Shadow’s outline, but monstrous. His body flickered between states, not quite solid, not quite inky. He hovered briefly above Sonic’s trembling form before collapsing onto the icy floor in a heaving, pained mess.

Sonic coughed hard, the weight lifting from his lungs as Shadow fully separated. He gasped in air like it was the first real breath he’d taken in days.

Shadow, however, looked as though it were his last.

He was on all fours, shoulders convulsing, black tendrils leaking from his back and curling into the frost. His face—what was visible beneath the dark cave—was twisted in agony.

“Damn it…” Shadow rasped, his voice like stone scraping steel. “This body… can’t hold shape in daylight…Not yet.”

Sonic pushed himself upright, breathing hard. “Shadow, what are you doing—?! You’ll collapse out here!” Because why the hell did Shadow decide that this was the best course of action in the first place? Was he an idiot?

“I need… a host. That isn't you for the time being. Something... Anything to shield me.” He staggered upright, barely balanced, as his body flickered between forms, the tendrils flailing weakly around him— “I won’t survive long like this.” He spoke of body searching like he was on a hunt for food. And honestly that sent shivers down Sonic’s spine. Shadow was changing not just physically, but mentally as the days passed. Sonic found it confusing to him.

Sonic reached for him instinctively, heart stuttering. “Wait—Shadow! This is dumb, I can put this planetary puzzle piece back later on, when you’re not this weak and nigh-”

“ And, what? Your excuse to everyone that’s been waiting for this part of the world to return in place is that the Gaia temples prefer you in your werehog form? When the sun sets? Huh? There’s no time for that bullshit. Think, you fool . I can’t leech off you, not like this. You need to do this, and do this now .”

Sonic opened his mouth to retaliate.

But the black-furred form had already turned and bolted, crashing out of the cave like a dying storm. Shadows rippled around his feet with every stride. Shadow left Sonic alone in the cave, knowing that the blue blur would make the right decision and finish this part of the mission once and for all. They've dragged this for long enough, he thought. They needed to move on.

___

Down the Mountainside…

Snow exploded beneath Shadow’s feet as he tore through the frost-blanketed trees, each step leaving corrupted black streaks in the powder. His legs barely held; his body felt like smoke trying to wear flesh. 

Around him the land was unstable.

It was that familiar earth shaking movement of the land coming back down from its split and connecting with the previous land mass. Sonic didn’t hesitate to finish this mission. And for that Shadow was silently grateful. Shadow struggled against the pine trees, stumbling from the earthquake before it all settled finally. Shadow sighs, silently moving further, deeper into the icy wonderland. 

He felt his energy dip rapidly, his doom morph form practically winning authority over him. 

He sloshed about in the deep, soft snow, squirming slightly as his tendrils dug into the thick layer for support. Shadow trudged through the snow-covered trails, each slosh labored. The sunlight still scraped against his smoothened skin like razors, forcing him to keep low, his body smoking faintly with wisps of Chaos residue. The energy within him was unstable—But he had to stay coherent. He had to stay himself.

The snowy ridge above him creaked as he passed beneath it. His instincts flared. With a grumble, he dove sideways—just in time for a chunk of brittle ice to collapse and crash down behind him. His breath came in clouds, steam rising from within his slick body where the sun couldn't reach. He ducked under a frost-bitten ledge, letting the shade soak into his pores like a balm. His tendrils trembled as he pulled his body closer into the shadows.

Dammit… he internally hissed. His doom morph—it was bothering him to no end; it was parasitic, and right now he needed a host body.

Then—he heard it.

A whimper .

It was faint, but not imaginary.

Shadow’s multiple crimson eyes flicked open. Through the flurry, a small trail of melted snow snaked into the side of a collapsed burrow. He followed the trail, practically crawling and slithering along, and what he found made him pause.

There, crumpled in the snow like a discarded plush, was a creature no taller than a loaf of bread. Its ears were long and half-frostbitten, its fur soaked through and tinged pink with blood. It was a young Pocky —a snow-dwelling critter local to this region. Its side was pierced by an icicle fragment, shallow but bleeding. Its body was twitching.

It tried to lift its head but couldn’t even manage a squeak.

Shadow’s gaze narrowed.

It was dying.

Something cold slithered down his back, but this time it wasn't the doom morph—it was the idea. He had no Chaos Emeralds at the moment, for they’re back with Sonic. No host. His current form couldn’t last much longer. But…

The Pocky was weak.

And he needed shelter.

A life for a life ...I’m sorry. Please forgive me.   Shadow mentally apologized to the dying critter, almost reverently. And then, he lunged.

The unstable energy pooling inside him surged. His shape convulsed—tendrils of dark red and black shooting out menacingly from his form like ink in water.

The Pocky stirred weakly. Its gray eyes opened wide in horror as Shadow reached toward it—not with hands, but with tendrils and inky madness.

It screamed.

The fusion wasn't elegant. It wasn’t peaceful. It was violent.

The Pocky's body twisted under the force of the merge. Fur and flesh distorted, the creature screeching as if being crushed and inflated all at once. Shadow’s essence entered like a flood, overtaking nerves, memory, instinct—and somehow merging them into a single, horrific, twitching form. Their auras flared. White and black. Innocence and rage.

It ended with a crack, a gasp.

And silence.

Smoke curled upward from the snow.

What lay in the hollow afterward was not the same Pocky.

Its eyes were soft ambers, no sign of gray from it’s previous owner. Its coat had darkened to a strange dark-grey with black streaks running along its spine. Its ears twitched erratically, one flopping downward. A single fang poked from beneath its small muzzle. It was… shivering.

Then it coughed—and spoke.

“Tch… that was disgusting. ”

The voice was unmistakably Shadow’s.

He pulled himself upright on all fours, fur bristling, long ears splaying out as he tried to regain balance. His new form was diminutive—barely the size of a plushie—but it was alive. Contained. Stable enough.

Shadow glanced at his small paws and groaned. "This is humiliating..."

The cold wind nipped at his tiny tail. The instincts of the Pocky still buzzed in his body, causing him to twitch, twitch, twitch . But he clenched his jaw, focusing.

He was alive.

And now… he had to find Sonic again.

___

The snow had long since buried the scent of blood.

Shadows of the treetops moved across the icy terrain like long fingers brushing through a foggy dream. The creature now known as Shadow-Pocky —a jumbled amalgam of Hedgehog and Pocky instincts—stumbled across the crust of snow, his feet uneven and too small for the power coiling and burning within him.

His form, compact and disoriented, jolted and jittered with every hop like static through fur. The pain hadn't left—it throbbed through his limbs like memory. His tiny chest rose and fell with struggling breaths, hot puffs of mist leaving his muzzle as he pressed onward, deeper into the trees.

“I must find him,” he muttered—though no sound escaped the stitched-tight maw of his new body.

Every footfall was a labor. Every bounce a gamble. Even with his core stabilized, his energy was misaligned—crashing against the edges of the living vessel like black waves in a glass jar. His mind flickered between lucidity and instinct, the Pocky’s natural fear and disorientation scraping against his pride like rusted nails.

But the need remained: Sonic.

Only he would know. Only he could help—despite everything.

Shadow leapt onto a small rock that jutted from the snow, only to waver and fall off balance. His tiny limbs trembled. His breath hitched. Darkness crept in from the corners of his vision. The sky spun.

He gave a final wheezing grunt before he collapsed into the snow, his miniature body twitching once before falling still—his figure half-buried under ice-dusted leaves.

___

Far down the slope, Sonic's ears twitched.

"Did you hear that?" he said, coming to a stop and squinting uphill through the dancing snowfall.

Chip fluttered beside him, his tiny hands tucked under his scarf. “I didn’t hear anything… but… I felt something weird just now. Like a sad little... squeak.”

Sonic turned his head, eyes narrowing. “ You don’t squeak when you’re sad.”

“You do if you’re something small and cold,” Chip replied.

With a shrug and a flick of snow off his gloves, Sonic bounded off the path and into the thicket of pine trees. It didn’t take long—his steps quieted as he spotted the small crumpled form by the roots of an old tree. The little creature—round and soot-colored—was curled tight, nearly blending in with the shadow of the bark. Its breath was shallow.

Sonic crouched next to it, brushing off a light layer of frost.

“Whoa…” he murmured. “Little guy’s barely hanging on.”

Chip hovered lower, his eyes widening. “That’s a… that’s a Pocky, isn’t it? I think? Sorta?”

Sonic nodded, his brows furrowing. Something about the creature tugged at him—not in the heart, but in the gut. It stirred something… familiar. Odd. Electric.

“He’s hurt,” Chip said softly, frowning. “Can we… can we help it?”

Sonic didn’t answer right away. He gently scooped up the Pocky, and the moment their bodies made contact, something buzzed under his skin. A connection. A pulse. It wasn’t Chaos Energy, but it wasn’t not either.

He bit back a question he wasn’t ready to ask.

“We’ll take it with us,” he said, rising to his feet with the unconscious Pocky cradled in his arms. “Tails’ll know what to do.”

Chip smiled in relief, floating beside him as they made their way down the trail again.

“Thanks, Sonic. I think you just saved a little life.”

Sonic didn’t respond. His gaze lingered on the Pocky’s twitching paws, the way its ears quivered slightly in unconsciousness. Something was off. Familiar. Powerful. Dangerous?

“…Yeah,” he finally muttered, half to himself, “Just hope I didn’t doom mine.”

___

The wind howled as the Tornado sliced through the frigid skies, its wings trembling under icy gusts. Sonic sat in the co-pilot seat, arms crossed, a contemplative frown tugging at his face as Chip hovered nearby with an empty thermos of hot cocoa.

“You sure you’re okay?” Chip asked, nudging the side of Sonic’s face with his tiny gloved hand. “You’ve been weirdly quiet since we left the cave…”

Sonic blinked back to reality. “Huh? Oh—yeah. Yeah, I’m good.” He forced a smile, though his mind drifted to the wild-eyed Pocky creature now nestled in a fluffy blanket in the storage cabin behind them.

“Just thinking about Shadow,” he added, trying to keep his voice even. “He said he’d meet us later. I just hope… whatever he’s planning, it doesn’t blow up in his face.”

From behind them, Tails glanced over his shoulder. “You did say he left to handle something important, right? He’s tough. He’ll be fine.”

“Yeah. He’s something alright,” Sonic muttered, stealing a look behind him.

The Pocky— Shadow —was curled tightly beneath the blanket, only a soft puff of breath and twitch of darker fur indicating he was still conscious. He looked like a cross between a snow rabbit and a chipmunk with its black stripes trailing its back, fur slightly dulled by frost and crusted with specks of blood and soot. Even so, his curled, fluffy tail and trembling limbs gave him an unsettlingly pitiful look.

“You sure we should bring it back with us?” Tails asked, now genuinely concerned. “It doesn’t look like anything I’ve seen before. And… I dunno, its fur has this… sheen.”

“I noticed that too,” Sonic said, rubbing his chin. “Like, way darker than it should be. But it’s not hostile or anything. Heck, it looked like it was trying to die before I stepped in.”

Chip floated down beside the bundled creature, his big eyes softening. “Poor guy… he doesn’t even squeak. Are we sure it’s not some corrupted Gaia Minion?”

Sonic shrugged, putting his hands behind his head. “Could be. But for now, it’s just a sick critter we rescued. And Tails?”

“Yeah?”

“You said something about knowing someone who could help with this kind of thing?”

“Oh! Yeah, actually—Amy!” Tails lit up. “She’s great with small animals and rescues. I was thinking of dropping the Pocky off with her once we land. She's back in Spagonia, staying with Professor Pickle for a bit. Said she was worried sick about us.”

Sonic chuckled, a hint of sheepish warmth in his voice. “Figures. Can’t keep anything from her.”

___

As the Tornado began its descent toward the amber rooftops of Spagonia, the comforting sight of Professor Pickle’s university peeked over the horizon. Down below, a pink blur in a frilly jacket covering her red dress was already waving her arms by the stone steps—Amy Rose, standing proud with a small paper bag in one hand and what looked suspiciously like a half-eaten cucumber sandwich in the other.

“She never changes…” Sonic murmured, a fond smirk tugging at his lips.

They landed with a soft thud. The propellers wound down as Amy raced forward and leapt onto the wing with practiced grace.

“Sonic! Tails!!!” she cried, bright-eyed and bursting with relief. “You’re okay!”

“Survived a lot of snow and weird energy, but yeah,” Sonic said as he helped her down. “Miss me?”

Amy gave him a glare that melted into a soft smile. “Terribly.”

Chip snorted.

“And what’s this?” she asked, eyes widening as Tails lifted the bundled Pocky from the cargo hatch. Its little paw peeked out limply, revealing frostbitten pads and scorched fur.

Tails held it out carefully. “We found him in the mountains. Hurt pretty bad, but he didn’t try to bite or anything. We were hoping you could take a look at him, maybe help him recover?”

Amy gasped, her heart immediately melting as she cupped the creature’s tiny face. “You poor thing! Look at you… you must’ve gone through a blizzard and back.”

Behind her, the Pocky trembled, but didn’t resist as Amy gently cradled it in her arms. “Don’t worry, sweetheart,” she whispered. “I’ll keep you warm and fed. We’ll fix you up in no time.”

“Thanks, Amy,” Tails said with a grin. “I knew you’d be the right person for the job.”

“No problem at all!” she beamed, already leading the way inside. “Now let’s get this little guy some food, water and a heating pad!”

Sonic and Chip exchanged glances, both fighting back grins.

With that, the group filed into the cozy, book-stuffed confines of Professor Pickle’s study area, where tea, warmth, and unknowingly dangerous hospitality awaited the recovering “Pocky” and his unsuspecting caretaker.

Amy Rose was already preparing a recovery area when they arrived.

She looked like a pastel dream, prepping the blanket on the old couch with practiced hands.The soft scent of floral perfume wafted around her, mixing nicely with the dusty tomes of the Professor's office.

"There we go!" Amy beamed, rising the moment she saw Sonic step over with the unconscious Pocky, her eyes flitting over the poor lad. “Sonic. You go ahead and place the little guy down here. I’ll go off to get a bottle prepared with water”

"Thanks, Ames," Sonic grinned, though his tone carried a weariness he couldn’t mask. He set the bundled-up Pocky down on the blanketed couch area as Chip floated off to greet the Professor.

 “We had a bit of a detour.” 

“Oh? And what’s this?” Pickle tilts his head, walking over with a bounce in his step. His gaze dropped to the critter now swaddled in the blanket like a burrito. The strange Pocky shivered faintly in its sleep, its fur a glossy dark gray with streaks of black along its ears and back. It didn’t look like anything from Mobius proper, or even any known Gaia species.

“It was hurt,” Sonic explained to the professor. “Badly. Kinda showed up during our Holoska adventure at the Gaia Temple… Can’t exactly say what happened, but it seemed like it was in real pain before it passed out.”

Amy had returned by then; she knelt by the creature, a soft "aww" escaping her lips as she gently brushed some of the coarse, matted fur away from its face. The creature twitched in its sleep, tiny paws flexing weakly. “You poor thing…”

Tails stepped up beside her, a hopeful look on his face. “You’ve always been good with animals, and with Sonic and me needing to figure out the Gaia Temples, it might help to keep it somewhere calm. Safe… It’ll definitely sprout back up in no time under your watchful eyes!” Amy flushed at the compliment her fox friend gave her. She was happy to hear that she could be of use to them.

Sonic leaned against a bookshelf, arms crossed as he nodded in agreement. “Plus… I think it likes pink.”

Amy blinked. “What?”

“No idea why,” he shrugged, flashing a lopsided smirk. “But when it saw me earlier during the tornado flight back, it got kinda agitated. Probably still scared. But hey—if anyone’s got the heart to deal with a feisty little thing, it’s you.”

Her cheeks flushed. She couldn’t argue with that.

“Alright,” Amy said, lifting the creature carefully into her arms. “You’ll be safe with me, little guy. We’ll fix you right up.”

___

As the day wore on and the others preoccupied themselves with research and planning, Amy made her way to the couch. She fetched warm cloths and some vegetables, humming to herself as she tended to the mysterious creature. The Pocky hadn’t woken up yet, but its breathing had steadied, the painful spasms gone. Every now and then, it would twitch or emit a tiny, breathy sound.

By late afternoon, sunlight had dimmed to a soft orange hue filtering in through the shutters. Most of the group had dispersed—Tails to the makeshift lab just outside the university, Professor Pickle to his archives, and Amy to the small kitchen for more warm water.

Sonic, however, lingered.

Something pulled at him. A strange pressure in his chest… like a magnet inside his ribcage tugging him across the room. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it was undeniable.

He stood over the Pocky, who now lay nestled beneath a blanket on the couch. The creature’s ears flicked, its limbs trembling as though caught in a dream. Sonic crouched closer.

Then he heard it.

‘Hhh…ow…’

Sonic flinched. “What the—?”

‘Took you…long enough, Sonic’

The voice wasn’t spoken. It resonated in his skull, deep and unmistakable. Telepathy?

But that means the thoughts were coming from somewhere not within himself.

“Shadow?!” Sonic’s eyes widened, glancing down at the tiny black creature before him. “ You’re the Pocky?!”

The creature’s head didn’t move. Its eyes remained shut. But the voice came again, smug as ever.

‘Well done, genius. Took you this long to figure it out?’

Sonic’s jaw dropped before he covered his mouth, laughing into his fist. “Oh my Chaos… This is rich.”

‘Don’t laugh at me.’ The Pocky twitched slightly.

“I’m sorry,” Sonic wheezed between chuckles. “You fused with a dying snow bunny . You look like something from a children’s toy aisle!”

‘It was strategic.’ Shadow’s tone was sharp. ‘A host was necessary. My options were… limited.’ The Shadow Pocky slowly flickered its eyes open, revealing amber orbs. He sat up on all fours, yawning before blinking away the tiredness. 

Sonic wanted to squeeze him.

“Oh, I can tell,” Sonic teased, plopping onto the floor beside the couch and smirking at the bundle. “Well. You do have a cute little twitch when you sleep.”

‘Sonic.’

“Yes?”

‘Shut. Up.’

He burst into fresh laughter, tossing his head back.

And for once, Shadow didn’t protest.

There was something strange in the air between them—something oddly tender. Despite the surreal absurdity of it all, Sonic felt a surprising swell of affection, staring at the tiny, dark-furred creature with a barely-contained grin.

"You’re lucky I think you’re adorable," he said under his breath, not expecting an answer.

But Shadow heard him.

‘…I won’t be like this forever.’

Sonic snorted. “No, I know. But I think I’m gonna enjoy this while it lasts.”

“Oh? Is that the Pocky? He’s awake now!” Amy exclaims, startling both Sonic and the Shadow Pocky. The little rabbit squeaks, before hopping off the couch, and awkwardly started for the exit of the university, his four paws tripping over each other quite often.

Sonic could only look at the scene unfold with amusement.

“Amy, the Pocky seemed to not want any more of your recovery treatment.”

“Nonsense Sonic, you clearly don’t understand how a recovery treatment works in the first place, considering the fact that you always neglect mine for you!” The pink hedgehog huffs before making her way over to scoop the little guy up. 

Shadow began to flail around, his little feet kicking sporadically in a useless attempt to escape.

“Shhh relax buddy…” 

A snicker from Sonic.

“There, there. I won’t hurt you..”

More chuckling.

Amy began to pet Shadows head, right in between the long bunny ears and honestly Shadow froze up from the fear more than from the sensation. Amy was invading his personal space and Sonic was doing absolutely nothing to help him.

Instead he was getting a kick outta this.

‘Sonic. Tell her to stop before I bite her—‘

“Uhhh Ames? He looks a little uh… agitated?”

Amy rolls her eyes, taking the Pocky back to the couch and placing it down. 

“He’s fine Sonic.” She pulls the water bottle she had filled up earlier and lifts it, the metal straw poking outwards towards the Shadow Pocky. 

The Pocky looked insulted. To drink from a plastic bottle? 

“It has much needed minerals for a Pocky like you to get stronger!” 

“PFFFFFFFT—”

‘This…is so humiliating…’

___

Night had quietly settled over Spagonia, its gentle breeze weaving through open windows while the lights in Tails' workshop glowed warm and low. With the sun gone, Sonic had once again shifted into his hulking werehog form, all midnight fur and glowing eyes. Amy had already said her goodbyes, leaving the core group to wind down the evening.

Tails, of course, was thrilled to resume his field research.

"Do you think you could inflict more damage in this form?" he asked excitedly, scanning Sonic’s arms. "And what about your arms again? Last time you mentioned they stretched. How long do they actually go?"

Sonic let out a gravelly chuckle, amused by the fox’s boundless curiosity. He reached out and lightly ruffled Tails’ head.

“Yes,” he answered with a grin, “and also—I have no clue. Wanna test it out?” He raised one massive arm, wiggling his claws. “Pull as hard as you can! I’ll let you know when it starts hurtin’.”

Tails practically lit up, already grabbing for one of the furry limbs with both hands.

Meanwhile, across the room on the couch, the Pocky creature let out a long yawn and stretched his little body. Sonic hadn’t told the others the truth about him yet—so to everyone else, the mysterious snowy critter was just a rescued oddity. For now, Shadow was content to play along.

But he was hungry. Starving, really.

Despite the healing he’d received from Amy and Tails, the lingering ache from his earlier collapse hadn't fully faded. The reminder came sharply when he hopped off the couch and landed a little too hard, letting out a startled squeak. He flinched, ears pinning back. The pain wasn’t unbearable, but it was proof of how weak this new vessel was. Still, he needed sustenance. So he began making his way toward the kitchen—though walking proved awkward. His first steps wobbled, his limbs not syncing quite right, and he ended up resorting to awkward little hops instead.

That’s when he heard a low chuckle behind him.

Startled, the Pocky squeaked and whirled around—only to be met with the looming form of the Werehog.

“Shadow? You’re up and about already?” Sonic grinned, crouching a little. “You could’ve asked me if you needed something. I’d have gotten it for you.”

Shadow narrowed his eyes at him. It wasn’t threatening—if anything, it made the tiny creature look grumpier than usual, which Sonic found hilarious.

If I needed help, I wouldn’t have asked either way, Shadow’s thoughts echoed through their link.

“Stubborn little fuzzball,” Sonic chuckled and reached down to ruffle the top of his head again.

Shadow froze. His heart—no, the Pocky’s heart—skipped. His instincts screamed predator , but the touch wasn’t rough. It was... gentle. Warm. Calming, even.

Then his back paw started thumping rapidly against the floor.

He was horrified.

‘No—Sonic, stop!’ he broadcast in panic—and before he could think better of it, he clamped down on the werehog’s hand with a sudden bite with his two front chompers.

“Ow! What the hell, man?!” Sonic yelped, jerking his hand back.

In a flash, he snatched the Pocky off the floor, cradling him tightly in his massive hands like a misbehaving kitten. A snarl curled his lips—not entirely serious, but definitely annoyed.

“That’s it! Time out for you, mister.”

Tails blinked from his spot on the couch.
“Uhh… what’s going on over there?”
He squinted at the sight of Sonic holding the now-pouting Pocky like a squirming plush toy, the critter’s little legs kicking the air hard in protest.
“Did he just bite you???”

“Yeah, the little monster bit me!” Sonic huffed, fur fluffed indignantly as he marched toward the hallway. “You saw it, Tails! This is justice. He’s going to sock drawer jail. ”

Tails raised a brow. “Sock… drawer… jail?”
“Exactly what it sounds like.”

The Pocky squeaked in protest but his voice only translated as irritated chittering to the others. Shadow’s mind, however, was screaming bloody murder.
‘You wouldn’t DARE—!’

Sonic opened a drawer—from the professor’s study table—and plopped the fuzzy critter in.
He shut it with a quiet snick .

From inside: muffled thumping. Then a long, dramatic sigh.

Sonic stood there for a moment, arms crossed, tapping his clawed foot. Then... his ears drooped.
“Okay, maybe that was a little harsh.”

A minute later, he reopened the drawer slowly. The Pocky turned around from where he had been sulking, puffed cheeks and narrowed eyes.
Sonic rubbed the back of his neck. “Alright alright… I’m sorry, fuzzy. I deserved that chomp. Let’s make a truce.”

Shadow-Pocky snorted, but didn’t fight as Sonic gently scooped him out and cradled him in one massive arm.

“You hungry, or what? C’mon. Let’s raid the fridge together.”

The Werehog crouched in front of the open fridge, rummaging through its contents while holding Shadow in the crook of one arm like a baby possum.

“Okay, let’s see… leftover pizza? No. Chili dog? Definitely not. This?”
He held up a wrinkled celery stalk.
The Pocky gave him a look that could have melted glaciers.
“Alright, alright! What about this?”

He pulled out a small, crisp carrot.
Shadow hesitated.

“It’s healthy!” Sonic grinned, poking the Pocky’s belly lightly. “Might help you grow your strength back. Maybe even get your old broody face back.”

Shadow-Pocky sniffed the carrot, then very cautiously took a bite from Sonic’s hand.
Sonic watched with a silly fondness he didn’t even try to hide.
“You’re kinda cute like this. I mean, still scary when you bite. But cute.”

Shadow's ears twitched. He paused mid-nibble, cheeks puffed.
If he could blush in this form, he would’ve.

After the “sock drawer jail” fiasco, things settled into a gentle rhythm again. Sonic eventually found himself yawning wide enough to pop his jaw. He rubbed the back of his neck with one oversized paw and cast a glance at the moonlight pouring in from the window. His muscles ached from holding his transformed state too long. He’d need proper rest—and soon.

“Hey, Tails,” Sonic said, approaching the fox with a soft thud of heavy paws. “Think I’ll head back to the hotel for the night. I need to rest this whole… beastly bod before it cramps up again.”

Tails blinked and glanced over from his notes. “You sure? We haven’t finalized the temple triangulation.”

“You and Professor Pickle got the brains for that.” Sonic gave a fangy grin. “I’ll just be in the way, snoozing on your floor.”

Tails hummed, but eventually nodded. “Alright. But what about—?”

“Don’t worry.” Sonic leaned in, whispering behind a massive furry hand. “I’ll take the ‘Pocky’ with me. I’ll keep him comfy. Promise.”

Shadow, still quietly sulking beside a bowl of half-chewed vegetables, perked up with a flick of his fluffy ears. ‘Don’t act like I’m some pet you’re babysitting.’

Sonic snorted. “Buddy, if the shoe fits.”

“ What Sonic?”

“Nothing!”

__

With some minor complaining (from both parties), Sonic gently scooped up the fuzzy critter and nestled him in the crook of his arm. The walk back to the hotel under the warm Spagonian night was anything but peaceful.

“Will you stop wiggling? You’re gonna bite my bicep off,” Sonic grumbled, tightening his hold as the Pocky twisted dramatically in his grasp like an irate ferret.

“Mffnmrgh!!” the Shadow-Pocky snarled through a mouthful of Sonic’s arm fur. His glowing red eyes peeked up with indignation as his fuzzy tail slapped Sonic’s cheek.

“Okay, rude,” Sonic muttered, flicking his ear. “Do you want me to drop you into someone’s espresso?”

They turned a corner past a sleepy café, where the scent of roasted beans and honey pastries floated through the air. Shadow-Pocky let out a dramatic little huff and tucked his face into Sonic’s arm like a sulking cat.

“Oh now you’re playing innocent? What happened to 'I'm a proud lifeform of power and dignity' or whatever you said earlier?”

The Pocky huffed louder and muttered something incoherent that Sonic couldn’t understand—but it had the tone of a threat.

“You’re lucky you’re cute like this,” Sonic said with a sigh, hopping off a low ledge and adjusting his grip. “Tails would’ve made you wear a pet harness.”

That earned a sharp nibble to his glove.

“Ow! Seriously? I’m carrying your grumpy butt home!”

They weaved through Spagonia’s winding streets, the windows above glowing with warm gold light, shutters open to catch the summer night air. A few townsfolk passed, giving Sonic curious glances — it wasn’t every day the local hero strolled past with a furious puffball cradled in his arms.

Sonic just grinned and waved. “Evening!”

“Hrrrnnk.”

“You’re embarrassing yourself, you know.”

The Pocky’s only reply was to yank out a clump of Sonic’s chest fur and spit it dramatically into the street.

“Okay. I take it back. You’re lucky you're still alive.”

As they approached the hotel, Sonic pushed open the front door with his foot, still bickering softly with the creature in his arms. He didn’t even care how ridiculous he looked anymore.

"Welcome to our luxury accommodations," he whispered sarcastically. "Where you'll be sleeping in a sock drawer if you keep biting me."

The Pocky stuck out his tongue.

“Yeah, well, same to you, fuzzball.”

Once inside the hotel room, Sonic closed the door softly behind him and sighed, feeling the heaviness in his bones. He gently plopped the Pocky onto the bed and flopped down next to him with a grunt.

“Home sweet home,” Sonic muttered, face half-buried in the pillow. “You okay, fuzzball?”

Shadow wiggled a little beside him before curling up. ‘Tired. This body isn’t sustainable much longer.’

Sonic turned on his side, watching the small form breathe.

“…You wanna switch back?” he asked gently. “I don’t want you pushin’ yourself if it hurts.”

‘No,’ Shadow replied firmly. ‘It’s better I stay like this until dawn. It’s safer.’

Sonic let that hang in the air a moment, before reaching a single clawed finger to gently rub between the little guy’s ears. Shadow didn’t protest.

“…You were scared earlier,” Sonic said suddenly.

Shadow’s ears twitched.

“When I grabbed you too hard. I didn’t mean to. You bit me outta fear, huh?”

Shadow didn’t reply, but his paw reached forward to lightly press against Sonic’s hand.

“…It’s okay,” Sonic added, his voice low. “I get scared too, y’know. Sometimes I hide it with jokes, or stupid ideas like sock jail.”

A silence passed between them, heavy but comfortable.

Then, a faint whisper of thought:

‘I wasn’t scared of you. I was scared of how I felt. ’

Sonic blinked. “…What do you mean?”

No answer came. The little Pocky had already curled up into a ball against Sonic’s side, small ears twitching, and fell asleep with a soft, content sigh.

Sonic smiled at the ceiling, closing his eyes.

“…Yeah. Me too.”

Chapter Text

The first thing Sonic noticed was the sound.

It wasn’t loud—not at first. A quiet, muffled whimper. Then came the shifting, the small rustle of fur against sheets, and the thump of something tiny trying to scramble away from the dream. Sonic blinked groggily, his limbs still heavy from transforming back to normal the night before. He groaned and pushed himself up on one elbow.

By the window, the sun had already shown its face.

The little black Pocky creature had kicked off the fabric covering him and was now twisted in a tight ball, paws flexing, ears flattened, his entire body trembling.

“Shadow?” Sonic rasped, throat dry.

No answer. Only the twitching. Then a sharp, stifled gasp.

Sonic reached out for him in seconds. Shadow’s body flinched at the touch—his muscles seizing up before he jolted awake with a strangled sound. His amber-turned-crimson eyes flew open, glassy and unfocused, and for a terrifying second he didn’t recognize where he was.

His claws swiped blindly, defensive. His body crackled faintly with chaos energy.

“Whoa—hey, hey, it’s me,” Sonic said softly, catching Shadow’s paws in his hands before they could dig into his skin. “You’re okay. You’re safe.”

Shadow was panting hard now, short and frantic, as if still running from something. The red in his eyes wavered, threatened to vanish beneath sheer panic.

“No... no more tests,” Shadow whispered hoarsely, “no more needles, don’t put me under again—”

Sonic's heart twisted. “Shh… it’s just a dream. No one’s hurting you.”

“I saw it again,” Shadow breathed. “The Ark. The chair. The liquid in the tubes. The training. I could feel it. All of it.” His voice dropped to a shudder. “Like it never ended.”

Sonic didn’t know what to say to that. So he carefully pulled Shadow in, cradling the trembling little body against his chest. Shadow barely resisted, limp in his arms.

They sat on the bed there in silence, only the sound of early morning Spagonian traffic faint through the cracked open window. Sonic could feel Shadow’s heartbeat hammering against his ribs, far too fast for someone that size.

“It was just a nightmare,” Sonic murmured, rubbing his thumb along the curve of Shadow’s spine. “You’re not there anymore.”

“But I can still feel it,” Shadow rasped. “It’s in me. Still crawling under my skin.”

Sonic swallowed, his voice quiet. “You mean the transformation? The… Morph?”

A beat. Then a slow, reluctant nod against his chest.

“I don't know what it is,” Shadow confessed. “It’s not just Doom. It’s… me . It’s growing. Changing me. When I’m alone, it whispers things. When I close my eyes, I see it. And every time I try to figure out how to stop it…”

His body gave a small jerk. His next words came out strained, like he hated that they even existed.

“…I'm scared.” Those words were faint, but nonetheless there.

The silence hung in the air like a fragile string.

Then Shadow quickly added, voice tightening, “Can… we just pretend… I didn’t say that?”

Sonic let out a soft exhale. “Nope.”

He held Shadow gently. “You said it. I heard it. And I’m glad you did.”

Shadow turned his face away. “...Every time I try to be vulnerable, my body… It screams ‘abort mission’ .”

“Yeah, well, tell your body to chill,” Sonic said with a faint grin. “'Cause you’re not doing this alone. Not anymore.”

Shadow didn’t respond with words. But after a few seconds, he let his body relax again, leaning into Sonic’s warmth like the tension had finally drained from his limbs. His little head rested just below Sonic’s collarbone.

The morning sun had peeked in through the blinds, casting soft lines of gold across the floor.

For now… they sat there in the hush, tangled in the kind of quiet that wasn’t about loneliness—but about being understood.

Shadow stayed curled against Sonic’s chest even after his soft tears had dried. The weight of his confession—spoken so raw, so bare—still hung between them like something sacred and fragile.

Sonic didn’t rush to fill the silence. He only sat there, idly running his fingers through Shadow’s rabbit-like ears and head, thinking.

About what Shadow had said.

About what he hadn’t said.

About how damn much it must’ve taken to say anything at all.

“…You know,” Sonic murmured after a long stretch of quiet, eyes half-lidded, “for someone who claims to hate talking about feelings, you’re pretty eloquent about them when you get going.”

Shadow stiffened in his arms with a grumpy squeak, then smushed his tiny pocky face into Sonic’s chest yet again.

“Can’y you drop it already?” Shadow grumbled, voice muffled and acidic with secondhand embarrassment. “I didn’t ask for this . ”

Sonic snorted. “Y’know what’s funny? That’s exactly what my brain says every time Tails hands me anything labeled ‘unstable.’” He paused, smirking. “Still touch it anyway.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“Aaaand you’re a fluffy little parasite with trauma?  We all have our things dude.”

That earned him a hard kick to the ribs from Shadow’s tiny foot. It didn’t hurt. Honestly, it felt like getting beaned by a grumpy hamster.

Sonic smiled to himself.

They stayed like that a few minutes longer before Sonic finally murmured, “You wanna come with us this morning? Chip’s probably whining about churros already.”

Shadow, on Sonic’s lap, gave a begrudging nod. “Only because I don’t trust you to feed me properly again.”

“I fed you a carrot! ”

“A cold carrot.”

“Ungrateful.”

“You left me in a sock drawer yesterday.”

“Okay, that one’s fair.”

___

The streets of Spagonia were already bustling by the time the trio stepped out of the hotel—well, one stepping, one floating, aaaand one being carried around like royalty.

Sonic walked with his hands cradling the black pocky.

Shadow’s ears twitched at the sunlight and noise, eyes narrowed like a grumpy cat shoved into a baby sling.

Beside them, Chip floated backward mid-air, smiling like he hadn’t just eaten ten pancakes and two pounds worth of bacon that morning.

“So! What are we feeling? Pancakes again? Spagonian churros? Ooooh! Do you think that vendor with the lemon-honey donuts is still open?!”

“You just ate,” Sonic reminded him.

“I’m emotionally preparing for second breakfast!”

Sonic rolled his eyes. “You’re emotionally preparing for a sugar coma .”

Shadow, ears flattening beneath the bright sun, hissed. ‘You’re all loud. Why are you all so loud in the morning?’ He thought towards the blue blur.

‘You sound like Rouge when she’s out of coffee,’ Sonic mentally replied, earning a soft huff from Shadow.

The vendor stalls were warm with the smell of cinnamon and spice, sunlight glinting off the cobbled stones as tourists and locals mingled. Sonic instinctively ducked his head at one or two passerbies who stared a little too long.

Shadow glanced around, ears rotating. Something about the smells, the crowd, the distant guitar strumming from a busker—it should’ve felt foreign.

It felt… weirdly normal.

Until it didn’t.

His gaze locked on a man standing across the plaza. Dressed in sleek, dark robes—foreign. Too clean. His face was in profile, but his skin was pale with a silvery tint, like wax left in the cold.

The chill ran straight down Shadow’s back.

…No way.

He didn’t remember moving.

One blink and he was halfway across the street, hopping out Sonic’s arm and sprinting forward on all fours like a wild thing. He heard Sonic’s voice behind him—startled, confused—but ignored it.

That scent. That aura.

It couldn’t be.

The alley was too quiet.

Pocky Shadow’s soft paws echoed against the cobblestone as he padded behind the building, drawn by something—a scent, familiar and wrong. Faint traces of sulfur, rust, and darkness stirred at the edges of his subconscious. The smell wasn’t physical. It was psychic, heavy, dragging at the mutated blood threading through his veins.

He knew who it was before he turned the corner.

It was him.

It was Doom.

“You kept me waiting,” came a low, raspy voice.

Black Doom stood beside an old trash bin, arms folded like a king humoring a child.

Jet black and legless body with a trio of red-orange bestial eyes, Black Doom was adorned with twin wide horns with red tips, a set of spines on his scalp; three-fingered hands that have claw-like nails and no visible facial features. That previous illusion of a pale man was no more— He was in his usual attire.

 Doom had on his worn, dark brown robe with golden shoulder pads, a maroon drape scarf with tattoo markings hanging from the back, and adorned gracefully were golden chains with a set of gold-spiked medallions possessing a gem, and to top it all off a double black cord necklace rested with orange, blue, yellow, and purple ornaments on one, aaand golden and silver pendants on the other that resemble the Black Arms' insignia… As if his other-worldly body wasn’t enough, he went all out in his costume-like dress attire… 

 He shifted ever so slightly, his cloak pooling in oily shadows at his feet. He didn’t tower in this form—his appearance was more reserved than during the invasion. But his eyes, glowing red, still bore into Shadow’s very core.

Pocky Shadow bristled, ears twitching back, fur spiking.

“Didn’t know this was a formal invitation,” he snapped. “You didn’t give me a time.”

Black Doom’s eyes squinted— as if it were smiling . The eye smile that says ‘ I know you better than you do.’

“You came. That’s what matters.”

Shadow scowled, arms crossed—well, as much as his short, fuzzy limbs would allow.

“I didn’t come here for some... bonding moment.”

“No?” Black Doom cocked his head. “I thought perhaps you’d like to speak about the changes. The wings. The extra limbs. The hunger. The urge. ” His voice slithered across every word. “You’re adapting well, all things considered. Though...” He paused, gaze flicking up and down at the tiny bunny-sized creature before him. “I must say— this wasn’t part of the plan.”

Shadow twitched. “What?”

“The form. The size.” Doom gestured lazily. “You’ve always been... compact. But this?” His tone turned mocking. “You could get punted by a Motobug.”

“Tch—!” Shadow’s little fists balled up, cheeks puffing with outrage. “It’s temporary! I had no other option at the time, it’s not a permanent state!”

“Hmm. Still.” Doom’s voice raised with a tinge of amusement. “You would’ve been better off using that hedgehog’s body. The blue one. Sturdy. Fast. Obedient.”

“He’s not obedient.”

“He’s not very bright either.”

“He’s not—!” Shadow stopped. The words sputtered out, flustered and tangled.

Black Doom chuckled lowly. “Relax, my offspring. I only tease . A little levity between father and son.” He stepped forward, his voice softening. “I am trying, you know.”

“Trying what?”

“To know you.”

That froze Shadow. The defensiveness curdled in his throat.

“What?” he whispered.

“We were made for war. But war is over. The Black Arms are gone. I remain. And so do you. You are my greatest creation—and yet, I know so little of your mind. Of what you’ve become.” Doom’s gaze narrowed with false warmth. “You’re changing, evolving... I merely wish to witness it. Guide it. Be part of it.”

Shadow didn’t speak. His ears drooped, if only slightly.

“Why now?” he asked after a long moment. “You left me. Used me. Lied to me.”

“And you survived. Stronger. A true testament to your potential.” Doom lowers slightly to Shadow’s level. “I do not lie when I say I am impressed. You’ve embraced the morph. You didn’t reject it.”

Shadow flinched at that. Because somewhere deep down, a sliver of him knew it was true.

Before the silence could thicken further—

“Yeah, I’m gonna need you to really stop talking about his body like that, creep.”

A familiar voice cut through the alleyway, bright and alarmed. Sonic rounded the corner, panting lightly. His green orbs immediately locked onto the two figures—tiny Pocky Shadow and looming Black Doom standing almost toe-to-toe.

Sonic’s expression soured instantly. What the actual fuck was that??? And why is it approaching Shadow?

“New guy, huh? Lemme guess—you’re the intergalactic creep who keeps whispering sweet nothings into Shadow’s head, right? You’ve got five seconds to back off, ugly,” he growled, stepping protectively between them, one arm casually outstretched, his stance relaxed but his eyes sharp.

“Ah,” Doom murmured. “The other half of your symbiosis.” He narrowed his eyes before continuing to speak. “So, this is the hedgehog. The host. Hm… You’re brighter than I imagined.”

“Comes with the territory,” Sonic’s fur bristled. “ But anyway, that’s not backing off.”

“A fascinating specimen. Brash. Loyal. Fused. Perhaps we should talk—"

“No thanks. Shadow’s not up for sale. Or science. Or… whatever the fuck this is. Look, he’s not yours to mess with.” Sonic abruptly cuts Black Doom, crossing his arms over his chest.

“He is mine,” Doom corrected, too calmly. “Blood. Design. Evolution.”

“He’s also his own person!” Sonic snapped. “And he’s under my watch now.”

Black Doom laughs, almost menacingly. “Hmm. Keep him, then. I’ve already left my mark.” His glowing gaze flicked to Shadow. “Don’t forget our talk, offspring. We’ll meet again. Sooner than you think.”

With a pulsing ripple of darkness, Black Doom faded into smoke—vanishing into the brickwork shadows as if he’d never been there.

Sonic let out a sharp breath. “Geez... what is it with your family tree?”

Shadow, still staring at where Doom had stood, said quietly, “Rotten roots.”

Sonic knelt beside him, watching his fur tremble slightly. “Hey... you okay?”

There was a long pause. Shadow didn’t look at him.

“Yeah,” he lied. “I’m good.”

Silence. Then—

“He’s… got your nose?” Sonic breaks the tension with a stupid comment.

Shadow exhaled shakily, eyes falling shut briefly before glaring daggers up at the blue blur.

“I hate you.”

“Nah,” Sonic said, reaching over and picking up the Shadow Pocky. “You don't."

Shadow decided not to speak further, and instead let himself get carried off by Sonic, a little pout on his lips was the only thing indicating his upset behavior.

They leave the alley in silence, Sonic’s stride calm, Shadow curled up in the crook of his arm; heavy thoughts weighing down his mind yet he knew he wasn’t completely alone.

___

The bell in Spagonia’s tall central tower chimed three times, echoing over the cobbled streets like a lazy call to lunch. Pigeons scattered from a windowsill nearby, startled into flight by the heavy brass toll.

Sonic walked at an easy pace, holding Shadow gently, his eyes tilted toward the pale sky. "You’d think a city this pretty would come with more shade," he murmured with a grin.

The creature in his arm gave a disgruntled huff. "You’d think someone so fast would walk quicker."

“Oh, bite me, furball.”

“I would, if I wasn’t cradled like a helpless infant.”

Sonic glanced down. Shadow—still in that absurdly cute Pocky form—was tucked firmly into the crook of his arm, one stubby paw gripping Sonic’s clean cut chest fur for balance despite the sass.

"You say helpless like you didn’t demand a towel nest and a hot water bottle last night."

"It was medically appropriate."

"Sure, doc."

Shadow rolled his eyes—difficult to do with those oversized pupils. Still, the motion wasn’t lost on Sonic, who chuckled under his breath. The mood was lighter than it had been all morning. There was something about the rhythm of the walk and the softened heat of the day that made the world feel less... broken.

Up ahead, Chip had fluttered farther along the street, tail wagging midair as he peeked into shop windows and barked greetings at confused fruit vendors. His absence gave Sonic a rare pocket of privacy, and he took it.

"So, hey... about earlier," Sonic began, voice dropping just slightly.

Shadow didn't respond, but his ears twitched.

Sonic looked forward again, squinting at the top of the university’s sandstone walls coming into view. “You’re allowed to say weird stuff, y’know. Or... not say it. Just don’t implode about it.”

“I didn’t implode,” Shadow muttered. “That was a tactical emotional retreat.”

“ Yeah. Totally normal.”

A pause. Then:

“...Thank you. For not pushing.”

Sonic glanced at him again, this time speaking quieter. “Yeah. Anytime.”

They walked the rest of the path in something like peace.

At the university steps, the great wooden doors opened with a creak, and Tails practically barreled into view, goggles askew on his head and waving a notebook above his head like a winning lottery ticket.

“Sonic!! You’re not gonna believe this! Professor Pickle and I Found something—And it’s something good!”

“Good?” Sonic perked up, his ears pointed outwards from the sudden excitement transmitting in the air. “What’dya find?”

“We found it ! The next Gaia Temple!” Tails skidded to a stop, tail wagging with excitement. “It’s in Chun-nan!”

Professor Pickle emerged behind him, adjusting his spectacles and giving a satisfied little “ah-ha!” as he rested his arms behind his lower back.

Shadow froze slightly in Sonic’s arms, but no one seemed to notice.

Sonic lit up with a spark of renewed energy. “Finally! A new lead! You hear that, fuzzball? We’re going to Chun-nan!”

Shadow almost groaned. The pocky looked comically distressed. ‘Can we get there without another detour through frostbite alley?’ A thought sent straight to his current detainer. 

‘No promises!’

Chapter Text

The bell of the Spagonian tower tolled again, sharp and crisp in the warm afternoon air.

Sunlight slants through the window, warm and golden. Shadow—still in his compact ‘Pocky’ form— curled against Sonic on the couch, his body visibly steadier.

Sonic sat still, arms folded beneath his head, but his eyes hadn’t drifted shut in a long while.

Instead, he watched the faint rise and fall of Shadow’s small form, curled just next to him, the tiny shape radiating heat and pressure—like some dense knot of starlight. It was strange. Comforting. A little overwhelming.

And yet… It was Shadow.

The same Shadow who had confessed to him in the middle of a breakdown. The same Shadow who had nearly died fusing with a dying creature just to hold himself together. The same one now breathing softly against him like a feral animal trying to learn safety again.

Sonic stared at the ceiling.

His heart had slowed some time ago, but the throb of emotion still circled his ribs, refusing to settle. Not entirely fear. Not exactly love. Something knotted and weird and real.

A faint murmur stirred the silence.

“…You’re awake,” Shadow rasped. His voice was grainy, still rough with sleep, yet strangely clearer than before. 

Sonic glanced down. “You weren’t exactly subtle, y’know. Kept pulsing like a firefly?”

Shadow didn’t rise to the jab. He only blinked, then slowly pushed himself upright on Sonic’s side, blinking into the warm light.

“You didn’t push me away.”

“Yeah,” Sonic muttered, “well, I figured after the trauma, the blood loss, the monstrous transformation, and the whole ‘emotional breakdown in my arms’ bit, shoving you off might be a little rude.”

A pause.

Then—very softly—Shadow chuckled. A cute one, actually. It came from a pocky’s body afterall.

It was a sound Sonic hadn’t heard in a long time. Not bitter. Not sharp-edged. Just tired. And real.

“You’re… different than I remember,” Shadow murmured.

Sonic stared at him. “ What, you mean like.. softer?”

“I mean,” Shadow said, gaze flickering over him, “you stayed.”

That quiet admission hit harder than it should have.

Sonic hums softly, before snickering and wiping under his nose slightly with a finger. Classic. “I’m not going anywhere, Shads.”

Shadow’s eyes darkened, his tiny form twitching slightly—like a ghost limb trying to manifest.

He didn’t say anything.

And Sonic didn’t push.

Instead, he let the silence fill the space like a warm fog, and slowly— slowly —reached down to touch one of Shadow’s fuzzy ears. His fingers met a texture somewhere between soft fur and flickering plasma. Like it crackled faintly under his touch. But Shadow didn’t flinch, no.

If anything, he leaned in. 

Sonic wondered how long Shadow would stay in this form. He gave him head scritches, in which Shadow could only grumble in displease as his body betrayed him with foot tapping and teeth chattering from the incoming wave of delight from being pet. 

Sonic vowed to protect Shadow right then and there. He was so darn adorable, how could he not?

“You holding up okay?” Sonic asked softly, now passing his hand down shadows tiny back.

Shadow gave a slight nod. “Better… than yesterday.”

“Yeah?” Sonic smirked. “Don’t get too cocky. You’re still on recovery duty.”

“ And you’re not ?” Shadow asked, as a matter-of-factly.

Sonic laughed. "Touché."

A moment of silence welcomed them, before sonic raised his voice to ask a question he’s been dying to ask since their separation back in Holoska.

“Shadow? Why don’t you wanna fuse with me again? Does it hurt or something?”

The pocky stares at the blue blur, wanting to answer him, he really did. But their rare moment of silence abruptly ends when Tails flew in from the front doors of the office, grinning widely.

“Alright, the Tornado’s ready!”

I didn’t want to use you like that. I refuse to. Shadow quietly thought to himself as he watched Sonic stand up from the couch and meet with the excited fox.

___

Trailing behind Sonic was a certain fluffball with cautious steps—Pocky Shadow—his small paws tucked close as he stayed near the hedgehog’s legs, hiding in his silhouette. No one paid him much attention yet, assuming he was some local wildlife tagging along.

Tails turned back to the screen and pressed a button. “Here’s what we know so far: We managed to isolate the next Gaia Temple’s energy readings. It's located in Chun-Nan. That means the next piece of the planet is ready to be restored—and the next emerald you use will definitely help put that piece back to where it belongs.”

Pickle beamed. “Chun-Nan is nestled high in the mountains, steeped in sacred energy. Quite a serene place, really.”

Sonic leaned over the map, eyes flicking with interest. “So, kinda like…A temple in the clouds, huh? Sounds like my kind of place. What’s the fastest way to get there?”

“We’ll take the Tornado, of course,” Tails said, tapping the screen as if it weren’t obvious enough. “I already refueled her this morning and ran a complete diagnostic. If we leave by tonight, we’ll arrive before dawn.”

As Sonic nodded, he felt a light tug at his glove. He glanced down to see Pocky Shadow looking up at him with those faintly glowing amber eyes; quiet, but watching everything. Sonic gave a subtle nod, letting the little creature know he hadn’t forgotten him. That he’d make sure no one else would, either.

Pickle took a sip of tea that Chip handed him. “Do tell, Sonic, is that a new companion you’ve picked up? A mascot of sorts?”

“Uh—yeah, sort of?” Sonic replied quickly, not missing a beat. “He kind of found us after the ice cave. Won’t leave my side, though. Cute, huh?”

The professor chuckled. “He looks rather... intense. But I suppose that’s fashionable these days.”

Tails squinted. “I have my suspicions.. He’s…Weird… His coloring reminds me of—nah, couldn’t be.”

Pocky Shadow narrowed his eyes and quickly scooted behind Sonic again. Sonic cleared his throat. “Anyway, when do we leave?”

Tails refocused his attention to the blue hero, grinning. “We just need to pack up, finalize supplies, and calibrate the readings. Shouldn’t take more than a few hours.”

“Then I guess we’ve got the afternoon to kill,” Sonic said, stretching.

Chip fluttered up to him. “Ooooh! Then can we get dessert? Please please please?”

Sonic snorted and nodded. “Sure. Just don’t eat the entire cart this time.”

As Chip zipped around with excitement, Pocky Shadow grumbled under his breath.

‘Your energy is exhausting…’

“You love it,” Sonic whispered with a smirk, only loud enough for him to hear. Pocky Shadow didn’t deny it. He only turned his gaze back toward the map of Chun-Nan, a penumbra of something unreadable flickering in his eyes.

___

The bell of the Spagonia university chimed— a deep, resonant tone that rippled through the cobblestone streets. This time, it didn’t signal conflict or confusion. It was a quiet farewell. It was also way past the afternoon, plus sonic was once again greeted by his beastly form.

Their things were packed. Tails had prepped the Tornado for launch, and Professor Pickle stood by the steps of the university entrance, squinting into the bright blue sky with a small, hopeful smile.

“Everything’s in order,” Tails announced, checking his device one last time. “We should reach Chun-nan by dawn if the winds hold.”

“Long flight,” Sonic muttered, but there was no complaint in his voice — just quiet resolve. He glanced over his shoulder, where Pocky-Shadow stood with his little arms crossed, dark fur bristling slightly in the breeze.

Shadow had insisted on staying in his new form for the longest time, though he hadn’t explained why to Sonic. Maybe it was pride. Maybe it was practicality? (Maybe it was Maybeliiiin-) Maybe it was something else entirely — some instinct, perhaps, to stay close to the transformation rather than run from it.

Sonic didn’t ask. He let it be.

Chip hovered above them, excited and chatty. “I’ve heard Chun-nan has the beeeeest dumplings in the world! Do you think the temple is near a dumpling shop? Please oh pleeeaseee let the temple be near a dumpling shop!”

“You can scout ahead for us, gourmet guide,” Sonic teased, one foot on the wing of the Tornado.

Pickle folds his arms around his lower back. “Remember, you’ll be seeking the Gaia Temple hidden within the mountains. The readings from the already restored emeralds suggest it lies deep in the forest valley — but the locals may be able to guide you."

Tails gave a thumbs up. “Ready when you are!”

Sonic hopped up onto the wing of the plane, crouching down with a grin. “Shotgun.”

Shadow leapt up behind him, silent but balanced, tail flicking once in anticipation. His red-tinted eyes scanned the sky. No clouds. No threats. But something in his stance was always ready.

“Hold on,” Tails called from the cockpit. “Taking off!”

The engines roared to life — wind kicked up, Shadow-Pocky losing his balance and latching himself onto Sonic. Chip yelped and darted into the cockpit beside Tails.

The plane lifted from the university grounds, arcing high into the moon-lit sky.

As the Tornado cut across the clouds, Spagonia shrank beneath them, rooftops and towers melting into a colorful mosaic. The university bell gave one last chime far behind them — a sound carried by the wind like a souvenir.

Sonic let the wind whip through his fuzzy quills as he leaned out against the frame, face tilted toward the horizon.

“We’re gonna fix this world,” his raspy voice utters. “One piece at a time. And when the time comes, I’ll show Egghead just as much mercy as he gave me .”

Shadow didn’t answer immediately. He stood next to him, one clawed hand gripping the edge of the wing. Then, just so that he wouldn’t be heard over the wind, he sends him a thought:

‘…I believe you.’

___

The tornado touched down in Chun-Nan under a sky painted with soft morning light, the rolling hills and tall bamboo stalks glowing like pillars of firelight. Mist curled around the mountain ridges like veils being drawn, and a small village nestled in the valley blinked to life with lanterns—each one a floating ember in the encroaching dawn.

The Tornado’s engines purred to a halt, and the landing ramp hissed open. A gust of cooler air swept in, carrying the scent of dew-slicked leaves, incense, and distant cooking oil. Somewhere nearby, wind chimes danced, their song a tranquil counterpoint to the travelers’ heavy hearts.

Sonic stretched first, his quills tousled from the ride, then turned to check on Chip—who’d already zipped out, floating upside-down, marveling at the new setting with sparkling eyes.

“Whoa!” Chip exclaimed. “This place smells amazing! Did you guys smell that? I think there’s dumplings! Ooh! Maybe mochi?!”

Sonic chuckled. “One track mind, huh?”

The sun’s ray peeked over, and just it did, Sonic found himself shrinking back to his normal state. He grimaced from the absurdity that was his werehog transformation. “ I will never get used to that.” He mutters. Tails on the other hand went all googly-eyed, seeing the reaction for the first time ever. Yeah, sonic had told him that he could do this a while back but this was his first time seeing such phenomena in the first place. 

“Woah..” the twin-tailed fox managed to utter.

Behind Sonic, a small thump signaled Shadow stepping off the ramp. Still entwined in his Pocky form, his ears twitched at the unfamiliar sounds—gongs echoing faintly from the temples in the distance, laughter from the village square, the babble of a creek winding nearby.

He wobbled slightly, catching himself on Sonic’s leg.

“Careful,” Sonic said gently, crouching down and instinctively offering his hands. “Still feeling it from earlier?”

Shadow didn't answer right away. His breathing was slow but audible, shoulders tense under the fluff of his altered body. His tail gave a tired twitch.

“ Guys, as much as I’d love to stay, I decided to go back to professor pickle to find the next Gaia Temple. That way we can keep busy while you guys find this next one in Chun-nan!”

Sonic gave his younger fox brother a nod, and a slight smile. 

“ Well if that’s what you want, buddy… I’ll support ya! Just don’t stay up too late, I already know you’ve been doing that judging from the forming eyebags on your face.” Sonic raised his chin, as if he was done scolding him. Tails only smiles nervously, rubbing at the back of his head with a hand.

“ Sorry… Well, see ya! Don't forget to reach out to me when you’ve finished so I can come back and get ya!”

And with that, The Tornado began its voyage back to Spagonia.

"...Altitude sickness?" Sonic tried again with a light tone, facing the small pocky once more.

Shadow finally muttered, “...Just exhausted. This form isn’t made for long flights, apparently.”

Sonic’s brow knit with concern. “Then I’ll carry you.”

He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Shadow blinked up at him, mouth opening to protest, but Sonic was already scooping him up with practiced ease, arms warm and steady.

"You're not going to get far if you're flopping over like a wilted noodle fuzzball," Sonic teased, standing up fully.

Chip zipped back toward them, looping around Sonic’s head once before darting toward the nearby stone path. “The temple Professor Pickle mentioned should be just past the village! I think we’re staying at the guest house near the cliff until then! Oh, can we take today to tour the village? Please? Pleeeasseee? I'm so hungry…”

Sonic nodded, walking forward with Shadow resting against his chest. “Let’s take it slow. We’ll settle in, get food—maybe even see the stars if we’re lucky tonight.”

Shadow didn't reply, but the tension in his small body seemed to ease ever so slightly. His breathing grew quieter, steadier, and he let his head rest against Sonic’s chest, eyes flickering closed just for a moment. There was something wrong— This pocky body wasn’t meant to go this long, it was supposed to be dead, buried days ago. And yet here Shadow was, using this dead corpse as a feeble attempt to not end up using Sonic’s body to stabilize himself.

The wind rustled through bamboo. A gong chimed faintly in the far distance.

___

The guest house Professor Pickle arranged was simple but warm, standing tall with paper-paneled windows and polished wooden floors that whispered underfoot. The scent of fresh tatami and green tea filled the air the moment they stepped inside.

“Nice place,” Sonic said, nudging the front door open with his shoulder while balancing their bags of food and basic necessities under one arm. “Could definitely get used to this.”

Pocky Shadow followed behind with slower steps, his tail twitching faintly. His eyelids drooped, motion sluggish. The darkness under his eyes had deepened since the flight.

Sonic glanced back at him. “Still tired, Fuzzball?”

Shadow grumbled. He wasn’t.

“Y’know, for someone who keeps acting so tough, you’re swaying like a paper lantern.”

If only Shadow could scowl and tell him off, but with Chip in sight he only huffs. His footing wobbled just enough to make Sonic swoop in and catch his frail body.

“Whoa there, hero,” Sonic chuckled. “Come on, let’s lie low for a bit.”

They padded through the guest house until they reached their room. Chip had already claimed one for himself, and insisted that Sonic rest in the other room. It was small and softly lit, with one futon laid out and a second rolled up in the corner. Shadow stared at the single bedding, then glanced at Sonic—who was already tossing his gloves into the corner like he owned the place.

“Only one?” Shadow asked.

“Budget limits. Besides,” Sonic said with a wink, “we’ve shared tighter spots.” Sonic kicks his infamous shoes off, sighing when he feels air hit his covered feet. Freeedooooom!

Shadow didn’t answer. He just sat at the edge of the futon, inspecting one of his front paws... The silence hung comfortably between them—thick, not tense.

Sonic sat down beside him, not close, not far. “You okay?”

“I will be.”

“Shadow.”

“I just need…” Shadow’s voice wavered, quiet, worn. “...a moment. To not be strong.”

Sonic didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. Instead, he leaned back, letting the moment breathe.

Shadow exhaled slowly, and then—without prompting—he leaned sideways until his head rested gently against Sonic’s side. A small wheeze escaped the Pocky’s mouth. He was exhausted.

Sonic froze.

Then melted.

The weight of Shadow’s trust settled into his chest like something sacred. He said nothing, didn’t move, just let Shadow rest there—quiet, grounding.

“You’re warm,” Shadow mumbled.

“Yeah, it’s all the chili dogs,” Sonic murmured, half teasing, half grateful.

With Shadow’s eyes now closed, he whispers. “Don’t let me drift too far.”

“I won’t.”

The early afternoon sun filtered in through the shoji screens, golden and drowsy, casting the room in amber. Outside, the wind rustled through bamboo, gentle like breath.

Inside, they sat. The only sound? Their synced breathing and the creak of floorboards as the house settled around them.

___

The warmth of Chun-nan’s sunset crept through the paper windows of the small guest house nestled just outside the village plaza. Silhouettes of winding lantern strings played across the wooden floor, swaying slightly with the breeze from the mountains. Inside, the air was fragrant with tea and something vaguely sweet — the scent of dried plum incense burning in the corner. 

It could have been peaceful.

Sonic laid sprawled across the singular unfolded futon, arms folded behind his head, while Chip happily hogged a box of local snacks gifted by the town elder to the room he claimed as his own.

Sonic smirked faintly, exhaustion finally settling into his limbs now that the adrenaline from the flight finally wore off.

The Pocky creature lay silently curled not far from his futon. Quiet… too quiet.

Sonic’s ears twitched.

“…Hey. You okay over there?” he asked, shifting onto his side. “You haven’t moved since we got here.” He glanced at Shadow.

The creature didn’t respond.

But then the shivering began.

With a low groan, the creature's body tensed and convulsed. Wisps of violet and red energy bled out from the joints, curling like smoke. Sonic bolted upright.

“Whoa—wait, wait—!”

The Pocky's soft fur cracked. A sudden tear ran along the back, splitting the skin like paper. A dark shape pushed forward from within, wet and twitching. Sonic recoiled instinctively but didn’t flee.

“He—” Sonic stared, wide-eyed. “He’s… dying? ”

A final shudder wracked the Pocky before its body slumped over, hollowed out. From within, black tendrils gripped the wooden floorboard, some resting against the futon followed by a slow, trembling figure emerging from the shell — drenched in sweat, and what sounded like heavy panting.

Shadow.

He rose to his knees, exposed, pale scars and black veins spider-webbing across his sides. His chest heaved. His eyes, a deep crimson, glimmered with a disoriented sheen. He looked exhausted like this. War-weary. Behind Shadow, his tendrils flail around weakly.

“…Tch.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “It gave out sooner than I thought.”

Sonic couldn’t breathe for a moment. Then he surged forward, catching Shadow just as he nearly collapsed again.

“Yeah– hey, idiot? warn me before you crawl out of a corpse next time!” Sonic scolds his hedgehog counterpart, before focusing his attention to the tendrils, the extra limbs Shadow possessed.

“It wasn’t a corpse,” Shadow murmured, voice ragged. “It was a construct. Not built to last.”

“You could’ve told me!” Sonic’s voice faltered for a moment. “You could’ve—! Damn it , you scared me.”

Shadow winced. That was unexpected coming from the blue hero of Mobius. “You… were scared?”

Sonic pulled back, glaring, though his touch remained gentle. “Of course I was. You looked like you were dying? You could’ve decayed for all I knew…”

“…That wasn’t the plan.” Shadow’s gaze softened. “But I didn’t think I’d feel this drained. The fusion with that creature... it lasted longer than I expected.”

“ Yeah, now that you’re out and what not, are you able to stand on two legs or do you still have to leech off a body? Huh?”

Shadow scowls, grumbling something unintelligible and trying to stand again. Sonic steadied him.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Sonic said, eyes narrowing and lips quirking up. “You just molted out of a magical monster suit??? So, uh, sit your fine ass down .”

Shadow didn’t fight him.

Sonic carefully helped him back onto the open futon. It creaked under their weight as he eased Shadow down, grabbing a spare blanket from the corner and draping it around his shoulders. His fingers lingered a bit longer than needed.

“…Thanks,” Shadow murmured.

 A thanks from the Ultimate Lifeform? Oh, Sonic is learning his tricks by now. He scoffs. “You’re not getting out of explaining all this later even with that half-assed thanks,” Sonic said. “But... right now, I'm more concerned about the small critter…”

He glanced behind them, but to his surprise, the body of the Pocky wasn’t there. Actually, what replaced it was residue of that mysterious black goo that seems to trail Shadow whenever he’s transfiguring. Did the goo disintegrate the body?

A strange quiet passed between them.

Shadow didn’t answer — he didn’t need to. Because Sonic already knew the answer to his own question.

“ Im… Gonna go get something to eat. I left the snacks in the main room. So, I’ll uh.. Yeah..” Sonic lets his voice trail off, a bit unsettled by the disappearance of the pocky.

“...Sonic, I–...” 

Sonic didn’t wait for Shadow’s response, Instead he made his way out of the room.

That whole scene. The pocky splitting open, Shadow emerging, and the pocky disintegrating shortly after… If…

If there was a chance that my body and Shadow’s weren’t a match, could that have happened to me?

Could Sonic have died a painful death if Shadow and his body were deemed inharmonious? 

Sonic suddenly felt the weight of responsibility he had with Shadow unable to keep his regular hedgehog form. Shadow, if he had never met with Sonic and this somehow happened while away from him…. Would Shadow have found another match like theirs? Or would Shadow have to experience that scene multiple times, over and over again with different mobians and critters alike just to keep himself from going insane?

Was that the reason why Shadow didn’t want to merge with me again? So that he wouldn’t kill me?

Sonic sat on the floor by the bags and rummaged through them to find his box of half eaten dumplings. Chip must have gotten to them. He takes one out, and bites into it.

He wondered if Shadow felt hungry as well.

___

The soft amber light of late afternoon spilled through the wide paper windows, casting long, warm shadows across the quiet room. The mountains beyond glowed faintly gold, the world outside calm, untouched by the storm that stirred inside the guest house.

Sonic  walks back to his assigned room to sit back on the futon, legs stretched out, his hands resting on his thighs. Before him, sprawled across the floor and creeping up onto the bed, was Shadow’s Doom Morph form — a living tangle of sleek, black limbs and glistening, alien flesh. The subtle sheen of slime caught the light like liquid on obsidian, and thin tentacles twitched restlessly.

Shadow couldn’t keep his hedgehog form for long after all.

The huge, unfamiliar form was both mesmerizing and unsettling to Sonic in all honesty.

Shadow’s crimson eyes—dark pools of silent weariness—shifted slowly to meet Sonic’s gaze. For a moment, they simply looked at each other, words unnecessary.

But then he slithered further away from Sonic, finding himself pushed against a corner of the room. Shadow didn’t seem to want interaction after earlier. But Sonic did.

“ Hey, Shadow? Sorry for leaving you like that, I uh. I was honestly spooked off by that whole uhm, thing? And uh,” Sonic found himself stammering way too much, and he wanted to fill the silence that was beginning to deafen his ears from how uncomfortable this whole ordeal was. 

“Long story short, I’m sorry and I’m willing to talk to you again. Also, did you eat at all today? Heck I didn’t see you eating yesterday when we were back in Spagonia, have you been running on empty this whole time?”

No answer. The doom morph’s head was facing the corner of the room. A tendril squelched from beside it.

“Shads…? I said I’m sorry… You alright?”

Still, no reply. But the alien did gurgle something, so maybe that was him trying to acknowledge Sonic’s apology?

More silence, and second’s ticked by. Sonic was growing impatient.

“ Shadow, stop being a prick and answer me, dude. You’re a grown ass adult for Gaia’s sak-”

Then, as if pulled by some invisible thread, Shadow’s elongated limbs moved. 

 Shadow stirs away from the corner, tendrils dragging his body over to the futon.Tentacles reached out, hesitantly brushing over Sonic’s calves, tracing slow, exploratory patterns up his arms. Sonic shivered. 

Shit, I spoke too much and now Shadow’s gonna murder me.

“Hey,” Sonic murmured rather nervously, voice low and soft, “you’re uh, touchy today,” He slowly moves his legs away. He scoots just a tad bit.

A deep, rumbling gurgle vibrated from Shadow’s throat, the only reply he gave. He inched closer, crawling atop the futon until his slimy appendages curled protectively around Sonic’s waist.

Sonic’s breath hitched. There it was again. Shadow’s touchiness and hunger for physical contact. 

Shadow wasn’t angry.

“Shadow, hey uhm, are we good?”

His fingers twitched, hesitating a moment before slipping beneath the slick alien surface, touching Shadow’s body where faint, irregular pulses could be felt beneath the darkness. His skin was cooler here, slick but strangely warm where the creature’s body pulsed. He was growing curious by the second.

It was like he was falling into a trance of some sort. Shadow’s alien’s body was plastered on top of Sonic now, and he could honestly remove himself from Shadow but for some odd reason? His mind began to race, adrenaline rushing throughout his body from this growing curiosity.

“Does… It hurt?” Sonic asked quietly, voice laced with concern. “Being like this. Moving like this?”

Shadow’s eyes flickered, a soft growl that somehow spoke of pain and fatigue. He shifted, curling his massive form closer, tentacles tightening their hold in a possessive, almost protective manner.

Sonic swallowed, heat rising in his chest. Did Shadow need to feed on his energy? 

“ Do.. you need to feed? I'm here…”

A tendril latched itself around one of Sonic’s exposed wrists. That was a yes.The tendril began to pulse along with Sonic’s own beat, an indication of his feeding commencing.

“Where did that tiredness go, huh?” Sonic teased lightly, one eyebrow raised. “Feeling me up all over now…”

Shadow’s eyes darkened, but the tension in his limbs relaxed ever so slightly.

Slowly, Shadow’s alien form pressed down until his head rested beside Sonic’s collarbone, the faintest vibration of breath brushing over Sonic’s skin.

Sonic let his head tilt back, lips parting slightly as soft, involuntary sounds escaped — a breathy sigh, a low murmur that was half surprise, half pleasure. Strange, this was strange. 

This is weird… But it feels good.

Shadow’s tendrils wrapped tighter, trailing along Sonic’s sides, mapping the contours of muscles and bone with deliberate care.

“Yeah,” Sonic whispered, “you’re extra touchy today… but I’m not complaining.”

A low, gurgling chuckle rumbled from within Shadow as one tentacle curved up to gently cradle Sonic’s cheek. The feeding had started, and Sonic felt his energy take a small dip and leave in the form of soft and gentle waves. 

The blue blur grinned, feeling his brain go to mush from this sensation. It was making him feel elated.

Sonic’s fingers tangled in the sticky tendril, holding it close.

Their gazes locked again, the fragile thread between them thickening, charged with unspoken promises and shared vulnerability.  

Holy fuck–

Shadow’s crimson eyes flicked down to Sonic’s lips, then back up.

Sonic’s heart pounded, cheeks flushed. His mind began to race once more, and thoughts that were so eyebrow raising that it could have granted him a VIP ticket to the devil’s right lap.

How would it feel like, if Shadow did these things to me…? Would he feel the same way as I would? Shit, maybe have a tentacle wrap aro– He mentally slapped himself, and pushed his thoughts aside. This was so wrong on so many levels, he was sure of it. And Shadow wasn't in his right mind too, there was no way he would let Shadow do those things with him. Why?

…

‘Well, why not?’

Was that thought mine? Sonic thought to himself. 

“So… Do you not wanna let go of me this afternoon either?” Sonic breathed, teasing, his voice barely audible. This was dangerous territory he was passing, and all his little worries from earlier suddenly seemed insignificant as he saw the next movements of his alien captor.

Shadow’s eyes narrowed in mock annoyance but he didn’t pull away. Instead, his alien body shifted, sliding closer, pressing down in a silent invitation.

Sonic’s breath caught, the room spinning softly with warmth and anticipation.

His fingers traced the wet, slick surface of Shadow’s form, memorizing every curve, every line, every alien pulse beneath his touch.

“Alright,” Sonic whispered with a nervous laugh, “I’m shut up now…”

But Shadow’s response was a gentle tightening of his grip and a soft, wet brush of tendrils against Sonic’s neck — a touch that said everything without words.

Shadow’s tendrils slowly explores every inch of Sonic’s body, leaving trails of cold goo that quickly warms against his fur. Sonic shivers, gasping as his more sensitive areas are gently probed and caressed. Shadow was a whole other person in this form— he felt hot, and it didn't help that five pairs of crimson eyes were drawn to his every outline, picking at him intensely.

A tendril rubs against Sonic’s neck. 

Did Shadow know what he was doing right now?

“Sh-ngh?!”

These tendrils of his, they were all on him, two seeming to feed off Sonic’s energy by the wrists as the others curiously traveled Sonic’s body, each movement sending shockwaves of pleasure within the blue blur. Gasps turned to moans rather quickly whether he wanted them to or not, and whispered words turned to pants. Sonic murmured Shadow’s name like a prayer. 

All of this feeling up and they weren’t performing anything that outrageous, Sonic wondered if this was something that doubled in pleasure if Shadow ended up really wanting to do more than just feed off him?

He felt himself heat up way too intensely, it was almost exhilarating over how this was all happening to him.

“Hng-haaaah...” 

A gurgle escaped the alien body, the tendril against his cheek slowly passing over Sonic’s lush lips.

Sonic hatched an idea.

He quickly opened his mouth, his tongue hanging out as he panted. 

The tentril fell right onto his tongue, and Sonic responded with a slow, deliberate lick against the tip. Kinky little shi–

The tendrils around him released Sonic all at once, the one Sonic had licked just as quickly pulled back. A chortle could be heard from within Shadow’s body. Was he shocked? Sonic blinked away the lust in his eyes, confused as to why it all ended so suddenly, and when he managed to focus he noticed how Shadow was moving away rather quickly. 

“ Sh-shads..?”

“Soooooniiiiiiccccc!!!” That was Chip’s voice, and he was approaching rather quickly.

Shadow didn’t waste another second longer, he had to hide now.

He practically lunged towards Sonic once more, his Doom Morph already creeping over the blue blur like a living shadow. The black tendrils writhed across his skin, their edges rippling with faint crimson veins that pulsed in time with a heartbeat that wasn’t quite his own. His eyes glimmered — molten red with a depth that drew Sonic’s gaze and held it.

His breathing was slow but restless, the exhaustion of travel still clinging to his limbs. He’d barely noticed the shift in the air until it pressed on him — thick, electric, and strangely warm.

The tension between them wasn’t sharp, but magnetic, the kind that made the air feel too close to breathe. Shadow didn’t speak. He only pressed forward, slow and deliberate, the tendrils slipping and curling around his arms like smoke underwater. Sonic’s ears flicked back. He could feel something in that movement — a hunger, but not one born of food.

“You’re… doing it again,” Sonic muttered, his voice quieter than he intended. They were going to merge again.

Shadow’s thoughts struck into Sonic’s mind like lightning. ‘You know what I need.’ That voice was low, reverberating as if something deeper spoke with him. ‘And you’re not going to fight me.’

Sonic’s pulse spiked. He wasn’t sure if it was instinct telling him to bolt… or something far stranger keeping him still. “Y-you could’ve just asked.”

Shadow’s body gave a grumble — more an acknowledgment — before the tendrils lengthened, sliding from his form toward Sonic. They brushed over Sonic’s ankle first, cool and slick, then tightened in a pulse of heat that made his breath hitch. The connection was immediate — an echo in his chest, a flicker in his thoughts — and the sensation crawled upward, winding along his calf, his thigh, curling at his waist.

Sonic didn’t move when Shadow leaned forward, a tendril pressing into the futon. The shadows enveloped them both in a slow, deliberate embrace, curling around Sonic’s back, slipping along his spine. Every contact felt like a spark — not sharp, but a deep thrum that spread through muscle and bone alike. Shadow’s own body was dissolving into it, his edges breaking apart into flowing, liquid darkness.

Sonic shivered as the first wave of Shadow’s presence seeped through him — not just physical, but in his mind. A low, rhythmic thud-thud pressed into the base of his skull, syncing with his own heartbeat until the two were indistinguishable. His vision dimmed at the edges, replaced by a strange glow that seemed to live behind his eyes.

Shadow’s voice was closer now, impossibly close, not in his ears but inside :
‘ Let me in.’

And Sonic did — not out of command, but out of something wordless that told him this was inevitable. The rest of Shadow’s form melted against him, tendrils slipping past fur and skin like water, warm and tingling. His breath hitched as they spread across his chest, around his ribs, coiling into his very core.

It was overwhelming — the sensation of someone else fitting themselves into every inch of him, as if their bodies were no longer separate things but one pulsing rhythm. Shadow’s thoughts tangled with his own, flashes of crimson skies, cold steel corridors, the deep, unending hum of power. Sonic gasped, gripping the futon’s sheets, not in pain but in a stunned surrender to the intimacy of it.

When Shadow’s essence finally stilled, Sonic could feel him everywhere — a heat behind his heartbeat, a second presence breathing with him, thinking with him. His skin prickled under the weight of it, and every movement felt… shared. A symbiotic relationship. That was what this is.

That was when the door creaked.

Sonic’s head snapped up, ears alert, even as his pulse still thundered with Shadow’s. Chip’s voice drifted in, oblivious and cheerful:

“Hey, are you guys awake yet? I brought—” The chihuahua glanced around, looking for the dark pocky but was nowhere to be found.

“Where’d the little guy go?”

“ H-he, uh…” 

How was he going to explain to Chip about the disappearance of the pocky?

“ Left… I took a small nap and when I woke up he was no longer here…”

“ You mean to say that he got lost, Sonic???” Chip pouts, not liking the information he’s receiving from Sonic.

“Yeah, sorry little bud. Maybe he decided it was for the best? I hope we get to meet him again.”

He thanked Gaia that Chip was pretty gullible, or else he’d have a much harder time coming up with excuses for these strange happenings.

“Well, I was going to offer some of the snacks I took to the room because I felt bad for stealing them from you, Sonic. Also, can we go get some more dumplings? I'm starving.”

Sonic only shook his head. Chip was always hungry.

“Fine, give me a minute, and then we’ll head back out.”

As Chip left with an excited shout, Sonic lays back down on the futon bed, covering his face with his hands. He gives out a small shriek as he kicks his feet into the air. What the actual fuckery was this shit? 

Shadow, I am so gonna kick you ass when you come back out! He mentally scolded Shadow, and Sonic swore he could feel the smirk curling in the back of his own head.

They laid there, bodies now one, breathing each other’s breaths. The thrum of two heartbeats syncing into one was loud enough to drown out the chirp of night insects outside. It was growing dark soon, and if they were going to get dumplings he'd have to get up now.

It was too much—too close—and Sonic knew they’d linger in that heady stillness if left alone.

"Lets get those dumplings."

Sonic stood up and marched out the room door. 

He felt Shadow breathe in with him and exhale as well.

He felt all of him.

Breath to breath.

Chapter Text

The air smelled faintly of ginger and sesame oil, carried on the evening breeze that wound through Chun-nan’s cobbled streets. Lanterns were beginning to glow, their red light flickering across the rooftops like restless fireflies. Sonic and Chip had been wandering aimlessly, enjoying the village’s calm hum, when they stumbled across a little dumpling shop tucked beneath a string of prayer charms.

“Hey, jackpot.” Sonic grinned, nodding toward the signboard, the steam spilling from the door.

Chip practically sparkled. “Ooh, dumplings! Let’s eat here, Sonic!”

“Yeah, you go on ahead. Order for three,” Sonic said, keeping his voice casual.

Chip blinked, confused. “Three?”

“Yeah. Just trust me.” Sonic winked and gave him a little shove toward the door.

Still puzzled, Chip disappeared inside, already chatting the poor shopkeeper’s ear off.

Sonic’s ears flicked toward the commotion happening just across the square. A man’s voice — sharp, annoyed — cut through the calm. “—I should’ve fired you weeks ago! Herbs don’t sell. Not here. Worthless waste of stall space!”

The girl standing in front of him lowered her head, no more than a teen, clutching her little bundles of green.

Sonic strolled up, hands in his quills, and stopped just short of the pair. “Three apples, please,” he said coolly, like he’d walked in on nothing.

The man froze, and in a heartbeat his scowl cracked into a counterfeit smile. “Oh! Sonic the Hedgehog! Of course, of course! Mei, fetch the hero some apples.”

“Yessir…” she murmured, slipping toward the back.

Sonic waited until the man busied himself fussing over a display of pears before leaning slightly, dropping his voice. “You alright?”

Mei nodded once, though her eyes didn’t match the gesture. She wasn’t in the mood to talk.

“You know,” Sonic added, softer now, “if you ever need anything… I’m glad to help.” His head tilted ever so slightly toward her boss, still pretending to be busy.

Her eyes flickered at that, bright for the briefest second. After a pause, she rummaged through her baskets and pressed a little bundle of tied herbs into his hands.

“You seem stressed,” she said, her voice like a soft summer wind. “It’s lavender and chamomile. For nights when your thoughts won’t rest. You’ll need it more than me.”

Sonic shook his head, a hand up. “Nah, I couldn’t—”

“I insist.” She shoved it gently into his grip, firm despite her quietness.

He stared at the bundle, then softened into a small smile. “Thanks, Mei. Really. And hey—if you need me, I’m not too far. See that guest house over there? I’m staying there for a little while.”

She blinked, and for once, smiled.

With that, Sonic turned back toward the dumpling shop, the warm chatter inside spilling into the street. But before his thoughts could linger on Mei’s situation, another voice cut in sharp and low — one that didn’t come from outside.

‘Sonic. I can come out now.’

Sonic’s stride faltered for just a moment, his eyes flicking over the lantern-lit street.

Oh good, he thought dryly, you can finally talk to me about everything that’s been happening to us, huh?

Shadow’s presence pressed against his ribs, heavy and impatient. Sonic’s gaze swept the alleys, searching for somewhere quiet. Somewhere they wouldn’t be seen.

The sky above Chun-nan burned in streaks of gold and crimson, lanterns flickering to life one by one as the village prepared for nightfall. Sonic’s chest rose and fell unevenly, the last traces of dizziness finally ebbing as the parasitic pull inside him unraveled. He stumbled forward, bracing himself on the worn stone of a courtyard wall.

Then the air shimmered. His breath hitched.

Shadow tore free of him like smoke forced into shape, a ripple of goo bending the air until his outline solidified—first a blur, then the familiar dark silhouette. He staggered as his metal boots touched the ground with a Clank , his body collapsing under its own weight before he pushed himself upright, chest heaving.

Sonic gawked, relief and awe tangling in his throat. “You… you’re back.”

Shadow’s crimson eyes flicked up at him, glowing faintly in the dim light. His quills hung heavy, as if even standing apart from Sonic again cost him dearly. But he nodded once, curt and restrained.

Sonic moved closer, his hand almost reaching before he pulled it back against his chest. “Do you—do you remember what happened? Back there? When you were alone… with me?”

The question lingered like smoke between them. Sonic’s melancholic voice had sharpened at the edges, a little too quick, a little too raw.

Shadow turned his gaze away, toward the lanterns swinging over the rooftops. “Somewhat.” His tone was flat, carefully measured. “I wasn’t in full control of myself. What I said—what I did—it shouldn’t matter.”

Sonic’s ears twitched. His heart tripped over itself, a jolt of cold spreading down his spine. 

Shouldn’t matter.  

He thought of Shadow’s words, whispered in the half-dark, the strange closeness; the heat that hadn’t felt accidental. All of it brushed aside now, dismissed like nothing.

A mere pebble in the lake, its presence marked only by a fleeting ripple.

“So… what, you’re saying none of it was real?” Sonic asked, his voice lower, almost fragile beneath its casual mask.

Shadow’s brow furrowed, finally turning to him. “I’m saying ignore it. Forget it ever happened.”

Something in Sonic faltered. The shine in his emerald eyes dimmed, and for the first time in days he didn’t know what to say back. A silence hung between them, taut and uneasy. Shadow tilted his head slightly, noticing the shift. “What?”

None of it was real, and it was all in his head. He was only here to find answers, at the end of it all. Everything that's happened—were just minor inconveniences to Shadow, Sonic concluded.

And Sonic was chasing feelings that he couldn’t explain.

Sonic’s ears perked. He jolted back to life, smothering the disappointment curling in his chest. A grin, bright and too quick, split across his muzzle. “What do you mean ‘what’? I’m not sulking, if that’s what you’re thinking!” He let out a teasing smile after his words. But he knew deep down that this smile of his was nothing but a mask. He reached forward suddenly, grabbing Shadow’s wrist with the same kind of recklessness that always defined him.

Shadow stiffened at the contact, but didn’t pull away.

“C’mon,” Sonic said, tugging him toward the glow of the square. “You’re just in time, y’know. This whole place smells like dumplings—my stomach’s been yelling louder than Eggman’s speeches.”

His voice rang with cheer, but behind the smile, his chest still stung. He didn’t let it show, however. Not yet.

Shadow allowed himself to be dragged, the warmth of Sonic’s grip burning into his wrist. He stayed silent, his own thoughts churning beneath his steady exterior as he studied the blue blur’s wild actions. 

And above them, the first stars of night blinked awake over Chun-nan.

___

The streets of Chun-nan glowed with lantern light, the warm hues painting the cobblestone paths and curved rooftops in gold and red. Steam drifted from food stalls lining the plaza, carrying the smell of fried dough and roasted vegetables. Sonic padded along, claws clicking softly against the stone — he had shifted into his Werehog form again, the extra bulk and shaggy fur making him stick out all the more in the bustling street. 

“Sonic?”

He continued to move, distancing himself from Shadow, even as the other had called out to him.

“Sonic.”

Push those wild imaginations aside, they were all a lie.

“ You blue fool, listen to me when I speak.” 

Shadow reached and pulled Sonic by the ear, drawing him back into reality.

They stopped walking.

“ Huh? What–”

“As much as I regret saying this, I’m actually beginning to wonder if what I said did anything to hurt you. I’m not someone who ponders too much on a problem. If there’s a solution to it, then I’m more than likely wanting to solve the problem.”

That caught Sonic’s full attention. He sat up on the ground, ears perked up.

“ … As I stated before,” Shadow broke the awkward silence once more, an eyebrow raising as if talking was something he didn't anticipate to do— yet here he was, trying to communicate his thoughts.

“I said those things back there, to protect not only myself, but to protect you. You’re not yourself, and neither am I. This, to me, isn’t fair. If I ever have a chance at falling for someone, I want it to be pure and authentic, real and tangible. Something as fragile as giving yourself to someone, really… I don’t want to let that fall into the wrong hands…”

Sonic was rendered speechless.

Shadow the hedgehog, the same edgy guy that runs around in skates, bearing guns and telling the world to fuck of whenever everyone decide its convenient to go against him?

“...Hey, Sh-”

Sonic had only opened his mouth to try and utter his name, before Shadow cut him off. He wasn’t finished.

“ When I told you to forget it, it was because that wasn’t something I intended on doing to you, to no one. It doesn’t count to me, since I wasn’t in the right headspace, Sonic. Remember when you told me that even the ultimate lifeform gets singed sometimes, and that it would be dumb to split up? Well, I gave that a thought. I couldn’t say it then, but I feel like now is as good a time as ever to say it. I actually don’t mind traveling around, and placing things back together, with you…” He turned his head away from the surprised werehog, frowning. “I… I want to stay.”

Sonic raised a hand, eyes widened in shock at the confession. This was the second time he’s witnessed Shadow go out of his comfort bubble to speak his mind this way. He imagined that it couldn’t have been too easy for him.

He reaches over, his big hand originally intended to caress his dark counterpart but instead it landed flat above Shadow’s head. 

A short, sharp, questioning grunt escaped Shadow’s lips, confused “hn?’ 

“Shadow, I didn’t know you had it in ya to say those things out loud, and to me of all people, haha,”  He started with a tease, petting Shadow’s quills. 

“I do, I just choose not to speak. It saves me the hassle of interacting more than what’s necessary for me,” Shadow bats Sonic’s huge hand away, his eyes darkening from the interaction.

“Well, don’t worry about me, alright? I was only curious. You didn’t have to go out of your way to say all of that just to make me feel better.” Sonic’s eyes glinted, and a smile spread— Genuine happiness.

That made the ebony hedgehog breathe a small sigh of relief, though he kept his composure, and folded his arms in front of his chest.

“ Now then, let’s go to that dumpling shop, Chip ordered for the three of us!”

“He knew I’d be tagging along?”

“Nope!”

“ Then how did he know to or-”

“Call it my intuition!”

___

They stood in front of the dumpling shop, where Chip awaited his friend’s return.

Chip floated over to the Werehog, wings fluttering with excitement as he chimes with glee.

“Man, Sonic! Look at all this! I can already smell the finished dumplings!” Chip twirled in the air, clearly ready to taste-test the order he asked for a while back.

Sonic’s grin stretched wide, fangs glinting. “You and me both, buddy.”

And then Shadow’s voice ripped through, low and dry.
“You two sound like children.”

Chip startled mid-air, spinning with wide eyes before darting back to Sonic’s side. “Wha—?! Shadow?!” His eyes lit up, his tiny hands clasped together. “You’re back! Oh man, I thought you got lost or something when you didn’t come with us after Holoska!” 

And sure enough, Shadow the Hedgehog stood not that far off from Sonic, looking just as composed as he did when he last saw Chip face to face.

There was a pause, and then a huff. Shadow’s dark quills shimmered in the lantern light as Shadow stepped fully into view. His arms folded, crimson eyes narrowed in his usual manner.

“I don’t get lost,” he muttered.

Chip giggled anyway, wings buzzing with delight. “I’m just glad you’re not gone! Things weren’t the same without you.”

Shadow didn’t answer, but his gaze softened for the briefest moment before he turned away, surveying the plaza. Sonic caught that flicker and smirked, a strange warmth blooming in his chest.

___

The dumpling shop was lively, with round lanterns swaying at the entrance and the windows fogging from steam inside. Sonic, Chip, and now Shadow slipped into a booth, the table already covered in bamboo baskets stacked high with steaming buns.

Chip immediately reached for one with Chopsticks. “Dibs!”

“No way, I called that one first!” Sonic snatched for the dumpling at the same time, their Chopsticks colliding in the middle.

A tug-of-war erupted, Sonic’s massive Werehog hand versus Chip’s tiny but determined grip. They growled and grunted in over-the-top fashion, the dumpling wobbling dangerously between them.

“C’mon, Chip, you’ll choke on it if you try to eat it that fast!” Sonic teased, fangs flashing.

“Not fair! You can fit five in your mouth at once!” Chip fired back.

The dumpling slipped from their scuffle, rolling across the table—

—and straight into Shadow’s waiting hand.

Both Sonic and Chip froze.

Without a word, Shadow popped the dumpling into his mouth, chewing with calm finality. He swallowed, the faintest curve tugging at the corner of his mouth as though savoring not just the food, but the quiet victory.

“...Did he just—?!” Chip’s wings drooped in disbelief.

Sonic sat back, staring. Then he barked out a laugh, shoulders shaking. “Unbelievable… You just had to win that one, huh, Shads?”

Shadow simply crossed his arms, one brow lifted.

Sonic leaned against the table, watching him with a half-lidded grin he couldn’t quite help. His chest thudded, heavier than it should’ve from a silly little fight. Of course Shadow couldn’t resist. Always competing, always claiming the upper hand. It’s so him… that stubborn, fiery spark.

And in that moment, something shifted inside him, soft and dangerous all at once. He wanted to laugh it off, but instead his thoughts wandered — Man, he’s cute when he does stuff like that… Always has been. Guess that’s what pulls me in, over and over.

But then again…

It shouldn’t matter.

___

Sonic walked alongside Chip, trying to look relaxed, but his ears twitched back every now and then at the faint pulse of Shadow’s presence beside him. The dark hedgehog hadn’t spoken since their small exchange earlier, but Sonic could almost feel him—like a storm cloud lingering over his shoulder, restless and heavy.

He almost hated how much he wanted Shadow in him again. The thought gnawed at him, even though he knew Shadow’s condition made it necessary. Still, the way his chest eased when he imagined Shadow walking beside him—breathing his own air, taking his own steps—made Sonic’s throat tighten with guilt.

“You okay, Sonic?” Chip asked, floating a little ahead to glance back at him.

“Yeah, buddy,” Sonic said, flashing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Just… thinking.”

A faint growl stirred in his chest. A voice followed, smooth and clipped: You think too much.

Was that Shadow, or was that my own?

Sonic nearly tripped over his own feet. He covered with a small laugh and scratched behind his ear. “Just a bit tired, that's all.”

By the time they reached the guest house, the village was humming down for the night. The fireflies greeted Chip warmly, their bioluminescent lights ushering them toward the guest house just behind the lovely bamboo and weaving cobblestone path. Chip clapped his hands together. “Alright! This is where we’ll be staying, Shadow! It’s really lovely.”

“Mmhm,” Sonic hums, glancing around. He shifted on his heels, pulse quickening when Shadow’s presence seemed to stretch from behind him, as though the other was itching to move.

Chip floated to Sonic’s side, whispering just loudly enough for him to hear. “So… since Shadow is tagging along, he’s gonna need a place to crash, right?”

Sonic blinked. “Uh… yeah, I guess so.”

Chip grinned mischievously, eyes sparkling and his voice raising. “Sooo, funny thing… the rooms here are kinda all taken... Which means…” He waggled his brows dramatically. “Shadow’s either bunking with me—or with you.”

Sonic nearly choked on air. “Wha—?! C-Chip, c’mon, don’t just—”

Shadow leans forwards, his voice dry as stone. “Tch. As if I would lower myself to sleeping in the same room as a child.”

“Hey!” Chip puffed up indignantly. “I’m not a kid!”

Sonic snorted despite himself. “He’s got a point though, pal. You snore.”

“Do not!” Chip crossed his arms with an exaggerated pout before smirking again. “Okay, okay, then that leaves… You two~”

Sonic felt his cheeks burn. “W-Whoa, hold up! That’s not—he and I—we don’t—!” His words tangled into stammers before he slapped both hands over his face.

Shadow bristled, and when he finally began to lean closer to Sonic’s side, his cheeks were faintly puffed, jaw tight. “You’re insufferable,” he muttered toward Sonic, though his crimson eyes flicked away quickly, betraying the faintest tint of red on the tips of his ears.

Chip giggled, spinning mid-air. “You guys are sooo like a couple already!”

Sonic’s ears flattened, heart racing. “We’re not—! Th-that’s not—!” He jabbed a finger at Chip, his voice cracking. “Cut it out!?”

Shadow folded his arms, face hard, though the slight puff of his cheeks remained—like he was holding back words he refused to say aloud.

Chip only laughed louder, floating backward toward the door. “Fine, fine! I’ll leave you two lovebirds to work it out. Sweet dreams!”

“CHIP!” Sonic yelped after him, but the little guardian zipped away before he could stop him.

The guest house fell quiet again. Sonic stood awkwardly in the silence, rubbing at his arm. “...Sorry about him. He’s… just like that.”

Shadow huffed, turning his head. “Hng. Annoying.” But his presence softened a fraction, the faint irritation curling into something else—something Sonic felt settle warm against his chest.

That guilty knot twisted again in Sonic’s stomach, but alongside it came a reluctant, shy smile.

He was confused. Really confused. And he wasn't sure what that meant for both him and the ebony hedgehog.

___

The lanterns of Chun-nan had long since dimmed, their glow drowned in the deep indigo of night. Crickets sang outside the guesthouse walls, their chorus weaving between the soft rustle of bamboo in the breeze. Inside, the wooden floor creaked faintly under Sonic’s heavy steps. His werehog frame hunched a little as he stretched, claws scraping lightly against the tatami mat.

Professor Pickle’s host had been kind enough to arrange a guesthouse with two rooms, but tonight Sonic lingered in the doorway of the smaller one. His emerald orbs — glowing faintly in the dark — flicked toward the futon rolled neatly at the far end. He turned his head toward Shadow, who stood by the window, unmoving, the moonlight sketching his silhouette in silver.

The futon lay unrolled beside Sonic’s, the thin bedding catching the faint lamplight. Sonic tugged at the blanket with clawed hands, still clumsy in his werehog form, and glanced over at Shadow.

“C’mon, you sure you don’t wanna crash here?” Sonic grinned crookedly, showing a little too much fang. “There’s room, and I don’t mind the company.”

Shadow, arms folded, lingered at the open shōji door that framed the night. The faint hum of cicadas filled the silence. His crimson eyes flicked to Sonic, then to the moonlight streaming across the wooden floor.

“I don’t require rest the way you do,” Shadow replied quietly. “I’ll keep watch. Someone should.”

Sonic tilted his head, ears twitching. “Watch over us, huh?” He tried to play it off with a chuckle, but something in Shadow’s tone gnawed at him.

The hedgehog’s silhouette looked carved from the night itself, posture taut, like a soldier still expecting the battlefield to rise up beneath him.

“Alright,” Sonic muttered, easing down onto the futon, pulling the blanket up. “But don’t blame me if you get bored to death. I snore.”

Shadow didn’t answer. He only leaned against the frame, gaze fixed on the sky, as if listening to something Sonic couldn’t hear.

And in truth, he was. A whisper threaded faintly at the edges of his thoughts—velvet and venomous.

You keep vigil like the weapon you were born to be. They sleep, while you listen to me.

Shadow’s hand tightened to fists at his side. He said nothing.

___

Eggman adjusted his glasses, the glow of multiple monitors flickering across his mustache. Behind him, Black Doom’s amorphous form shifted like smoke caught in flame, eyes burning with eerie calm.

“You’ve seen how Dark Gaia rises,” Eggman said, gesturing to schematics rotating on a screen. “Raw, destructive, without discipline. Left unchecked, it will tear this world apart before either of us can shape it to our liking.”

Black Doom’s voice dripped into the chamber, each word like oil.

“ And you claim you can bridle such chaos with… this machine of yours?”

Eggman grinned, tapping the display where a massive construct unfolded—a towering crown-like device bristling with conduits and restraints.

“Not bridle. Direct.” His tone sharpened with glee. “If we can harness Dark Gaia’s energy—force its mind into submission—then we won’t just rule this planet. We’ll hold the very essence of night and fear in our grasp.”

Black Doom drifted closer, claws forming and unforming within the haze of his body.
"Your ambition is… amusing, human. But dangerous. Should you fail, Dark Gaia will consume you before it bows."

Eggman smirked, unshaken. “Then we won’t fail. Between your insight into parasitic dominion—and my genius—we’ll make sure it never even knows it’s being shackled.”

The shadows of the lab deepened, and for a heartbeat, Doom’s many eyes glowed like distant stars.

"Then it is agreed. Together, we will craft its prison. And my son and your little pet—Sonic and Shadow—will lead us to the beast without even realizing it."