*huf*

A light blue hedgehog knelt as he touched the ground, having finished a mid air spinball attack, and knocking his foe down for the last time. A gun slid across the floor which was knocked loose from his hand; the young mobian leaned over and picked the gun up. Studying the heavy breathing animal, known as Shadow the Hedgehog.


"Im- possible!" The dark executioner said, both exasperated and exhausted as he tried to catch his breath. Losing didn't go well with Shadow, especially with this. . . child.


The lighter adversary pointed the gun at the black one's head. He winced as his finger moved to pull the trigger.


"Wait!" Shadow cried. "I'll. . . tell you. . . everything!"


"You. . . don't. . . have to!" He cried shakingly as he pressed down into the trigger.

The bullet flew from the barrel.

And penetrated Shadow's head.

"I-" Shadow wouldn't finish. It was a mess. That's what it was. All this life taking for no reason. Well, it did have a reason. It had a name, too.

Sonica lost all his posture and just hung there thinking about what he had done, what had to be done, and what had caused it all. But his head perked up as laughter ensued from behind.

"Heh heh heh. Looks like he wasn't the ultimate life form after all. Oh well, that's one other out of the way."

A much more twisted version of Shadow approached from behind.

"Who are you?" The light voice of a young american kid made up Sonica's voice as he turned around.

It was Shadow. Shadow the Hedgehog. The real Shadow, or so they thought. The one who killed Eggman, the one who brought war on Earth. The one who sought to control humanity. . .

To extinguish it.

Shadow, as of late, had assumed the title Black Shadow. Even now, Sonica could see the center eye, characteristic of Black Arm masters. If that was the kind of physical change he had undergone, then you could say it was actually quite fitting.

"I am Shadow!" He declared. "The ULITMATE Lifeform. And you are nothing but a speck of dust before me."

A red and black crown was worn upon his head, and a shoulder cape sprawling off his side. A firearm in his hand of the ultimate weaponry. Not sure why he needed that though, if he had Chaos Control. . .

"Why are you doing this?!" The kid Hedgehog asked in all confusion. "You're mad! With. . . whatever's going on inside your head!"

"Hmm hmmm hmm hm hm hm hm hm hm hm hm hm hmmmmmmmm" He chuckled. "It seems the story is all out of order. So tell me blue hedgehog, what did they tell you?" He pointed his gun at the younger, a cruel smile moving across his face as he waited for him to spill the beans.

Whoever this was, that was once Shadow the hedgehog, was insane. Shadow the Hedgehog would coldly declare that he was going to do what he had to do, and then do it. But this guy he had given a chance to speak up.

"I. . . wasn't told anything really. . . " The child started to back away. "Just that. . . . you. . . loved someone. . . "

He looked behind Shadow and saw a larger version of E-123 Omega coming up behind him. Rebuilt and redesigned to match Shadow's faction. A creed of blood and evil, that would consume the nations if allowed to move unrestrained.

"Ma-ria?" Sonica asked a little fearfully.

"Ha ha! That name means nothing to me anymore. Overused by another quaint girl who thought she could change me. But the change is set. And you blue hedgehog, will remember exactly the same!" Shadow cocked his gun as he angled in slightly lower at his enemy-- who was totally oblivious to what he meant.

"Shadow." Omega spoke roboticaly. "Why are you hesitating?"

"I have one question for you though youthful one." Shadow said, almmost ignoring Omega. "One that only you can answer. Tell me this! Where is Sonic the Hedgehog?!"

Sonica thought a moment about his parents. He did look a lot like his dad but wasn't as cocky. He had learned to be more responsible from his example of how he treated his mom. But they were older now. Knuckles had begged him not to do this, but had to come here, to get the answers for himself. To know the truth. The truth about what had happened to this once great hero who would now stop at nothing until destruction was ramnant. The inner secrets of Shadow the Hedgehog.

But would he give them too him?

Hadn't his mom made him change his mind for the better long ago?


But what happened to Rouge? She had been missing for 7 months now!

"I won't tell you that!" He screamed. The emotion built up inside of him, coming blasting out.

"Then you are of no use to me." Shadow said as a gunshot fired from his 2013 ultra giga-mag. Omega began to join the gauntlet.

Sonic made a jump, his leather jacket moving through the wind as he did so, Pulling out a chaos emerald, and holding it out for Shadow and Omega to see.

"Why do you do these things!? I heard. . .you used to be. . . a hero!"


"I am a hero-- but in a different way. I bring judgement to a new evil, a race of beings who will never change. I will destroy all feelings of betrayal and greed. I will extinguish all who oppose me! This is who I am!" Shadow yelled "I am SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG!" He said as he began skating, and firing at his foe.

"Target acquired!" Omega stated as the boy began to move. His machine gun went lose and he let er rip!

"Chaos Control!" Sonic yelled as he warped behind Shadow. Shadow turned, threw him onto the ground, and walked up to him. He placed his foot on top of Sonica's head as he was down and on the ground. Presently offering a smile and putting his hands up as if to say, "Whatever".


"You're too slow, but you fought bravely, so I'll tell you this much. I killed them, blue hedgehog. Every last one of them. Dr. Eggman. The G.U.N Commander. The Anti Shadows. heh." He chuckled.

"But even I'm not sure I'm the real 'me', so I allow the other androids who want to find out the truth come work for me. And if they survive, they survive. If they don't, then what can they be? Non other than a FAKE!"

"You. . . couldn't! You changed everything!" The child accused. "I thought you-"

"Could be changed." Shadow finished. "But I am all of me now. Not a shadow of my former self. I don't care what the doctor wanted, I don't care what the humans want, I don't care what what any kind of twisted alians out there want!"

"But as for me!" He pointed the gun more fiercely at young Sonica.

"I can change them for the better. Yes, change them to dust and ashes!"

"No! What about Rouge?!"

"Rouge?" Shadow asked. Almost frowning.

It seemed as if Shadow still did have some feelings left for somebody. But He wasn't the only one.

"Ah!" He yelled as the bullet left his handgun.


*Bam*

In a flash, a blur of dark blue, Metal Sonic flew though and intercepted the bullet for the young hedgehog.

"I will find the answer!" The child cried as he was pulled out by his father's metallic doppelganger. Rouge, whatever happened to you, I'll find out. If you're still alive, if you're dead. I will find the answer.

It seems it's just out of sight.

"Just remember blue hedgehog! As they always say, ignorance is bliss!!" Shadow remarked, only slightly irritated at his prey's escape.


"Report current status." Metal Sonic commanded.

"I'm. . . not hurt. . . much." Sonica replied nervously.

"Good. Report mission status."

"Complete."

Metal Sonic simply continued, holding Sonica in both arms.

"Why did he do this?" Sonica asked.

. . . Metal Sonic was a bit hesitant to give an answer.

"His logic process suffers from a virus of brokenheartedness. Possible interjection of the Black Arm's hive mind if any of them are left. It is most likely insanity however. He has nothing left to live for."


"Not even her?" Sonic asked is distress?

"Not if she is not alive." Metal Sonic answered.


Sonica just looked down is distraught. It was an upsetting situation. He was truly as insane as everyone had said he was. At the brim of his mind, he finally pressed the question. Surely Metal Sonic would know the answer.

"Can he be saved?" He asked precariously?

"He does not want to be." Was his answer.