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"No!"
His eyes shoot open, and jolts up before the headache hits. It hurts. It's painful and it's there every night. He wishes it would stop, but it never does. The same dream comes to him over, and over, and over again. The dream of a blue hedgehog that makes his heart hurt, and that ends with him being on fire.
He doesn't like it. At all.
"Shadow, are you alright?"
He prefers his friend. She's sweeter. She soothes his mind. And she always makes him smile.
But she should be in bed, right now.
"I'm fine, Maria."
Instead of pouting at him.
"If you'd be fine, you wouldn't be touching your head like that."
And sitting next to his pod.
"Bad dream?"
"Maria…"
"Tut, tut, tut. You talk, Mister."
But when he can't argue with her, he can't.
So he lies back in the pod with a sigh.
"I don't know."
"What do you mean, you don't know? It's either a dream or it isn't."
"It doesn't… feel like one."
And watches her blink at his statement. It is a dream, yes, but the elements of it feel too real, too precise to be one. It almost feels like a long lost memory.
Weird since the Professor recently told him he couldn't forget anything.
"You know," she begins as she shuffles in her seat. "I was told once that some dreams are actually memories. Not ones from the lives we're currently living, but past ones."
He blinks, and looks at Maria who's staring sheepishly at the floor.
"You do realize that you make no sense, right?"
"But it would explain the dreams, wouldn't it?"
Before shuffling in his pod, and covering himself all the way to his nose.
"Yes."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
He looks at Maria as she tries to smile comfortingly. She's really trying to make him feel better. She really wants him to be normal, if only slightly. And that's why he likes her.
So while he might never feel the slightest bit normal, he tries. For her.
"It's never really the same events, but it always concerns two things. A blue hedgehog and fire."
His ears flicks as the chair Maria sits on is moved forward, and a hand is laid on the covers.
"A blue hedgehog?"
A gentle, kind touch that is meant to reassure, he knows, but it doesn't help. It reminds him too much of the touch he felt in his dream. The comforting smile that he receives every time he closes his eyes.
"With green eyes, yes."
And the loving look he is subjected to every time they meet.
He blinks as Maria looks away before looking back at him, questioning and confusion in her gaze. But there's something else. Something he just can't pinpoint.
"Does he have a name?"
But he still nods.
"Sonic. His name is Sonic."
And is startled by how easily the name rolls off his tongue. It's as if he's known all his life, as if it had always been there. But he's only been alive for a few weeks. How would that even be possible?
He turns to his friend as she grips her dress.
"You know… I know that since grandfather made you, you tend to believe that science is the only way to go, but… I might have an explanation for you."
And merely nods at her words. He knows that she'll let him choose if her words are true or not. He knows that he won't be pressured. Not by her. She's his friend. His best friend, his only friend.
So he'll listen, and make his own decision.
"I once heard that each and every one of us have someone. Someone that completes us and makes us feel like we're capable of doing anything. In the western region, it's called soul mates, and in the eastern one, they call it being tied by the red string of fate. I know this might sound crazy and very hopeful, but… what if this Sonic was this person? What if this blue hedgehog is the one to have the key to your heart?"
But her words send his mind spinning. He feels another oncoming headache rush into his brain as images gather, pile over one another, before letting him with one image. One simple image of that blue hedgehog sitting in a chair with a smile before those eyes meet his, and that mouth opens.
"Hey, Shadow."
And his heart races. Fills to burst at the two simple words. He doesn't get it. He doesn't understand. How? How can he be tied to someone he's never met? How can this hedgehog make his heart rate climb if they've never really talked?
"Shadow, are you okay?"
He reaches for his pounding heart and turns to Maria.
"I don't know."
Who smiles softly as she puts her hand over his.
"I'd say I hit the nail on the head, but I'd rather make sure you agree with me, first."
He doesn't have to. He doesn't even have to nod in agreement. His heart is doing it. His heart is answering with everything it's got. It won't stop knocking against his ribcage as he mentally reaches out for the blue hedgehog who leans into the touch the moment he brushes against that peach cheek.
A soft smile pierces out of startled features as Shadow looks at Maria.
"I think you might be right," he says as he feels warmth fill him. The change is subtle, but it's there. And makes him feel even more powerful than he's ever felt in his entire life.
"I think you might be right," he repeats as he takes her hand, watching her smile happily.
"I'm glad you found your soul mate, Shadow. Now, pardon my curiosity, but, how is he like?"
He chuckles, and lets himself sink in the dreams as he explains. Explains how that blue hedgehog – No, Sonic – acts, what he likes, every little aspect he can get his hands on.
It's beautiful to be in love. It's beautiful to know that you have someone out there who loves you. Really beautiful. He doesn't want to lose that feeling. He doesn't ever want to lose the sensation of being in love.
And when he meets Sonic, he'll tell him everything. Tell him that he's been waiting for years to meet him and that he loves him without conditions.
Too long.
Too long has it been since my time aboard the ARK. Too long have I waited to be freed.
I am now, and those who captured me are about to pay the price. In little less than a few days, the world is going to know my despair, my loss. They are going to taste my revenge.
And I already have the perfect tool.
"It all starts with this. A jewel containing the ultimate power."
The Chaos Emeralds. Jewels of power. The power source of the Eclipse Cannon.
"Now I know what's going on!"
Who?
I blink, and look down from the robot I'm on.
A blue hedgehog…. With green eyes….
"The military has mistaken me for the likes of you! So, where do you think you're going with that Emerald?!"
He looks familiar. Nearly feels familiar. His Chaos Signature is strange, almost connecting to mine. It brushes against me in a way that weakens and strengthens me at the same time. Have I met this hedgehog before? If so, where? When?
My head is spinning…
"Say something, you fake hedgehog!"
But I have to act, I have to get away. Something tells me that if he touches me, I'll lose myself. I'll lose sight of my mission.
And I can't afford that.
"Chaos Control!"
But still, why does he seem so familiar? Why does he feel important?
Why does it feel like I should tell him something that I can't find?
"My name is Shadow."
The words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them. I have to cover this up. No slip ups are allowed.
"I'm the world's ultimate life form. There's no time for games. Farewell!"
I'll land safely aboard the ARK, I know, but my mind keeps racing to the blue hedgehog. The blue hedgehog who feels more important than he should. I hate feeling like I owe him something. I hate feeling like I should already know his name.
Because I come up with nothing. Nothing at all. My mind draws a complete blank save for Maria's last moments. Why? Who?
The landing is forceful, jerking. My mind is too scattered. I need to concentrate. I need to get back on my feet.
The sound of robotic ones clanging through the corridors of the ARK are enough to remind me of that.
Get up, Shadow. Don't let him see that you're unsure. Don't let him see that you might not know what you're doing.
Concentrate on your mission. Concentrate on your promise.
"I've been waiting for you, Doctor."
The blue hedgehog is of second importance. A mere speck in the windshield, a distraction on the radar. What you feel is nothing. What you're looking for is nothing.
"Now, I will show the glorious achievement of what the world's leading scientist, Professor Gerald, has created."
Besides, once you're done, nothing will be left.
Not even you.

Description

"No!"
His eyes shoot open, and jolts up before the headache hits. It hurts. It's painful and it's there every night. He wishes it would stop, but it never does. The same dream comes to him over, and over, and over again. The dream of a blue hedgehog that makes his heart hurt, and that ends with him being on fire.
He doesn't like it. At all.
"Shadow, are you alright?"
He prefers his friend. She's sweeter. She soothes his mind. And she always makes him smile.
But she should be in bed, right now.
"I'm fine, Maria."
Instead of pouting at him.
"If you'd be fine, you wouldn't be touching your head like that."
And sitting next to his pod.
"Bad dream?"
"Maria…"
"Tut, tut, tut. You talk, Mister."
But when he can't argue with her, he can't.
So he lies back in the pod with a sigh.
"I don't know."
"What do you mean, you don't know? It's either a dream or it isn't."
"It doesn't… feel like one."
And watches her blink at his statement. It is a dream, yes, but the elements of it feel too real, too precise to be one. It almost feels like a long lost memory.
Weird since the Professor recently told him he couldn't forget anything.
"You know," she begins as she shuffles in her seat. "I was told once that some dreams are actually memories. Not ones from the lives we're currently living, but past ones."
He blinks, and looks at Maria who's staring sheepishly at the floor.
"You do realize that you make no sense, right?"
"But it would explain the dreams, wouldn't it?"
Before shuffling in his pod, and covering himself all the way to his nose.
"Yes."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
He looks at Maria as she tries to smile comfortingly. She's really trying to make him feel better. She really wants him to be normal, if only slightly. And that's why he likes her.
So while he might never feel the slightest bit normal, he tries. For her.
"It's never really the same events, but it always concerns two things. A blue hedgehog and fire."
His ears flicks as the chair Maria sits on is moved forward, and a hand is laid on the covers.
"A blue hedgehog?"
A gentle, kind touch that is meant to reassure, he knows, but it doesn't help. It reminds him too much of the touch he felt in his dream. The comforting smile that he receives every time he closes his eyes.
"With green eyes, yes."
And the loving look he is subjected to every time they meet.
He blinks as Maria looks away before looking back at him, questioning and confusion in her gaze. But there's something else. Something he just can't pinpoint.
"Does he have a name?"
But he still nods.
"Sonic. His name is Sonic."
And is startled by how easily the name rolls off his tongue. It's as if he's known all his life, as if it had always been there. But he's only been alive for a few weeks. How would that even be possible?
He turns to his friend as she grips her dress.
"You know… I know that since grandfather made you, you tend to believe that science is the only way to go, but… I might have an explanation for you."
And merely nods at her words. He knows that she'll let him choose if her words are true or not. He knows that he won't be pressured. Not by her. She's his friend. His best friend, his only friend.
So he'll listen, and make his own decision.
"I once heard that each and every one of us have someone. Someone that completes us and makes us feel like we're capable of doing anything. In the western region, it's called soul mates, and in the eastern one, they call it being tied by the red string of fate. I know this might sound crazy and very hopeful, but… what if this Sonic was this person? What if this blue hedgehog is the one to have the key to your heart?"
But her words send his mind spinning. He feels another oncoming headache rush into his brain as images gather, pile over one another, before letting him with one image. One simple image of that blue hedgehog sitting in a chair with a smile before those eyes meet his, and that mouth opens.
"Hey, Shadow."
And his heart races. Fills to burst at the two simple words. He doesn't get it. He doesn't understand. How? How can he be tied to someone he's never met? How can this hedgehog make his heart rate climb if they've never really talked?
"Shadow, are you okay?"
He reaches for his pounding heart and turns to Maria.
"I don't know."
Who smiles softly as she puts her hand over his.
"I'd say I hit the nail on the head, but I'd rather make sure you agree with me, first."
He doesn't have to. He doesn't even have to nod in agreement. His heart is doing it. His heart is answering with everything it's got. It won't stop knocking against his ribcage as he mentally reaches out for the blue hedgehog who leans into the touch the moment he brushes against that peach cheek.
A soft smile pierces out of startled features as Shadow looks at Maria.
"I think you might be right," he says as he feels warmth fill him. The change is subtle, but it's there. And makes him feel even more powerful than he's ever felt in his entire life.
"I think you might be right," he repeats as he takes her hand, watching her smile happily.
"I'm glad you found your soul mate, Shadow. Now, pardon my curiosity, but, how is he like?"
He chuckles, and lets himself sink in the dreams as he explains. Explains how that blue hedgehog – No, Sonic – acts, what he likes, every little aspect he can get his hands on.
It's beautiful to be in love. It's beautiful to know that you have someone out there who loves you. Really beautiful. He doesn't want to lose that feeling. He doesn't ever want to lose the sensation of being in love.
And when he meets Sonic, he'll tell him everything. Tell him that he's been waiting for years to meet him and that he loves him without conditions.
Too long.
Too long has it been since my time aboard the ARK. Too long have I waited to be freed.
I am now, and those who captured me are about to pay the price. In little less than a few days, the world is going to know my despair, my loss. They are going to taste my revenge.
And I already have the perfect tool.
"It all starts with this. A jewel containing the ultimate power."
The Chaos Emeralds. Jewels of power. The power source of the Eclipse Cannon.
"Now I know what's going on!"
Who?
I blink, and look down from the robot I'm on.
A blue hedgehog…. With green eyes….
"The military has mistaken me for the likes of you! So, where do you think you're going with that Emerald?!"
He looks familiar. Nearly feels familiar. His Chaos Signature is strange, almost connecting to mine. It brushes against me in a way that weakens and strengthens me at the same time. Have I met this hedgehog before? If so, where? When?
My head is spinning…
"Say something, you fake hedgehog!"
But I have to act, I have to get away. Something tells me that if he touches me, I'll lose myself. I'll lose sight of my mission.
And I can't afford that.
"Chaos Control!"
But still, why does he seem so familiar? Why does he feel important?
Why does it feel like I should tell him something that I can't find?
"My name is Shadow."
The words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them. I have to cover this up. No slip ups are allowed.
"I'm the world's ultimate life form. There's no time for games. Farewell!"
I'll land safely aboard the ARK, I know, but my mind keeps racing to the blue hedgehog. The blue hedgehog who feels more important than he should. I hate feeling like I owe him something. I hate feeling like I should already know his name.
Because I come up with nothing. Nothing at all. My mind draws a complete blank save for Maria's last moments. Why? Who?
The landing is forceful, jerking. My mind is too scattered. I need to concentrate. I need to get back on my feet.
The sound of robotic ones clanging through the corridors of the ARK are enough to remind me of that.
Get up, Shadow. Don't let him see that you're unsure. Don't let him see that you might not know what you're doing.
Concentrate on your mission. Concentrate on your promise.
"I've been waiting for you, Doctor."
The blue hedgehog is of second importance. A mere speck in the windshield, a distraction on the radar. What you feel is nothing. What you're looking for is nothing.
"Now, I will show the glorious achievement of what the world's leading scientist, Professor Gerald, has created."
Besides, once you're done, nothing will be left.
Not even you.