Chapter Text
Shadow
“NO! SONIC!” He screams as he continues his attacks on the multiple creatures. Shadow tries getting over to Sonic but more clones keep appearing and making sure he keeps his distance. “Stop it!!” He snarls but Mephiles ignores him. Shadow locks eyes with Sonic, his mate gives him a weak smile, but the smile fades when Mephiles crushes his heart. All the fight leaves Shadow’s body and he crashes to his knees. No! No no no no! His mind shouts as Mephiles drops Sonic with a loud thud, Shadow can feel his world crashing around him.
“Get up, Sonic get up!” He shouts, but Sonic doesn’t move. The clones soon disappear, returning to Mephiles’ side once more. Shadow doesn’t care about them right now, he speeds over to his mate. He looks the hedgehog over, trying to keep the rising panic at bay. Sonic’s eyes are open but there’s no light, the corners are bloodshot from the lack of air and his chest is bleeding out.
“Very interesting.” Mephiles states as it shakes the blood off its hand. Shadow puts his hands over Sonic’s wound to stop the bleeding. Sonic is still warm but he isn’t moving, why isn’t he moving? He adds pressure to stop the bleeding but it doesn’t seem to end.
“Sonic?” He whimpers, he can’t remove his hand. “Talk to me, please talk to me.” When there is no reply he whines again, removing his hands and gasping at the damage. He looks back at Sonic's face but there’s nothing, he isn’t responding. He whimpers at the sight, he takes a shaky breath in as he holds his world together. “Please answer me. Please don’t leave me.”
They say that mates have a connection, and if they are too far or if one passes they can’t feel that connection anymore, causing them to go feral. Sonic described it as a thread, a tiny thread that connects their hearts. Shadow could see it, he even once tied thread to their fingers. Showing his mate that the connection was real. Sonic’s smile shined like the sun as he hugged Shadow close.
Now there’s nothing. He can’t feel that connection anymore, it’s just…gone. Shadow lets out another whimper, stopping his attempts to save Sonic. He buries his face into his lover’s neck, tears pooling on the azure fur. Sonic would giggle and complain about how it tickles, but he isn’t saying anything. Shadow can’t feel him anymore.
Shadow lifts Sonic up in his arms, embracing him tightly. He takes an inhale of Sonic’s scent, anything to prove he is still here. All Shadow can smell is blood, it overpowers his senses. Shadow cries, burying his face in his mate’s neck.
“He had a portion of our power within him from my strike.” He hears Mephiles speak from behind. He peeks an eye out to glare into the demon. A small fire wraps around its arm before melding into it. Mephiles shakes the arm and laughs at the added power.
Shadow can feel a darkness start to consume him, this time, he does not fight against it. He gently lays Sonic down, shifting to remove his inhibitor rings. Mephiles picks up the emerald, curious at the sound and looks back. As the rings drop his power explodes, Shadow snarls as he feels everything inside him turn black. Mephiles’ eyes widen at the sight. Shadow shouts as the darkness explodes outward from his back, black tendrils forming into makeshift wings. His teeth puncture his bottom lip and his claws extend out to attack. Mephiles tilts its head again but Shadow is soon on top of the monster, slamming it hard into the ground.
“What have you done!?” Shadow roars, he doesn’t even recognize his voice.
“I saved you!” Mephiles laughs, spreading out its arms. “I took away your weakness, look at you! Join me Shadow, together we can rule this world!” Mephiles shouts but Shadow slams it harder into the ground, causing it to yelp.
Shadow picks Mephiles up and throws the demon across the room, before the creature can recover Shadow is on top of it again. Smashing its head against the wall; while Shadow attacks, Mephiles continues laughing. Shadow tries to erase the sound but Mephiles finally decides to fight back, shooting Shadow back with a tendril of power. He slides backwards, digging his claws into the stone.
“You destroyed my world.” Shadow snarls, glaring at Mephiles. “I’m going to kill you!”
Shadow
He isn’t sure how long he has been fighting, Mephiles has stopped laughing at least. A final hit and it is down on the floor, but it won’t be long before it recovers again. Shadow looks back to his mate, still lifeless on the floor. Another hit to Mephiles will keep the demon down for a time, he flies over to Sonic. His knees slam on the floor as he crash lands. The hedgehog’s eyes are still partially open, but the light has long faded from them. The blood has stopped, but that’s only because there’s nothing left. Shadow caresses Sonic’s face in his hands; he shakily closes Sonic’s eyes and smooths out his cobalt fur.
Now Sonic looks to be sleeping, and something in Shadow wants to believe that. He holds onto that thought, taking his mate’s hand to comfort him while he sleeps.
“You’re freezing, my love.” Shadow whimpers, he moves to warm Sonic’s hands with his own heat. “It’s okay, I’m here. I’ll keep you warm.” Shadow leans his head against Sonic's. If he listens close enough he can hear Sonic breathing, his mate is just recovering, he’ll be okay. He has to be alright. Shadow closes his eyes tight and grips Sonic’s hand in his own. “Please wake up.” He begs, but there’s only silence. Soon Mephiles will reform again, and Shadow will continue to fight him. He doesn’t have anything to imprison Mephiles, but Shadow has chosen to keep him here. Fighting for however long he needs to, it is his only choice.
Shadow takes in a shaky breath, trying to ignore the emptiness he feels. Then he hears a new sound, assuming Mephiles has reformed he growls and sits up. When he turns he doesn’t see Mephiles, but…a portal? It shines so bright Shadow can’t see the other side, he shifts to protect Sonic from whatever may come out. A silver furred hedgehog floats gently from the portal, a bright blue light shines around him. Shadow’s eyes widen when he sees his grown son, smiling down at him.
“Silver?” Shadow’s voice cracks, his throat dry. The hedgehog nods and lands in front of Shadow.
“Hey dad.” He says, which surprises Shadow more.
“You-you know who I am?” Shadow isn’t sure what to think, when Silver steps closer to him he lays a protective hand over Sonic’s body. Growling on instinct, keeping the hedgehog at a distance from Sonic. Silver stops his approach, nodding to Shadow.
“It’s alright, I’m not going to hurt him. I’ve come to help.” Silver puts up his hands to show no threat, Shadow doesn’t move but he stops growling. Silver turns to Mephiles, its body is slowly regenerating but it’s not ready for a fight yet. Silver walks over and puts out his hand, trapping the mass with his powers. It angrily writhes inside the new prison but does not break through. Silver goes to the emerald nearby and scoops it up. He turns and heads back to Shadow, offering the emerald to him. Shadow stares at the emerald and looks back up to Silver.
“I don’t understand.”
“Take it, save him with it.” Shadow reaches for the emerald, taking it from Silver and staring at his own reflection. He looks monstrous, he feels a tinge of embarrassment at the sight.
“One isn’t enough, and…” Shadow looks to Mephiles, he feels his anger rise again. “What about that?” Shadow growls and Silver turns to the creature he is holding.
“Oh! I almost forgot, sorry!” He jolts and fumbles at the rings around his wrists. Shadow is taken aback by the sudden change, it’s so like Sonic he can’t help but chuckle. Silver smiles back at him, and steps aside to let someone else through the portal. “I didn’t come alone.” Silver says. As he speaks Blaze and Omega jump through the portal. Omega opens its compartment and reveals the chaos emeralds it had stored. Blaze holds a few of her own, offering them to Shadow.
“ Greetings. Shadow. The. Hedgehog. ” Omega states, Shadow hasn’t seen Omega in so long. He nods to the pair. Blaze gives a somber smile to Shadow, then turns to Silver.
“We’ll keep it occupied.” She states, Silver nods and the emeralds float away from the pair; they quickly turn and run towards Mephiles. Shadow can’t believe what he’s seeing, he reaches for Sonic to have him confirm but stops when he remembers.
“I don’t…” he pauses, sighing. “Even if he’s healed, we have no way to stop Mephiles.” He shakes his head. “I failed.”
“You didn’t fail, you will save the world. Both of you.” Silver bends down, placing a gentle hand on Shadow’s shoulder. He flinches at the touch. “Dad, look at me.”
Shadow does as his son asks, taking in all of the features he can. He goes to touch his son’s face but stops when he sees his bloody claws. Silver takes his hand, smiling at him. Shadow looks at the marks, glowing brightly and leading to the rings around his wrist. He has the inhibitor rings like Tails said, and the marks are glowing brightly through his gloves. Shadow looks back up to his eyes, a beautiful golden color. Shadow remembers when Silver first opened his eyes, he was so relieved that they didn’t match his. His eyes are a perfect blend of both parents, and nothing of Black Doom.
“It’s a little weird, right?” Silver chuckles lightly at Shadow, rubbing at the quills behind his head. Shadow doesn’t know how to feel, he opens and closes his mouth a few times before words manage to form.
“You’re really here.” Shadow says, trying to understand the situation. His ears perk when he hears a commotion from behind, Mephiles breaks through Silver’s hold, and new clones start to form. Blaze attacks the main body with her fire as Omega fires several shots at the clones, and the creature hisses from the new onslaught.
“Here, I have another gift for you. We’ll use it to seal Mephiles away.” Silver takes out an odd looking scepter, it feels just as dark as Mephiles. He remembers this, the Scepter of Darkness. Silver lays his hand on top of Shadow’s, giving his father’s smile. “We’re here to help, I’m going to keep Mephiles busy for a while, you need to save Papa okay?” Silver stands up and heads to help his friends. Shadow turns back to Sonic, quickly placing the chaos emeralds around his mate.
Shadow exhales, looking at the display. He closes his eyes, taking another deep breath in and out. Whatever you wish will become reality, Shadow wants to go home, he wants to hold his young son again, he wants his mate back. He focuses on the last one, begging the emeralds to grant him this wish.
“Please, bring him back to me.” Shadow pleads, the emeralds start to shine brightly. Shadow concentrates on Sonic. Thinking about holding him again, kissing and loving him. Being annoyed at all of his bad jokes but wanting to spend eternity with him anyways. He thinks about Sonic’s dorky smile, and how he sometimes snorts when he laughs. Shadow teases him about it but he secretly finds it so adorable. The emeralds gleam brightly and start to spin rapidly around Sonic. Suddenly there’s an explosion of light, Shadow has to block his face when it happens.
When he looks again Sonic is glowing bright gold, Shadow’s eyes widen as he watches Sonic heal in front of him. The hole closes and the bloodstains disappear, when Sonic opens his eyes they glow bright red. He slowly descends and gently touches down, Shadow slowly walks up to him. Hoping this is real, that Sonic is alive. Sonic gives a smirk to his mate, holding out his hand. Shadow slowly takes it, watching his own fur change to a bright white and red. He feels the power of the emeralds surge through him. The darkness gives way to the power of the emeralds, his claws and fangs go to their normal state and his black wings melt away. Shadow looks at his mate again, the hedgehog still smirking. Shadow doesn’t care about anyone else at the moment. He tightens his grip on Sonic’s hand and pulls him into a kiss, clinging tightly to his mate. Sonic is warm again, and Shadow can feel his strong heartbeat. Shadow nestles into Sonic’s neck, causing his mate to giggle. He takes a deep inhale to reestablish their bond, he can feel the connection between them, like being whole again.
“Don’t ever do that again.” Shadow whines, he feels Sonic cling to him.
“I’m sorry.” Sonic whispers, his voice hoarse. “I won’t.”
They break the embrace to admire each other before they are brought back to reality. They hear a shout and look over to Silver, Blaze and Omega. The three narrowly avoid an attack from Mephiles, they retaliate by sending a blazing rock towards the creature.
“Is that-?” Sonic starts and Shadow nods.
“Our son, he saved you.” Shadow states proudly, the admiration is short lived when Mephiles grabs at Silver’s leg, slamming him into the wall. “We have to help.” Shadow looks at Sonic, who nods in agreement. Time to save the world.