Chapter Text
Over the next few days, Shadow began to properly calm down. He would occasionally have nightmares, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle.
All in all, things were going better than expect.
Or, at least...
That was until he stumbled upon the doctor's factory.
There he saw small, defenceless animals being put into a machine, out of which came the very same robots that were seen around the place, doing various tasks.
"Oh! Shadow!" Robotnik's voice sounded from behind him "I see you've found the factory where I produce my Badniks."
"Doctor, what is the meaning of this?!" Shadow demanded "What the hell is going on?!"
"Well, as you know, my Badniks are highly advanced robots." The doctor began "Naturally, one would wonder just what powers them, and, more importantly, why their AI varies from unit to unit."
"Then, that means..." Shadow let out.
"That's right, Shadow." Robotnik confirmed, a menacing glint appearing behind his glasses "These animals serve as both a power source and basis for the badniks' AI."
This is what the professor's grandson was truly like?!
"Now, I have an offer for you, Shadow. You can assist me in world-domination and gain a high-ranking spot in my empire, or... well... Let's not talk about what happens if you refuse." Robotnik said "So, what you say, Shadow?"
"...you sick bastard..." Shadow growled "What makes you think I would ever agree to something like this?!"
"This is exactly what I feared... It's why I didn't want you finding out yet." Robotnik muttered "Well, it's a real shame to have to do this, but I can't have you around any longer. Prepare to die!"
"And, with that, Robotnik jumped into his 'Egg-O-Matic' and started it up. Shadow began charging up Chaos Energy to attack.
Two missile launchers emerged from the sides of the machine, firing at Shadow, who used his charged energy to teleport behind the doctor and send a kick to his machine, damaging it somewhat.
"Hmph. I see I've underestimated you." Robotnik scoffed "But you won't win this fight, Shadow."
Shadow dodged some more missiles before jumping up to the machine and two more kicks and a punch at it, damaging it more.
"Tch. You fool! I'll give you one last chance to back away, before I make mincemeat out of you." Robotnik threatened.
Robotnik flew to a point where Shadow wouldn't be able to reach him, before continuing to fire missiles at Shadow. But Shadow was smarter than the doctor would think any being other than himself to be, redirecting some of the missiles back at him.
"N-No way! I can't believe this!" Robotnik gasped.
"Tch. What's wrong, Doctor?" Shadow taunted "Where was that confidence I saw just a moment ago?"
"Argh! You're not going to get away with this...!" Robotnik shouted.
Now aware that his missiles were ineffective, the mad doctor retracted their launchers and called in his Badniks to finish Shadow off, reasoning that he would be exhausted by now.
However, he had underestimated just how 'ultimate' the Ultimate Lifeform truly was.
You see, Shadow was not, in fact, exhausted. Quite the opposite, actually. This whole time, he had been charging up Chaos Energy. It was why he only Chaos Snap to teleport at the beginning of the fight. And now was time to release that energy.
"Chaos Control!" Shadow exclaimed.
Several beams of Chaos energy began to engulf the entire room, destroying the Badniks and damaging the Egg-O-Matic to the point that Robotnik was forced to land.
"Alright, then, Doctor. It's time to answer for what you've done." Shadow stated "And if think you can get away from me, you are sorely mistaken. You've seen what I'm capable of."
"I'm sorry, Shadow, but it's you who's mistaken." Robotnik responded, pulling out a device and pushing the button on it.
At that moment, the building began to shake violently, an alarm blaring as the place was covered in a red light.
"In exactly two minutes, this entire building will explode!" The mad doctor laughed "Surely, you must be exhausted from all the energy you just used up, correct?"
"What...?" Shadow let out, feeling a sudden wave of fatigue washing through his body "...damn it..."
"That means you can only save one of us!" Robotnik exclaimed, his voice tinged with lunacy.
"Tch. Very well." Shadow decided "You've made your bed, so I suppose I'll let you lie in it."
And, so, Shadow began a mad dash toward the exit, knowing that if he stopped or slowed down for even a second, it could spell the end for him.
After about a minute and a half, he was out of the building, using the remaining time to get as far from it as possible.
It wasn't a large explosion or anything, just enough to destroy the entire base.
Now, however, Shadow could think about what had just happened.
"How could the professor's grandson be so... sick...?" He muttered, before slamming his fist into a nearby tree "What the fuck is my life?!"
The tears had returned, attempting to show.
He didn't stop them.
After a long while, Shadow finally calmed down.
It was then that he vowed to protect the world. For everyone who died during the raid on the ARK.
But, most importantly, for Maria.
"This is who I am."