Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The cavern shimmered with an endless labyrinth of jagged crystal mirrors that distorted anything they reflected. Sonic skidded to a stop, his reflection multiplied across the cavern's many surfaces.

"Okay," Sonic muttered, staring down one passageway of his reflections, "definitely not the usual underground cave system."

Somewhere ahead, Dr. Eggman's laugh crackled through the cavern.

“At long last!” Dr. Eggman’s voice called from ahead. “After all this time, after all your meddling, you won’t stop me from claiming the Paradox Prism this time!”

Sonic screeched to a stop. "Wait? No way!" he grinned, "This is the first place I ever kicked your butt, right?" He took a step forward, smirking at his own reflection. “How long’s it been? Ten years?”

The doctor growled. "You barreled into my excavation like a blue wrecking ball," Dr Eggman snapped. "Destroyed half my field lab, and scattered years of data across the valley. It's took me a decade to rebuild this!"

“You were causing massive damage,” Sonic retorted, narrowing his eyes. “There were earthquakes, a couple landslides, I tried to talk to ya'.”

Eggman scoffed. “A few tremors and suddenly I’m the villain.”

“And you were planning to use the gem to take over the world.” Sonic added smoothly.

The scientist gave a dismissive grunt, waving the comment off.

Sonic bolted forward, picking a path at random, only to dash through a mirror and burst out into a completely different tunnel, one he swore he hadn’t seen before. Again and again, he zigzagged through the paths, in trial and error.

But each mirror warped distance differently. One jump took him backwards. Another upside down. He growled, skidding to a halt.

Eggman sneered, tapping a handheld scanner. "You’re fast, hedgehog, but not smart. These crystal mirrors are calibrated to distort distance. While you trip over yourself, my tech tells me exactly which ones will lead me forward."

With a flourish, Eggman drifted backward through a tall crystal and vanished.

Sonic gritted his teeth. “Yeah? Well, I’ve got something you don’t—!” Sonic folded his arms, his gaze flicking around for a moment. “…And the second I figure out what that is, you’re in trouble.”

He charged again, but this time slower, looking for any clues in the crystal's surfaces as to where they might lead. He took one step through a mirror and emerged into another corridor. But as he stepped through, something clicked under his foot.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep-beep.

Beep-beep-beep.

Sonic’s eyes widened. “Ohhh no.”

Beneath his shoe, a small, blinking egg-shaped metallic disc.

“Well that’s definitely cheating—”

Before the bomb could finish its countdown, a black blur disturbed the air behind him.

WHAM!

Shadow sweeping into a spin kick, launched the egg-bomb into one of the crystal passages. It vanished.

Then-

BOOM!

Sonic whistled. “You know, for someone who pretends not to like me, you have really good timing.”

Shadow didn’t even glance his way. “Tsk. Try not to stand on any more traps.”

He had already began analyzing the labyrinth of mirrors around them.

“This place is a maze,” Shadow muttered. “If Eggman gets too far ahead, we lose him and the gem.”

Sonic crossed his arms, nodding. “Here to help, huh?" he smirked. "Okay, so we split up. You figure out were half of these go, I figure out the other. And we can map it as we go.”

Shadow gave a single nod.

The two zipped apart.

Mirrors shimmered as they mapped more of the maze together. Sonic shouted coordinates. Shadow marked out reflections.

It was progress.

Soon, their paths crossed again, as the two regrouped, Shadow turned to the other hedgehog.

“What have you mapped so far?”

Sonic tapped the side of his head. “Kinda winging it, but I’ve marked three turns that lead back into loops. One leads down, which is where Eggman’s voice is loudest. Seems like the main chamber has to behind this wall." He glanced around at the distorted reflections. “Problem is, I still can’t tell which one of these fun-house mirrors will take us there.”

Shadow stepped closer, placing a gloved hand against the wall.

“So you’re saying the chamber’s just on the other side of this.”

Sonic nodded. "Looks like it. Yeah."

Eggman, somewhere deeper, caught wind of their teamwork. His voice echoed from a nearby crystal like a mocking specter.

“Well isn’t this sweet? Shadow, I offered you power. I offered purpose. And you choose him? The blue fool?”

Sonic gave a laugh. “Hey, at least I don’t come with a 500 page betrayal clause.”

Shadow’s face was unreadable. “I never chose either of you.”

Sonic shrugged with a crooked grin, "Well, ya' kinda did." throwing in a quick wink.

“No,” Shadow said, coldly. “I didn’t.”

Without warning, his body lit up with a sharp green pulse.

“Chaos Control!” he shouted.

Before Sonic could react, Shadow vanished.

Reappearing an instant later on the other side of the wall that had kept him from the final chamber.

Eggman’s hovering pod loomed above the Paradox Prism.

Eggman blinked from his pod. “Wha—? Shadow?!  What do you think you're doing? Just because you ditched that rodent won't mean I'll let you in on my evil plans!"

“I'm not interested in any of your plans, Eggman." he scoffed. "I’m taking the gem for myself.” 

Eggman sputtered. “You what—?!”

Meanwhile, Sonic zipped through the twisting maze of crystal mirrors even harder. He skidded to a halt at a fork, squinting at the mirrored paths.

“Come on, come on—" He looked around. "There has to be a way to get there with out a dumb 'chaos control' cheat code..."

Then he spotted it, a narrow, half-hidden mirror tucked behind a fractured wall.

“Bingo.”

Without hesitation, he dove through.

Reality bent, twisted and then snapped back into place as Sonic burst into the final chamber.

“Oh no you don’t!” he yelled, boosting forward in a blur of blue light.

Shadow dodged out of the way.

“This doesn’t concern you!” Shadow growled.

“C’mon, man!” Sonic sighed as they raced side by side in chase. “Why this? Why now? Eggman after this thing? Makes sense. You? Not so much."

Shadow didn't respond.

Sonic rolled his eyes before lunging after him, latching onto the others quills. Shadow shoved him back. The two tumbling over each other with their speed.

“You’re slowing me down.” Shadow scoffed.

“Oh, I’m the problem here?” Sonic grunted as he tackled Shadow to the ground.

Shadow glared up at him, “Move.” growling back.

“Make me.” Sonic smirked.

Eggman cackled, eyes gleaming.

Taking advantage of their perfect distraction, he had the gem within his grasp now. It was glowing with energy.

“Boys, boys, don’t stop on my account.” he chuckled.

He slotted the gem into the power core of his the mech around him. His mech lit up with a surge of color, crackling energy pulsing around him.

And suddenly the pods charge tripled.

Until the pulsing energy transformed into jagged sparks.

The limbs and chassis began suddenly convulsing.

The scientist cursed. "No! No! No! Divert power!" The words flashed over his screen: OVERLOAD INANIMATE!

With a frantic press of a button, his pilot seat ejected, blasting him out of the cockpit to safety. 

A blinding light throbbed, building a charge with each passing second.

Shadow grit his teeth, gaze locking on the gem.

He lunged.

“Shadow, wait!” Sonic shouted, scrambling after him. “It’s not stable!”

“I just need to warp it away before the core blows—!”

Shadow’s fingers closed around the gem. Heat surged up his arm.

He chanted the same phrase again.

"Chaos Control-"

Sonic had latched onto his arm.

The gem flared.

The core surged one last time, and detonated.

When the smoke had dissipated, the two had vanished.

Eggman blinked. Looking over the ruins of his destroyed invention.

“Hm. That… definitely wasn’t the intended result.”

He peered over the empty scenery of smoldering scrap. “Shadow?” he called, half-expecting the black hedgehog to reappear, dramatic as ever.

Silence.

Eggman’s grin faltered. “…Well. That’s mildly concerning.”

Energy swirled around the two hedgehogs, dragging them down into what felt like a free fall.

Shadow tried to clutched the gem tighter, but it was thrown from his grasp.

Sonic landed hard on cold unforgiving metal. The light above was dim, grey and empty.

Sonic pushed himself up slowly, looking at the expanse of a cityscape.

And yet… it didn’t feel entirely unfamiliar.

He saw Shadow already back on his feet not far away.

Sonic approached him, frowning. “Okay… tell me this isn’t just me," he shrugged. "but does this place feel—”

Shadow finished it for him. “Familiar.”

Sonic’s eyes swept across the city, his heart sinking. What should’ve been lush green hills and winding loops was now steel and scaffolding.

"Eggman won!?"

Familiar and yet, very wrong.

Chapter Text

Sonic’s eyes swept across the gray city landscape, his heart sinking. What should’ve been lush hills and winding loops was now steel. The familiar checkerboard patterns of Green Hill were stamped into concrete walls. 

“No… Eggman won!?” Sonic’s voice broke the silence. "Only Egghead would have a taste for this much brutal architecture."

Shadow didn’t answer. His arms were crossed. The silence between them still crackled with leftover tension from their earlier fight.

Sonic glanced sideways. “You’re awfully quiet for someone who just tried to double cross me for a mystery gem.”

Shadow’s eyes narrowed. “You’re still bringing that up?”

“Well, yeah. I don’t exactly get over betrayal in under five minutes,” Sonic shot back. “I mean, we literally fell into this rust-hole because you couldn’t play nice.”

"Me?" Shadow scoffed, walking off. "If you had stayed out of my way, hedgehog. None of this would have happened."

“Hey—" Sonic called, jogging to catch up. "Where are you even going?” 

“To figure out where we are. And how to get out.”

Sonic eyed him warily. “...And the gem?”

Shadow paused, his expression tightening. “I dropped it.”

Sonic blinked. “You what?”

“It slipped from my grip when we fell here,” Shadow said, barely disguising his frustration. “It’s somewhere in this city.”

Sonic sighed. “Great. So not only are we stuck, but the gem that got us here is just lying around somewhere?”

Shadow started walking again. “We’d better find it before someone else does.”

That's when they both took notice who was watching them. Strange figures in worn clothing, peeking from behind doors, hiding behind laboring machinery. But none approached them. They all vanished the moment either hedgehog looked their way.

Sonic frowned. “Okay, this is creepy.”

"Wait. Hold on.” Sonic pointed. “That guy just saw you and saluted. Like military-style.”

Shadow’s brows furrowed. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“I mean, unless you’ve been moonlighting as a fascist leader,” Sonic added with a grin.

Shadow glared at him.

A mother yanked her child back into a side alley. Someone slammed a window shut.

“Hm…They’re scared of us,” Shadow said slowly.

“Us?" Sonic raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, I think you might be projecting a little, Shads.” He gave a casual grin. “You don’t exactly scream ‘trustworthy stranger’ at first glance. Me, though? I’ve got charm. I can win folks over no problem.”

A sudden noise cut them off, a whimper.

Both hedgehogs turned sharply. A small rabbit child, was peeking out from behind a crumbling wall. The moment she saw them look back, her eyes widened in terror.

Sonic blinked. “Hey there, little buddy! It’s okay, we’re not gonna hurt you. Maybe you can help—”

The girl screamed and bolted.

Sonic froze.

Shadow’s expression didn't change, but his tone didn't bother to hide his amusement. “Looks like they’re afraid of you too.”

He was right, as they explored further, Shadow, at least, only got wary glances. But when they saw Sonic?

The fear in their eyes wasn’t just that of a stranger’s.

“This isn’t right,” Sonic muttered, unease creeping in.

Shadow didn’t answer. He was staring at something in the distance, a towering Citadel. An obvious place of importance.

“We should split up,” Shadow said abruptly.

Sonic scoffed. “Oh, shocker, you want to work alone.”

“I’m not arguing with you about this.” Shadow turned away. “ Don't stick out and stay out of trouble.”

“Me? You’re the one who—”

But Shadow was already gone in a streak of black, into the shadows.

Sonic growled, kicking a loose piece of scrap metal. “Unbelievable.”

Sonic kept searching the city for the lost gem, but he wasn’t having much luck. Everywhere he went, people fled. Even the robots didn’t target him. They looked at him, scanned him, and moved aside.

“Okay, this is really creeping me out,” he muttered, rubbing his arms.

Then he heard it, the unmistakable sound of a Chaos Spear.

Shadow.

Sonic bolted toward the noise, weaving through the maze of the city. He skidded into a wide plaza and froze.

Shadow was there.

Vagrants were fleeing from his attack.

Shadow had dressed in sleek black and crimson armor.

He turned to face Sonic immediately. “You—you’re here?” Shadow said, voice rough with disbelief.

Sonic crossed his arms. "Yeah, yeah, you wanted to split up." He eyed the other’s getup. "Really blending in with this place’s aesthetic, huh?"

Sonic’s eyes locked onto the gem in the hedgehogs grasp.

Shadow tilted his head. “I wasn’t informed you—”

“You found it!” Sonic shot forward. "Thank chaos! We got here because of Eggheads mech core overloaded with this, if we can just recreate that, maybe we can fix it!"

The city’s loudspeakers crackled to life, a low, distorted voice echoing across the city.

"All units report to the plaza. The Commander is returning."

“…That can’t be good.” Sonic’s mind raced. He glanced up seeing an energy plant crackling nearby, then back at the gem. That might work.

He smirked. "I got a plan. Follow me!"

Before the Shadow could protest, Sonic grabbed his wrist and sped off, the gem held tight between them as he raced for the power plant.

Shadow had been moving through the city’s underbelly. He stood in the shadow of the Citadel's outer walls.

Then, without warning, a beam of red light scanned over him from a hidden panel.

"IDENTITY CONFIRMED: SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG. ACCESS GRANTED."

A door hissed open.

Shadow tensed, expecting an ambush, but nothing came. Only a dimly lit corridor leading up.

Up toward the citadel.

He stepped inside.

The citadel was empty except for the robot guards that didn’t even acknowledge him, finally he reached a control room. The walls were covered in monitors, dials, and a central display.

He approached the console. A screen flickered to life.

WELCOME BACK, CAPTAIN.

"Captain?" Shadow frowned. "How do you know who I am?" he demanded.

Lines of text scrolled by:

IDENTIFICATION CONFIRMED: SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG

CLEARANCE: OMEGA

STATUS: ACTIVE DUTY

A new line appeared, blinking ominously:

COMMANDER STATUS: IN FIELD

AWAITING YOUR COMMAND, CAPTAIN

Shadow thought for a moment, then looked back to the console. "I need to find something, how much of the city can you show me from here?"

Grainy surveillance footage lit up the wall.

The first thing he saw was Sonic.

But not just Sonic.

The blue hedgehog was standing in the plaza with...what looked like himself. This Shadow's attire was slightly different then his own. The two were talking. Then, Sonic grabbed the other Shadow’s arm and dashed off, heading straight for what looked like the city’s energy plant.

Shadow's ears perked up when he saw the very gem he was looking for in their possession.

“He found the gem!”

A timestamp blinked at the corner of the footage. It was happening now.

Shadow’s blood ran cold.

He turned and bolted. Chaos Energy crackling at his heels.

Shadow sprinted across buildings and rooftops, eyes locked on the energy plant ahead. If that hedgehog tried to take the gem and leave without him-

He could see two figures coming into view.

He launched himself forward.

"Chaos Control-!" he shouted.

He instantly reappeared just in time to watch a column of light erupted around both of them.

It was too late.

By the time Shadow landed on the edge of the building, the space was empty.

Both figures were gone.

He staggered a step forward, breath heavy. “Sonic…you reckless idiot.” he cursed.

All that remained was the hum of dissipating energy and the cold silence of a world that wasn’t his own.

It was quiet for a moment until from behind him, the air trembled.

"Shadow."

The voice was smooth. Amused.

Shadow turned.

There, emerging from the shadows of the city, stood another hedgehog.

His quills were a dark blue. His eyes—those green damn eyes—glowed faintly with residual power, as if he’d just stepped out of a warzone.

It was undeniably him. Sonic... but definitely not his Sonic.

He was staring directly at Shadow.

Shadow stared back.

Being stuck in a different world was now no longer his biggest problem.

Chapter Text

The world slammed back into color.

Lush green hills. Blue skies. A soft breeze stirred the tall grass as birds chirped overhead.

Sonic stumbled forward with a sharp gasp, bracing himself on a tree. His eyes darted around. Trees. Real ones. A sky that wasn’t drowned in gray.

“Whoo-hoo!” Sonic whooped, finally throwing his arms up. “That’s more like it!” he breathed, letting out a laugh. “Tails is gonna freak.”

Behind him, Shadow appeared, shoes touching down lightly on the soft soil.

He didn’t move.

Didn’t speak.

His eyes scanned the horizon slowly.

He stepped forward once, then immediately froze when a leaf fell onto his shoulder.

He flicked it off with an immediate burning urgency.

“Uh… you good there, Shads?” Sonic waved a hand in front of Shadows face. “Feels way better to be back in our world, huh?”

Shadow’s gaze snapped to him. “…our world?”

Then Sonic’s eyes dropped to the gem still clutched in Shadow’s hand.

Ah. Right.

“Okay, hand it over, faker.” Sonic smirked, holding out his palm. “No way I’m letting you keep that thing after—”

Shadow immediately offered it to him.

Sonic’s smirk died.

“…Wait, really?”

No snark. No fight. Just silent obedience.

Sonic snatched the gem, half-expecting a trap. When none came, he squinted at Shadow. “You’re not gonna try to take it back?”

Shadow tilted his head. “Do you want me to?”

Sonic opened his mouth. Closed it.

What the heck was happening?

“Uh… no? But you were just fighting me for it like an hour ago!”

Shadow’s expression faltered for the first time.

But Sonic already snatched the gem and took off in a blue blur, shouting over his shoulder: “You’re not fooling me that easy, faker! I’ll make sure Tails keeps this locked up!”

Than he vanished.

Shadow stood still, watching for a long moment. His head tilted slightly.

Back in a gray, concrete Green Hill, Commander Sonic tilted his head. "Guess you didn't hear the announcement? Your Commander is back, Captain." 

Shadow took a step back.

"Shadow?" he called, then blinked. “Don’t tell me you’re mad about earlier." he stepped forward. Then laughed.

“Oh. You’re doing the brooding thing again.”

Shadow took another step away.

Commander Sonic raised a brow. “...Really?”

Shadow bolted.

And the chase began.

"Now this is new," the tyrant chuckled, already moving to intercept. "Since when do you run from me, Shadow?"

Shadow didn't answer. He wove through the industrial wasteland that might have once been Green Hill, searching for cover, for advantage. But every route was blocked by familiar yet foreign machinery bearing the Commanders insignia.

Behind him, Sonic gave chase with a lazy kind of speed, as if amused by the whole thing.

“Shadow. Buddy. We’ve been through this phase.”

Shadow didn’t answer. He threw a Chaos Spear to slow him down. He missed.

Sonic caught up in a heartbeat, vaulting over rubble like it barely existed.

"You're not usually this dramatic unless we’re sparring," Commander Sonic called, zipping up beside him with a grin. “You mad I didn’t let you finish off that resistance nest last week? You’ll get the next one.”

Shadow pushed harder. He jumped, dodged, ducked and kept running. This world wasn’t his and this Sonic definitely wasn’t either.

“You know this is cute and all,” Sonic said. “But I am faster than you.” His speed was playful, but quickly turning predatory in his pursuit.

Then—

Shadow was tackled mid-stride. They tumbled to the hard ground, collapsing to a stop.

Shadow gasped, arm twisted behind him before he could react.

The Commander crouched above, one knee pressing down, grinning like it was a training exercise.

Shadow growled, struggling, but the grip was too strong.

Sonic leaned in. “You’re acting weird today. New strategy? Testing my patience?”

Shadow stared up at him, silent.

Until a light fluttered.

“Chaos Control!”

In a flash of light, Shadow vanished.

Shadow had reappeared just beyond the walls of the city, it looked to be nothing but wilderness out here.

And he instantly regretted it.

A blinding storm tore through the ruined forest. The sky was black, the earth shook swirling with dust and green lightning.

The chaos of nature was surrounding him.

“Chaos Control!”

He crashed back into the city, soaked and coughing.

A boot landed just inches from his head.

Shadow looked up.

"You really just warped into a nature zone to win a spar?" Sonic whistled, amused. “Just came in from that storm. One of the worst yet. I recommend we keep our issues inside today." he chuckled.

Shadow didn’t answer.

Sonic didn't seem to mind. “Whew,” he exhaled. “That’s the most cardio you’ve made me do in months. You good now? Got it out of your system?”

Commander Sonic brushed the dust from his gloves.

“Come on,” he said casually, already turning. “Back to the Citadel. They’re probably panicking without us.”

Shadow rose slowly, pulse still pounding.

Sonic didn't look back.

“…You’re quiet. That’s fine. You’ll tell me what’s eating you eventually.”

He smirked over his shoulder.

“You always do.”

Then he dashed ahead, not waiting to see if the other followed.

Shadow hesitated.

But did.

Chapter Text

Shadow moved cautiously along the path, his eyes flicking between wildflowers and wildlife like they were traps waiting to spring. He didn’t trust any of it.

He followed the sounds of conversation to a small clearing.

Knuckles stood near a pile of tools, while Rouge floated beside him. Some kind of archway was half-built behind them.

“Oh, look who finally decided to rejoin the living,” Rouge said, glancing up. “You’ve been MIA since you ditched our conversation this morning.” She smirked.

Shadow froze.

She kept going, unbothered. “I was halfway through the legend, you know, the one about the gem you’ve been obsessing over? You practically dragged it out of me.”

Shadow didn’t answer. He stared at them both.

“What are you doing out here?” he asked finally, more curt than he intended.

Knuckles shrugged and gestured toward the tools scattered around them. “Sonic asked me to help fix up this archway that broke during the last storm.”

Rouge’s sharp gaze swept over the echidna. "And I'm here to enjoy the view." She smirked. 

"Sonic gave orders?" Shadow nodded stiffly. “Understood.”

Shadow saluted them both, before he picked up a beam and bolted it into place without another comment.

Knuckles blinked. “Uh… thanks?”

Sonic and Tails strolled though a sunny Green Hill together.

Tails looked over the scan he had just done on the Paradox Prism. "I'm not getting any power readings from it."

“I swear that gem was going all crazy when we first grabbed it,” Sonic said, rubbing his quills, looking at the now lifeless gem. “Guess whatever juice it had didn’t survive the trip back?”

Tails nodded, frowning. "So, you really went to a whole different Green Hill?”

“Yeah,” Sonic said. “Some kind of energy blast tossed me and Shadow straight into it. Lucky thing we were able to get back. Worth studying, right?”

“Oh, definitely,” Tails said. “Let’s just make sure to keep Shadow away from it. Even if he did give it back willingly.”

Sonic smirked. “I can handle that.”

Suddenly Sonic's ears perked up, a commotion broke out over the calm scenery.

Amy's voice rang out. “What the—Shadow?!”

“Whoa—hey!” Rouge shouted.

Knuckles voice fallowed. “Seriously?”

The two hurried toward the sounds and found everyone huddled together. Flower petals lay crushed on the grass like someone had stomped them into the dirt. Shadow stood at the center, glaring down at the wreckage.

Knuckles stormed up to him. “Amy brought those because, Sonic asked for them for the archway. What’s your problem?!”

Shadow’s voice was low, dangerous. “I don’t believe that.”

Knuckles blinked. “Believe what?”

“That Sonic would ask for something like this,” Shadow asserted. “It’s dangerous.”

Knuckles threw up his arms. “What, flowers?”

Amy stood frozen, looking down at the mess.

Rouge stepped in quickly, placing herself between Shadow and the others. “Okay, everyone Shadow’s been acting a little…off. Maybe he’s just on edge.”

“Untrue,” Shadow said flatly, but didn’t elaborate.

Before she could respond, a familiar voice called their attention.

“Hey! What's go'n on!?” Sonic jogged up the path, Tails was close behind.

Knuckles crossed his arms. “Ask your lieutenant here. Apparently, flower arrangements are a security threat now.”

Shadow’s eyes didn’t leave Sonic, when he spoke. "That's Captain to you."

Sonic raised an eyebrow, then looked at Shadow, who stood, eyes locked on him like he was still waiting for something, an order, a command, something?

"Alright, alright, everyone chill." Sonic lifted his hands in a calming fashion. "Really, Shadow? Destroying helpless flowers?” He looked back at him. “Its been a crazy morning, but if you want to stick around, you'll have to calm down. Ok?”

Shadow didn't respond.

Then, slowly, deliberately, Shadow stepped closer. Sonic held his ground, even as the air between them grew heavy as he approached.

“…You look just like him,” Shadow murmured, voice low and unreadable. 

Sonic’s brow furrowed. “Uh… come again?”

Without warning, Shadow moved. One hand caught Sonic’s wrist, the other hooked behind his neck. There was a single beat of hesitation—

Then he kissed him.

Firm. Quick. No tenderness. Just impact. Like throwing a switch to see what turned on.

Sonic froze.

So did the faces of his other friends, looking on in stunned shock.

Shadow pulled back just as sharply, eyes narrowing like he'd just confirmed a theory.

Sonic stared at him, wide eyed, blush growing on his face. “I—uh. That’s—wow. Okay. That’s definitely friendlier then I was expecting.”

A beat of silence.

Then Shadow’s fist came flying.

It connected with Sonic’s face, sending him stumbling to the ground.

“Hey!” Knuckles barked, he and Amy stepped up, ready to defended their friend. Shadow didn't back down, but didn't show any interested in another attack.

“Okay—OW!" Sonic whined, glaring up at Shadow. "You really know how to keep a guy guessing. Seriously, what is wrong with you today?!”

Shadow stood over him, expression cold. “If you were my Commander,” he said flatly, “you would’ve seen that coming.”

Tails stepped forward hesitantly. “Wait…" Tails thought for a moment. “If that world you visited today had its own version of Green Hill,” Tails said slowly, “then maybe it had its own… version of everything.”

Sonic groaned, rubbing his jaw. “Like... its own Shadow.” Sonic’s stomach sank in realization.

Sonic shook off the remaining shock of what happened, getting back to his feet. “Okay, if that's true I guess I did, kinda, kidnap you from your dimension. But also—OW!”

Shadow turned his back, voice bitter. “You’re not him. Just a cheap imitation with his face.”

Sonic muttered, cheeks still burning. “Well, this imitation has a swore jaw and a lot of questions now!”

Rouge rubbed her neck, muttering under her breath, “When he saluted us earlier, I thought he was joking.”

Knuckles shook his head. "Since when does Shadow ever joke."

In the city of Green Hill, the Citadel loomed at the center of it all. Spotlights tracked the Commander and his so called Captain as they approached, scanning Sonic’s bio-signature as they entered.

Shadow stayed two steps behind, watching everything.

Commander Sonic didn’t look back. “You’re walking like someone expecting a trap,” he said lightly. “Relax. You’re home.”

Shadow didn’t answer.

Sonic glanced to the side, amused. “Still in the brooding phase, huh? You’re lucky it looks good on you.”

They passed guards, some saluted Sonic and gave Shadow a wide berth. None questioned either of them.

Inside, the Citadel were maps of resistance activity, lists of regional resources, and surveillance feeds of the different city zones.

Sonic shoved open a set of double doors leading into a circular room filled with terminals and a heavy chair at the center, clearly his command seat.

He flopped down into it, spinning before resting his boots on the nearest console.

Shadow remained by the door.

“You going to stand there all day?” Sonic asked.

Shadow crossed his arms and shrugged.

Sonic rolled his eyes. “Seriously?”

Shadow stiffened.

The Commander's grin faded into a curious smirk. “Alright, that does it. C’mere.”

Shadow’s eyes snapped back to him just in time to see Sonic charge forward into a sudden blur of blue.

Reflex took over. Shadow dropped into a protective stance, Chaos Energy crackling around him in panic.

But Sonic was on top of him, Shadow grit his teeth preparing for impact. Only for his fingers to flick at Shadow’s forehead with practiced ease.

“Tag,” Sonic said with a lopsided grin. “Come on, don’t tell me you forgot how we warm up?”

Shadow's breathing was heavy, he was still registering what just happened.

His chaos energy still radiating off him in anxious waves.

Sonic blinked. “Whoa—hey. Easy. What, no banter? No ‘you’re getting slow, hedgehog’? C’mon, I live for that.”

Shadow, forced his Chaos Energy to dissipate before responding. “Don’t do that.”

Sonic stepped back, giving Shadow space. For once, he didn’t joke.

“I thought you’d recognize the cue,” he muttered. “Guess I misread.”

Commander Sonic leaned in again, one hand braced on the wall beside Shadow, close, way too close for comfort.

Then—

A hand made its way under Shadow’s chin, tilting it just slightly. Not forceful. Just enough to make him meet his eyes.

“Look,” he said. “If something’s wrong, tell me. We'll fix it together. Like we always do.”

There was something raw in Sonic’s gaze now. Sincere.

Shadow’s breath caught. He wasn’t expecting this...this softness from someone who looked like him. Why was Commander Sonic acting like this? So open. So… concerned.

And in that moment, Shadow understood.

They’re together. Him and their Shadow. That’s what this was. That closeness. That trust. That familiarity in every glance, every word. This wasn’t just a Commander talking to his soldier, it was something more.

Of course Sonic was acting this way. Of course he was looking at him like that. He thought Shadow was his.

And if he figured out the truth…

Shadow’s mind scrambled for a cover. At least until he had a way home. Something convincing. Anything.

Then came the sharp alert from the nearby console. A beam of light appeared, forming the shape of a familiar mustached man.

Shadow let out the breath he had been holding, as the Commander pulled away.

“Greetings, Commander Sonic,” announced a AI hologram of Dr Eggman. “I regret to interrupt your... downtime, but we’ve detected a breach in city sector: nine. Signature still unknown.”

Shadow, cocked his brow. Was this Dr Eggman? This Green Hill was nothing but full of surprises.

Sonic’s posture shifted instantly. “You're sure its not one of our lost weather balloon again?”

“99% positive,” Eggman's AI replied, his mustache twitching in the artificial gravity. “Preliminary scans are inconclusive, but the signature is growing at an alarming rate. Possibly a foreign contaminate from the nature zone. I recommend immediate action.”

Sonic frowned, then glanced back at Shadow. “Looks like we’ve got a mission.”

Sonic’s eyes narrowed. “Come on Captain." he commanded. "Might help you blow off some steam. Or what ever this is.”

Shadow's face was back to being as unreadable as ever.

But Commander Sonic didn’t seem to need a response.

Chapter Text

The sky was too bright.

Captain Shadow stood at the edge of a hill overlooking the valley below. It was all too green. Too soft. Too alive.

Unfortunately, he seemed to be stuck here. At least until they could figure out how to activate the Paradox Prism again.

Sonic had been following him for nearly an hour. Not tailing. Just… hovering. Making excuses to help. Offering food. Water. Even jokes.

“This is pretty weird, huh?” Sonic said behind him, rubbing the back of his neck. “I mean, not the worst mistake I’ve ever made. You are technically Shadow.”

Captain Shadow didn’t look at him. “This world is wrong.”

Sonic blinked. “Well, technically you’re the one in the wrong world—”

“I said, it’s wrong.” Shadow’s voice sharpened, turning. “Your world is soft. The air here is… too light. The people smile too much. Even the grass feels weak.”

“Wow. Harsh words for nature.”

“You’re not him,” Shadow spat. “You wear his face. But you don’t command. You don’t lead.”

Sonic’s cocky grin faltered. “I don’t know what version of me you’re used to taking orders from,” Sonic said, “but around here, I don’t give orders. I ask for help.”

Shadow’s eyes narrowed. “That’s your first mistake."

A beat passed before Shadow continued "What do you want?” 

“To talk.”

“I don’t talk. I follow orders. From my Commander, not you.”

“Well, that’s the thing,” Sonic said gently. “There’s no ‘Commander’ here. Just me.”

Shadow’s fists clenched. “Then I have no function.”

Sonic took a breath. “Okay. Then do you want one.”

“…What?”

Sonic tossed a smile. “I have the feeling you’re good in a fight. Real good, I bet. I just heard there’s a town near the coast dealing with badniks. Wanna see if your skills translate to a soft world like this one?”

Shadow didn't look impressed at the offer. “Your asking me for my help?”

“Only if you think you can handle it,” Sonic smirked. “I doubt you can make it worse?”

Captain Shadow's eyes burned from the challenge. “If I say yes, it’s not because you asked. It’s because I’m bored.”

He paused, then added flatly, “But don’t slow me down.”

Back in the streets of Green Hill City, Sonic led the way through the narrow steel alleys. Surveillance drones buzzed overhead, scanning civilians as they ran by.

“You smell that?” Sonic asked suddenly, stopping mid step.

Shadow lifted his head. He could smell a sweet scent mixed in the air.

“Sweet,” Shadow muttered. “floral.” he shrugged.

Sonic scowled. “Exactly. Nothing should grow here. Especially not that.”

They turned a corner and the source became clear.

A bloom of oversized, wildflowers had overtaken the far end of the sector, growing out of the cracks in reinforced concrete, overgrowing everything in its way.

Civilians had already been evacuated. A few automated units stood guard, vines already beginning to overtake them.

Sonic let out a low whistle. “Well, that ain’t regulation.”

Shadow’s gaze narrowed. “Flowers? It’s like they’re feeding on the infrastructure.”

“Guess we found our breach.” Sonic tapped a communicator. “This is Commander Sonic. Sector nine is on Green Alert. And someone find out who let smugglers slip seedlings through my defenses.”

The two advanced into the overgrowth.

As they reached the heart of the bloom, they found the culprits: a group of smugglers in torn uniforms.

“You idiots brought wildflowers into my city?!” Sonic barked.

One of the smugglers, wide eyed, stepped back directly into a cluster of vines, quickly being grabbed by them. The flowers twitched and hissed, thorns visibly extending around them.

Sonic was on it in seconds, tearing the vine apart with a burst of speed and tossing the smuggler to safety. Each one Sonic pulled out was quickly restrained and taken away by automated guards.

Shadow was already moving, he had taken to the battlefield, his Chaos Energy flaring as he incinerated the creeping growth, cutting through vines like they were threads.

Then—zip!

A blue blur slammed into the vines beside him, scattering petals and spores. Sonic skidded to a stop at Shadow’s side, grinning with infuriating confidence.

“Miss me?”

Shadow stared. "...you're back."

“Yeah,” Sonic cracked his knuckles. “Think I got the last of em'. You see where the ringleader went?”

Shadow didn’t turn. “No,” he said flatly. “Vine's are too thick.”

Sonic grunted. “Damn. Would’ve liked a lead. Oh well. Next time. Lets get this place cleaned up already.”

Before Shadow could respond, Sonic shot forward again, Shadow followed, half out of necessity, half from instinct. Their movements clashed at first, Sonic’s wild speed kept weaving through Shadow’s calculated moves. But somehow, it was working.

Shadow's gaze caught Sonic mid-strike.

He was... smiling.

Shadow’s next step faltered, not from an attack, but from a jolt of recognition.

That smile.

It was the same.

The same as his Sonic.

Even here.

Before he could dwell, Sonic broke formation, racing ahead with a cocky salute.

He darted up a wall, jumped off a twisting vine, and spun into a kick straight toward the largest bloom in the cluster.

Shadow turned, and then—he saw her.

White fur. Purple wings, big bat ears.

Shadow’s eyes widened.

“…Rouge?”

She didn’t look back, but something in her stride slowed, just enough to let him know she’d heard.

She was dressed differently. Rougher around the edges. But it was her. Or a version of her.

She had ran into an alleyway overrun by vines. He could catch her... it seemed like what he should do. What this Shadow would have done...

But instead, he raised a hand. A flash of Chaos energy streaked through the air, disintegrating the vines in her path.

No words. No thanks. Just the flutter of wings, and she was gone.

Shadow turned back toward the fight. Toward Commander Sonic.

He was still hard at work decimating the bloom, when a vine lashed forward from out of the shadows. Sonic was still mid-spin, and completely exposed.

Shadow moved without thinking.

"Chaos Control—!"

He warped just behind Sonic, caught him mid-air, and twisted them both out of the tendril’s path. They hit the ground with a roll, Sonic blinking up at him.

“Whew.” Sonic coughed, winded but grinning. “Thanks for the save. Guess I got a little flashy there.”

Shadow loomed over him, expression unreadable. “You always do.”

Sonic raised a brow. “Wow, really giving me a lot of attitude today, Captain.”

Shadow didn’t answer.

The Commander beamed back at him. “Alright. Lets finish this overgrown weed off, together."

Together, they charged the last bloom, an unlikely rhythm already forming between them once again.

This world’s Sonic might be a dictator.

Might be dangerous.

But beneath all that?

He was still Sonic.

And Shadow couldn’t decide if that made him more or less dangerous.

Back in an actually green, Green Hill, Badniks swarmed the small coastal town. Townsfolk had fled deeper into the cliffs, leaving the square empty except for two figures.

Sonic zipped past, taking out multiple bots with his speed.

Shadow’s eyes tracked this Sonic, studying his movements.

This Sonic was just as fast it seemed.

Sonic caught the glance and smirked. “You watching my form or admiring it?”

Shadow didn’t respond. Not verbally. But when Sonic darted forward again, leaping toward a Motobug tank, Shadow surged in right behind him.

As Sonic launched a kick, Shadow caught him mid motion with one arm and twisted them both in a spinning motion. Sonic’s eyes widened as Shadow adjusted his weight, using Sonic’s momentum like he’d done this a thousand times.

Together, they shot like a meteor, tearing through the tank in one blow. And scattering any flanking bots nearby. 

They landed in perfect sync.

Sonic blinked, breathless. “...Okay. That was awesome.”

Shadow stepped away like it was routine. “Try to keep up.”

It was clear Captain Shadow had done this before.

The two continued the fight until a familiar voice called out, “Well, this is new.”

Sonic skidded to a stop, flashing a grin in its direction. “Rouge, not bad, huh? Turns out me and Shadow make a pretty good team when we’re on the same side.”

His voice practically buzzed with energy. “Seriously, did you see that spin-kick-hand-off thing we just pulled off? I didn’t even plan that—he just knew! I’ve teamed up with Tails, Knuckles, even Blaze, but this?”

Rouge stood on a pile of badnik scrap. “Color me shocked."

Shadow didn’t look nearly as impressed. “It’s not surprising. I’ve fought with my Sonic for years,” he said simply, "You’re different… but close enough.”

Sonic tilted his head, still grinning. “So what you’re saying is… we do make a good team.”

Shadow didn’t answer at first. Then, reluctantly: “...We’re effective.”

Rouge glided down beside Shadow as Sonic dashed off to assist the townspeople returning into the streets.

“Quick turnaround, huh?” she said with a smirk. “Most people take at least a day before they stop punching him and start punching alongside him.”

Shadow turned sharply. He didn’t recognize her.

“Do I know you?” he said, cautiously.

“In this world you do.” Rouge replied, unfazed. "You're definitely not the Shadow I know. But you're still 'you' in your own way."

“In my world, we’re not… allies.” Shadow said, watching her.

Rouge softened. “That’s okay. I’m still a friend either way.”

“So,” Rouge continued, “Now that all the excitement is over. That little stunt at the park? Bold move. I take it you and your Sonic have an exceptional good rapport?”

"He is my Commander." Shadow’s eyes stayed ahead.

Rouge smiled faintly. “Sure. And what’s that Commander of yours like, then?”

“Efficient. Commanding. Strategic. My world follows his order or falls apart.”

Rouge nodded. “Yeah? Ours... doesn’t really do any of that. But people follow him anyway.”

They walked in silence for a few steps.

Rouge looked ahead to where Sonic was joking with a group of kids now reemerging from hiding.

“Funny thing is,” she said softly, “Our Shadow won't say much either. But the way he looks at Sonic..." She glanced toward him, a knowing smile on her face. “Hm, seems like you and your Commander figured that part out already.”

Shadow didn’t reply, but his gaze lingered on Sonic a moment longer than necessary.

After the fight, Captain Shadow sat on a ledge overlooking the ocean.

Sonic dropped beside him, holding out a chili dog.

Shadow stared at it.

“…What is this.”

“Dinner,” Sonic said, grinning. “You fought great. Real sharp instincts. And hey, didn’t try to punch me in the face. Progress.”

Captain Shadow said nothing for a long time.

Then, quietly, without looking, he took the chili dog.

Took one bite.

Before handing it back.

“Too sweet,” he muttered.

Sonic smiled. “You’re still impossible in every dimension.”

Shadow crossed his arms.

But he didn’t leave.

They sat together in silence under the stars.

Sonic spoke again, quieter now.

“That fight back there… I wish me and my Shadow could fight like that.”

Sonic continued, “You moved like you knew what I was gonna do before I did it.” He gave a crooked smile. “I didn’t even have to say anything.”

Shadow’s expression shifted, more thoughtful now. “We train like that. Constantly. We have to."

Sonic tilted his head. “Sounds like a rough world."

Shadow gave a short breath through his nose. “There are worlds I’d hate more than the one we've built.”

Then, a pause. A long one.

The wind picked up. Shadow looked out one last time at the black waves below, then up at the dark clouds overhead.

“We should move. Storm’s coming.”