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This place...

[ Shadow stepped upon the grass, his quills blowing in the wind. It was a beautiful day, the sky was blue, the sun shining... The black hedgehog often spent days in places like this, away from other people. The Earth truly was beautiful, even if he found he no longer cared for the people that inhabited it.

But his attention wasn't caught by the scenery... no, it was by the picnic table he saw and the banner strung high above it. The table was decorated with many tasty looking treats, and the banner was bright and happy-- the writing on it was so very familiar.

It said: "Happy Birthday, Sonic!"

That was a name he hadn't heard in such a long time. Shadow peered at the banner before looking back at the table... cupcakes, cake, drinks, chilidogs... So many foods that were very popular with his old friends.

But they were no longer around. They hadn't been around in over a hundred years... How was any of this possible? Was this some kind of trick, was someone trying to weaken his resolve, make him vulnerable? Toying with his heart like this... Shadow clenched his fists before suddenly knocking most of the food off the table. ]

Nghh!

[ It wasn't possible. They had all died and Shadow was the only one left. There was no way they could be here... as much as his heart wanted it to be true. It was some kind of trick. Still, he looked down at the fallen chilidog, its condiments spilled all over the grass. That was Sonic's favorite food... ]

Sonic...

[ ooc: more shadow, more problems. info in profile and journal. the world this shadow comes from is way in the future, but the world is not destroyed. just all his friends from the past are dead... such is the life of immortals. ]

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Uh, yeah? Man, the little one's me, and I'm the little one. It's all still me.

[ Heh. Heh...

...

Sonic finally felt that confronting him in a bit of a closer proximity was possible without getting torn to pieces. He saw him again, the Shadow he knew, the one that could handle just about anything thrown at him, his rival and friend.

He was a risk-taker. Of course he was going to reach out and place that hand on Shadow's shoulder. Of course he was going to grin at him and try to perk him up, even though there was still that chance that Shadow would try to kill him again.

He just wanted him to be okay. ]

It's me, Shadow. [ A bitter chuckle came from him. ]

Remember what I told you? `I die hard.`

[ Feeling that hand on his shoulder, Shadow suddenly realized he couldn't stand any longer. It was the straw that broke the camels back, really, and with that, everything came to a halt. The black hedgehog fell to his knees, one hand pressed firmly against his face as he tried to cover it, hide it from the other...

He was trembling again, and... were those tears? Was Shadow crying? A truly rare sight, even in his own timeline. He hadn't cried since... since that day... over 100 years ago. His other hand dug into the ground, uprooting some grass. ]

I... hh...

[ I've missed you. is what he wanted to say, but he couldn't. He could never say something like that, but it all came to a head now, that he was unable to keep it bottled up anymore. Shadow considered himself strong, that he didn't need to rely on anyone... that he was able to hide his feelings and continue on without breaking down. Strong and resolute... until now. He finally came to grips with just how broken down he was on the inside, and how much it was tearing him apart.

Omega... I'm sorry.

If only he could find his friend again and apologize. What kind of Guardian of Earth did he turn out to be? Someone who pushes away his allies and keeps to himself... That's not what Sonic would have wanted for him... Omega had tried to tell him that. Rouge would surely have been upset with him, but... ]

Edited 2012-08-23 00:32 (UTC)

?!

[ Sonic froze at first, taken aback by the fact that Shadow was definitely sobbing. There was no way he wasn't. Here he was, Mr. Supernatural and Unsmiley, just throwing it all away and breaking down in front of him.

He was surprised, but like hell was he going to turn him away. In fact, this just made him want to be at his side even more. ]

Shadow, hey...

[ He dropped down to his knees, a hand reaching for the one covering his face. He gently grasped his wrist, and in that moment, his smile was completely gone, heart broken.

This Shadow...

This Shadow lost him and it hit him very hard.

He knew Shadow cared about him, however secretive he was, but he never thought it would have been to this extent. It made him want to see his present-day Shadow again, to inform him of this encounter and tell him that he would never be alone, even after he was dead.

He tightened his hold, leaning to whisper to him. ]

C'mon. You don't have to cry. I'm here for you, yeah? Just like... old times? Yeah?

[ Old times for him, at least. ]

[ Old times... yes. They were his most cherished memories, even the difficult times. Being with his friends, his important friends. It was those times that he would never forget and remember always. Being unable to die, he had to surround himself in these precious memories in order to be optimistic about the future.

But that became harder and harder to do... especially as they each disappeared, one by one, until his future was filled with darkness, like his heart. He had always protected the Earth, and though it was filled with light and beauty, he held disdain for it because his loved ones were no longer there, and no one seemed to remember them...

When Sonic held his wrist, it stirred Shadow enough for him to look at the blue hedgehog, see those bright green eyes... so youthful and filled with life. Shadow was a mere relic in comparison, much older than the one from this Sonic's present, no doubt. So much more cynical... ]

I...

[ He pulled back, wiping his eyes on his arm roughly, not wanting to continue this embarrassing act. Crying like this... what kind of Ultimate Life form was he? He wasn't supposed to cry, wasn't supposed to break down like this... ]

I'll... be fine...

[ Maybe. It wasn't so much a lie as it was an attempt to gather himself together. He had to be strong... he couldn't afford to let this happen again... but even so it felt good to let it all out. ]

It's been... so long since I heard your voice... Surely I would have forgotten you, eventually... But you're here... as impossible as that is, you're...

[ He could feel the tears coming again and he turned away-- the realization was hitting him. If Sonic was here, then his friends were also alive, right? Younger versions of them, right? ... But not his versions. That second part kept him grounded, and somewhat distanced from what was going on. ]

Yeah... Yeah, I'm here, and I'm not goin' anywhere yet, okay? Heh, takes a lot to get rid of me.

[ He spoke so bitterly, yet so sweetly, knowing that as much as he tries to reassure him, it's difficult to recover from that. To be left all alone, losing all of his friends...

Sonic shut his eyes. What would that be like? It would be awful to lose them all, to live forever and ever without seeing them again. Tails, Knuckles, Amy, even Eggman... all gone. He didn't ever want to imagine that.

He didn't want to go through losing someone again anyway, much like he lost Shadow the first time. When that happened, he felt horrible. He couldn't save him. He just wasn't fast enough.

Yet...

He's alive, and he's going to stay alive.

He relinquished all control then, snaking his arms around him and tugging him close. He embraced him, nuzzling into him and giving a soft purr into his neck, tail flipping about. Shadow needed this, didn't he?

Haha...

He is really going to bug the hell out of his Shadow as soon as he sees him again. ]

I'm here.

[ Once he was pulled into the other's embrace, Shadow went rigid a moment. Sonic was... hugging him? Shadow had never been hugged... at least, not in a very long time. Slowly, he relaxed, but he did not return the hug, not finding the strength to. For now, he just let himself be held as he let more tears fall silently. ]

~~~

[ After some time, Shadow rubbed his eyes, sitting up in order to push Sonic away gently. ]

... I was lost... for a very long time. Seeing you again has made me remember that I cannot give up, and that I must protect the Earth, no matter what happens. That I cannot... live in solitude any longer.

I hope the I from your timeline understands this. He may not want to, or may think of it as a waste of time, but... it's important that he understand what will happen. Perhaps it's better to let him find out on his own, but... If I could protect others from the sorrow I've endured, I would.

[ Shadow turned to look over at the partly scorched tree-- the picnic table was still burning somewhat, and the banner was no more... and yet he felt more relaxed than he had in quite some time, despite the destruction he'd caused. To be able to let out those heavy emotions...

It was truly a relief. ]

[ Sonic did realize that he felt a lot better afterward. The fact that Shadow didn't hug him back didn't bother him in the slightest. He didn't push him away and repulse, and that was more than enough for him.

He grinned, feeling much better himself. He grounded him to some extent, and that was all he needed now, really. ]

Dunno if he does, but hey. How about I pass on that message of yours? [ He laughed softly, pressing his palms to his knees. ] Don't want him to think I'm some fake and try to blow me up. I'm not ready to die yet!

[ Jesting, just as Sonic always did and always will do. ]

Edited 2012-08-23 02:08 (UTC)

[ He wasn't sure that he liked hearing about death so much in context with Sonic, but he decided he'd let it pass. He was already emotionally drained, and he really didn't want to think about it anymore.

With great effort, Shadow attempted to stand up, walking over to the tree. This spot... really resembled where he called home in his own timeline. Except the hill was covered in white flowers. It wasn't long before he was leaning against the tree, sitting down once more, taking in a deep breath. ]

You can tell him for me... I'm not sure I could bear the sight of seeing my younger self.

That's kinda what I meant!

[ Sonic grinned, following along with him whether or not he liked it. He flopped down beside him, tossing his arms behind his head and kicking back. Man, this spot really was beautiful. Hopefully Shadow really did appreciate the Earth just as much as he did. Such a lovely, amazing planet... ]

Yeah. [ His smile softened. ] That's what I'm gonna do.

[ He yawned softly. He was beginning to get a little drowsy. The whole Time Eater business took a lot out of him. ]

Hey...

I'm gonna stick around.

[ Shadow watched as Sonic moved to sit next to him... It was really as if he were dreaming right now. How often did people get to revisit loved ones who had passed on? Now, it was as if Shadow was the one who grew old while Sonic had stayed the same, even if outwardly, Shadow hadn't aged a bit. ]

Are you? Isn't it more your style to be constantly on the move? You don't have to stop that for me.

[ When Sonic had gotten much older, Shadow witnessed the hero's frustration at not being able to constantly be on the move... and the eventual result of those frustrated feelings. And while he wished Sonic had just listened to his friends and not tried to keep being a hero when he just couldn't do it anymore, Shadow didn't like the idea of Sonic keeping quiet and not running around. It was like pulling the wings off of a butterfly-- detrimental and cruel. ]

Yeah, but you know what's also my style?

[ Sonic shuffled a little closer to him, their shoulders just lightly bumping together. He inhaled deeply, the fresh scent of nature's fruits wafting subtly among them. Not only that, but he caught the aroma of Shadow's natural musk, much like something very earthy, rich, perhaps with a bit of spice.

That left his tail thumping against the grass. He did like his presence, no matter how much they bickered. ]

Sticking around for anyone who needs me.

[ No doubt without some burnt wood in there, considering how Shadow had partly set fire to the area earlier, though he regretted it. It hadn't been his intention to destroy this place... just at the time, he felt as if it had all been put in place to hurt him. When it came to those close to him, he was most sensitive, even if in the past he hadn't shown it.

Now that his old friend was with him, Shadow wasn't certain about what to say, just sitting there quietly. He looked down, a light smile on his lips as he closed his eyes. ]

... Hm. I see.

[ It truly felt good to be at peace like this... He hadn't felt soothed in years. ]

Yea-... hey, hey!

[ Sonic suddenly beamed, leaning downward to really get that smile in his view. He never saw his Shadow smile like that, not even once. (Okay, maybe there was this one time, but he didn't know he was watching.) It made him want to leap for joy, his heart flipping around inside of him. His tail was definitely going crazy now, practically spinning as it wagged. ]

What's that? [ He laughed softly, a finger reaching to ghost over those lips of his. ] Nice smile, Shadow!

[ When Sonic leaned closer to him, Shadow instinctively moved back. Why was he making such a fuss over it... Though it was true that he hadn't smiled this way in a very long time. He closed his eyes, turning his head away and folding his arms. ]

Hmph. Don't draw so much attention to it...

[ He was really beginning to feel like himself again... especially with Sonic here, like old times. His meddling, as annoying as it was, was also a strong part of him... and even as irritating as Sonic could be, Shadow did appreciate it. He wouldn't have Sonic any other way. ]

Why not?

[ Sonic tried to lean around him so he could see it again, unless it was already gone. Sheesh, it almost never happened, so he was going to enjoy it while he could! ]

Looks good on you!

Must you be so persistent...

[ Even if he spoke like he didn't like it, he really did. He felt so lucky right now... ]

It's just a smile.

Eeeeyeeeeeeeah, but...

[ Sonic pulled back, smiling so wide that his teeth showed themselves. ]

You, like... never smile! Gotta enjoy it while it lasts!

Hmph.

I have more to smile about in these last few hours than I have had in over a hundred years.

[ He closes his eyes again, leaning his head back against the tree bark. ]

I will be strange seeing everyone else again. They will have no idea what I've been through, but... I suppose it's better that way. [ He stops, as if thinking of something. ] How is Rouge?

Doin' the usual and bugging Knux any chance she gets. [ He throws his head back and laughs heartily. He curls his knees up to his chest, arms loosely hanging around them. ] So, good to me!

[ He dips his head back down, leveling himself so that he can face Shadow. His tail curls around his hip now, the tip still flicking slightly. ]

Don't think anyone's going anywhere any time soon.

[ He then reaches a hand out to pat Shadow on the shoulder, an attempt to solace him just a little further. ]

[ ... That was good, then. It really was the past, wasn't it? It was so strange to think of it that way, but it really didn't bother him. It just meant things were good again. ]

Hm. Not yet, anyway.

[ ... right, this pessimistic attitude. It was hard curving it when he knew what the future held. ]

... Sorry. I'll try to stop thinking this way. You should enjoy what the future holds.

Didn't plan against it!

[ ...

Sonic faced away from him, seeming as if he was interested in something off in the distance, but in truth, his mind was churning thought after thought. This was how Shadow felt about him? He missed him after his passing instead of inwardly celebrating?

... Heh.

That made his heart feel all fuzzy. ]

Y'know, if we just kinda chilled out, I think we could've been pals or something.

[ I mean, he thought of Shadow that way, but whether or not it was mutual never seemed clear. ]

[ It was a bit embarrassing... Shadow wasn't sure if he could say it outright, but had to try, especially when Sonic expressed his thoughts to him. ]

The "I" of the past could never have said this, but I am no longer him... I have seen more than he will see in the present, and one day he will understand my pain....

But I consider you my comrade. Probably the most important...

[ ... Wow. Okay, of all things, he didn't expect to hear that from Shadow. The comrade thing was sudden itself, but not on as grand a scale as being the most important.

That...

That really felt bittersweet. His Shadow might never tell him that much, but this one did.

At any rate, though, knowledge is power, and that left him smiling as always. ]

... Yeah. We're buds 'til the end, even if I'm not around. [ He chuckles a little, his expression brighter than the sun now. ] You're never really alone!

[ Even if he's not around, huh... He should have thought about it like that, but it was hard to focus on the positive after 100 or so years without the blue hedgehog. But the sentiment was appreciated.

Shadow nodded. ]

Mm.

[ His eyes and head still hurt from his recent breakdown, so he decided he would just relax against this tree, maybe even doze off. He hadn't felt this safe in years... Not even the Doctor attacking would make him feel nervous. This was true peace. ]

Haa...

[ Yeah, he was tired, too, after being knocked a huge ways away. His smile began to fade into something much more mellow, yet still quite content, all as his lids began to flutter closed. ]

Gonna just... stick around, 'cause I still care for you.

Shadow...

[ Sonic leaned his head against his shoulder, making himself perfectly comfortable on Shadow's weight. He's going to just go to sleep now himself... ]

[ Shadow opened his eyes somewhat when he felt the other's head on his shoulder, but he didn't shrug him off this time. This time... it would be all right. Slowly, his eyes closed once more, and he let his own head rest atop Sonic's. ]

I understand.

Mm... yeah. Good.

[ The soft whisper was the last thing Sonic said in that moment before conking out, laying alongside Shadow and sleeping peacefully. This wasn't any ordinary, got-to-rest sort of sleep, though.

That is, if his nose-whistling and purring was any indication. ]

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entry.

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there really isn't a good word for "nakama" in english

i know right SOBS

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have the sweetest end tag ever