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The throne had always been a bit overbearing, after all, he loved freedom, running fast and being a nuisance to any villains who’d try to take that freedom from him or others. But of course, Sonic supposed everyone had to settle down eventually. No one, not even Sonic, could run forever. Sonic brushed his fingers against the wood of the throne, his thoughts wandering to the person who had sat on this throne before him. Had Shadow also felt this burden? Was the weight of it all what pushed him so far over the edge? Sonic had spent many nights wondering why things had happened the way they did. He’d learned the history of this new timeline and still, he struggled to rationalize the shadow here with the one he had known. The one who had helped him save the world, even sacrificing himself for it.
A loud creak interrupted Sonic’s thoughts as the doors to the throne room swung open. Sally entered the room, drifting across the room with an elegance that fitted a queen and a strength that fitted a freedom fighter. A soft smile rested on her lips as she saw Sonic, “you look reminiscent.”
“Yeah, I suppose I am,” Sonic sighed, turning his attention to his wife, leaving thoughts of the past and old friends turned enemies behind.
“Well,” Sally started, “Tails just got back with another chaos emerald. He stored it with the others.”
“Well that’s good, only one more left to find then?”
Sally nodded, opening her mouth to speak just as a loud boom was heard outside the throne room. Sonic and Sally turned their attention quickly to the noise, the door that Sally had just entered through now had smoke billowing out of it. The couple rushed forward seeking the source of the explosion, only coming to a halt when they noticed a figure emerging from the smokescreen. Familiar black and red stepped from the smoke, There standing before them was Shadow the Hedgehog. Sonic instinctively pulled Sally closer to himself and he felt her shiver in his arms as she looked at the dark hedgehog with horror. She took a breath recentering herself and stood tall despite her fear.
“Shadow,” Sonic called with a cocky grin on his face, “finally decided to show your face again, huh?”
“You have something I need,” Shadow said plainly, eyeing the couple with a blank expression like they were nothing more than a mild inconvenience to him.
Sonic grit his teeth, “Yeah, not happening.”
Without a word, Shadow lunged at Sonic who in a second pushed Sally out of the way and jumped up to dodge Shadow's attack. Sonic quickly spin dashed back down towards Shadow who rolled forward, avoiding Sonic's counterattack.
“So what,” Sonic huffed as he landed back on his feet, “what’s your big plan this time.”
“I’m going to take back the throne that belongs to me and bring order to this world,” Shadow turned to look at Sonic, a coldness in his stare that sent a chill down Sonic’s spine.
“Yeah, see,” Sonic started, that cocky edge still present in his voice, “the people of this world didn’t much appreciate your tyranny.”
“Call me a tyrant,” Shadow began to close the gap between him and Sonic, “I never wanted it to come to this but the cruelty of this world had to be punished!”
“By enacting more cruelty?” Sonic stood firm, not intimidated by Shadow’s approach, “Making the people of this world suffer more?”
“There was peace, wasn't there?”
“A people suppressed by fear is not the same as peace,” Sally’s voice rang out, ending her silent observation of the two with a passionate fury behind her words.
“You took away their freedoms,” Sonic added to his wife’s words, bracing himself for what was to come, “and that is something I cannot ignore.”
Sonic lunged at Shadow, his steps quick and precise as he intended to end this before anyone could get hurt in the conflict. However as soon as Sonic got within range Shadow moved with equal speed and precision and grabbed Sonic by the arm, spinning him around and tossing him against the wall where Sonic slammed hard enough into the stone to leave an indent in the wall.
“alright,” Sonic groaned as he tried to push himself back onto his feet, his endurance for such a beating not nearly what it had once been, “not the greatest-“
Sonic’s quip was interrupted when he felt a tight grip around his neck as he was lifted off the ground and then slammed back into it. Sonic tried to gasp as he felt his body impact the ground, his hands trying desperately to pry loose the grip around his neck. A loud thunk echoed above him as he felt his airways open up again. He quickly staggered to his feet and saw that Shadow had stumbled forward and Sally was standing with a large piece of debris in her hands that she’d just swung at Shadow’s head.
Shadow growled, turning on Sally and stalking towards her, rage radiating off of him with every step as she stammered backward, trying to maintain the distance between them. Sonic spin dashed and slammed into Shadow while he was distracted and sent him flying across the room. Shadow at the last moment landed on his feet and slid across the floor.
“Listen, Shadow, whatever your big plan is, it’s not going to work,” Sonic huffed, wiping his mouth with his hand.
“Please,” Shadow stood, regaining his footing, “you’re barely holding your own, you won’t last much longer.”
“Heh, I’m just getting started,” Sonic breathed, trying to stabilize himself.
The two dashed forward, Sonic rolling into a ball. Shadow jumped up, avoiding Sonic’s spin but just as Shadow did so Sonic uncurled himself from his ball and reached out, grabbing Shadow’s leg, and slammed him back down into the ground. Shadow activated his air shoes, the flames projecting out directly towards Sonic’s face causing him to let go of Shadow’s leg and stumble back. Shadow leaped back to his feet and charged forward while Sonic was off guard and slammed his shoulder into him, knocking him onto the floor again.
Sonic quickly jumped back to his feet and spin dashed towards Shadows who seemingly vanished just as Sonic would’ve made impact. Sonic unfurled, landed on his feet, and looked around for where Shadow had disappeared too when he heard a rustle behind him and felt a sudden impact on the back of his head sending him reeling forward to his knees. He could hear the muffled sounds of Sally calling his name as he struggled to regain his bearings. He looked back and saw Shadow standing above him, those cold, blood-red eyes burrowing into him.
It had all gone on for too long, the fighting and struggles. When could they just rest? What happened to the person he’d once called his friend… Sonic growled, slamming his fist against the ground, “Shadow, why are you doing this!?”
Shadow, taken aback by Sonic’s outburst, hesitated, his eyes averting from Sonic if only for a moment, “I have to restore order to this world.”
“Bullshit!” Sonic shouted, seeing Shadow’s hesitance, “I know you don’t believe that, what the hell even happened to you!?”
Again Shadow’s eyes flicked away from Sonic, “I realized the only way to save this world was through force.”
“This… this isn’t- Shadow, what the hell happened!?” All these years since his return the thought haunted Sonic, something had changed Shadow, “What happened to the Hedgehog who gave his life to free the earth!? To allow people the chance to be happy!”
Shadow glared at Sonic, “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he spat as he turned away from Sonic, seeming to want nothing more than to ignore Sonic’s little tirade. His steps were brisk and filled with intent as he made his way towards the back of the throne room to another door.
“Fine then,” Sonic muttered under his breath before raising his voice,
“Do you really believe that this is what Maria wanted!?”
As soon the final words left Sonic’s mouth a chaos spear was hurling straight towards him. Sonic jumped up barely dodging the spear of energy, but he was not deterred. He heard Sally calling out to him, fear in her voice, he simply gave her a quick look that warned her not to get involved. He focused purely on Shadow and his onslaught, knowing he had one shot at this, “Do you think she’d be proud of what you’ve done? Both to yourself and others!” Sonic's voice raised in a righteous fury as he continued to dodge Shadow's barrage.
“Don’t you dare talk like you knew her!” Shadow shouted with an anger unmatched by any Sonic had heard before. Shadow hurled another larger chaos spear towards Sonic who jumped back, sliding across the ground. Shadow breathed heavily, as the smoke cleared and the two were left staring each other down.
“You’re right,” Sonic leveled his eyes with Shadow, standing firm before him, “I didn’t know her, but I knew the kind of person you were for her… and it was not this.”
Shadow’s eyes looked down, his mouth opening then closing as if to say something. Once more there was that moment of hesitation, an inkling of something more beneath it all, but just as quickly as it appeared it faded. Shadow gritted his teeth, looking back at Sonic, “I was wrong,” he swiftly pulled out the final chaos emerald, holding it up above his head in a dramatic display, “This is the only way to fulfill her wish, chaos control!” A blinding light radiated off of the chaos emerald, engulfing shadow in its glow. Then just as quickly as it had appeared it disappeared and the place where Shadow had been standing moments before was empty.
Sonic blinked as his vision adjusted, “was that...” Sonic scanned the room, looking for a sign of where Shadow had gone. As he saw the room was empty aside from himself and Sally, who had made her way next to Sonic and seemed to be making the same observations he was, Sonic realized that Shadow had the final chaos emerald.
“He’s going after the other chaos emeralds,” Sally breathed, “he’s going to use them.”
Sonic grit his teeth, “Not if I have anything to say about it.”
“I will handle that.” A new, yet familiar voice called out.
It felt like he’d just been hit with an electric shock, the voice was so familiar and yet so distant. A relic from a time long past that he never dreamed of hearing again. He looked at Sally first, her look of shock told him that she’d heard the voice as well and that it’d had a similar effect on her as it had on him. Sonic and Sally turned looking towards the source of the new voice. Standing there atop the rubble left behind in Shadow’s rampage was Rouge the Bat.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Confident. That was the word Sally would have used to describe Rouge when they were just kids forced to fight a war. She was strong-willed and unafraid to do what needed to be done. She knew how to get what she wanted and she did so with confidence. The woman that stood before Sally now, however, exuded a much different energy. The confidence had faded to an uncertainty that Sally couldn’t place and thought did not fit Rouge at all. There was a sadness in her eyes that reflected many regrets that Sally knew she could never understand. More than anything, though, Sally couldn’t believe what she was seeing. It had been thirty-five years since anyone had heard from Rouge, her whereabouts had been completely unknown. Yet here she was.
Rouge made her way down from the rubble, stopping in front of Sonic and Sally, “You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” even her voice betrayed a sorrow hidden deep beneath.
“Where have you been?” Sonic asked, a sense of pure bewilderment in his voice, a sentiment Sally shared.
“Funny,” Rouge looked Sonic over, a dry tone to her voice, “I could ask you the same thing.”
Sally frowned, giving Rouge a disapproving look, “No one has heard from you in thirty-five years,” Sally said, placing a hand on Sonic’s arm to ground herself, “most of us thought you were dead.”
Sally noticed Rouge grimace, looking away from the couple like she was ashamed of something, “I’m here now, and I’m going to set things right.”
“What are you going to do?” Sonic looked at her, an edge of concern to his voice like he already knew the answer.
“I’m going to fix my mistake,” Rouge leveled Sonic with a stern look as she pushed her way past him and Sally, making her way further into the castle.
“Whoa, wait!” Sonic dashed forward, sliding in front of Rouge and blocking her path, “I can barely hold my own against Shadow, you’ll get yourself killed if you try to fight him!”
“I’m not going to fight him.”
“You’re…” Sally hesitated, feeling her blood run cold as she realized what Rouge’s plan was, “you’re going to try to talk him down.”
“Don’t try to stop me,” Rouge said, giving Sally a sharp glare. A determination hidden beneath the sorrow that Sally had not seen before. It was a glimmer, however small, of the Rouge she had once known long ago.
“Rouge, you can’t, he won’t listen!” Sally felt her panic rising, she’d spent years trying to mitigate the damage Shadow had done. She knew better than anyone what he was capable of. Words never worked, he never listened, never heard reason.
Rouge looked away from Sally, remaining silent in her protest. She kept moving forward as Sonic and Sally trailed behind her, “you have a vault in the north tower,” Rouge quickly changed the subject, “I assume that’s where you’ve placed the emeralds?”
“How did you know that?” Sonic questioned.
“I learned the layout of the castle before coming here.”
“You were planning to steal the emeralds… you were going to use them as bait,” Sally said, the uneasiness still lingering in her voice, “Rouge, that’s insane, Shadow will kill you!” It was a strange thing to say, there was a time when Rouge and Shadow had been closer than most. Two people, usually so guarded, who let their walls down around each other. But that was a long time ago, and Sally knew the Shadow who stood here today was not the friend they’d once known. She was ashamed to admit it, but part of her, until this moment, had already believed that Shadow had killed Rouge.
“Maybe…” Rouge breathed as if she didn’t even disagree with Sally’s point, “but I have to try.”
“I already did!” Shouted Sally, her panic finally culminating, realizing what Rouge was saying. She’d come here fully prepared to die, a suicide mission. Sally took a breath, she wouldn’t let Rouge throw away her life for someone who wouldn’t change, “I married him in hopes of calming him down, bringing some peace and comfort to the people…” Sally felt Sonic place a gentle, comforting hand on her shoulder. She took another breath and continued, “And I hoped to bring back the old Shadow. I tried to help him but… it was hopeless, he’s gone, Rouge.”
Rouge stopped and looked at Sally, that sternness returning momentarily once again, “You know when I heard about the marriage I was angry, I think mostly at myself, I thought ‘look at that stupid girl, now she’ll suffer the fate you ran away from’ but perhaps now I think I could’ve spared us all the pain we endured…. All of us.” Rouge’s eyes drifted away from the couple, the sadness returning to them. She looked as though she were lost in a memory, somewhere far away.
“Rouge, what are you talking about?” Asked Sonic, a hesitant desperation in his voice.
Rouge glanced at Sonic before looking down, shame crossing her features once again, “I have to stop Shadow, it’s my fault things ever got this bad in the first place.”
Sally didn’t know what had happened. In truth, she couldn’t understand what Rouge was saying, why she felt so personally responsible for Shadow’s downfall, “You aren’t responsible for his decisions!”
Rouge looked at Sally, a sad smile forming on her lips, it was the kind of smile one only gave when they knew that this was goodbye, “Maybe… but I am responsible for my own.”
“Rouge…” Sally began to reach her hand out, trying to pull her former ally out of this doomed fate she had set herself on. All Sally heard was a muttered apology and suddenly she felt a hard impact on her chest, the unexpectedness and force of it strong enough to cause her to fall back onto the ground. Heaving as the breath was knocked out of her. She felt Sonic sliding to his knees next to her, calling out to her if she was okay, and cursing. Sally sucked the air back into her lungs and as she finally began to breathe again she pushed herself up. seeing Sonic looking surprised, she scanned the area and realized that much like Shadow, Rouge had disappeared without a trace. Leaving the couple alone once again in the wake of Shadow’s destruction.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The days had dragged on, but the memories stayed. The stains of red, the innocent body laying limp in his arms. Everything was a blur, both too fast and too slow. He had felt the stabilizing hand on his shoulder many times since that day, he’d felt it then too. He never looked though. He didn’t need to. Even when she kneeled in front of him, forcing him to see her face, he just looked past her. It happened again. He had failed again. Just like on the ark, he watched as the gentle blue was stained with red and there was nothing he could do to stop it. The woman in front of him spoke, he heard her but he did not listen. There was nothing she could say that he wanted to hear. Her words echoed around him like they always did. Calling out a warning he figured. It didn’t matter. The battle would rage on, and he kept fighting it. He didn’t know why anymore, it’s not like they really could stop Robotnik. He wasn’t sure he even cared anymore. What was the point? Everything felt muted. The world in black and white. That blue tinted with red was the only color he could see now. Her voice continued to bark orders. It didn’t matter, he never listened. He would just keep fighting. She fought harder than she ever had before. What else was she supposed to do? Shadow never listened, he had closed himself off. It didn’t matter, none of it mattered anymore. There’s nothing left to do but just keep running. The memory of red streaks in golden hair. The tainting of something perfect and beautiful. Innocence not only stained but taken. Her last breaths haunt them in the wind. Her cries echo in the storm. None of it mattered. She just had to keep fighting. Some nights were just numb. Staring off into a nothingness that he could retreat into. The world was dead around him. There was no point in life after all. It would all just eventually end, except for his. Because of course he could never even hope for death. Wait till it took him. No matter what he did he always seemed to be the one to survive. Even Sonic was gone now. Disappeared without a trace. Oh, how Shadow wished he could follow wherever he had gone. Surely anything was better than this living death he was trapped in now. But of course, Shadow had been abandoned once more. As was his fate. The world was falling apart around them. Robotnik’s forces marched forward, crushing the resistance in its path. The hero of Mobius had disappeared and it was up to those left behind to fight the battle. But currently, Rouge was fighting a much harder battle. Shadow had been a shell of himself since it happened, he went through the motions, fought when he needed to but hardly said a word. It seemed no matter how she tried to reach out to him, he never heard. Now he sat, staring off into nothing like he always did when they weren’t on a mission. Rouge sighed, looking over at him, she placed her hand on his shoulder hoping to ground him back to the here and now that he seemed so content on ignoring, “How long are we going to do this?” He never responded. On the slim chance that he did, he rarely gave her more than a grunt of acknowledgment or a dismissive remark. Rouge scowled, finally kneeling in front of Shadow, “You can’t keep shutting me out, Shadow,” she looked into his eyes and she knew he saw her, even if he wanted to keep ignoring her, “She was my friend too.” A flicker crossed his face, if only for the briefest of moments, her words seemed to get through to him, “You’re not the only one who misses her, but we can’t worry about that right now. We have a job to do. The world can’t protect itself.” The silence lingered on, Shadow still not giving Rouge any kind of response. “Is that not what you want? To protect the world? You’ve fought so many battles for this, you can’t save everyone you know.” Rouge growled, frustration building as he continued to not respond to a word she said. Perhaps it was selfish of her, but she couldn’t help but think how could he shut her out like this. His best friend, partner, teammate. Whatever they were, they trusted each other. Had each other's backs. Rouge swore she would always be on his side and yet when she tried to do exactly that he did nothing but shut her out. “Damn it, Shadow, how do you intend to keep Maria’s promise like this-“ The crash rang out through the room, Rouge barely had the time to register that Shadow had moved, standing from his seat and knocking the chair over, “My promise!?” Shadow raised his voice for the first time since it had happened, “Don’t act like you understand anything! I promised Maria that I would give people the chance to live and be happy! But they’re the ones who take that chance away! What’s the point? I just protect a world determined to destroy itself?” “Shadow, that’s not-“ “I get it now, her promise can’t be fulfilled… not the way I’ve been trying… this world will only listen to force.” “Shadow,” Rouge’s voice darkened, a warning hidden behind the single word. “Am I wrong!?” Shadow shouted, a near hysteric edge to his voice, “Look at them, Rouge, they fight and pillage, and for what? Just to kill some more?” “Not everyone is like that!” “Even Sonic has abandoned us,” Shadow dragged his hand down his face, as a hollow laugh escaped his lips. “He didn’t…” Rouge faltered for a moment, “you don’t know that! He could’ve been captured by Robotnik for all we know.” “I have to stop this…” “Shadow..?” “This world is poisoned, Maria believed in its light but there is none left.” Rouge jabbed a finger into his chest, catching his attention and forcing him to look at her, really look at her, “and what the hell do you intend to do? You say people will only listen to force so what? You’re just gonna subjugate everyone to your will!?” “Maybe I should…” “Shadow, don’t be stupid, you’d be no better than Robotnik then.” “Don’t make me laugh, Robotnik wants to destroy this world, I want to see it reborn into something she could be proud of!” “You’re talking nonsense,” Rouge jabbed her finger towards Shadow again, “Shadow, you-“ Shadow gripped Rouge’s wrist, firm and unyielding. Rouge felt her blood run cold under his grip. Her breath caught in her throat. As she looked into his blood-red eyes that held nothing but contempt and anger in them, not a glimmer of light left to shine, she realized that for the first time ever… she was afraid of Shadow.
Rouge pried her hand out of his grip and stumbled back from the force of it. She looked over her friend, his eyes cold and uncaring, expression empty and soulless. She ran a hand through her fur as she felt something inside herself finally snap. A limit reached. It was all too much, Hope, Robotnik, GUN, Shadow… all of it. She’d been fine on her own before she got wrapped up in all of this. She was a treasure hunter, not a hero. She didn’t have to be a part of any of this… echoes of a promise she made long ago lingered in the back of her mind- but since when did a thief ever care for integrity?
“You’re lost...” And like a thief in the night she disappeared into the darkness. Shadow’s shoulders hitched as his breathing grew more ragged. There was nothing left for him here. Nothing left to hold him back, nothing left to lose. Rouge was gone, a betrayal that ran deep. He thought if anyone would have his back it’d be her. They’d fought together for so long, she’d promised… no matter. He didn’t need her. Things were better this way, she would only get in the way. He would reshape this world into the one Maria dreamed of. The one he promised to create for her fifty years ago. And he’d do it alone since Rouge couldn’t see his vision. How could she? She’d never met Maria. She didn’t know the girl's heart the way Shadow did. Who was she to act like she knew anything? Shadow would create Maria’s world and he’d do it by force. That was the only language this wretched world could understand. Hope was dead.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Surely she’d done all she could. She was there for him, aided him, talked to him, and still Shadow was determined to throw it all away. Rouge kept her pace as she flew through the air. To where, she wasn’t quite sure but she just knew she needed to leave. She couldn’t stay in Knothole anymore, she couldn’t work with GUN or Shadow or even the princess. Too much had happened and she needed to escape. She’d flee to some faraway land where none of these people, these memories could ever haunt her again.
Her last fight with Shadow lingered in her mind. He wanted to fulfill Maria’s promise with force. It was almost laughable, he’d become exactly what he hated. Rouge wouldn’t have a part in that. Her wings flapped harder, propelling her forward with more speed. How could he? After all, they'd been through together, after what happened. Didn’t he know she was hurting too?
She didn't know how long she’d been flying when her feet finally touched the ground again but with the way her wings sagged, it was probably longer than was good for her. Rouge took in her surroundings, barren deserts. She was most likely in Downunda. Good. The continent had always been fairly secluded from the rest of the world, she would be able to blend in easily here. She needed to be alone. Just for a short while.
Rouge made her way through the wasteland until she found the first signs of civilization. She took the little town in. It was positioned close to a steep cliff, most likely a mining town. Perhaps she could return to some of her old roots as a treasure hunter. It’d truly been too long since her last hunt. That was it. That’s what she needed to get her mind off of everything that had happened.
She made her way through the town, and a few people wandered the streets. Rouge took note of a few beggars as well as plenty of shady figures lurking in the alleys and shadows. A backwater town with a less-than-desirable underbelly? Perfect. She could easily fade from the public eye. No one would find her here.
She stopped at a saloon and swung the doors open. A few of the guests looked in her direction, surprised to see someone unfamiliar. Rouge ignored their looks and made her way to the bar sitting on one of the stools. The bartender gave her a quick look over.
“We don’t get many newcomers here,” he said plainly, his eyes glancing over at the other occupants in the bar who were still eyeing Rouge. The ones that weren’t looking at Rouge had started to grab belongings and leave the bar, “Hope you weren’t planning to stay too long, people around these parts don’t take too kindly to strangers.”
“That so?” Rouge smirked, glad to take any kind of distraction, “worried about little ole me?”
The bartender glanced up again, seeing the few remaining occupants sizing Rouge up, “just a warning.”
With that, a dark figure sat down next to Rouge. For the briefest moment black and red flashed across her mind but she quickly shoved the thought away and just took a sip of her drink, the alcohol burning her throat as it went down, “to what do I owe the pleasure, stranger?”
The figure, that Rouge could now see was a wolf, spoke, his voice grating on the ears, “This ain’t no place for little girls.”
Rouge scoffed, so he was one of those types, how annoying, “You were prettier before you started talking.”
The wolf stood, looming over Rouge with a dangerous glint in his eyes, “you think you can just come in here and start running your mouth? I own this town, bitch, every lowlife and vagrant works for me. Unless you’ve got something to offer me besides just a pretty face and a smart mouth you best be getting out of town if you know what’s good for ya.”
Rouge set her glass gently on the table. She stared at the liquid inside, her expression blank and unreadable. So this punk was the one in charge? What a nuisance. Perhaps she should just leave, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to put up with someone like that. She stood from her seat, not even acknowledging the wolf, and turned to leave the saloon.
“That’s right,” the wolf growled, “run away.”
Rouge couldn’t tell why that had made her stop. They were simple two words and not ones she’d be all that upset to hear. Chaos knows she didn’t care about the opinions of lowlife criminals. But here she was stopped in the middle of this saloon, with the lowest of lowlifes around her who wanted nothing more than a fight. She scanned her surroundings, most of the people had left, probably knowing that a fight was about to break out. Even the bartender had made himself scarce. There were two thugs plus the wolf left… This town would be perfect for her to hide out in but this guy would be such a nuisance. Well if that was the case…
“You said you were the one in charge here?” Rouge asked plainly, keeping her back to the wolf.
“Yeah.”
Rouge hummed, “I’m afraid you’re gonna have to face an early retirement then.”
Instantaneously Rouge flapped her wings, propelling her upwards, and then spun back down in a drill kick towards the wolf who jumped back, narrowly dodging the attack. Immediately another thug ran forward swinging a wooden bat at Rouge’s head. She ducked down, allowing the bat to swing over her head as she kicked her leg around, sweeping the thug off his feet and causing him to crash to the floor.
Just as Rouge jumped back to her feet another thug ran towards her, dagger in hand. Rouge sidestepped the attack and grabbed the thug's arm, using their momentum to swing them around and send them stumbling forward. The thug regained his footing and then turned on Rouge again, slicing their knife across at her. She jumped back, the blade just barely missing her chest, she felt herself collide with the bar. The thug lunged at her again, his dagger coming down towards Rouge’s head. She reached up and grabbed his wrist, now in a battle of strength as the thug fought against her grip, trying to force the blade closer to her. Rouge reached out her other hand and grabbed a bottle that had been sitting on the bar, swinging it into the thug's head and shattering it. The thug stumbled to the ground and held his head in his hands.
Rouge jumped forward, getting herself away from the bar. A tap tap tap sound echoed behind her and she turned quickly realizing it was footsteps approaching her. She threw her arm up, barely blocking a punch from the wolf. Thinking quickly on her feet she gripped the Wolf’s wrist and pulled him forward while driving her knee upwards to hit him in the stomach, causing him to crumple to the floor.
Rouge huffed, looking down at the wolf. The pathetic figure and his lackeys had barely been an inconvenience to take down, and in a way, it felt good. She’d needed to let off some steam. It felt good to not care anymore, to have power over something… She reached into her pocket, pulling out a gun. She looked it over for only a moment, then pointed it at the wolf. She wasn’t one for weapons usually but Shadow had given it to her as a precaution and she had held onto it… he’d given it to her the same day everything had gone so wrong… she shook those thoughts from her mind. None of that mattered now. All that mattered was the power she held.
“This town is mine now.”
The years passed as Rouge made her mark in the small town. She’d taken the wolf's power and made it her own, the men who served him now bowed to her, and the people who feared him now feared her. She started by taking over the gambling rings, stealing any treasures that drew her eye, from the land and the people. Other gangs in the town and even those outside of it were vying to either make a deal with Rouge or overthrow her power.
Despite coming to the town for anonymity she instead found herself at the top of the criminal world in the area. As far as she knew word of her endeavors never spread back to knothole, and for that she was glad. She heard stories of what Shadow had done. He’d gone through with his plans and succeeded in taking the throne. It didn’t matter to Rouge anymore, that was Knotholes problem now. Like always she would just push the thoughts of golden hair that shined like the sun and eyes red like blood from her mind. It was better not to think of such things anymore. They didn’t matter.
Of course, one day she heard the news of a marriage happening, the king was getting married. It was strange, she thought, not like him at all. Of course, it might’ve just been a political move, the princess and the king. It would legitimize his reign. But none of that mattered now either, it wasn’t her problem what the king did… and yet she couldn’t help the images of a brave young woman she’d once known flash across her mind. It was sad really, the girl had so much potential, and yet even she couldn’t do much to stop the king but offer a hollow marriage.
Stupid girl.
was all she thought and Rouge didn’t know if she was talking about the princess or herself.
Suddenly there was celebration across the land. The hero of Mobius had returned after thirty long years and the king had been overthrown. Rouge didn’t know why there was a dull ache in her chest when she heard the news that the king had been defeated. It wasn’t like it mattered to her and yet still the memories of gold and red lingered like they always seemed to do. What a nuisance. She pushed the feeling and memories as far down into her heart as she could. They didn’t matter anymore… but they did.
Thirty-five years had passed since that fateful day. When everything fell apart. Rouge had learned to block out that old life pretty well, by now it was nothing more than flashes of gold and red that lingered in the back of her mind like a nagging insect that wouldn’t leave her alone. And yet despite how far back she’d pushed those memories, now stood in front of her a brutal reminder of all she’d left behind. A relic of her old life, now all grown up.
“Amy?” Rouge’s voice faltered. She couldn’t believe it, it was Amy Rose. A face she never thought she’d see again, a face she never wanted to see again. Not like this. Not with who she was now.
The pink hedgehog looked Rouge over, she seemed almost unimpressed with what she saw, “So this is where you’ve been all this time.”
Despite all her efforts to forget that life, Rouge felt the memories come flooding back of an energetic little girl who loved to chase boys around. But the woman that stood before her now seemed much more mature, almost like there was a sadness to her presence. The childlike energy was long gone by now. Rouge supposed she couldn’t blame her, thirty-five years could do that to a woman. Chaos knew Rouge was no longer the girl she had been back then.
“It’s been a while,” Rouge finally forced herself to say.
“Thirty-five years to be exact,” Amy said matter-of-factly.
“I… what are you doing here?” Rouge stuttered out.
“Finding myself,” Amy said, a sarcastic edge to her voice.
Now it was Rouge’s turn to look unimpressed. Amy simply sighed before continuing, “Actually, I’m here because I heard tale of some pretty prominent criminals in the area. Thought I’d check it out and see if there was anything I could do about it… you wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?” Amy gave Rouge a pointed look like she already knew the answer to that question.
Rouge tensed only for the briefest of seconds before cooling her features into her coy smirk, “So you’re still playing hero, huh?”
“I hardly think of it that way nowadays,” Amy said plainly, “relax, I’m not gonna try to take you in.”
“Then why are you here,” Rouge asked, eyeing Amy with skepticism.
“Well, obviously, I
was
going to take down the local crime boss until I realized it was
you
.” Amy rolled her eyes, “Come on, let’s talk, maybe we can come to an arrangement.”
Rouge was surprised to find Amy so… level-headed. So much more mellow than she’d been as a kid. Rouge followed the hedgehog till they’d entered an old saloon. As soon as Rouge stepped foot into the bar all eyes were on her, a whisper swept over the crowd as people watched her. Trying to keep their fear hidden. Rouge ignored them as she made her way to the bar and sat down next to Amy, ordering a drink for each of them. She noticed Amy glancing back at the people in the saloon, taking note of their reactions to them. She didn’t know why but at that moment Rouge felt shame course through her.
“You know Sonic’s back,” Amy said.
“I heard,” Rouge looked down at her drink, “guess you were happy about that.”
Amy shrugged, “I haven’t seen him.”
Rouge looked at Amy surprised before Amy continued, “he disappeared without a trace… I spent years searching for him… believing he’d return one day, but I had to move on. I couldn’t keep putting my life on hold just because he might come back, and besides deep down I think I always knew he’d choose Sally…” Amy swirled her drink for a moment before smiling, “I’m actually married now.”
“No shit?”
“Yeah, he’s nice, treats me well, and supports my work.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Rouge looked back down at her drink, of course Amy had moved on. It’d been thirty-five years. Any sensible person would’ve let go of the past in that time… Rouge took a sip of her drink, not wanting to reflect on that thought much more.
“So what about you?” Amy asks pointedly, “
You
disappeared without a trace as well. Thirty-five years without so much as a postcard. And now I find you in this backwater town running a crime syndicate. Most of us assumed you died. Especially when Shadow rose to power and you were nowhere to be seen.”
Rouge grimaced, still looking at her drink. She’d spent so long ignoring everything that had happened, just trying to forget. Pretend it was all a bad dream. Trying to reflect on it all now that her old life was staring her in the face and asking her questions hurt, “That pretty well sums it up, I left and settled here. Not much more to it.”
“Why did you leave?”
“Shadow…” Rouge looked away, “he told me his crazy plan.. we had a fight and well… I didn’t want any part in it and left.”
“You didn’t want to aid in tyranny so you became a crime boss instead?” Amy raised an eyebrow skeptically.
“Well, I mean, that wasn’t my original plan. I figured I’d pick up the old treasure-hunting gig again until I just happened upon this town and the guy in charge was a dick so I overthrew him.” Rouge took a sip of her drink, “Simple as that.”
“The Rouge I knew wouldn’t have let one jerk get under her skin…” Amy sighed, “You’re not telling me the whole truth…”
“Don’t know what to tell you, that’s what happened,” Rouge grit her teeth, looking away from Amy as that shame crept back into her heart.
“Oh, I don’t doubt that…” Amy looked at Rouge, a sadness in her eyes that Rouge realized was something akin to sympathy, “but something changed both you and Shadow.”
Rouge leaned back in her seat, a contemplative look on her face. She’d fought the memories of her past all her life but she was never free, sure she did what she wanted but the truth was that there wasn’t a second that passed by where she didn’t feel the crushing weight of every memory she ran from, “… we lost someone close to us,” Rouge couldn’t be sure why she was opening up, maybe it was just the alcohol or maybe deep down she knew that she couldn’t run forever, “Hope.”
“She was the little overlander girl, I remember her,” Amy said, a soft tone to her voice as she listened to Rouge talk, a sad yet encouraging smile on her lips.
“Yeah… it was a surprise attack on the GUN headquarters from Robotnik, normally Hope wouldn’t have been anywhere near the fighting but the attack caught us all off guard, she got hit in the crossfire and…” Rouge’s voice trailed off, this was the first time she’d ever spoken about what happened, it felt so distant now, not just in time but in feeling, like she was talking about the events of someone else’s life, “Shadow saw the whole thing happen, I only found them after she was already gone...”
“I’m sorry for your loss...”
“Yeah, well, Shadow was never really the same after that…” Rouge swirled her drink in her hand, “I told him his plan was crazy but he never listened to me so here we are,” she set her drink down, putting on a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, “but hey Sonic took care of Shadow so I guess it’s over now…”
“Shadow’s still out there… he’ll make another attack sooner or later,” Amy glanced at Rouge, her lack of amusement at the others' facade evident as she took a sip of her drink, “and in all honesty, I’m not sure there is a way to beat him for good… he is the ultimate life form.”
“He’s immortal, not invincible.”
“Is that really what you want?”
Rouge fell silent, staring into her drink. She understood what Amy was asking. Rouge’s own words had held a silent sentiment.
He can be killed,
“The Shadow I called my friend was already dead when I left, why should I care what happens to him now…” despite her words, Rouge felt that same dull ache in her chest that she’d felt when she first heard that Sonic had defeated Shadow.
“If that’s the case then you’re dead too.”
Rouge’s head shot up, looking at Amy in surprise, “what are you-“
“You’re not the same Rouge I knew, and I’m not the same Amy you knew, people change, that’s how we work, and if a person changes once they can change again, and if they change for the worse they can also change for the better,” Amy turned to look at Rouge, a shit-eating grin on her face, “why do you think I’m sitting here talking to you now, instead of just taking you in? You might be different, even bad, but you’re still my friend and you still deserve a chance… even Shadow deserves a chance.”
Rouge let out a hollow laugh, resting her head against her hands and covering her eyes. Thirty-five years of running brought to a screeching halt by one girl’s compassion, “Do you really believe that?”
“I know it,” Amy smiled softly, recalling an old memory of space, the stars shining around them and a grieving hedgehog just trying to fulfill a simple promise, “because I was the first one to give him a chance.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The massive doors of the tower vault loomed overhead. Rouge looked up, taking a deep breath. On the other side was the past she’d tried to forget, every mistake, every regret was hidden behind this door. She placed a hand on the door, the second she opened it there would be no going back, no more running. Whatever happened next this was going to end. She pressed on the door, the hinges creaking as she swung it open, revealing the vault room with the chaos emeralds stored in a machine she assumed Tails designed, and there right in front of it was Shadow… Rouge took a breath and then stormed forward. “Shadow!” Rouge called as she made her way to the hedgehog, propelled forward by her determination, a fire growing in her with every step. Shadow turned at the sound of his name, a familiar voice he’d nearly forgotten in the long years that followed that fateful day. His face dropped as he saw her, the anger falling away and being replaced by shock, “Rouge..?” Rouge took another breath. It’d been so long since she heard that voice say her name, and with an unexpected gentleness to it. She felt a strange spark of hope reigniting inside her. Maybe there was a glimmer of her friend still in there. “What are you doing here,” Shadow demanded, the anger returning to his voice and expression just as quickly as it had fallen, “you think you can just-“ “Shut up,” Rouge cut him off before he could say his piece, “I am going to speak and you’re going to hear me this time.” She finally stopped her advancement only a few feet away from her former friend, “I’ve spent the past thirty-five years pretending like it was all a different life lived by someone else, acting like the memories didn’t haunt me every night.” Shadow’s expression darkened as Rouge spoke, he started to close the gap that remained between them, striding forward with a silent anger, “All these years, you ran from everything we were.” Rouge stood her ground as Shadow approached, meeting his eyes with a determination she didn’t know still existed inside her, “We were wrong, both of us, all those years ago. We’ve tarnished the memories of a little girl who loved this world, we were selfish and cruel in her memory and maybe I can’t change the mistakes we made but I am here to set things back on the right path.” “You didn’t know Maria-“ “I’m not talking about Maria!” Rouge shouted, stepping forward and closing the gap between them even more to where they were merely inches apart from each other. Shadow stepped back away from Rouge, taken aback by her ferocity if only for a moment. He gritted his teeth, “This is what has to be done, Rouge, we could’ve rebuilt this rotten world together!” “It’s those like us that make it rotten!” The anger rose in her voice. Shadow let loose a frustrated growl as he turned away from Rouge, “You don’t understand anything! You never did, not then and not now! I have to do this!” “But you don’t,” Rouge raised her voice, desperation creeping its way in, “and I don’t think you want to do this, I know you and this…” her voice trailed off, trying to find the words, “you are my friend, Shadow.” Shadow laughed, the same hollow laugh that Rouge remembers hearing the last time they saw each other, the last time they fought. He turned back to her “You left me, just like everyone else, and now you want to make things right?” “I am here to put an end to this, one way or another,” Rouge remained firm where she stood, resolve in her voice, “I won’t let you destroy her world!” “You think you can stop me? Not even Sonic himself can stand up to my might,” Shadow turned away from her once again, his hands clenched at his side, “No, this world will burn along with all its cruelty, fret not, I’ll fulfill my promise the only way this world will understand.” “Shadow, please,” Rouge felt her desperation growing, he wasn’t listening, she couldn’t get through to him, just like all those years ago he kept shutting her out. She took a shaky breath, her voice cracking as she pleaded, “for once in your life will you just listen to me!” “You’re right about one thing, I do have the power, I have the power to end everything,” Shadow let out a breath, a manic edge to his voice. He turned back to Rouge and started to approach her again, this time not deterred by her ferocity, “I’ll purge this world of all its impurities until there’s nothing left but to pick up the ashes that remain,” as he got closer to her, his voice raised, anger emanating off of him, “till this world bends to my will, Maria’s wish, I will make the world she dreamed of-“ as Shadow’s hand raised, ready to strike his former friend, Rouge’s own hand shot up, gripping Shadow’s wrist, stopping him in his tracks. Her grip was firm, her footing strong, balanced, ready to stand against whatever he may throw at her. Her eyes shined, a fire blazing within them, reflecting on her determination to do what needed to be done. To end this senseless tragedy once and for all. To let those little girls rest at last, “I won’t let you disgrace their memories.”
Shadow gritted his teeth, his brow furrowing as he viciously pried his hand from Rouge’s grip, “you can’t stop me.” Shadow turned and started his way to the machine with the six glistening emeralds inside it. Shadow stood before the device, pulling out the emerald he had, “Maria… This is what you wanted. This is the promise I made.” “Shadow, don’t-!” The wind began to whip around the room nearly blowing Rouge off her feet. She flapped her wings, helping her regain her balance as the floor rumbled and cracked beneath her, “Shadow! Don’t do this-“ Rouge’s plea cut off as she looked at her former friend. His cape billowed in the wind as he ascended into the air, where she expected to see the shimmering golden light of his super form instead a darkness radiated off of him. “Shadow..?” His eyes turned towards Rouge and she felt her breath catch in her throat. His eyes were pure white voids, his already dark fur seeming more like an inky void. Her feet froze in place as the fear took hold of her mind. As the wind continued to blow around her, sending objects flying across the room, all she could do was stare at the being that had once been her best friend. Never had she seen such power come from the chaos emeralds. This was nothing like the bright and shining beacons of hope that the super forms had come to represent to the world.
Rouge tried to speak, to reach out to any humanity that might be left in her former friend but the words caught in her throat. All she could do was stare. Just as Rouge felt herself finally regaining her voice she saw two blurs streak across the room towards her. They collided in front of her and another gust of wind blew her back against the wall. The room shook and pieces of the roof had begun to fall in. Rouge collapsed to the ground as the wind finally began to die down, allowing her to carefully push herself back onto her feet. She blinked trying to clear her vision that blurred in and out of focus. There was a light, brighter than was natural. She blinked again, finally focusing on what was in front of her. There, shining like the sun, contrasted by the darkness before him was Super Sonic.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Light and dark clashed together in a glorious battle, the walls had long since begun to crumble as one entity slammed another through it. Rouge watched, feeling helpless to stop the chaos ensuing before her. She felt a tug at her arm and suddenly she was being pulled away from the fighting. She looked at the figure gripping her arm and saw Sally.
“What are you-“
“We have to get out of here,” Sally’s voice raised in panic, “the whole tower will collapse!”
“No, I can’t-“
“There’s nothing we can do now!”
Just as she finished speaking the ceiling above them began to break and crumble falling directly towards the two of them. Before either of them could react, Rouge saw a streak of bright gold blur past them and catch the rubble. Sonic held up the rubble and turned to see Shadow’s dark figure approaching him. With all of his might, Sonic threw the rubble at Shadow, slamming it directly into the rampaging hedgehog.
Shadow powered straight through the rubble, breaking it into several more pieces and zooming straight towards Sonic. Shadow grabbed Sonic by the leg, swung him around and released him, sending him flying into the wall and crashing straight through it.
“Sonic!” Sally screamed, catching Shadow’s attention. He faced the two women, the darkness radiating off of him. Sally felt her blood run cold as she looked at the soulless white voids of his eyes.
Suddenly a streak of gold zoomed by slamming into Shadow and pushing him up through the roof and out of the tower. The impact caused another piece of the ceiling to crumble, revealing the open sky and the two hedgehogs battling it out.
Sally and Rouge stared up at the spectacle as the two forces clashed with each other, destruction following in their wake. Rouge had collapsed to her knees.
“I couldn’t… this can’t…”
“Rouge, it’s not your fault,” Sally placed a hand on Rouge’s shoulder, “we need to go, it’s not safe here-“
A loud crash caused both women to look up, the battle was being kept away from them but the destructive power of the super forms was obvious as one of the other castle towers now had a hole in it similar to the one they were looking through now.
Helpless. Rouge felt helpless. She’d come here with one goal- to stop Shadow, stop this tragedy. To put an end to everything that had become of them and honor her memory… and she had failed. She’d failed to do everything she meant to do, to make amends, to set things right. Hope was gone.
Rouge’s breathing shuddered as she let herself feel something she’d denied herself for thirty-five years. Grief. A battle grander than any before raged before her but there was no glory in it. The scene laid before them was but a simple tragedy. A little girl lost before her time, and the two who were left behind. Who held so much love in their hearts for that little girl that it blinded them.
“We.. lost Hope,” Rouge felt herself choke on her words, and a heat pooled in her eyes as she felt the first tear trickle down her face. She looked at her hands as they became tear-stained, “We were stupid, so stupid.”
Sally’s voice echoed in Rouge’s ear but it all sounded muffled. Like it was happening far away. What had happened to them? Rouge had fallen, taken advantage of a town already terrorized by crime. Shadow became a tyrant, hellbent on destroying the world he swore to protect. All because they loved that little girl so much that they couldn’t accept a world without her. So they ran away, hiding behind crime and tyranny. Thriving behind the power it gave them, the security that if they were feared then they could never be loved and then they could never love… never hurt.
But that’s the thing about love, it can never truly rest. It’s always kept alive by the memories one carries with them, and no matter how they might run from those memories that love will always find them again… and Rouge understood now that when it does a choice must be made. She could accept it, honor it, and allow it to live inside her, empowering her forward… or she could run once more, becoming imprisoned by her own memories, unable to let go but still never facing it… and she realized she was tired of running.
Rouge clenched her fists, taking deep breaths to stabilize herself. She placed one foot beneath herself, then the other, slowly pushing herself up. Standing tall once more. Her wings extended, stretching out as she looked up at the battle taking place. There was nothing glorious about it, just more senseless violence in an already senseless tragedy. Rouge flapped her wings, propelling herself off the ground towards the fight above.
“Stop!!!”
Everything had happened so fast, one moment Rouge was with Sally feeling thirty-five years’ worth of grief, the next she was hurling herself into the middle of a battle between two hedgehogs currently wielding god-like powers.
And yet despite her lack of power, how she was just a normal person, her simple act had brought the battle to a grinding halt. She heard Sonic behind her first, calling out her name, panic rising in his voice. Then she saw Shadow, chaos spear at the ready, mid swing downward to strike its target… and yet the strike never came. Rouge saw it, the hesitation, the power of the chaos spear fizzling away. She took her chance and propelled herself forward, closing the distance between them completely, “I’m sorry!” She cried, before he had the chance to realize what was happening, “I’m sorry we couldn’t save Hope and,” Rouge felt her voice catch in her throat as fresh tears started to spill, she took a shaky breath and forced herself to speak, “I’m sorry I left you, I’m sorry I ran away, but Hope is gone…” she gently placed a hand on his cheek, “and we can’t keep throwing away what we still have because of what we’ve already lost!”
The wind whirled around the two as Rouge spoke, finally letting herself say what she’d truly wanted to say since the beginning. Thirty-five years of grief and regret finally being felt, and she hoped that Shadow could feel it too. After all, it was the only way to end this that wasn’t just more fighting, “please, Shadow, you have to let go… both of us… I know it can never be the same again, we both did terrible things to this world and to each other, but we can make it right,” Rouge’s hand found its way down to Shadow’s hand, and gently their fingers interlocked with each other, “and we can do it together…please, listen to me, just this once.”
And slowly, silently, Shadow and Rouge began to descend back towards the ground. The darkness radiating off of him fading ever so slightly with each passing breath shared between the two. As their feet hit the ground Shadow collapsed to his knees, the last of the inky darkness dissipating from his fur as his eyes returned to normal. Rouge immediately followed Shadow down, kneeling before him and grabbing his hands, she held them gently, “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… I’m never going to leave you again,” Rouge took a breath, “I promise.”
Sonic landed on the ground, the golden light of his super form fading away just as Sally arrived to see the scene before them. He watched as Rouge had talked Shadow down. He didn’t have the full story, he knew that much, whatever had happened between the two had broken them in ways that he’d probably never understand. Nevertheless he still knew grief, knew what it could do to someone. As he saw the two figures before him, he knew where he stood. Sonic looked at Sally, a silent understanding passing between them, and he approached the two, placing a gentle hand on Rouge’s shoulder. She gave him a tired but grateful smile. In the end, Sonic realized that it wasn’t the chaos emeralds or super forms that ended this battle. It had been a simple connection, love, a bond between two people.
And when they both heard a quiet, choked
I’m sorry
neither of them said anything, but merely gave a silent acceptance... And besides, Sonic was used to making peace with people who had tried to kill him.
Sally watched the three of them, staying firm where she stood. She understood the kind of person Sonic was, it was only natural that he’d go to them. It’s what she loved about him. While she couldn’t find it in her heart to forgive so easily, perhaps finally things could end, maybe this tragedy was over. Shadow would still have to answer for the harm he had caused but perhaps now things could be different. They could find some peace in this horrible world, heal old wounds. Create a better future. Learn to let go. It was all Sally could hope for in the end. And despite everything she really did hope for their peace.
Rouge and Shadow’s shared grief had torn them apart. Rouge had run away, she understood that now. She had sought a life of denial and distraction, pretending that it had never happened to begin with. Shadow wallowed in the memories, driven forward by the idea of a promise, a memory of long ago. Keeping it alive as if that would keep Maria and Hope from ever truly dying. In the end, a simple promise turned into something dark, poisoned by a new grief, so similar to the old.
Grief was a funny painful thing, it was the love that persisted after death, but it was also the thing that brought about love's destruction… and yet from it new love could bloom.