[Mini Story: Changing The Past]
Silver and Lucy arrived in Crocus on the first day of the Grand Magic Games. They were on a castle tower, watching the stadium from afar.
Lucy: So, we've arrived?
Silver: I think so, a few days before the incident. If we get there in time, we can change everything.
Lucy: Our friends…
Silver: By the way, you still haven't told me your name.
Lucy: Oh, that's true! I'm Lucy...
Silver: Nice to meet you, Lucy.
Lucy: So, what are we going to do?
Silver: For now, we can't do anything but hide until the fateful day arrives.
---
On the fourth day, after Natsu's victory against the Twin Dragons, night had fallen, and everyone was celebrating their win. Future Lucy was walking through the city when she realized she was being followed. She ran to escape but was eventually caught by a masked man—it was Jellal, disguised as Mystogan.
Jellal: Wait, let me show you my face. (He removed his mask.) Now, show me yours.
She turned around without taking off her hood, and he saw who she was.
Gerald: It's... it's impossible!
Silver suddenly appeared behind Lucy and used his psychic powers to push Jellal back violently into a wall, knocking him unconscious.
Silver (worried): Are you okay? Why did you do that??
Lucy: Sorry, I knew him, and I couldn't lie to him since you weren't there.
Silver: You need to be more careful. We can't afford to make mistakes like this.
Lucy (sad): Sorry...
Silver: Don't worry. We'll save your friends.
[End Of The Mini Story]
The planet that had fired the cannon to destroy the Eclipse Gate began descending towards Earth like a comet.
Lucy: Wendy, can't you reach them?
Wendy: No, I lost the signal!
A blue Chao approached Wendy.
Carla: Wait, isn't that…?
Wendy: Chao-Sonic!
The blue Chao looked exhausted and panicked.
Lucy: If the Chao is like this, then something must have gone really wrong.
Wendy (panicking): And Sonic isn't doing well!
They saw a shooting star descending faster than the planet itself. It crashed a little further away from them.
Lucy: What was that?
Wendy: It looked like a shooting star.
Yukino: Let's go check!
They ran to the crash site and saw Sonic lying on the ground in his Dragon Force form.
Wendy (helping him up): Sonic, answer me! Are you okay?
Sonic (returning to his blue color): Ugh, my head…
Lucy: What happened up there??
Sonic: We were supposed to stop the cannon from exploding on Earth… Shadow, no!
He looked around and saw that Shadow wasn't there. Then, he looked up at the sky and saw the planet explode before disappearing.
Yukino (hands over her mouth): Shadow… oh no!
Hisui: Did… did he sacrifice himself?
Sonic (sad): I'm… really sorry, Yukino… If I had been more careful, I could have saved him.
Yukino (crying): No… it's not your fault… He wanted to save us all… It was his mission…
Sonic handed her a ring that had been on Shadow's arm. She clutched it tightly against her chest, sobbing.
---
| A Few Hours Earlier |
Sonic's POV
After meeting Future Rogue, I decided to inform the other guild members about the situation. But by the time I arrived, he was already fighting a dragon that had come through the Eclipse Gate. It was a dragon made of living flames. The dragon launched fire attacks that we all dodged. Only I and the Raijin Unit were left to fight it.
Me: This is exactly the kind of situation where Natsu should be here.
Laxus: We'll have to improvise.
Laxus unleashed a roar, and I did the same, but it felt like… it had no effect.
Me: What the hell?!
Freed: Dark Script: Slash!
Freed slashed the dragon's right leg at high speed, but it regenerated instantly.
Me: Uh, guys, we REALLY need Natsu right now.
My body started glowing with a green light.
Laxus: What's going on?
Me: Uh, I have no idea.
Suddenly, I teleported away from them and appeared in front of a black hedgehog holding a glowing gem.
Me (getting up): Huh? Shadow? What are you doing here? (Gets into a fighting stance.) You wanna fight again?
Shadow: Given the circumstances, now isn't the time. Besides, I won't fight for nothing when there's something more important at stake.
Me: Then what do you want from me?
Shadow: I want you to follow me to a place where there's a machine that can eliminate these dragons.
Me (smirking): So I take it you need my help?
Shadow: …
Me: I'll take that silence as a yes. Alright, let's go.
Shadow raised the green gem in his hand.
Shadow: Chaos Control!
We teleported and appeared on some sort of planet with a familiar-looking face.

Me: It's been a while since I was in space. Is this your home?
Shadow: …
We started running through the base. I followed Shadow, not really knowing where we were going. We passed through a laboratory with tubes holding liquid creatures.
Me: Wait, I know these things.
Shadow: Huh?
Me: I fought one of these monsters on Tenrou Island before the Acnologia incident.
Shadow: So you really did face the Apocalypse Dragon?
Me: Oh, and you have NO idea how much we suffered trying to survive. Luckily, thanks to the First Master, we lived—though we lost seven years of our lives.
Shadow resumed running, and I followed him. This planet… or rather, this space base was enormous. While we slid along rails, I questioned Shadow.
Me: How do you know this place?
Shadow: I just do.
Me: What machine were you talking about earlier?
Shadow: You'll find out soon.
We walked through a long, glowing corridor, so long I couldn't see the exit.

Me: By the way, what's that thing in your hand?
Shadow: Can't you stop asking questions? You're starting to annoy me.
Me: If I'm annoying, why did you bring me here? You could've just come alone and done what you needed to do.
Shadow: Because I can't.
Me: Why?
Shadow: I don't have to tell you.
I stopped walking. He turned around and stopped as well.
Shadow: What now?
Me: I won't follow you until you tell me the truth.
Shadow: Do you think I have time for your tantrums?
Me (sitting on the ground): Do whatever you want. I'm not moving until I get my answers.
Shadow stared at me for a long time before sighing.
Shadow: Fine. What do you want to know?
Me: Who are you?
Shadow: Someone.
I immediately lay down, showing that if he didn't answer properly, I wouldn't move.
Shadow (sighs): I'm a hedgehog born here… or rather, created here.
Me: (Sits up, listening attentively.)
Shadow: I possess abilities that make me the ultimate life form...
Me (getting up and walking): Keep going.
Shadow: 50 years ago, a professor named Gerald Robotnik wanted to create prototypes inspired by myths and legends. He found prophecies about a Chao that was transformed into a god—you just saw them earlier.
Me: So, the Chaos I fought was a god? Awesome!
Shadow: It's surprising that you made it out alive as well.
Me: Heh, I'm pretty tough, after all.
Shadow: ...Anyway, the professor created me with the DNA of a dragon. I've never seen him, but I know his name—Black Doom.
Me: So, you didn't kill your dragon.
Shadow: ...
Me: Interesting. And then?
Shadow: The professor had a little girl named Maria. She was gravely ill, and no cure on Earth could heal her. That's why I was brought into this world.
Me: So, he wanted to save his daughter through you?
Shadow: Yes, but unfortunately, we were missing something... you.
Me (shocked): Huh? What do you mean, me? I wasn't even born 50 years ago!
Shadow: The prophecy spoke of a hedgehog who was born to be the ultimate life form, whereas I was created to be the ultimate life form.
We started running as if we were jogging.
Me: I'm not sure I follow.
Shadow: Since you didn't exist yet, we didn't know what made you so special... Unfortunately, there was an accident.
Me: An accident?
Shadow: Ishgar decided to put an end to our project... (Shadow stopped.)
Flashback (No one's POV)
Shadow was running with Maria, escaping from guards who were pursuing them after capturing Professor Gerald. They entered a laboratory that was actually an emergency exit. Maria locked Shadow in a tube and prepared to send him away.
Shadow: Maria, no!
Maria: Shadow, please, do this for me. The fate of the worlds is in your hands.
She pulled the ejection lever but was struck by a laser fired from a spell by one of the guards.
Shadow: MARIA!!!
Shadow was ejected from the Ark and descended onto Mobius.
End of the Flashback
Sonic's POV
At that moment, I saw a completely different side of the black hedgehog. While I had a family and friends, he had only known suffering and loss.
Shadow: When I landed on Mobius, I was imprisoned for 50 years before joining the Sabertooth guild...
He clenched his fists and lowered his head.
Shadow: Now, you are the second person to know my true story.
Me: The guild master is the first?
Shadow: No, it's... Yukino...
Me: Oh... and do you love her?
Shadow (blushing): Can you be serious for just two minutes?!
Me (smirking): Am I dreaming, or are you blushing?
Shadow: The more you talk, the more I want to hit you!
Me: No, but I mean, do you care about her?
Shadow: Of course I care about her!
Me: Ah, love is beautiful!
I barely dodged an energy spear thrown by Shadow before escaping ahead of him on the path.
15 minutes later
We arrived on a round metallic platform, floating in open air—or rather, in open space.
Me: By the way, you still haven't told me what that diamond in your hand is.
???: Where do you think you're going?
A giant robot landed right in front of us, shaking the platform.

Me: Now I know what this base looks like!
Dr. Eggman: Hello, Sonic. Did you miss me?
Me: I thought you were blown to pieces in the Nega-Wisp explosion.
Dr. Eggman: Well, as you can see, you're not the only one who's tenacious.
Me: What are you doing here?
Dr. Eggman: What do you think! I'm protecting my grandfather's legacy from the hands of that pathetic black hedgehog.
Me: Grandfather? Oh, right, his last name is Robotnik too. So, is being obese a family trait, or...?
Dr. Eggman: Silence! I will obliterate you with my new destruction machine!
Me: Shadow, you ready?
Shadow: You're on your own.
Me: Huh?
Shadow: If you want to know what the Emerald is for, defeat him alone.
He teleported away.
Me: He's seriously doing this!?
The robot extended its right arm to crush me, but I dodged by running to the sides. Twelve missiles launched from its back—I destroyed them by detonating them with an electric Homing Attack. The robot jumped and slammed down, knocking me back to the edge of the platform. I almost fell.
Me: I better be careful if I don't want to fall—plus, Chip isn't here if it happens.
At that moment, I felt something strange—like I knew what would happen a minute in advance. I'd be ejected and fall into the void.
Me (thinking): If only I had some kind of grappling hook... Wait, that's it!
Eggman extended his left arm in my direction, knocking me off the platform.
Dr. Eggman: I finally did it! Now I just need to catch that black hedgehog.
What he didn't expect was that, just as he turned around, I swung back toward him using a Lightning-made rope. I kicked him in the stomach, electrocuting him.
Dr. Eggman: What?! How did you do that?!
Me: Easy—I just changed the properties of my lightning.
He broke free and charged at me, but I quickly rolled underneath him with a Spindash. I formed a bow and arrows out of my lightning and shot two arrows at the circuits on the robot's back, causing it to short-circuit and collapse on its stomach. It got back up and turned toward me, launching missiles. I created an electric shield around myself, blocking the explosions—but I didn't expect a surprise punch from the robot through the smoke.
I was sent flying far from the arena, crashing into several platforms as I drifted away. Then, I transformed into a werehog, grabbed onto the edges of two platforms, and slingshotted myself at full speed toward the robot. As I flew, I clenched my fist, enveloped in purple electricity, and punched straight through the robot's torso, making it short-circuit.
Dr. Eggman: NOOOOOO!
He escaped from the robot's head in his Egg Mobile while his machine fell backward into space and exploded.
Dr. Eggman: Don't think this is over—I'll be back!
Me: Roaring Thunder Dragon's Howl!
I unleashed a blast of purple electricity, sending him plummeting toward Mobius at high speed.
Me (returning to my normal hedgehog form): Phew. Now, onto more important matters—I hope the others are okay.
I followed Shadow's trail and found him in some kind of temple, with a giant lizard that was battered and unconscious.
Me: Uh, Shadow? What is that?
Shadow placed the green emerald in the altar, which contained six other jewels of different colors.
Shadow (not looking at me): Oh, that was my brother, don't worry. It was a failed experiment anyway.
Me: Uh, okay… so, can you explain the jewels to me?
Shadow: Oh right, these are the Chaos Emeralds.
Me: Chaos Emeralds?
Shadow: Stones that give you an unlimited power beyond imagination. You can control time and space, so anything becomes possible.
Me: Like powering a cannon that can kill dragons!
Shadow: Looks like you can actually think.
Me: Hey!
Shadow: Well, the cannon is ready. We can fire from here at the Eclipse Portal.
Me: Huh? I thought we were aiming at the dragons.
Shadow: We are. Those dragons are coming from the past through the portal. If we destroy the portal, it's a two-birds-one-stone situation.
Me: Okay, so I'll open a portal ring.
Shadow: Not necessary. We'll teleport the ARK to Earth and fire.
Me: Huh? How?
Shadow placed both hands in front of the emeralds.
Shadow: Chaos Control!
A bright light flashed, blinding me. When I opened my eyes, we were above Crocus, but even higher.
Me: This is incredible!
Shadow: Warn the others to move away from the portal.
I touched the loops on my shoes, which started glowing. I had modified Wendy's hairpins so we could communicate remotely.
Yukino: If only Shadow knew about the portal, he would have redirected the cannon toward it…
Shadow: I already know.
Me: The cannon is ready to fire!
Wendy: Sonic, were you listening to us?
Me: For a while now. Look at the sky!
The cannon opened and fired a laser aimed at the portal. At the same time, Natsu charged like a comet with Rogue. The Eclipse Portal was destroyed in a massive explosion.
Me: We did it! High five!
I raised my hand. Shadow looked at me for a long moment. I took his hand and clapped it against mine for him.
ALERT! ALERT!
Me: What's happening??
Shadow: Damn it!
Me: What do you mean, damn it?
Shadow: The reactor is overheating! The ARK is going to crash!
Me: WHAT!? How do we stop it???
Shadow: We'll use the emeralds.
Me: Huh?
Shadow: The emeralds will give us enough energy to use our dragon powers infinitely. We'll be able to stop it from falling.
Me: Then what are we waiting for?
We felt an earthquake. We turned around and saw that the lizard had disappeared.
Me: Uh, is it normal that your brother just ran away?
Shadow: Who cares? Let's go!
Me: Alright!
We raised our hands to the sky, and the emeralds surrounded us, transforming me into a yellow hedgehog and Shadow into a white hedgehog.

We teleported in front of the falling planet and saw Shadow's brother clinging to the cannon. He fired lasers at us, but we dodged them easily before hitting him with a double Spindash.

Me: What's he even doing here?
Shadow: You think crashing this ship will change anything?

The monster roared before launching several purple lasers, which we blocked.
Me: This time, it's our turn!
Shadow: Chaotic Dragon Roar!
Me: Thunder Dragon Roar!
Our two roars fused and hit the lizard, pulverizing it on impact.
We placed our hands in front of the planet to stop it from falling. I started feeling the weight of the planet—it was becoming harder to hold back.
Wendy: Sonic, what's happening?
Me: Wendy, it's too late. The ARK is out of control. We won't be able to hold it back…
Shadow: You won't be able to hold it back.
Shadow removed a ring from his right hand, unleashing a fraction of his magic. He then punched me hard in the stomach.
Me: Shadow… what are you doing…?
Shadow: Give this ring to Yukino when you see her…
Me: No… don't… do… this…
His punch sent me flying toward Earth at an incredible speed. Shadow removed his second ring, and having released all his magic, he continued pushing the planet away.
| Now |
I looked up at the sky while Wendy was healing my wounds and Lucy was comforting Yukino. I was grateful to have known that hedgehog—or rather, that hero.
Me: Sayonara, Shadow the Hedgehog.
[Mini Story: My Prince Charming]
Shadow's POV
I was running (skating), destroying mini-dragons while searching for Sonic. He could help me unlock the cannon's full potential. That's when I saw a girl with pink hair in twin tails, surrounded by mini-dragons. She looked like she was in danger. I executed consecutive Homing Attacks, preventing the dragons from reacting, then teleported in front of her.
Me: Are you alright?
??? (Looking at me with wide eyes): Uh… I… I…
I looked at her questioningly. She finally snapped out of it.
???: Uh, yes, sorry! Thank you for saving me. You're Shadow, right?
Me: And you must be Chelia from Lamia Scale.
Chelia (blushing): Oh, you know me?
Me: I don't forget my competitors from the Grand Magic Games. Where are your friends?
Chelia: I lost them. I was helping evacuate the civilians.
Me: I see.
I offered her my hand to help her up. She hesitated.
Me: Are you sure you're okay?
Chelia (as red as a tomato after taking my hand): Uh, it's just… I didn't expect you to be even more handsome up close…
Me: Uh, thanks.
I sniffed the air and, five seconds later, pointed in the direction where her friends were fighting dragons.
Me: If you go that way, you might find your friends.
She immediately jumped into my arms.
Chelia: Thank you so much! You're truly a prince charming who came to save me from the dragons.
Me: A not-so-charming prince. And no hugs.
She let go of me, and I walked away after she flashed me a beautiful smile. Wait, why did I think that was a beautiful smile?! Focus, Shadow! You have more important things to do—you need to find that stupid blue hedgehog.
[End of the Mini Story]