Worlds Apart - a Shadow the Hedgehog x Reader story

Shadow

Shadow's POV

Shadow the Hedgehog plunged through a bush. He didn't know what had got into him that had made him run from danger; he had never done it before. Explosions rang out behind him. One sent up a pillar of flame right next to him. His legs ached and exhaustion tore at his lungs.

"Come on Shadow. If you stop you're dead," he growled to himself. Cackling laughter echoed behind him. Eggman again. Ever since Shadow had stopped working with him, he had been snapping at his heels everywhere he went.

"Oh Shadow why don't you just give up? You can't run forever."
"Just watch me," Shadow pushed himself even faster, avoiding burning trees and blazing undergrowth. Staying in forests had thrown Eggman off his trail for a few hours each time, but he was always found as soon as he set foot into the open. He leapt over a rock glowing with heat. He didn't want to admit it, but having some help would really be useful right now.

"Gah! Fine Egghead. Bring it on," Shadow skidded to a halt, turning to face Eggman. Running forever was a long time to keep moving.

"Finally! I've wasted so much time following you."

"Couldn't you have just left me alone? Wouldn't that have been easier for both of us?"
"Really, Shadow, I would've thought you'd have caught on by now. I want to rule. The only way I can do that is to eliminate all competition."

"How am I competition? I don't want to rule anything except my own destiny."

"You have a power that you could use to rule."
"I don't want to rule. You know that already since I just said that. Are you deaf or something?"
"Still, you keep getting in my way."
"What's that got to do with anything?"

"Everything!" A sudden blast from Eggman's machine sent Shadow flying into a tree, "It has everything to do with it!"
Weakened as he was, Shadow pulled himself up, using the tree behind him for support. A deep slash had opened across his face and blood was dripping into his eyes, blocking his vision. He swiped the scarlet tears away with his free hand. His red eyes glared into Eggman's shaded. Anger from all the time he'd spent running gave him the strength he needed to summon an explosion so powerful, it sent Eggman and his robots flying to the far side of the world. Alone at last, Shadow slumped down, back against the tree. The blast had taken a lot of energy to create. Drained of almost all strength, he leaned his head against the rough bark.

"Why me? Why am I the one everyone seems to hate?"
Shadow knew he had to rest, but he also knew that Eggman wouldn't be fazed for long. Sleep offered the easiest route and he quickly found himself dozing off.

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A/N: In this, Shadow doesn't know about his fangirls! Just saying cos I keep getting comments about the crazy fangirls.