Nimbus' Destined

Thoughts Shattered

Shadow's eyes fluttered open, and he immediately knew he was in trouble. He struggled to free himself, but the cold chill of the metal collar around his neck made him pause. "What...!?"

"Ah, good. You're awake." Eggman stepped out into the light. "Took you long enough."

Shadow strained against the chains that held him in place. "What do you want, doctor? Why did you capture me!?"

"Just keeping a promise my Grandfather made." Eggman grinned, "A promise I intend to keep for a long time!"

"What are you talking about...!?"

Eggman pulled out a small book, waving it in front of Shadow. "Remember this little trinket? I found some old pages on the Ark that had been ripped out and hidden. One in particular stuck out to me... I found little Shadow in the closet today. I promised his mother I'd keep him safe, and keep him safe I will. Maria loves him so, and if anything happens to him... I'd never forgive myself."

Shadow blinked. My mother...? I had a mother?

"Who your mother was, I am not certain, but from my best guess, your mother knew about your powerful abilities and deemed you too dangerous to raise herself."

"No...you're wrong... she couldn't have..."
But then why didn't she ever visit me? No... something must've happened to her... he didn't like the idea of his mother dying before he got to know her, but what other explanation was there?

"I've never seen you look so uncertain... it's very amusing."

Shadow glared at him, unable to find the strength to break the chains. Eggman left the room, leaving Shadow alone in the silence. Shadow stared out the window above as lightning flashed across the sky and thunder shook the building. The erratic behavior of the lightning felt as crazy as his thoughts.
How could his mother have left him like that? Why did she give him up?...

...Why couldn't he remember her face?

Suddenly one close strike shook the room and Shadow shuddered with it, eyes closed. But when he opened them again, everything had changed.

Though the thunder and lightning was still present, he wasn't in Eggman's base anymore...

...he was in a nursery.

He was unable to move, but he didn't need to, because he could clearly see the woman holding his younger self.
This had to be a dream, because although she was visible, her features that could identify her were blurred out. Mother...

His younger self couldn't be more than a year old, clutching his mother's dress tightly in fear as the thunder rolled.
His mother stroked his back gently. "You mustn't fear the storm, Shadow." She murmured, though in a kind way. "You will face many storms, both of nature and of circumstance, in your life... and you must be brave."

Little Shadow looked into his mother's eyes, his fear seeming to diminish. "Mama..."

His mother smiled, though it was sad. "I'm going to miss you so much..."

"Then why did you give me away?" Shadow asked.

Suddenly the image changed, and he saw his mother lying on the floor, while a dark shape loomed over the crib. His mother looked worn and beaten, she must've fought to keep them out and lost.
The shape growled and knocked over the crib. "You fooled me!" She screeched. "Where are they!?"

"I sent them away...!" His mother hissed, her eyes defiant. "They'll be safe until they reach maturity, and by the time you find them, it'll be too late...!"

Suddenly a loud roar blocked out any other sound, and the dream shattered as the window above him did the same, and Tails' Tornado crashed through to him.