「 light in the darkness. 」

≻ . another

The stars were brighter from space.

Crimson eyes studied them from behind the glass barrier, lips pursed as brows furrowed in thought. Where was he to go from here now that he decided to leave his past behind him?

'Maria..'

Would she be happy with what he's done? He saved the earth.. that was what she wanted, was it not? For him to protect it. It was his promise to her and.. the pink one. Amy. Shadow's only purpose was the one to protect the earth. Not for himself or anyone else but Maria. How to go about that, however, was yet to be determined.

Gloves fingers releasing the old photograph within his grasp, Shadow turned his back towards the glass and began walking.

The metal of his air shoes collided with the metal of the ground beneath them, the sounds echoing throughout the area as he made his way through. His intentions were to leave— leave and not turn back. He'd had enough running around and recollecting memories, so now that he had them, he was going on a path of his own whilst keeping his promise to Maria. Always her.

Gaze set ahead, the hedgehog pondered as he walked. Where was he to go? He'd only just recovered his memories, though in fragments, but those were easily pieced together if he allowed himself time. He didn't quite enjoy the idea of reliving what he'd learned, however. Such was the cause of his hesitation in simply sitting, thinking, putting pieces together.

As he walked, a glint in the very corner of his vision drew his attention. There was machinery, just as there was over the majority of the ARK. There were various pipes and cords connected to this machinery, attaching into yet more equipment surrounding it. There were buttons flickering with light where the control panel rested at the machinery's side. It was eerily familiar, pulling Shadow's attention.

He approached the machinery, a sense of curiosity settling in as he drew closer. He stood before it, the glass separating him from what was held inside. There was green fluid, filling the inside chamber completely. However, what held Shadow's attention was the figure he could see within the chamber, drowning in the fluid— or perhaps, it would have drowned, had the fluid not been an aid in maintaining the life and condition of the lifeform within it. It was only when Shadow processed the fact that the chamber held someone inside that realization set in as to why the machinery felt so familiar to him.

He'd been kept inside one for 50 years.

Whatever it was about this that led him into entering the command in the control panel that the being within be released had better be worth it.

The green fluid that filled the chamber began to drain and Shadow backed up a step, fierce red eyes narrowing when the fluid drained enough for him to see the ends of what appeared to be quills. He'd had little time to acknowledge them, however, for once the fluid had drained completely, the glass encasing the other being opened and thus revealed to Shadow its inhabitant.

Another hedgehog.