Diamond in the Sky

Dreams of a Reversion

Deep into the night, when Shadow returns, he catches the familiar sight of a cyan hue coming from the window of his pad. It pulses with Silver's left bracer, which Shadow still wears on his own wrist.

"Am I dreaming?" he asks himself, "I must be."

Hoping it's a dream about Silver, he anxiously hops up and enters his treehouse. He and Silver both instantly freeze at the sight of one another. Dejavu consumes them. This is exactly how they met when Silver came from the future for just one day, before he died. Shadow doesn't wanna do anything to pop the bubble of this memory-dream. He's not sure it's wise to speak, for fear of waking up. So Silver has to go first.

"You're Shadow," Silver begins, "I have so many questions."

"I'll answer them the best that I can," Shadow promises, trying to stay calm.

"Was I an accident?"

Shadow knows they already had this conversation when Silver was alive, but of course he'll repeat himself if that's what Silver wants.

"Yes, you were an accident I didn't know about. You were also a secret."

"Oh, that makes sense. Can you Chaos Control?"

"Yes, Silver," Shadow replies.

"Yeah me too," says Silver.

Shadow steps closer, carefully doing everything he can to keep himself asleep. Or at least, that's what he thinks he's doing. To his relief, stepping closer doesn't make Silver fade away. Silver laughs.

"Aren't you wondering how I got into your house? How do you know I didn't break in?"

"Because you're a ghost," Shadow replies, remaining as stoic as possible.

"No, I'm definitely not. And before you ask, I'm not an android either."

"Then how are you here? I buried you in the volcano."

"That explains my dream about swimming in lava," Silver replies.

Shadow is mortified.

"Oh no, did you feel it? Were you in pain?!"

"No, I never feel any pain in that dream."

Shadow's eyes water. He turns away to pull it together, then quickly turns back, hoping Silver didn't disappear yet.

"Before I wake up, listen, what happened to you, Silver, in Eggman's lair... I'm the one to blame. I'm sorry. I know you only came here to help me but it should have been me. Never you."

Silver tries to explain.

"You listen, Rouge has been watching over me all my life and preventing anything bad from happening to me. Last night, she brought me back in time to save me from an explosion in my world. It makes zero sense, I know, especially since that makes you and I, I guess... the same age?"

Shadow suddenly darts to him, aggressively grabs his shoulders, and pins him against the wall.

"Ugh, what gives, Shadow?!"

"Hold still, I need to look into your eyes!"

"Why? That's weird!"

"Last time I saw them, they were dead. I need to see that they're not!"

"Lemme go!" Silver demands. "I just met you! What you're saying is delusional!"

Taken aback, Shadow lets Silver go.

"You don't remember me?"

"Only in my dreams."

"Oh? Dreams about going to other dimensions? I have those too. Stay with me in this one. I'm sick of the darkness. Just a little light for a little while... please."

"You don't believe I'm alive, do you?"

"Whatever you are, its good enough," Shadow says. "So Son, whatchu wanna do first? Chaos Control into the sky? Mess around with some explosives I jacked once from Doctor Eggman? Whatever you wanna do, I'm game... as long as I don't have to wake up."

Silver's over it.

"Sorry to have to do this but..."

"No Silver, don't go!" Shadow begs.

Silver uses his psychokinesis to turn on the faucet and spray water all over Shadow. The pipe pressure releases so harshly that it knocks Shadow to the floor.

"Didn't see that coming! What the hell, Silver?"

Silver turns off the water with his powers and stands over Shadow.

"Convinced that you're awake now, ol' man?"

He offers his hand to help Shadow up. Shadow takes it, realizes that he's not asleep, and that Silver really is alive!

"Sorry about the mess but..."

"To hell with the mess! Great to have you back, Silver!"

He kisses Silver's cheek and bear-hugs him. His edgy facade flies out the window as he blubbers like the Ultimate Uncool Dad.

"Damn, I missed you so much! Forget what I said! This is clearly not a dream!"

Silver is surprised. Isn't this guy supposed to be tough, shedding one anime teardrop at best? Or did fatherhood completely unravel Shadow the Hedgehog? He comfortingly squeezes Shadow back.

"Feels nice to be wanted this much. We have so much catching up to do. I have so much I can't wait to tell you!"