Sonic Forces: Not a Hero

Shadow

Back at headquarters, everyone was silent. We threw everything we had at Eggman in Metropolis, but against the Phantom Ruby, we were powerless. You could feel the disappointment in the air, it was almost suffocating.

"Things were going well with Operation Big Wave," said Knuckles, "But then everything fizzled out when that Phantom Ruby kicked in."

"We'll come up with something," I said, trying to encourage everyone, "We only lost this battle, we have lost the war yet!"

"Artemis is right," agreed Silver, "We just have to figure out how this power works. Once we know that we can strike again!"

"I could probably help with that," said Sonic smiling as he entered the room, with a black hedgehog following behind. At that moment all I saw was red.

"You?!" shouted Shadow staring at me.

"You!" I growled. Shadow then darted towards me attempting to kick me in the face. I quickly guarded by lifting my arms, then pushed him away. Lunging towards him, I went to punch him, but he vanished in a blink of an eye. I knew he wasn't far, listening around for anything that could tell me where. I heard him appear behind me, then before he could attack I elbowed him in the chest, sending him back. Not wanting him to recover, I lunged at him again, holding him against the wall.

"What are you two doing?" demanded Knuckles.

"This is all your fault!" I shouted, "If you hadn't come Zero wouldn't be doing any of this!"

Back in the Mystic Jungle, during my time with the Jackal Squad. I was still trying to work with Zero after he started working with Eggman. Our squad had been wiped out by some black hedgehog Eggman called Shadow. Zero and I went to stop Shadow from advancing any further.

"Hey, you!" called Eggman over the coms, "I know you can hear me. Your Captain of the Jackal Squad aren't you? Your squad was useless! Go clean up their mess already!"

"Yeah, yeah I got it..." growled Zero.

"Zero down there," I said pointing at a black hedgehog hiding behind a pillar.

"I see him, Huntress," nodded Zero, "Stay back while I handle this. We can't afford any more mistakes."

"Teach him a lesson for us," I said.

"You!" shouted Zero getting Shadow's attention, "You destroyed my squad. I'll show you why they call me the ultimate mercenary! Take this!"

Zero charged for Shadow, but Shadow disappeared in a blue flash. Before Zero could counter, Shadow appeared beside him, kicking him into the air. Then Shadow appeared above him, smacking him into the ground. Just as Zero was about to recover, Shadow again appeared beside him, kicking Zero into a wall. Shadow approached Zero about to land a finishing blow.

"BOSS!" I cried as I jumped down, aiming to punch Shadow into the ground. Shadow saw me coming and backed away as I landed, "You stay away from him!"

Shadow stared us down, before huffing to himself, "Worthless. Don't show your pathetic face around me ever again."

After that he vanished, nowhere to be found. Once I was sure he was gone, I knelt down to Zero, "Zero are you okay?"

Zero was stunned, looking at his shaking hands, "I... I'm shaking... Me!? Me... Afraid...!?"

"He's gone Zero," I assured, "Don't worry I wasn't going to let him hurt you."