19 parts Ongoing "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain," these words fall out as he smirked.
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It has been years ever since Mephiles disappeared and never showed up again. People thought he was gone for good, yet a fragment that reeks energy of that familiar sphere was found and lies in G.U.N. headquarters for now. Shadow, of course, was summoned for the purpose of getting things straight. But Shadow himself as a contributor of Mephiles' escape, could not help much either, as he had no relevant information. After weeks of futile mission to find reasons for the appearance of what seems to be Mephiles's possessions, G.U.N. decided to seek reinforcement from Tails.
As the evaluation is in progress, Shadow was sent to collect the shattered pieces of the Scepter of Darkness. However, this time is different, which came to his surprise that G.U.N. approved Sonic's volunteer to join the classified mission.
Companions, friends, perhaps frenemies, Shadow couldn't describe their relationship. It felt weird to have someone once again, shine their way into his life like... what Maria used to. Personally, he thinks its delightful. Unconsciously, he cherished Sonic's charisma. Earnestly, he protected Sonic's bright character. He will not once again lost what he had lost.
But somehow, it seems that what he wanted to protect has already long gone.
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"Looks like you're the naïve one," Sonic gave a small throw of the scepter and catched it midair, "to think I would really care about anything, anyone," he looked downwards at the dark hedgehog that looked at him unbelievably, "awww boohoo, I used to haha, really I do,"
He tilted up Shadow's chin with the scepter, gave a cold stare at the blood-covered hedgehog with half-closed eyelids, "but now I don't give a shit anymore, everyone could just go and fuck themselves."
Attention: slow story, might make you feel bad (someone says they feel not really good after reading on AO3).