Shadows of a Broken Future

3rd Person POV:

The vast, barren landscape stretched on endlessly. The dry, cracked earth groaned beneath each heavy, metallic step. The sun blazed down, unforgiving, its rays scorching and relentless. At night, the temperature would plummet so drastically that any living being would freeze within moments. The once vibrant, radiant world with its majestic mountains and lush greenery was gone. In its place lay a wasteland, a hollow echo of what had been.

Shadow continued forward, his quills tousled by the warm wind carrying sand through the air. His muzzle partially hidden behind a brown cloth, and his gloves, torn and stained, had long since lost their once-pure white hue. He held a sharp, glistening shard-just a fragment of what had once been a Chaos Emerald-in his trembling hands.

The sound of Omega's steps behind him, the mechanical whirring that followed, was the only thing that anchored him to the present. It had been years since he had seen any sign of life. The last battle with Team Sonic and Team Dark... that had been long ago. Sonic, the hero, had given his life for everyone-but it hadn't been enough. Eggman's machine, the one he'd created to finally destroy the hedgehog, spiraled out of control, and no one, not even the madman himself, could stop it.

Silver and Blaze came to help, their own future in jeopardy. But even with their help, everything fell apart. After Sonic's death, all hope was lost. The world crumbled. Life withered and died. And yet... Shadow remained. His immortality taunting, and hanging over him like a cruel joke. Omega, the last of his team, still stood. They were all that was left, along with Metal Sonic and the remnants of Eggman's other badniks.

In his rage, Shadow had destroyed them all-everything that was left of a time he once believed mattered. He had lost the only ones he had ever begun to care about. Just like her...

Maria.

Shadow's POV:

My eyelids felt heavy, like they were made of lead, dragging me down with each blink, but I force myself to keep walking. There's no time for rest. We need to get back to the base. I glance back at Omega who's in bad shape-one of his eye lenses is cracked, and he's missing an arm. The whirring sounds that emitted from his metal joints every time he moves are too loud, too distorted, like they shouldn't even be there. Some of his wires hang exposed, sparking weakly.

We need to get back to my sleeping chamber-the only place where I can find parts to repair him. It's also why we were searching for the broken Chaos Emeralds. When Eggman found me after my fall to Earth, he kept my status pod. I've been trying to make it work again, trying to fix it with what remains of the Chaos Emeralds.

I can't die and escape this torture. I can't join my friends. I can't join her... I've tried, but there's nothing I can find that will cause damage fast enough before my body heals itself again, nothing that can stop the endless cycle of pain. Omega refuses to hurt me, even if it means putting me out of my misery. So, suspended animation is the only option left. Eternal sleep. It's the only way to escape, but Omega was damaged during our search for the Chaos Emerald, the environment itself turning against us as everything slowly crumbles. We've been walking for days now. He's been damaged for far too long.

"How are you holding up?" I ask, turning my gaze back to face forward. My voice is dry, scratchy-almost unrecognizable. Probably from the lack of water and stifling heat, it sounded strained.

A faint whizzing sound precedes Omega's static-filled voice. "THE ULTIMATE...LIFEFORM WORRIED ABOUT...ME...WHIZZ...HOW THE WORLD TRULY...HAS ENDED...WHIZZ."

His robotic sarcasm barely registers. I twitch a small, empty smile, but it's gone almost as quickly as it came. I let out a huff, rolling my eyes. "Just answer the question you useless robot" I say, my tone lacking its usual edge.

Omega takes longer than usual to respond, his voice slower than before. "SYSTEM DAMAGE...NOT WORSE..."

He's lying. I know it. It's his way of protecting me, trying to make sure I don't worry. But it's pointless now.

We continue walking for several more minutes, but then the sound of Omega's footsteps grows slower, dragging with each step, until they come to a complete stop. I turn around.

"Omega?" I try to sound casual, but my voice cracks, betraying the growing unease in me.

Omega takes too long to respond. When he does, his voice is slow. "SYSTEMS...ARE UNSTABLE...WHIZZ...GOING INTO...WHIZZ COMPLETE SHUTDOWN...MODE."

My heart skips a beat as my eyes widen. "What!? Nonononono..." I pull at my quills with my free hand, the other clutching the Chaos shard tighter. "We're almost there! Once I get to my pod, I can take it apart and use the pieces to fix you!"

I'm starting to panic. If Omega shuts down... I'll be truly alone. Forever.

Omega's voice slices through my thoughts once more. "SHADOW...WITHOUT YOUR...POD...WHIZZ...YOU WILL NOT FIND...YOUR PEACE...ONE MINUTE TILL...SHUTDOWN."

Anger surges through me, and I can't contain the flood of emotions that break through. "You think I care about that right now?!" My fists tighten and my voice rises, raw with frustration. "You can't just leave...leave me! Don't leave me all alone!"

My eyes blur as Omega's countdown begins, and the weight of his words starts to settle in.

"Stop it! Stop that!" I yell, hitting him with what little strength I have left.

"I'M SORRY..."

Tears escape my eyes despite myself. "No! Don't just apologize! Get up! We can still make it to the base!" My voice cracks, a sniffle catching in my throat. "Look, you're even making me cry, you stupid machine! Don't give up!"

But the countdown continues, relentless. The final seconds tick away.

Omega slowly raises his hand towards my muzzle. "GOODBYE...SHADOW...BEEP..."

I drop to my knees, trembling. "Omega?" My hands shake as I grasp his cold, lifeless metal hand. "Omega... come on..."

The tears don't stop. The sniffles turn into ragged sobs, which soon escalate into full, painful wails. I scream until my throat burns, raw and empty. Time passes, but I don't move. The tears eventually stop, leaving me hollow, but the silence is deafening. My throat aching from the screams, and even as the day fades into night, I don't move. I can't. I feel utterly numb, as if every part of me is frozen in place.

Eventually, my body gives way to exhaustion, and I collapse into sleep, the weight of everything pressing down on me. I clutch the remains of the Chaos Emerald tightly in my hand, a small, fragile comfort amidst the emptiness. My eyes finally drift close, and darkness surrounds me, swallowing everything...
...

...

...

"Shadow..."

...

My body feels horrible, and a groan escapes my lips as I try to move. I slowly blink, and bright light floods my vision, blurring everything. I hear voices-loud, familiar voices.

"Easy there Shads."
"Gosh, that was one nasty fight hun."
"Oh no are you sure he's okay Tails?"
"Uhh, I don't know for certain. I'll need a clearer look at him when he wakes up."
"I can't believe the self-proclaimed Ultimate Lifeform got taken out that easily."
"Would you shut up Knucklehead?"

Their voices ring in my ears, too loud, too real.

Wait.

I snap my eyes open, heart pounding, and sit up so quickly that the world spins around me, dark splotches invading my vision. But then, I lock eyes with something unmistakable-green emerald eyes and bright blue fur.

"Damn, you scared us for a second there Shads" he says, a cocky grin tugging at his lips. "I'm glad you woke up."

My eyes widen in disbelief. I can't even process what I'm seeing.

"Sonic?"

~~~

Hey guys! This is my first story, but I hope you all like it so far!

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