Meant To Stay Hid by SYML.
~~~

"Oh. Well, would you look at that." Mayor Fink hummed, batting totally innocent eyes and pulling on his blazer.

"That's a sore sight." Knuckles grumbled, nudging his blue best friend's arm.

"How long has he been here?" Amy wondered.

"Showed up shortly after your little fight with him on Christmas Island." The mouse dramatically sighed. "My poor town."

Shadow's red and glass eyes rolled as Tails asked, "How many times has he attacked?"

"A few. He's mostly been after this 'ol thing." Sticks answered, tossing the yellow Chaos Emerald between her hands.

"He says he'll leave us alone if we give it to him, but...well we aren't that stupid." Fink defended.

"It's not like he leaves Bygone in ruin or anythin' but...he's plenty 'appy with makin' us remember he can."

"So if we took the Chaos Emerald with us, he would leave you alone- no?" Blaze wondered and the Mayor briefly stuttered.

"W-Well I suppose so...."

"Don't worry! We'd bring it back once we know Eggman's not a risk." Tails assured.

"It'll be harder to find the others with him following us." Silver pointed out.

Finally, Sonic was shaken out of his silence and he threw on a flashy smile. "Relax! It's better us than here. 'Sides, we've managed way worse. We can keep an eye on Egghead anyway."

"That's...true."

"Now 'old on a minute!" Sticks barked, holding the emerald close. "I never agreed to this!"

"Oh please, it'll keep our home safe!" Fink pled.

Amy hopped to the badger and squeezed her hands. "I do hope you'll learn to trust us, but until then- why don't you come along? You can keep an eye on this one."

"Well I...." Sticks glanced at the awaiting group, soon finding Shadow give a nod.

"Boy, you really have a way of warming people up, huh?"

"She's the best in the biz'." Sonic winked, arm slinging around the red faced pink hedgehog. "She even got Grumps over here to help us!"

"I really didn't do mu-."

"If you're going to save my town, I'd really like it to be sooner than later." Fink hurried.

"You really know how to make guests feel welcome." Sticks snarked.

"That's okay! We've probably overstayed anyway- it'll be best Eggman doesn't find out we visited." Amy chirped, hooking arms with the badger before leading the way.

"Thank you for letting us take the Chaos Emerald." Tails acknowledged.

Through the towering trees and thick greenery, Sonic soon complained, "I'm not happy with letting Eggman still have one."

"Better than two." Shadow countered.

"I have a feeling we'll be returning soon." Blaze noted.

"And hey, we have two now!" Amy assured.

Sticks' eye ridges furrowed. "Yeah, how'd you guys get the purple one anyway?"

Shadow glanced at Silver and Blaze. "We had a bit of help."

—————

"You weren't meant to come out of it alive."

To say Shadow was in a sour mood would be an...understatement. He didn't appreciate a couple of strangers mentioning his past in brutal detail, whilst questioning his entire existence (he'd done that plenty himself, thank you very much). Still, he stressed he'd like to visit Tails (and although vague on why) for the fox may prove...helpful. However, Silver had insisted they visit the young inventor once they've collected one of the Chaos Emeralds.

"Now hun, we're willing to help but we don't know where any of them are." Rouge pointed out.

"Sometimes I forget how late you guys are to this. In the other timelines you guys always seem to know about them." Silver sighed.

"It seems we're doing a lot of things differently." Shadow almost grumbled, arms crossed.

"You two don't happen to know where any of them could be, do you?"

Silver sunk. "Sorry, no. I-I mean ignoring the absolute disaster that my future is, our visits to some of the other timelines have been brief. We've only rarely laid eyes on them."

"And Sol doesn't have them at all." Blaze added.

"Well. That makes this harder."

"Don't lose hope yet." Shadow cut in, pulling his Ark file close and flipping through the pages.

"What're you looking for?" Silver wondered.

"The Professor mentioned the Chaos Drives he implanted into my blood derived from the Chaos Emeralds. He must mention their locations somewhere."

"Hun." Rouge squeezed her friends shoulder. "I don't mean to sound insensitive but...Gerald spent the research part of his life in Space. How could he know where they were?"

"I don't-." And the Ultimate Lifeform smacked his finger onto a page. "Explain that, then."

Rouge neared to read, "With...outside assistance I believe I've found the missing piece to my problem. With this, I can cure her. He's given me a Chaos Emerald and with it, I can reverse any disease of my desire. He said he found it within G.U.N's base- not even they seemed aware of it. More so on their premises than within their walls, but it rests in my hands now. This will work. I know it will."

"Who was the extra help?" Blaze questioned.

Shadow's eyes, previously screwed shut, slowly opened as he took a deep breath. "I'm not sure. Gun made it very clear only family members could visit. I doubt Eggman, at the time, would understand what to look for if given such an assignment."

"Well until we find that out, where was this base?" Silver inquired. "There's a chance the Chaos Emerald isn't there, but it's a good start."

Rouge shifted. "From what Gerald describes, sounds like we're heading to Prison Island."

———

Silver had been reeling over how glorious Mobius appeared. He'd never seen trees before. His Mentor had described them of course, on the rare occasion he'd open up about his life prior to meeting the albino hedgehog, but laying his cube contacts upon them was superiorly different. However, there was still an eerie familiarity with the downpour and cracking thunder.

It confused him all the more as to why this worlds beloved hero would...catastrophically end it all. Didn't he sacrifice his freedom, safety and even sanity to protect it? Didn't he love Mobius?

"This storm makes the journey much more difficult."

Silver jumped, whipping around to see Shadow standing close behind, arms crossed but watching in curiosity. Over Great Mobocean, the sky was murky, violent and dark and the waves far below ferociously crashed against each other to match. The snowy hedgehog had been observing through a little side window of one of G.U.N's helicopters, courtesy of Rouge who presently occupied the cockpit. Blaze perched within the main shuttle with him, on the opposing side and occasionally eyed a neighbouring Omega.

"Right." Silver awkwardly replied.

"Why did you ask for him?"

He turned to face Shadow completely. "Who?"

"Sonic. When you two arrived. Why?"

He squirmed. "Well...I-I mean who wouldn't, right? Sonic's always someone you want to have on your side."

"I...suppose. Yes."

Silver's eyes slimly narrowed. "Imagine someone like him against you."

Shadow sighed and much to the other's surprise settled beside him. "I don't have to. One, because Faker wouldn't betray Mobius. Two, because we've been enemies before."

He examined the stitched symbols on his gloves, resembling 'Promise'. "If what you say is true, it seems I forever will be Sonic's enemy at some point in our lives. Personal or otherwise. Here, I took some very important things from him."

Silver's ears dipped. "Shadow I didn't-."

"But, he will forever forgive me. Deserved or very much not- he will. That's who he is. You challenge his character yet many have already tried. I don't think he even cares. He'll keep going because that's just who he is." Red and glass eyes looked to the window, up at the sky.

"View him as an enemy. Or don't. Maybe you see the more grey part of him. It won't change what he does."

"For his rival you seem to think of him highly."

Shadow scoffed. "I respect him. I don't like that being challenged. Besides I...." His gaze dropped to the sea.

"I realised he's been fulfilling Maria's Promise years before I was released. To ensure that keeps going, I'll do the next best thing and make sure he doesn't pull a stupid move on us."

Silver found himself more conflicted. If Sonic's biggest rival would defend him, how blind was everyone to the Blue Blur's inevitable betrayal? His eyes found Blaze's and he reminded himself of the possible costs. They- she'd lost too much already. They couldn't again.

"May I ask you something else?"

Silver met the Ultimate Lifeform beside him, noting his more solemn posture as he watched his Air shoes. "Sure."

"About Maria. Do I...do I ever save her?" Only then did the albino hedgehog notice the other's misty eyes.

"The shortest visit to a timeline I made. You pushed her into that capsule. You stayed behind-."

"But it fell apart after, didn't it?"

"If you believe what I say about Time Travel, yeah. I'm sorry-."

"Don't be. Missing her is an honour- it means there was something beautiful before." And Shadow, albeit sadly, smiled.

"She seemed to have really cared about you, Shadow. I-I'm sure she's really proud. When she di-."

"Don't tell me it had some meaningful purpose. She was a kid and death shouldn't only matter when there's a supposed reason. What, do the deaths without one mean less? Is there even anything that can count as a reason?" And he stood.

"What angers me most about her death was how it wasn't even her disease that took her. I'm always left thinking, what if I had more time or about the other universe in which I do save her, but for once I wonder- why not this one?"

"If you keep circling around that, how can you move forward?" Silver rose.

Shadow cracked a miniscule smile. "I could ask you the same thing. Which is my point. I believe part of me knew she was always going to break, but it didn't stop me from spending the time to keep her beautiful. If Sonic really could be as dangerous as you seem to believe, I won't back down from trying to rewrite that either."

—————

The first thing Silver did on Prison island was remove his rectangular contacts, almost hissing out how much brighter the colours were. In his timeline, such devices were given to those fortunate enough to dim the blinding hues of the flames (being a Time Travel Apprentice, he was in such a gifted position).

Prison Island had clearly once been a terrific and powerful place, but something had reduced it to the brink of utter collapse. What unnerved Silver most was how he wasn't even sure what that event could've been. They had landed in a once fruitful jungle, yet all that stood were bare, tall and bendy trees. Gross vines dangled over the few branches they had, but apart from the squelches of green water- it was deadly silent.

"How will we track the Chaos Emerald down?" He asked, nose scrunching up at the pungent stench of a nearby acid pond.

"We won't bother with the main part of the base. I haven't been informed of anything inside there." Rouge shrugged. "Besides, Gerald didn't seem to think G.U.N was aware of it. When the Ark fell, I doubt they learned of it after."

Shadow examined and stretched his fingers. "Do you think my connection to them will be useful?"

Blaze hummed. "I...find myself drawn to...powerful objects when near. You may be the same."

There was a low glint in Rouge's eyes. "Powerful objects? Like what?"

"Nothing of your concern."

"Hmph."

"Do you think you can feel them, Shadow?" Silver inquired.

Red and glass eyes swept over golden bracelets. "Without my inhibitors to control my powers, I might."

"But you will slowly drain yourself." Omega protested. "You already get tired when using too much."

Shadow slowed to a stop, meeting stacked metal and concrete walkways covered in moss, cracks and groans. Pipes leaked and gaping holes poured neon green liquid down further than even he could see. Lights flickered and hummed and boxes piled onto each other had long started to rot.

"If we get this Chaos Emerald, it will be worth it."

"Usually I don't bother trying to talk you out of this sort of thing, but-." Rouge started.

"Then don't." The Ultimate Lifeform snapped his inhibitors off and immediately everything felt like it was almost on fire.

Even Blaze's eyes were wide, a familiar spooked gaze evident beneath, but she didn't hesitate to follow the dark hedgehog. He collected a few rings on his way and slid smoothly across some metal fences. Silver and Rouge twirled from above, winding past hanging vines and ducking beneath stretching pipes. Omega propelled himself forward via jets in his back and was surprised to see Blaze keep pace with Shadow- behind but close enough.

Eventually they reached a tremendous, thick steel door and Shadow stumbled- eyes fluttering. Rouge was swiftly at his side and despite his protests to Chaos Spear at the door, Omega offered to simply shoot the place down.

"Wait! I can do this." Silver suggested, arms wide and hands glowing. "Are you sure it's in here?"

"I-I'm feeling this...pull. It has to be." Shadow rasped, snapping his inhibitors back on with Rouge's scowl.

Although nothing occurred for a moment, Silver began to sweat and soon the door started to bend in on itself. It cried and screeched, but the albino hedgehog managed to bring it to the ground in a cyan wave.

The room within was massive, even with a sunken ceiling, dangling and sparking lights and toppled over machines. The group wondered in to examine the boxes and crates amidst the mess, but one soon stood out to Shadow.

With a label "Ark" he assumed this was as good as any other lead to where the Chaos Emerald could be. Besides, with Silver soon glancing over his shoulder with a magnetised stare, he drove a Chaos Spear into the side and snapped the lid off.

A flash of purple and warmth swept over the pair- almost catching them in a trance. Shadow had never been a witness to such...power. The closest thing he could compare it to was whatever Eggman had used on Christmas Island.

Could it possibly have been...?

"Ooooh! Fits my aesthetic don't you think?" Rouge hummed, scooping the first Chaos Emerald up.

"They aren't for us." Silver argued.

"I know that. But I can...look after it myself."

"We came here to look for it- not steal it. Let's bring it to Tails."

Rouge pouted. "You two aren't very fun. I'm keeping it with me for the journey, at least."

"I'm not so sure." Blaze's eyes narrowed.

"Oh come on, hun. I'm Commander now! I'm much more responsible."

"I have an idea." Omega disrupted, snatching the emerald and opening a slot in his chassis- tucking the jewel inside.

Shadow's attention further wondered from the groups argument, only coming back to Mobius when a slightly unsure, but gentle, hand shook his shoulder.

"Are you alright?"

He was partly expecting to see Rouge at his side, but instead discovered Blaze and he found himself flinching. He crouched and pulled a few items from the box.

"It's...strange to see some of the Ark's history here. They wanted no memory of that place- so why reserve this?" He waved a photograph he recalled being on the side-lines for. A round grinning boy, similar to the Professor, was though.

"Your file mentioned Abraham was friends with Maria- maybe he couldn't part with it all neither."

"A friend wouldn't betray you. He may have been at some point, but not then. Just because he didn't...didn't understand me."

Blaze carefully knelt at his side. "He was a boy- not that I excuse his actions. But it's something to consider. When you awoke, angry and confused, you were given grace. She would want you to do so for him, I'm sure."

"I really want to scold you for speaking as if you know, but it sounds like you and Silver do."

The cat hummed and watched her fingerless gloves, displaying the burn marks similar to around her eye and slithering up her arms. "I do...understand. There's been moments in my life when I wished to burn the world in rage. I've wanted to set it aflame in the name of revenge. But...someone taught me there was another way."

"Silver?"

Blaze smiled. "Not quite." Glassy yellow eyes met red and glass. "My world's Sonic."