𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙘 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚𝙝𝙤𝙜: 𝙉𝙤 𝙒𝙖𝙮 𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙚!

      Having made his decisions, Knuckles left Mad Carl's house and went in search of the necessary parts while Tails and Eggman worked on the blueprints. Sonic was the only one to come outside and bid him a temporary goodbye by waving at him. Then he went inside. Having examined the rest of the guests from other worlds, they nevertheless got along well with each other and hardly quarreled anymore. For example, Reflection, when communicating with Silver, no longer showed off and listened to his stories about how in the future, together with his faithful partner, Blaze tried to destroy Iblis. But whenever they destroyed him, he was always reborn and his native future in his universe, where he came from, remained post-apocalyptic. Tied up, Scourge and Fiona sat with Princess Alice, who watched the news on TV, where they talked about strange things that happened tonight in three different places. At the power plant, in the subway and on the beach. Moreover, witnesses stated that they saw Sonic, Tails and Knuckles themselves there. Chaos still held Metal Sonic and did not let him go, and Omega tried to interrogate him. But so far everything has been to no avail. Zavok didn’t think about anything. He just wanted to eat and drink, and Mad Karl, like a servant, brought him food. Tails and Eggman were drawing drawings on blank sheets of paper, and in the corner, near the window, Infinite and Mephiles stood, looking at the forest. By the way, they also got along well with each other. — It’s not bad here. So many possibilities. — says the demon. The jackal turns his gaze to him and asks: — Are you talking about this house in the village? — Yes Yes. I'm talking about her. Wonderful layout. There are many rooms. — Mephiles excused himself, and then told the truth. — No. I'm talking about their universe. I'm already starting to like it here. — You said that you are weakening here, losing your strength and slowly dying. — No, I said that on purpose. Otherwise, Sonic would not have felt sorry for me. — So you lied to him? — the jackal was surprised. — It was a white lie. I didn't want to die in this world at his hands. I was afraid that if he found out the truth, he would kill me. — Mephiles admitted honestly. — I like it in this universe. I would not want to return home, but would rather stay here. After all, this universe is even more beautiful than the one from which I came and which I previously wanted to destroy... But why did you come with us? — I have unfinished business. I want to return to my universe to finish what I started and take revenge on my Eggman for betraying me. In doing so, I used the Illusion Ruby to recreate evil clones of Sonic's archenemies. Except you. I didn’t know about your existence at all, because you never existed in my reality at all. — Really? — Mephiles did not believe Infinite’s words. — But Sonic won’t send any of us home until he finishes something here with each of us. Do you believe him? — I do not believe anyone. — answered the jackal, folding his hands on his chest. — How did you become like this? Will you tell me? — Previously, I was a single deity nicknamed Solaris. Back then I was still somewhat like an ordinary fire that burned for millions of years and never went out. Then some learned people found me and began to study me until, as a result, they awakened us. Then we were separated. My second self was infused... Into the body of one important person, like a vessel, and I became a black puddle, until the shadow of Shadow himself fell on me and I absorbed it. — explaining this, he pointed his hand at Shadow, who at that time was standing in the corner away from everyone, with his back turned. He wasn't interested in being with the others. Sonic approaches, noticing that he is the only one standing farthest from everyone — Shadow! — he turns to the black-scarlet and he, reluctantly, turns his gaze towards him. The truth doesn't answer anything. — I hope I’m not bothering you to think? I just would like to talk to you somewhere alone. Shadow initially refused, turning away. He didn't care about the blue hedgehog. — Well, don’t be stubborn. On the contrary, I am trying to help each of you. Don't you want to live when you get home? — Sonic asked and Shadow, sighing heavily, finally followed him into the street. At this time, Mephiles finished speaking to Infinite: — And then I became the way you all see me now. — What are you talking about? — the jackal didn’t believe him. — And I used to be Dr. Eggman’s experimental servant until he betrayed me.” Because of him I lost my second eye. — Yeah! We found what to lose due to the fault of people. — the demon grinned quietly. Sonic and Shadow went outside. Blue sat down on a bench next to the house. Shadow reluctantly did the same, still continuing to look angrily and gloomily, first at him, then at the ground. — And so!... Well, will you tell us in detail about yourself, who you are, where you are from, why you attacked me and how you became like this? — I don’t have to tell you about all this. — Shadow answers briefly, and Sonic bulges his eyes from such rudeness. — Don't you trust me? — I trust no one. — the serious hedgehog grumbled. — Let me guess?... It's after since... How did you lose your friend? — Sonic asked reluctantly, a little afraid that such a question might kill him. Shadow only raised his serious gaze to Sonic and looked at him menacingly without saying a word. — What was her name? Anna? Elsa? Merida? — Maria! — He answered him briefly and turned away. — So what happened to her?... What happened?... At first, the black one was silent for about a minute, until the blue one no longer despaired and lowered his head down, just like her. — Do you want to know this? — he asked at the same moment, without taking his eyes off the ground. Sonic slightly raises his head and turns his gaze to Shadow, after which he replies: — Yes. I'm just worried about you and trying to help. — You don’t need to help me! — Shadow stated sternly, looking up only towards the forest. — I don’t trust anyone at all and always work alone. — So why? I will understand everything and won’t pester you anymore if you tell me everything honestly. — Sonic barely restrained himself. so as not to accidentally yell at him. Then he again waited for him to answer. Shadow lowers his head and sighs heavily. Then he reluctantly begins to explain: — It seems you really don’t know who I am, fa... — he wanted to call Sonic a faker hedgehog at first, but noticing his serious look at such a word in advance and remembering what he explained to him, that he was not copying him at all and that they are completely different from each other in appearance and in character, he corrected himself, calling him by name: — Sonic... Fifty years ago... According to time in my universe... On the ARK colony, located in the orbit of a planet in space, there was an experiment was conducted to create a ultimate life form called “Project Shadow”... That is, me... I was created thanks to the hands of the great scientist Gerald Robotnik... Grandfather of Dr. Eggman, also known as Ivo Robotnik... — “I haven’t heard of such a person.” — Sonic thought in his mind, trying not to interrupt Shadow and listen to him carefully. ULF continued to explain: — I was tested on the colony, trying to find a cure for Gerald's daughter, who was sick with an incurable disease... She was my best... Faithful... And only friend... Who loved me with all his heart for who I am... Her name was Maria... — and then Shadow could no longer keep a stern and menacing look on his face. He finally became sad, holding back his tears with difficulty. — I loved her with all my heart... But then those nasty soldiers from G.U.N. came, captured our colony, arrested Jerold and killed her... They killed Maria... And they took me in a capsule to the base... Until someone found me Dr. Eggman didn’t release me so that I could help him take control of the colony, and at the same time complete Gerald’s revenge... To take revenge on all humanity for Maria... And for the professor too. At this point he finished his story and became gloomy again, and Sonic, having listened to him completely, began to feel sorry for him. At that moment, he again remembered his moment from childhood when he parted ways with Long Claw upon arriving on Earth. Before his eyes, Shadow even seemed almost like a copy of himself, only more serious and angry, which he himself could probably become. In this regard, both different-looking hedgehogs resembled friends with the same misfortune. Both lost close friends to those they considered sworn enemies. Only if Sonic’s enemies were previously considered echidnas, whom he himself would not mind taking revenge on, then for Shadow these are people from G.U.N. Sonic lightly raises his right palm and tries to place it on the black-scarlet hedgehog’s shoulder in order to feel sorry for him. However, he jerks his shoulders sharply, pushing away his touch. — Back off! Don't feel sorry for me! — he hissed through his teeth and continued to look at the ground. However, this had no effect on Sonic. Removing both hands, he decided to simply move away from him, sitting on the bench a little further away and spoke: — Shadow, I perfectly understand your inner pain. — You're lying. You don't know anything about me. — No, I know. The main thing is to listen to me and don’t interrupt me! — he immediately interrupted him, almost shouting. Shadow sighed and turned away, but continued to listen to him. — Listen! I also had a close friend who loved me and cared about me. Her name was Longclaw. She took care of me like a grandmother. I was about five years old then, approximately. Then, due to my stupidity, echidnas attacked us. They were trying to catch me so they could get my super speed powers. And Long Claw... — Sonic himself almost cried, but he could barely restrain himself. — She sacrificed herself trying to save me... The echidnas killed her, and I didn’t even have time to come back and help her. After that, I was left completely alone... I, too, like you, lost my close and beloved... And after that I, too, hated echidnas and wanted to take revenge on them if I suddenly met them again... One of them is Knuckles, with whom I encountered a long time ago, also tried to kill me, just as I did him. He remained almost the only one of his kind, while all the rest of his relatives from his tribe died out. However, he himself later saved my life when I almost died. He realized that Dr. Robotnik was manipulating him and came over to my side. Since then, I have forgotten about my thirst for revenge and forgiven all those echidnas because of which my grandmother died. I know what it’s like... To lose someone close and loved to you, and then to feel revenge on the one who killed him... But will having killed them all, will you be better than them after that?... — the question asked made her feel black the scarlet hegehog's eyes bulged, as if he had not expected such a question or had never thought about it himself. — You don’t need to take revenge on absolutely all people because your Maria died. After all, they are not to blame for this. Soldiers of G.U.N. are to blame for her death, but this does not mean that we must take revenge on absolutely all of humanity for this. After all, they don’t even know about Maria and about you too. They don’t even understand why you hate them so much and want to exterminate them all... After all, for them, you are just a soulless monster who just kills everyone without motivation, as they themselves think you are. And those soldiers, especially perhaps fifty years later, have already died, or they themselves have probably already realized what they have done and blame themselves for it. I realized all this in time, and now the question is, do you yourself realize the same thing that I realized? Just forgive all people already! Give them a second chance! The last words about chance suddenly made Shadow raise his head and remember something. At that moment, the black-scarlet immediately flashed before his eyes memories where Maria on the ARC colony says to him the same similar words: — Shadow, give people a chance! After these memories, he turns his gaze in surprise to Sonic, who at the same time was looking at him sadly. — Think about my words, Shad! — the blue hedgehog politely added, then got up from the bench and went back into the house, leaving the black and scarlet one alone on the street. He sat on the bench for a long time, thinking about Sonic’s words to him and this memory that he had just seen, not without the help of Sonic himself. — “Give people a chance?”

At the same time

      Sonic walked up to Terios and Silver. — Sorry! Sil... Ver... I hope you don't mind if I talk to Terios for now? — Okay, in general, I’ve already told him everything about myself, but he hasn’t told me anything yet. — the white hegehog answers and steps aside. He then turns to Sonic. — Sonic! — What? — You... I'm sorry for attacking you yesterday afternoon! I didn’t know that you were not the same Sonic from my world... In general, Terios will explain everything to you for me. I hope you're not mad at me for this? — asked Silver. — No. — Sonic waved goodbye to him and Silver went to Zavok, deciding to start a conversation with him. Sonic at this time began to talk with Terios. — So... — Silver, tried to save his future from a creature called Iblis. He went back in time to kill you in the past, because he thought that you were the trigger of this creature and he tried to kill you along with that creature in order to prevent it from appearing in the future and post-apocalepsis in his time. — Terios explained here. — A! I understand. Thank you, Terios. Listen, didn’t you have a shadow project in the ARC colony? — Sonic asked and Terios frowned, but still answered: — No. They only had one project. Project Terios. By the way, you look more like my clone who copies me. — Well, yes, I won’t argue with you. You and I really are alike. Only your fur is a little darker and you also have a scar. And this is the only thing that distinguishes you and me. Although no, we also have different characters. — explained the hedgehog. — Did you chat with that crazy black hedgehog? — Terios asked suspiciously. — He's not crazy. He just came from another universe, exactly like yours. It’s just that in his universe, instead of your project, there was a shadow project, where they created him instead of you. Simply put, your worlds with him are very similar in events, but differ in the appearance of you, different hedgehogs in appearance. You both call yourselves ultimate life forms and you both had a close friend, Maria. This is fine. — Sonic added and Terios immediately grabbed him by the throat, lifting him up. — Don’t you dare say that name in front of me. You don't know what this name means to me. — No, I know. — Sonic replies hoarsely, trying to free himself from his grip. — I’ve already talked to Shadow about this topic. You both have the same heartache. But I can help you both deal with this. I, too, once experienced similar pain. I understand you perfectly. — No, you don't know anything about me, faker. I am a ultimate life form, and you... — he didn’t have time to finish when he was immediately hit in the head with a frying pan. Princess Alice hit him with that same frying pan, knocking out that hedgehog and thereby helping Sonic. — Are you okay? — she asked him worriedly. — Yes thank you. But I could handle it myself. I just wanted to talk to him, not fight. Well, thanks anyway. — the hedgehog politely thanked her, to which the princess smiled at him. Alice goes into the kitchen, and Sonic looks at her with a smile. At this moment, Crazy Karl approaches him and looks at him slyly, raising and lowering his eyebrows a couple of times. — Looks like someone has fallen in love? Sonic immediately came to his senses and began to wave it off: — Don't be stupid, Karl! She and I are different and cannot be together. I'm a hedgehog, and she's a human. Humans and animals cannot love each other and be a couple. I see her more as a friend than as a lover. — Sonic said the last phrase, also smiling and looking at her. At this moment, Knuckles bursts into the house, bringing with him a bunch of excess junk and iron debris. — Here! I've collected everything. What's next? — We finished everything too. — Eggman answers and shows, together with Tails, his latest paper with a complete drawing for their common invention.