Shadow the Hedgehog

## Ultimate Lifeform

"I am Shadow the Hedgehog, protector of all life on Earth. That is the promise I made to Maria. No matter how many years may pass... that will never change."

### Occupation

G.U.N. Agent

**Shadow the Hedgehog** is a major protagonist from **Sonic the Hedgehog.**

## Canon

### Creation

The circumstances of Shadow's creation -- the artifical Ultimate Lifeform -- are messy, a combination of several vying factions, some unaware of each other's influence, all for their own ends.

Project Shadow was first envisoned as a government project to create an immortal superweapon. They commissioned Professor Gerald Robotnik, the grandfather of the man now known as Dr Eggman, to create it. Gerald, however, did not accept at first, not until his granddaughter Maria came down with a terminal illness. An idea struck, then: if Gerald could create an immortal being, then could he not use that same knowledge to save his granddaughter? Hence, he set to work.

In his prior research, Gerald had taken an interest in the ancient lore of the Echidna Clan, from their prophecies to their downfall. This was the perfect basis for his Ultimate Lifeform: the mural of a divine beast made of water, containing godlike power, inspired his first steps. He created the Artificial Chaos, and then, the Biolizard, the prototype for the Ultimate Lifeform. But creating an immortal being, even for a man like Gerald, was far from easy. The Biolizard was unsustainable, mighty and capable of controlling chaos energy as the prophecies had foretold, but ultimately, far from immortal, needing heavy life support to survive at all.

Instead, Gerald chose a different approach. Another prophecy: a super-powered hedgehog imbued with chaos energy, was the model for his second attempt. Even still, though it was progress, it was not enough: Gerald found himself pleading for the help of Black Doom, leader of a genocidal race of aliens known as the Black Arms who pass by Earth roughly every fifty years. A deal was made: Black Doom would offer his blood as an immortal being, but in exchange, he demanded the seven Chaos Emeralds, to be received when he next appeared. Gerald, desperate, accepted, but with a plan: he would create a superweapon -- the Eclipse Cannon -- capable of destroying the Black Comet entire, and put the duty of using it onto Project Shadow.

Hence was Project Shadow completed, and Shadow the Hedgehog came into being, the culmination of three opposing factions, all in one being.

### Life on the ARK

Shadow, completed, remained above the planet aboard the Space Colony ARK until needed. In the meantime, Gerald would continue to experiment with the hedgehog's consent: immortality had been achieved, but how could it be given to an already living being? Shadow, who had made fast friends with Maria -- teaching him much about the world below and treating him with true kindness -- happily accepted to help save her life.

The government, however, soon caught on to the presence of the Eclipse Cannon aboard the ARK, and came to distrust Gerald. Fearing what he could do should he continue to be free, and wanting both the cannon and the Ultimate Lifeform for themselves, they staged an ambush on the ARK. There were few survivors of the onslaught, an effort to ensure no word could ever get out on what was happening aboard the space colony. Shadow witnessed Maria's death before his own eyes, but was spared in her final action to send him down to Earth, with one more request: 'Give them a chance to be happy.'

Though he and Gerald survived, they were both taken captive into Prison Island.

Gerald, driven mad by rage, manually overrode Shadow's own memories; filling him with an unending desire for revenge, and sabotaging the Eclipse Cannon. Should anyone ever be foolish enough to desire the same power that would have Maria killed again... the world would pay the ultimate price by Shadow's own hands.

### Three Black Noises

Dr Eggman, fifty years later, found himself with the diary of his grandfather, and soon came to learn of the Ultimate Lifeform himself. Raised on tales of Gerald's genius, he had an idea: if he were ever to conquer the world, the aid of the Ultimate Lifeform would come much easier. So he raided Prison Island alone, broke the seal... and once more, Shadow the Hedgehog awakened.

Shadow quickly took action: Dr Eggman sought to take over the world? Then a display of power is what they need. He asked him to gather the Chaos Emeralds and head for the ARK, and indeed, manipulated all around him to see it happen. His first objective was to steal one himself; and in doing so, he encountered a strange sight. A blue hedgehog, looking just like him... but a trivial manner, ultimately, and soon Shadow made his proper escape with the Chaos Emerald in tow.

Later, he returned to Prison Island, now accompanied by one Rouge the Bat, to reclaim three more Chaos Emeralds and put the island to rest. It was here he again encounted the blue hedgehog, and now, they were prepared to butt heads. Shadow found himself impressed by the display, but soon had to make his escape: the island was still set to explode, and with Rouge locked away, Shadow had to retrieve the Chaos Emeralds -- and save Rouge -- before it was too late. He succeeded, in the nick of time, but he didn't bother sticking around to hear any compliments. There was still work to be done, and with Dr Eggman's display of power in blowing up half of the moon with the cannon and his demands made, the hour was nigh.

Aboard the ARK, just minutes before the Eclipse Cannon was set to fire, Shadow received word of an unknown figure headed straight towards the cannon. It fell to him to intercept, unwilling to let his opportunity go to waste... and once more did he encounter the blue hedgehog, who finally gave him a name: Sonic the Hedgehog, the only being Shadow could call his equal. Once more they went head to head, winner takes all, and at the end of the day... the cannon was ready.

Hence did Gerald's final plan come to be: the cannon would not fire. No, the ARK itself, with the power of the Chaos Emeralds, would head to Earth, destroying everything on contact. At last, Shadow had received his revenge. Now all there was to do... was wait. He watched as all those others on the ARK -- Sonic included -- set out to try and stop it. A hopeless endeavour.

That was until he was approached by Amy Rose, who had shown him the first true kindness he had felt in fifty years: and it was then he remembered everything. Maria's true wish, the promise he made... and everything he had done. In that one moment, he turned around, and went to put an end to Gerald's final plan himself.

There was only one obstacle in the way: the prototype of the Ultimate Lifeform, the Biolizard, blocking the way forward. Shadow recognized it: he had seen images of it prior, in Rouge's attempt to demotivate him, but ultimately for naught. Shadow distracted it while Sonic & Knuckles the Echidna put a stop to the Chaos Emeralds and returned the ARK to stable orbit... but the Biolizard, too, was in on the plan, and was Gerald's last resort. Attaching itself to the ARK, it forcefully pulled it down, unwilling to let it stay in orbit.

In that moment, there was only one more thing left to do. Harness the power of the Chaos Emeralds to become *Super Shadow,* join up with *Super Sonic* and put an end to Gerald's revenge once and for all.

They succeeded, and together, they used Chaos Control on the greatest scale the world had seen... but in doing so, the inexperienced Shadow wore himself out, and fell to Earth once more, presumed dead, as he made one last call to Maria. His promise was fulfilled. That was all that mattered.

### Team Dark

Rouge, ever the treasure hunter, soon decided to target Eggman personally.

She raided a secret base, found its innermost depths, and accessed the secrets within... and found herself face to face with Shadow, sealed inside a capsule. Shocked, she immediately went to set him free... before immediately being accosted by E-123 Omega, one of Dr Eggman's greatest creations, assigned to protect Shadow and prevent his potential escape. Shadow immediately sprung to action, instinctively protecting Rouge before she broke up the fight... and then he revealed he doesn't remember anything before being woken up.

Now with amnesia, Shadow chose to find out who he was, and teamed up with Rouge and Omega to confront Eggman to find out. He unravelled one thing and one thing only: he may not be the real Shadow, only one in a line of lifelike androids designed to replicate him. Still, at the end of the day, the Eggman they confronted was not the one who knew the truth at all: it was Metal Sonic in disguise, dispatched by Team Sonic in time.

### Never Turn Back

Lost and wandering, Shadow remembered one thing even through his doubts: the death of a young girl before his very eyes.

And then, just like that, the Black Arms returned once more. Black Doom approached Shadow personally, reminded him of his promise to receive the Chaos Emeralds, and then set his hivemind to ravage the planet and its people without a shred of remorse.

Even without memories, Shadow realized: this cannot stand. He would receive the Emeralds for his own ends to bring his memory back, and he would stop the Black Arms all the same. He travelled much of the world, then, aided by many different people he had seen during his previous venture, until he travelled back to the ARK itself to reach the Black Comet.

His memories returned as he held all of the Chaos Emeralds, and though Black Doom struck then to paralyse all others there, Shadow pulled himself back up and resisted everything the creature threw his way. It was then that a message was sent throughout the world: one of Gerald's last lucid thoughts, and a reminder of what Shadow had to do. Stop the Black Arms... and use the Eclipse Cannon to destroy the Black Comet. And becoming Super Shadow once more... that's just what he did, putting his past behind him once and for all and moving on with his promise to Maria in his heart.

### G.U.N.

For all of his conflicts with the government agency, Shadow had put them aside, as had they. It was a treacherous partnership, at first: but with Rouge and Omega at his side again, Team Dark found an arrangement that worked for them. Information and a place to stay, and otherwise the freedom to do as is necessary.

### The Future

Both his past, and his present, had been decided. As though fate itself would have it out for him, Shadow now came confronted by his future. After receiving the Sceptre of Darkness, a relic of unknown power, Shadow and Rouge went to return it to headquarters... but instead they were faced by Dr Eggman, demanding the sceptre... and in the end, the confrontation ended with the sceptre broken, and out rose a figure: Mephiles the Dark, looking like Shadow's own shadow, a twisted parody of what he once was.

As Eggman retreated, the dark entity sent the two to the future, to show Shadow what was in store for him: a world ravaged by the beast Iblis, and Shadow himself sealed away. The Ultimate Lifeform, powerful as he is, was blamed for the apocalypse, and punished in kind. For once, Shadow was given pause: but the timely arrival of Omega helped him fend off Mephiles and return to the present once more.

When returning to the present, he soon instead headed to the past, after assisting Sonic in escaping from a new foe: Silver the Hedgehog. Though they had only just met, Silver soon learned Chaos Control, and the two used this technique in tandem -- albeit unintentionally -- to create a portal to the past. It is there where they discovered the truth of Mephiles' origin: one half of the sun god Solaris, sealed away by Shadow himself in the past, leaving him to fester for ten years in misery.

On once again arriving in the present, Shadow received news of Mephiles' whereabouts, and headed there to confront him, where Omega was already engaged in combat with him. Though the dark being escaped, he did not do so without having informed Omega of one harsh truth: in the future, the one who sealed Shadow away was Omega himself. Again, Shadow was rattled, unsure of how to take what seems like a causeless betrayal... but the promise of Rouge to always stay by his side grounded them, and they chose to confront Mephiles one last time.

Finding him, Mephiles once again taunted Shadow: but his resolve was clear. Unleashing his true power for one short moment, Shadow made his declaration: even if the world would choose to go against him... he would fight as he always has.

Mephiles retreated, then, and engaged in his final plan: the killing of Sonic to release Iblis from the woman he was sealed within, and to become one with him once more, creating an apocalypse both spacial and temporal. The only way to kill the rebirthed Solaris would be to do so across all of time at once: but such a feat would be impossible without Sonic.

And yet... with the Chaos Emeralds, miracles could become reality. In a final ditch effort to save reality itself, all those remaining fought to retrieve the Chaos Emeralds, bringing Sonic back to life, and in turn, the two of them, now joined by Silver, returned to their Super states to confront Solaris and put an end to it once and for all, Shadow once again confronting his future and settling his place in life.

After all was said and done, and time reverted, Shadow lost his memory of much of what happened during this time. But one thing remained in his memory: the resolve to fight on and fulfil his promise to Maria no matter what it is may come.

### Other Ventures

Though these are the most significant of Shadow's stories, they are not the only events he has had a major part in. From simple competitive events to the rise of the Gizoid Emerl, Shadow remained a major player in events across the world both between and after that which has been described here.

## Pre-Paradise

For a small time, though Shadow was at peace. Though he had occasional duties, as far as he was concerned, things were quiet. Indeed, waking up in a strange place was quite the change of pace.

## Plot Involvement

Upon arriving in the hotel, Shadow immediately set to work investigating. Quickly he met up with his old-time friend and rival Sonic the Hedgehog, and though the two split off shortly after, they remained in contact. Though he had conversations with many both in public and via the chatroom, his initial investigation came to a simple conclusion: in order to find answers, he must first find the staff.

In doing so, however, he sensed a surge of chaos energy. Suspicious, he went to investigate: and it was then he was presented with the shock of his life. Maria Robotnik -- his old, long dead friend -- returned, in a form not unlike Shadow himself. Not one to get too excited, Shadow quickly concluded that there was no chance this could be the Maria of his own world... but Maria is Maria, and Shadow chose to keep her close and safe.

When the opportunity came soon after to meet with a member of the staff -- the aggressive Galaax -- he took it, even though the offer was not initially presented to him, to come ever closer to some semblance of an answer. Much to his dismay however he learned little: Galaax was far too careful with his words, unwilling to disclose the slightest bit of information, and so Shadow simply left, abandoning the prospect of getting answers from him in particular.

With a goal in mind to protect Maria, and his investigation hitting a dead end, Shadow shifted focus for a time. For now, he would help her adjust to the near uncontrollable influx of chaos energy within, and sideline active investigation. He would, though, still take any leads that appear.

In taking a visit to Maria as always, Shadow found himself presented with a problem. Some destructive form of Metal Sonic -- not yet known to him as Metallix -- was accosting Maria, demanding a Chaos Emerald. Shadow, the possibility of losing Maria again enraging him, immediately took action. Unprepared, however, and coming to realize that even a Chaos Blast would barely harm the machine, Shadow chose to retreat once he was certain Maria was safe.

And just as he finally had a proper enemy, he was once again taken in his sleep and presented with Galaax once more. This time, the man came with a threat: and Shadow had already lost his patience with people who would threaten Maria. They went to engage in combat, and then... just as Shadow had claimed victory, an ambush came. Giegue -- calling himself Giygas -- struck Galaax through the chest, killing him almost immediately following Shadow beating him halfway there, claiming it was a neccessity to avoid any further issues. The two of them were of the same kind, and though Shadow's interest was piqued, there was no room for him to question it before they parted ways.

Shadow went on to inform the people of the turn of events before briefly choosing to go into hiding to avoid detection from the staff, just in case they got any ideas. His efforts would be hindered if he were to constantly be hassled, and for the time being, he cannot allow for that.

## Character Relationships

* *Sonic the Hedgehog -* The titular protagonist of **Sonic the Hedgehog**. One of Shadow's old-time friends, and the first person he met upon arriving in the hotel. Shadow carries the same genuine respect for Sonic as he has for a long time now, along with enjoying their brief bouts of competition as one of the only people who can keep up with him at all. Though Shadow is rare to show it, he truly does consider Sonic a friend.
* *Metallix* - A character from **Super Mario Bros Z*.***. As far as Shadow is concerned, he is a make of Metal Sonic from another world, annoying, and most importantly incredibly dangerous, able to survive a Chaos Blast at point blank range. He must be dealt with at the earliest opportunity.
* *Maria Robotnik* - Another character from **Sonic the Hedgehog**. Though not the Maria Shadow was friends with before, being from a different world and having taken a different form imbued with chaos energy to achieve some level of longevity, Shadow respects her as the same girl he once knew all the same. To threaten her is a good way to push Shadow's buttons -- the *wrong* buttons, specifically.
* *Thanos -* A character from **Marvel Comics** - this specific incarnation hailing from the **Marvel Cinematic Universe*.*** Shadow's encounter with him was both accidental and brief, however, in that short time he gained a noticeable respect for the man's thoughtfulness and composure, though he remains perhaps blissfully unaware of the titan's true goals.
* *Galaax -* An Original Character from the **Mother** series. Before Galaax's death at Giegue's hands, he and Shadow held a noticeable distaste for each other, beginning with their first meeting in which Shadow abandoned him and deemed him a waste of time, and ending with their confrontation in the arena, to which Shadow claimed victory before Giegue intervened and caused Galaax's death.
* *Giegue* - A character from the **Mother** series. Though their meeting following Galaax's death at Giegue's hands lasted barely a few moments, and Shadow was initially disgruntled, he quickly gained a certain intrigue and interest as to the nature of Giegue's kind, and the man himself.