Shadow the Hedgehog

> **I have no doubt. All this time, I was told I was the Ultimate Lifeform, but, it was all a delusion of grandeur. The true Ultimate Lifeform is long since dead and I am but a pale imitation. But, from the original came many more. Aleena, Sonic, Sally, Sonia, Manic, Silver. All of you are the TRUE Ultimate Lifeforms** - Shadow's speech to Sonic's Family
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**Shadow the Hedgehog** is a character in Sonic X: Heroes Forever. He's the titular main antagonist in the Shadow Saga and a heroic supporting character afterwards.

## History

Fifty years ago, a top-secret project known as "Project: Shadow" began on the Space Colony ARK. Led by Professor Gerald Robotnik, it was a government-sanctioned initiative to create "the Ultimate Lifeform," an immortal being that Gerald hoped could be used to cure his granddaughter, Maria. After creating the prototype, Gerald was able to successfully create the finalized creature: Shadow the Hedgehog.

Once brought to life, Shadow immediately befriended Maria, whose friendship eased the painful experiments he went through, as well the racism he faced. But, it was not to be, as the ARK was raided by G.U.N. leading to the death of many, including Maria. Gerald gave into madness and brainwashed Shadow to fulfill his revenge.

## Personality

Shadow is a loner. He doesn't like to talk and tends to be rude to others and insults his enemies. However, he does seem to have some good and sense of right in him, thanks to an old friend.

Since Maria was reborn, Shadow has slowly began to soften up to others. That being said, he does wander alone as he's been alone for 50 years.

## Powers & Abilities

* **Speed**: Shadow has superhuman speed, thanks to the thrusters on his shoes.
* **Power**: Shadow has superhuman strength.
* **Chaos Energy Manipulation**: Shadow can manipulate Chaos Energy with ease.
* **Regeneration**: It's shown that Shadow can grow back body parts, but, it takes up energy.
* **Telepathic Link**: Shadow has a telepathic link with Maria.
* **Super Form**: With 50 Power Rings and the seven Chaos Emeralds, Shadow can go into his Super State, where all his normal abilities are enhanced by tenfold.
* **Hyper Form**: When he's in his Super Form and removes his Inhibitor Rings, Shadow can go into his Hyper Form, where his Super form's abilities are made much more powerful.
* **Chaos Form:** When he removes his inhibitor rings, Shadow can go into his Chaos Form, where his normal attacks are made much more powerful.
* **No Inhibitor Rings**: When he removes his Inhibitor Rings, this can give Shadow a stronger boost in power.

## Techniques

* **Chaos Control**: Shadow can preform Chaos Control with one Emerald.
* **Chaos Spear**: Shadow creates a spear of Chaos Energy and throws it.
* **Chaos Blast**: Shadow builds up Chaos Energy in his body and releases it, creating an explosion.
* **Chaos Punch**: Shadow fill his hand with Chaos Energy and punches his foe.
* **Chaos Upper**: Shadow builds up Chaos Energy in his fist and backhands the enemy.

## Equipment

* **Inhibitor Rings**: Shadow has 4 inhibitor rings on his body, one on either wrist and one on either ankle.
* **Air Shoes**: An Upgrade Item gifted from Gerald. They allow Shadow to perform the Light Speed Dash.
* **Ancient Light**: Another Upgrade Item gifted from Gerald. It allows Shadow to perform the Light Speed Attack.
* **Flame Ring**: Yet another Upgrade Item from Gerald. It allows Shadow to perform a Fire Somersault and destroy metal.

## Weaknesses

* **No Inhibitor Rings**: While Shadow does get a stronger boost in power due to a lack of Inhibitor Rings, this does burn Shadow's energy much faster and he can pass out if he's not careful. He also burns rings much faster in his Hyper Form than he does in his Super Form this way, and can tire out more quickly in his Chaos Form.

## Relationships

* **Sonic**: Shadow used to find Sonic to be a disappointment in combat and he believes Sonic is trying to impersonate him. That being said, when he heard Sonic pulled off Chaos Control with a fake Emerald, he started to be impressed with his skills. When it came to the fight with the Finalhazard, Shadow acknowledges Sonic and his living family as the true ultimate life forms, showcasing Shadow's full respect for the blue blur. Now, their arguments amount to nothing more than playful banter.
* **Maria**: The most important figure in Shadow's life, a sister figure to him, and the only one Shadow opened up to 50 years ago. When she was killed, he vowed to avenged her and keep the promise she ask him to do (Although, he wanted to destroy the world due to brainwashing, but, was convinced by Amy, Chris, Hope, and Abraham not to). After she was revived as a hedgehog, Shadow kept his promise not to kill anyone, even if they're evil. He’s also a bit overprotective of Maria, not allowing her to eat too many cookies despite the fact she can’t get cavities at all and restricting what she sees on Google.
* **Gerald**: Shadow's creator. Shadow looked up to him as a father, though one of his memories is Shadow begging Gerald to not do something. It's revealed that Gerald has tampered with Shadow's memories, but, has left some of his real ones intact so he could eventually remember his true promise.
* **Rouge**: Shadow was untrusting of Rouge at first and only went back to the vault to get the Chaos Emeralds. However, after the talk about the Biolizard, Shadow has started to listen to her concerns regarding his memories. When he came back from the past, Shadow helps her to rescue her mother and now he's working at G.U.N. with her. Shadow was also the first one willing to risk his life for a Time Wish for Rouge just so she could have a happy birthday and console her when she was upset about her dad never coming. After a surprising confession from Rouge that she is in love with him, they start going out.

## Differences to his Sonic X, games, and Archie comics counterpart

* In the real Sonic X, Shadow's brainwashing by Gerald was a lot more vague. Here, his memories show up based on his color he's glowing: red for fake memories by Gerald and blue for his real memories. It also shows his brainwashing in detail.
* Shadow is Silver's great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather. In the games, it's never shown they are related. He isn't a clone of Sonic's great-grandfather Terios, either.
* As Shadow didn't fall to Earth, he won't have amnesia in the future.
* Shadow is a loner, but, is more playful than he's shown to be in Sonic X or the games. He's more like his Archie counterpart. This may be in part to him saving Maria, which also didn't happen in the games, anime, or comics.
* After Adventure 2, Shadow forms Team Dark with Rouge and Omega and in Sonic X, he was briefly on Eggman's side in the Metarex Saga. In this series, Shadow has started working with Rouge, Hope, Payback, Topaz, and Maria at G.U.N.

## Gallery

Shadow using Chaos SpearsSuper ShadowChaos ShadowHyper Shadow
## Appearances

* **Season 2:** Episode 33 (Does not speak), Episode 34, Episode 35, Episode 36, Episode 37, Episode 38, Episode 39, Episode 40, Episode 41, Episode 44, Episode 45, Episode 46, Episode 47, Episode 48
* **Specials:** Special 3 (Both parts)
* **One-Shots:** One-shot 3, One-Shot 5, One-Shot 8 (Mentioned)
* **Shard's Journey:** Episode 9 (Seen in photographs, not named), Episode 10 (Mentioned, not named)
* **The Gamma Files:** Episode 17
* **Crossovers:** Crossover 3
* **Movies:** Movie 1 (Mentioned)

## Trivia

* In Sonic Heroes, Shadow was just a Speed-Type.
* It's confirmed Shadow is a clone of Terios, who is Sonic's great-grandfather. This hints they are distantly related.
* Shadow glows different colors depending on his mood and depending on what memories are coming to him at this time. This may be a reference to his Blue and Red gauges in Shadow's self titled game.
	+ Red - Anger, Evil, Vengeful; fake memories implanted by Gerald when he went insane.
	+ Blue - Kind, Good, Hopeful; real memories of his past.
* Shadow is the first character to have Upgrade Items identical to another character, specifically, Sonic with the Ancient Light and Flame Ring.
* Shadow's also the first character to have a Hyper Form, despite the fact he never had one in the games.
* Shadow is currently wandering the area, as he's been alone for 50 years and is used to it.