Chapter 18 — Shadow's Choice
It had been a week since Arthur arrived in the world of Sonic and saved Shadow from a dangerous military operation. What began as an uneasy alliance had slowly transformed into something more—a quiet but powerful bond. During these seven days, they had trained together, eaten together, and talked about their pasts—at least, as much as Shadow was willing to reveal.
Shadow, who was known for his solitude and stoicism, had slowly begun to lower his guard. Arthur didn't try to force a friendship—he simply showed up, listened when needed, and fought with everything he had when the time came. That was enough for Shadow to begin trusting him, even if he didn't say so out loud.
Now, the two stood side by side atop a high cliff. The view stretched far across the land, bathed in golden-orange light as the sun dipped toward the horizon. A breeze swept over the rocky ledge, causing Shadow's crimson-tipped quills to flicker in the wind and Arthur's hair to whip against his forehead.
There was something sacred about that moment. Peaceful, yet charged with emotion. This wasn't just a farewell—it was a moment of choice, of destiny.
Arthur stood with his hands deep in his jacket pockets, his gaze locked on the slowly darkening horizon. For a moment, neither of them said a word. The only sounds were the distant rustling of trees below and the steady hum of the wind.
Then Arthur spoke, his voice calm and sincere.
"Shadow… this past week meant a lot to me. I've learned more than I expected—about you, about this world, and maybe even about myself. But now it's time for me to return to where I came from. My journey isn't finished yet."
Shadow's eyes, half-lidded, stayed on the horizon. He didn't answer right away. Arthur didn't rush him. He knew Shadow needed time to process things, to find the right words—not because he didn't care, but because words didn't always come easily for someone like him.
After a few more seconds of silence, Arthur turned fully toward him.
"I want to make you an offer," he said. "I know this world never truly embraced you. People fear what they don't understand, and you've had to carry the weight of that every day. But in my world… you might find something different. There, you wouldn't be seen as a threat or an experiment. You could be free. Free to be exactly who you are, without hiding or holding back."
Shadow finally shifted his gaze to Arthur, his red eyes meeting the boy's.
"You're asking me to walk away from everything I know," Shadow said, his voice quiet but steady.
"I'm not asking you to run away," Arthur replied. "I'm offering you a choice. Not as a savior, not as someone trying to fix your life—but as a friend. If you ever want a new beginning, you can come with me."
He extended a hand—not demanding, but inviting. The gesture hung in the air like a promise.
For a long moment, the world seemed to still. Even the wind seemed to quiet as Shadow stared at the outstretched hand. Then, slowly, he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, there was clarity and calm in his expression.
"I appreciate the offer, Arthur. Truly. You've shown me a kind of loyalty I haven't seen in a long time. But I can't leave yet. There are still things I don't understand about this place—about why I exist, why I was created the way I am. I feel like… I need to finish something here before I can begin something somewhere else."
Arthur nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"That's fair," he said.
Then, without hesitation, he held out his fist. Shadow stared at it for a moment, then smirked ever so slightly and bumped his own fist against it.
"Just be careful out there, my friend," Arthur added.
"I always am."
Their laughter was soft, but real. No bitterness. No regrets. Just two warriors parting ways with honor.
Arthur stepped back a few paces and raised his hand. In an instant, the air around them shimmered with power as he summoned his dimensional portal. A swirling vortex of light and energy opened behind him, casting shimmering reflections on the ground.
Before stepping through, Arthur turned to look at Shadow one last time.
"See you soon," he said, his voice carrying both hope and certainty.
Shadow didn't respond with words. He simply watched as Arthur stepped into the portal. The vortex closed behind him with a gentle hum, and then he was gone.
Shadow stood alone on the cliff, the last rays of sunlight painting his figure in gold and crimson. He stayed there for several minutes, letting the silence settle.
Then, with a soft breath, he whispered to the wind, "Goodbye, friend."
His eyes glowed red as he activated Chaos Control, and in a flash, he vanished.
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Back Home
The portal reopened in Arthur's bedroom. He stepped out and landed firmly on the soft carpet, blinking as he adjusted to the light. The familiar scent of his room, the posters on the wall, the books on the shelves—it all felt surreal after the week he had just lived through.
Before he could even take a deep breath, a voice rang out from the living room.
"Arthur! We just got back from the store with your writing supplies!"
It was his mother's voice. His father called out a second later.
"And we picked up that hardcover notebook you asked for!"
Arthur's face lit up. Everything was falling into place.
He made his way to his desk and saw the pile of fresh supplies—brand-new pens, colorful markers, neatly stacked notebooks, and a sleek tablet. He reached out and ran his fingers over the cover of the notebook, feeling the promise it held.
His eyes gleamed with excitement, and a mischievous grin spread across his face.
"Now… the plan to get rich begins."
He pulled out a pen, opened the notebook to the first page, and wrote the very first sentence of what would become the story of a lifetime.
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