Chapter Text
The crackling hadn't fully gone away.
That was the first thing Shadow had noted when walking around, searching for where the next emerald may lay.
When he concentrated on it long enough, he begun to note a special connection, similar to that of his Chaos energy. A familiar draw and tug, however this time it was to the pixelated nature of his being; as if he were tethered to something larger, almost like a hive-mind, save for the ability to warp and alter his thinking.
Experimenting, he paused in his venturing, lifting a stray hand and concentrating on the crackling. A thinly veiled and electric whisper responded. Something pulled back, urging him until he hesitantly started walking once more, increasing in pace until.
Snap.
He was somewhere else entirely, blinking around as the scarlet reverie sparked and faded from around him.
That was new.
Must be a side-effect of his current state.
Shadow glanced around, similar terrain surrounding him, however clearly different as he had moved further inland, away from the sheer drop of the island's edge. The same tropical plantation and trees surrounded him, though a little more dispersed. He looked around, slowly starting up again, following a fractured cobbled path that under normal circumstances, would've scraped against his air shoes, emitting a grating sound. Currently though, he didn't make so much as a whisper.
I should really experiment within this confine, Shadow mused to himself as he passed a crumble of bricks, vibrant with moss and weeds.
The hedgehog scuffed the toe of his air-shoes, steeling himself before shoving off, igniting the shoes as he leapt high into the air. Slowly, he lowered down, the air-shoes blaring and softening his fall considerable until he touched back down. Shadow nodded to himself, noting that there still seemed enough resistance against the air at the very least.
Looking up, his eyes traced the vague outline of the path, clearly long rotted and destroyed. The rainforest wasn't as dense around here, so he opted to use the crumbled ruins lining the path to jump along, testing his spin dash as he bounced.
Like his air shoes, there was some sort of resistance, also similar to the boulder ring surrounding the first chaos emerald. However, he felt he lagged significantly, as the dash struggled to move nearly as fast as it lacked that same friction that wound it up.
Shadow popped out on the top of a larger pillar, huffing in frustration.
Seemed that apart from faster movement, the spin dash proved useless in battle and destruction.
One last test.
Focusing on some of the smaller pillars beneath him, he raised his hands, concentrating on three crumbling mounds.
"Chaos, spears!" Shadow yelled, a flash as he summoned the spears, aiming at the small pillars and hurling them forwards with all his might.
The fragments soared through the air, extra pixelated as they flew, until they came to a small explosion against each of the small pillars Shadow had aimed at. A cloud of green pixels bled into the same scarlet sparks that encapsulated Shadow when he teleported, then fizzled out, leaving nothing but the faintest impression against the pillars.
Even still, Shadow had a sneaking suspicion those had been there before his measly attack.
He forced a breath out, chest tightening as he hopped off the pillar, itching to keep moving and find the next emerald.
What good was the Ultimate Lifeform locked away in a cyber dream?
Shadow immediately brushed off the thought, stalking down the cobbled path, eyes picking through the undergrowth and rainforest that grew and thinned, desperately searching for something of note to follow. Some sort of lead.
Yet the rainforest whispered nothing but hushed bird calls and swaying branches.
Shadow started off in a faster pace, skating to a medium tempo as he pushed to find the emerald, using his goal to drown out his complete lack of control. The fear was palpable on his tongue, reminding him of another instance from not long ago.
I know I'll see you again.
He swallowed it down, throat tightening as he pressed forward, down the cobbled path, the scattering of ruins thinning out and growing once more in a blur. Still he pushed, arms sinking into that same rhythmic sway, feet kicking ever faster as the world around him blurred, his focus lasered on the one point in the horizon. Shadow wasn't aware of how long he had been pushing onward, chest only unclenching after what felt like an eon, Chaos energy slowly simmering down to a whimper as he deactivated his shoes, crawling to a walk as he puffed out.
Shadow kept walking, the majority of his moment faded as the world blended back into view, birdsong filtering into his ringing ears. The hybrid breathed out once more, looking around as he sought to place where he had rocketed off to.
Part of him cursed his impulsivity, as he was rather disorientated.
The rainforest area had been left some way away—skirting the edges in a wreath around where Shadow found himself standing in—with the cobbled stone petering out into what appeared to be an ancient settlement, the ruins completely crumbled and barely a wall in sight, yet no doubt used to be houses and homes for whichever entity or citizens used to fill these islands.
Shadow walked, inspecting for a similar structure as the first emerald had been housed in, eyes narrowed and keen as he ducked low, looking for secret entrances or possible leads.
Throughout his wandering, his mind started to drift, wondering over to a certain blue hedgehog and how he was doing. Truly, if he was as stuck as his first attempt of breaking out of this state led him to believe, Sonic was his only bet of escape. Which both filled him with wavering hope and cold, heavy dread. Shadow had no doubt of the other's ability, knowing his skills and sheer stubbornness had carried him through many a world-ending threat. Yet, the vision of Sonic hunched over, seemingly on fire from the distortion of energy. It unnerved him more than he cared to admit.
His meandering was cut through by a dull ringing sound, that seemed to grow more frantic as he approached a shrouded patch of plantation amongst the ruins. Shadow steeled himself, though almost immediately rolled his eyes as his own antics as he remembered his untouchable state. Even still, he was cautious, not so quick to brush off threats in these strange islands.
The franticness rung out, until he rounded a corner, catching sight of a little stone figure that teetered among the foliage, hopping from one plant to another.
Shadow physically relaxed, relieved to see it was a harmless cretin and not some large or electric foe that could evaporate him on a dime. Truth be told, the agent hadn't a clue how he would go about fighting something within his own realm. All he knew is he would always go down fighting.
He was about to continue on, content with leaving the creature to its whims and continue with his own quest. The little guy hadn't even noticed Shadow's presence, so engrossed in its own mission.
Shadow walked, intent on exploring the larger ruins off to the side, hoping for the emerald enclosed in one of the taller buildings. However, just as he started moving, that same electric whisper snuck through his ears, leaving a shiver and zap in his ever-ghostly state. Shadow stiffened, halting as he whipped around, trying to find the source of his haunting.
Yet he was still alone.
Nothing had changed.
Until he registered that the once frantic ringing has morphed into words. Shadow blinked, slowly turning back to face the little stone figure.
Koco.
The voice leant, once more earning a mystified glance from Shadow in the direction it had come from. However, the hybrid was slowly starting to register the not-voice came from the same all-encompassing connection he held. Regardless of the words that were now being translated for him, Shadow was still hard-pressed to stay, itching to continue his search until one word froze him.
"These must be the cure. As grandfather outlaid,"
Shadow's jaw clenched, his eyes shifting downcast as he breathed in. And out. Eyes screwing shut as the previously fragile peace he had just found started to flicker.
There were far greater things at stake.
He had to find the Chaos emeralds.
Something in his gut also hinted something was off with the small creature, something whispering.
Yet.
Give them the chance to be happy.
Blast it.
Shadow's eyes snapped open, and he turned on his heel, straightening with newfound resolve.
Who was to say this wasn't a new tactic at tracking the emeralds? After all, he wasn't nearly as familiar with the island, and who better to consult than a literal ghost of its past?
"Please, Creator help me find it soon,"
"…Hello," Shadow coughed, drawing the Koco to whip around towards him, stone eyes briefly appearing to widen, if not due to Shadow's own imagination. A small broach of leaves and a mossy stone adorned it's surface. "I couldn't help but overhear, you may require, assistance?" he continued, posture stiff and uncomfortable. Despite his awkward posturing, the Koco appear to brighten, whole body bowing in what Shadow could only assume was a eager nod.
"Oh thank the Creator, yes! I am searching and gathering ingredients to try and create a cure, yet it seems so scattered and has been lost due to no one using it in centuries!" the little creature sung, still with that ringing bell yet somehow, clear in speech to Shadow.
He nodded along, looking beyond the Koco to the bushes it had been tinkering away at.
"What have you found?"
"So far, just these lythenberries and schepwerds," the Koco murmured, clearly drooping as it turned back."I simply cannot transport them back to my workshop,"
Shadow looked at the bushes, slowly stepping up to crouch down, reaching out to take a few leaves between his fingers. However, the plant went straight through, causing him to hiss in frustration.
Damn this state. He would never be used to it.
Straightening up, he placed a hand to his chin, searching the landscape as he thought. The Koco seemed to wither at seeing the plant go through Shadow, appearing to have their little heart-broken for the second time that day.
"Do not fear," Shadow said, turning back to the Koco. "I have a… friend, who is about somewhere here. He can help aid in your quest of transporting the ingredients,"
The Koco brightened once more, dancing as it twinkled in the dulling light of the afternoon. The day had passed rather quickly, so intent Shadow had been on his search and quest.
"However, we do require your assistance in return," Shadow added, figuring it was the best time to ask. The Koco paused, however was quick to duck down in that little bow/nod of theirs, hollow eyes returning to Shadow's in question as he awaited the request. The agent pulled a breath, feeling a prick of guilt that he was roping this Koco into their mess. After all, the little thing was clearly frantic in its own quest.
We're helping them in return, though. It'll work out in the end, Shadow chided, straightening up as he continued.
"We seek the holds for the Chaos emeralds," he shifted on his feet, eyes still roaming for a sight of Sonic amongst the sparse foliage. "In order to free others like me," Shadow's eyes returned to the Koco, who showed so much expression with its hollow gaze. Currently, Shadow was somehow reading it as mystified, likely trying to determine how his quest was possible.
The hedgehog's brow furrowed as he caught himself, wondering how that information slipped inside his mind.
Whispers of long ago. Both here, and then.
Shadow's ear flickered as if tossing an annoying bug, though the gesture was born more of unease than irritation. Looking around didn't provide anything more substantial than the previous time, yet it was a natural response. The Koco had begun talking, with Shadow only catching the last fragment of its sentence.
"…though we know not exact location, one we all know the nature of where each pinnacle sits,"
Shadow blinked, nodding as he stared down, brain scrambling for a grip on this conversation's wall. The lack of the first half hindered him a fair bit, however he soon picked the pieces, slow nodding turned blunter as his thoughts clicked in place.
"Any lead is a good one," he replied, ears perking as he heard a tell-tale zwoom kicking up nearby, the sound growing closer, a thin layer of dust appearing over the horizon.
"Where would the first area be? In reference to where we are," Shadow asked, his eyes trained on that thin trail ever-growing. "We have already obtained the pinnacle at the boulder ring," he added.
The Koco appeared to think, swaying on the little stubs beneath its body, orienting itself around as if to gather where North, South, East and West were. All the while, Shadow's eyes followed the blur, that was suddenly far closer. Timing it just right, the hybrid snapped a hand up, summoning and hurling a singular Chaos spear toward the blur before it could disappear.
The blur unravelled, a frazzled hedgehog tripping up as he tried to dodge the spear, rolling to the ground in a puff of dusty air. Shadow smirked to himself, raising a hand to casually wave two fingers in greeting as Sonic caught sight of him. The Koco all the while remained oblivious, turning back to Shadow after their deep thinking.
"With ring of boulders already gathered, best prospect lays entwined in vine within the heart of a long-gone pine. It faces somewhere to the East," the Koco sung, as Sonic had gathered himself and was promptly marching up to his rival.
"We will begin there, then," Shadow nodded in thanks, just as Sonic stood beside him, placing a sassy hand to his hip as he deadpanned the other.
"Mind not tryna kill me. I'm still the only key to getting ya out of that you know?" the hero practically dripped with exasperation, only drawing a teasing smirk from the other who finally drew his attention away from the Koco to the other.
"Despite helping several others in this state, you are still to believe something in this space can harm you?" Shadow asked, gesturing to summon another spear. Sonic blinked, arm dropping down as the hybrid flung it right at his chest, causing the other to flinch.
The spear withered and exploded in a small puff of pixels, only then with Sonic slowly looking up as realisation dawned. Shadow allowed himself the briefest of chuckles, turning back to the Koco that begun to ring once more.
Sonic glanced between the two, chest heaving as he realised what was about to occur.
"Yes, I'll get him to transport them wherever you require them to be," Shadow nodded, arms gently crossed as he nodded along to the despondent ringing, the Koco clearly overcome with their mission once more. "
Shadow turned to the other, face settling into one more steely, previous amusement dropping off. Sonic raised an eyebrow, expectantly awaiting the mission.
"This Koco needs our assistance in transporting these herbs back to their base," Shadow directed, gesturing towards the herbs and shrubs behind the Koco. Sonic let out a sigh, albeit one laced with genuine care and endearment at the fact his rival had also joined the others in their aid of the islands previous residents.
Stepping up to the brush, Sonic knelt down, meeting the Koco's gaze as he gestured his chin to the bush, a clear question.
Which ones?
The Koco bobbed in gratitude, turning to hobble over, hopping between each of the bushes and shrubs, Sonic plucking and arranging them, tucking them away within the crook of his elbow as he followed the Koco's direction. Shadow watched them, frustration at his lack of use draining out as he saw Sonic in his ever brimming kindness, studiously grabbing and checking the herbs were the right one. The hybrid's brow softened, a gentle warmth flowing within his chest, until a flicker of scarlet snuck up and around Sonic's ear, to which the hero immediately flicked.
It vanished almost as quickly, but still set Shadow back into his queasy, concerned state, eyes narrowing as he watched on.
"Man, out of everyone I'd have thought you'd be the last one engaging in this," Sonic said after standing, arms full of the herbs. The Koco below him stayed oblivious, already off hobbling along a path, leading them towards their supposed workshop.
Shadow gave him a quizzical glance, starting after the Koco with Sonic in tow. The hero laughed at the expression, elbow nudging the air around Shadow's arm in an attempt at teasing.
"Not that you wouldn't help people," Sonic clarified, allowing the other to relax a fraction more. "Just that you're always so on the mission, I would've thought you more worried with tracking down the emeralds and leave this for later down the line,"
Shadow grunted, pulling a face that communicated how Sonic's analysis wasn't fully unfounded. The cobalt hero laughed at that, trying once more for some explanation as they walked; the ringing Koco the only sound filling the air for a few moments.
"Well, for one," Shadow started, intent on lecturing his rival despite the accurate observation. "This Koco's goal appears… time sensitive," he murmured, with Sonic nodding slowly, gaze travelling to their little tour guide. "And for another, I have struck a deal that in aiding them, they will help direct us to the Chaos emeralds," the agent ended, a dash smug as Sonic cast a begrudging acceptance.
"Pragmatic as ever," Sonic tutted, his shoes the only one to kick up dust from the cracks of the barely present path. The Koco veered a right, almost stumbling on his face as Shadow's mouth tugged down, a frown directed at both the Koco and his rival.
"Was that a compliment, hedgehog?" the hybrid teased, as they also rounded the corner. He kept a dutiful eye on the Koco as Sonic snickered.
"Depends if you take practical and boring as a compliment,"
"Well as a matter of fact, I do," Shadow replied, chin held an inch higher as he marched on. Sonic gave a good-natured grin, refusing to add on to the statement as they continued on. The observation also got the agent musing, however, eyes trained to the ground as he thought as the small trio approached a set of ruins that was less crumbled than the others, roof still more intact. The Koco started inside, turning to jump excitedly and show them to their workspace.
"I would help, regardless," Shadow murmured, as Sonic stepped inside. The hero turned, a knowing and warmer smile saying all he needed at that statement. Bobbing his head, Shadow stepped around the vines and plants that had since grown over the entrance of the hut, still not used to his astral physicality, following the other two in.
The little Koco jumped, small broach bouncing against their chest as they looked back at a small bench. Sonic needed no translation to get to work setting the herbs and plants in little piles along the counter and multiple tools scattered around it.
Hesitantly, Shadow started circling the small area, inspecting the various items and shelf spaces etched within the stone of the building. He grew more aware of its purpose as he brushed a ghostly finger atop one of the shelf space, some leftover bowls with long-withered plant remains staining the inside. Multiple objects mirroring the Koco, yet without the faces or size, scattered some of the shelves and floor. Stooping low, Shadow inspected one, seeing multiple little holes punctured precisely around the orbs, the design reminding him almost of an ancient tea-bag.
"Alright, that should be sorted! Now, where to little guy?" Sonic cut in, drawing Shadow's focus up and away. The agent rose as the Koco tinkled its musical language, the space around Shadow tuning and filtering the sound into words.
"They have already told me it is likely to the East, enclosed in a tree's trunk, wrapped in vine," Shadow informed as the Koco continued to titter.
"Each pinnacle was placed at a point of an important plant or resource used for them to abate and counteract injury or sickness. They have no specific coordinates, however as it is a small island they have full faith we will find and amend the emeralds," Shadow finished, the Koco dwindling off to turn back to the bench, hopping up on a stool to get the best view of the herbs and plants to start sorting.
Sonic hummed, looking around the cabin as if to orient himself, slowly turning in a circle as he shook his head.
"Best to get to open air," the hero said, confidently striding over to the opening and walking out. Shadow followed, this time allowing the leaves and plants to phase right through him, the feeling leaving a weird feeling, similar to if you got a zap from static. Watching on, Sonic assessed the area, lost in his own mind.
"Ight, won't be longer than a flash," the cobalt hedgehog crowed, stretching out his legs before posing towards what Shadow could only assume was East-ish.
The darker hedgehog simply grunted, watching as his counterpart tore off, in search of emerald two. Shadow's eyes followed the puff of cloud lining the horizon, long until it had faded off into the rainforest patch lining the edge of the small village area the Koco was nestled within.
Turning back inside, Shadow caught sight of the Koco muttering, concern radiating off their hardened outer core. Stepping up to the workbench, the hybrid wordlessly asked what was up, drawing the Koco's face to his.
"The berries are missing! Could you go back to survey the number of which remain? If your friend returns, please bring them back. Most positive I am that they are the requirement," the little Koco murmured the last bit to themselves, only sparking more intrigue of the Koco and what exactly ailed the little creature.
Despite the intrigue that ate at him, Shadow nodded, turning heel to start skating back. Walking out of the ruined building, he had to take a second before remembering the direction he had come fromt; something unconscious and instinctual driving him before he mentally remembered.
Skating in long, languid strides, it didn't take him long to arrive back there, though he did extend the journey to get some time to himself to think and admire the areas around he had initially missed when talking with Sonic. The multiple houses and buildings speckling the now abandoned town were carefully designed, seemingly all facing away from the rising and setting sun. Those that weren't as decayed and still had a lot of their walls showcased, with the windows of most facing away from the direct shine of the sun. Shadow caught sight of a few more similar buildings as he arrived back at the small court the Koco had been gathering their plants, eyes roving over for those berries they had missed.
There seemed no obvious berries or similar amongst the shrubs—truthfully of which seemed fairly shrivelled and dried compared to the lushness of the rainforest—so he ended up crouching down to look underneath.
Still, no sign of the berry. In recent days or even years, as the ground beneath Shadow's transparent glove appeared dried, little pieces of clay cracking around the stem of the plants.
Could it be the dryness of the plants that help Koco? After all, they were clay and stone themselves.
Shadow brushed it aside, standing up with his hands firmly on his hips, quills swivelling as he searched.
Nothing.
The hybrid let out an abated sigh, a twinge of disappointment settling in his stomach at the lack of berries. Regardless of his search, nothing lay among the assortment of shrubs and withered plants. Though it was interesting, as Shadow searched the small court, he begun to realise a pattern to the plants and shrubs as they seemed to be purposefully placed in the small circular area.
"This must have held plantations," Shadow murmured, the thought now out in the world only making the realisation sink deeper.
His brows furrowed as he thought, his thumb and pointer finger massaging—or attempting to put any real pressure, that is—on his chin, several things not making much sense. For one, the Koco couldn't even retrieve the plants, let alone plant and maintain all these bushes.
Whispers of long ago. Both here, and then.
Shadow's ear twitched at the same statement echoing in his mind, a note different as it wasn't said to him directly like before. More, an echo of a past experience.
A ghost.
Like his being at that moment.
Shadow's limbs stiffened as he stared back behind himself, looking as if he could pin the realisation like a retreating bird to observe.
The Koco, like his form, were only whispers.
Moments long since passed, revived as if playing a puppet show on the stage long-since abandoned. That would explain the discrepancy between the Koco's height and other general features that didn't match with the limited ruins Shadow had come across. It would also explain what possible ailments the critter could possibly have.
Which was to say, the little Koco was likely perfectly fine, an extinct tune being the one to drive their frantic search for a cure that was now, meaningless.
A distant wind rustled through Shadow, still causing him to shiver slightly.
The concept of a millennia, stuck in limbo, aggravating over the same method, the same search.
All for something that was ultimately pointless.
Shadow stared back down, turning his hand over to run a thumb over his palm, jaw working though the feeling was fuzzy. So long, trapped in that same purgatory, toiling and agonising.
"Man, thought I would never find that dang tree," a voice popped up behind him, so lost in his musing he was deaf to the tell-tale whir of Sonic's trail. That, or the hedgehog had the audacity to quieten his tracks in order to catch him off guard.
Either way, Shadow whipped around to face his rival, who was messily munching on something he picked from a cupped hand. The hybrid growled, huffing out as he gestured around in disbelief.
"You best tell me you got the emerald," Shadow said hotly, as Sonic popped another mystery item into his mouth to crunch.
"Yuuupp," the other grinned, eyes squishing from his stuffed cheeks, a free hand going to ruffle through his quills. Triumphantly, he displayed it in the air, the scarlet gem glimmering. "Though I'm gonna need to find some more vault keys. The few extra I had aren't enough for the rest,"
"Vault, keys?" Shadow's eyebrows knitted together as he cocked his head. Sonic chuckled as he tucked the emerald back.
"Oh ya! They're the things that release them from the tall thingos," the hero said, taking a break from munching as he waved his free hand around. "I find them around the islands so I'll need to keep searching before we try for the next emerald,"
"I see…" the agent murmured, eyes drifting, catching on Sonic's glove that was still cupped midair. Shadow's focused on the contents, realising there were small spherical…
"Where did you find those berries?"
Sonic blinked, looking down at his hand as he shrugged, reaching to put the last fistful in his mouth. Shadow reached out, intent on grabbing his wrist, however phased fully through, once more sending him stumbling, nose way too close to Sonic's.
The hero laughed as Shadow corrected himself, brushing off his arms despite the motion being redundant. Sonic refrained from eating anymore as his rival explained.
"The Koco required one last item, and those berries may be it,"
"Oh! Well, they can have 'em, I'm pretty full now. Found them just a ways from here," Sonic gestured to the side, over the crooked wall lining the court. "Maybe some animals ate and fertilised the plant around, who knows,"
"Perhaps," was all he got as a reply, as Shadow started walking back to the Koco's rock cabin.
The two walked in silence, Sonic gently whistling as they walked, his counterpart slipping back into his mind. Truthfully, every time he forgot his state and was viscerally reminded, he was thrown for the same loop. It was too disconcerting.
Sonic eyes his expression, carefree nature dropping a peg as he stopped, turning to his rival with a questioning eyebrow raised.
"What," Shadow huffed, coming to a halt to stare back.
"What's on your mind?" Sonic shot back, resting a hand on his hip. The darker hedgehog glanced around, scepticism clearly dripping as he returned his rival's eye contact.
"Nothing, save for the fact the world is likely in peril again," Shadow crossed his arms, refusing to play this game. Especially now.
"Oh come on man," Sonic stepped up to him, levelling his irate glare. "You're usually lecturing someone or at least competing with me to see who gets there fastest! Something's on your mind,"
Shadow still held his glare, allowing the swaying trees and distant animal chittering to fill in the silence as he refused.
"You're not the only one who's been put out but this state," Sonic added, voice dropping to a softer cadence. Almost, coaxing, as if he were comforting someone he had just saved from a perilous situation. That same warmth came like a cushioned mist, resting against Shadow's thudding heart that threatened to devolve back into that panic that had driven him to the Koco's area in the first place.
"How long have these… Koco, been gone for,"
If Sonic was surprised at the out of left field, and not at all related question, he didn't show it, instead having the grace to entertain it as he thought.
"Honestly? None of us have cracked anything specific, but judging by the state of the place, longer than Knuckles clan by far," he offered, only drawing a nod from Shadow as he stared out at the ruins they had stopped within, the distant ringing of other Koco littering the area wafting to him.
"Is it callous to help them, then?" Shadow's voice was almost too soft to hear, though he couldn't tell if it was due to his volume, or from being so deep within his mind. "Helping chase a cure for one long dead?"
Sonic stiffened beside him, understanding running down his veins like a babbling brook. Slowly, the hero lowered to meet Shadow's gaze, his signature smirk gone, replaced only with the faintest smiles that showcased a level of empathy Shadow hadn't fully seen before. The agent followed his gaze back up until he wasn't staring at the ground, Sonic reaching and hovering a hand over his shoulder, doing his best to rest it without it falling through.
"I'll say what I told Tails. It isn't about fixing the problems they think they have. It's about peace," Sonic offered, that final word landing like a stray feather in a pond, sending ripples of a new emotion throughout Shadow's chest.
A new determination steeled his eyes as Shadow gave the other a softer nod, letting his head bow for a moment before turning back. They were almost back at the cabin now.
Best keep moving forward.
"Also, we will be utilising your hands to combine the ingredients," Shadow spoke up as they continued to walk, tone bordering on playful teasing.
Sonic laughed, the sound as merry and clear as the Koco. It sent the ripples running in Shadow's chest once more, ducking waves against the shore of his being.
"I haven't had a say over my body for these past islands, why'd I think it'd be anything but worse with you?"