Author's Note/Disclaimer/Addendum: IDW's Sonic the Hedgehog is still going strong, with new issues out all the time. At the time of writing this story, it has reached the release of Issue #32. Although the status quo has been relatively reset for the most part (making the conditions to begin my story much better), there's a lot of changes regarding the characters' dynamics. [Spoilers] Jewel has taken over the Resistance/Restoration from Amy. Silver went back to his own time, which turned out to be good. Shadow investigates some mystery, Rouge goes to the Chao Races, and Dr. Starline plots his revenge in the to-be-released mini-series of Bad Guys.

My goal here is to tell a simple story of a concept that I think makes sense and challenges both the characters and the status quo (not to sound too pretentious). The challenge of writing fanfiction when new base canon material is being released every month alongside me means that some holes may be poked in my narrative. If tomorrow, Shadow the Hedgehog died in IDW, that would throw a dent in my story, no? Therefore, when going into this, you should consider the events as a what-if, perhaps even an AU/AT. The stage is set a certain way, even if the current events of IDW don't agree with it or directly match up. For instance, Amy still somewhat leads the Restoration (in the field) going into this story. The basic rundown is that the Metal Virus is over, and everyone is left picking up the pieces. Going forward, I'll choose at my own discretion what I want to reference when writing future chapters. I also may use elements that were present in the games or Archie (to an incredibly minor degree that makes sense. Like the terminology they used, the Chaos Force. Not entire plot elements or characters like Eclipse or the Freedom Fighters). That being said, as always, read, favorite, follow, yadda yadda, and tell me why my story is good or bad in the review section. None of this is pre-written. I obviously have everything planned but I'm writing as I go along and I do consider any feedback I receive. If you have a question, DM it to me as I won't be responding to reviews here in the chapters. Thanks.

Life had been such a whirlwind, such a roller coaster, these past few months.

But when wasn't it, with Sonic the Hedgehog?

Dr. Eggman's successful conquest of the planet, leading to all-out war between his forces and the Resistance. Dr. Eggman's amnesia episode. The Battle for Angel Island against Super Neo Metal Sonic. The Zombot Apocalypse, courtesy of Dr. Eggman's own concoction, the Metal Virus. If there was one constant in all of the craziness, it was that Dr. Eggman was behind all of it.

So Sonic wasn't surprised in the slightest when his grim rival Shadow approached him, wanting to sit down and talk about where things went from here. "Here" meaning the now completed road to recovery after the Metal Virus. Uncharacteristic of Shadow, sure, but it also meant he was dead serious.

They met in the old Resistance-turned-Restoration hideout. The Restoration team, still headed by Amy, was taking a hands-on approach, which left the headquarters unused. It was a small, dusty, and overall unimpressive room, but so many key decisions had been made here during the wartime struggle. The computers had gone unused for a while as dust settled on the screens and keyboards. The room gave Sonic an odd sense of pride in his friends, remembering how they attempted to keep fighting even when he was presumed captured or dead. Sonic definitely associated positive memories with the room, but he couldn't fathom why Shadow of all people would call him here.

Shadow didn't have any feelings toward the room. He didn't spend much time in it, and only chose it because it was an empty location they both knew. His mind was on other things, namely his own incompetence. During the outbreak of the Metal Virus, Shadow acted against his better judgement. He practically let himself get infected. He didn't try to outrun the virus overtaking his body. He didn't remove his Inhibitors to fight it off in his Chaos form. He simply let it overtake him. He assumed as the Ultimate Lifeform created to combat disease, a lowly virus would have no effect on him.

What bit the most, however, was the fact that Sonic warned him. Sonic, his archrival, "told him so". And he didn't listen. And then he got infected.

The incident opened Shadow's eyes to a much bigger problem: Eggman. The Metal Virus was the Doctor's doing. The war, that jackal that messed with his head, was the Doctor's doing. Perhaps he'd been too lax with Eggman. The same weakness he criticized Sonic for harboring was exactly what he harbored. And he had no idea why. Was it his connection to Gerald and Maria? Was it respect and gratitude for bringing him back to life in the first place? Shadow didn't know where this leniency on Eggman had stemmed from, but he knew it needed to end if they valued their lives.

And that's why he called the only person he could talk to about a delicate matter like this.

"Well faker, you wanted to talk, and here I am. You done brooding, or do you need some more time?"

Shadow's mind snapped back to reality. He ignored Sonic's usual snide remarks and cut straight to the chase. "I think it's about time we finally dealt with the Doctor."

Sonic chuckled at this notion. "What's there to deal with? Eggman cooks up a scheme. We crack it wide open. We save the day. That's how it's always been."

"This time it was different, Sonic! Get serious for a second-"

"Different? That's rich!" Sonic continued chuckling. "He had a plan, things went out of control, and I saved us all, as usual. Same Eggman, different omelette. You're just mad because you didn't listen to me, and then got infected the second I left you alone."

It took all of Shadow's willpower to avoid punching Sonic in the face, but he knew that wouldn't solve anything. He continued to attempt being rational. "You didn't have any control over the situation either… if it weren't for Silver, he would've won. And yes, I'm mad he was able to incapacitate me. It's been difficult to come to terms with. Maybe you aren't aware, but I was created to fight an incurable disease, and the Doctor was still able to engineer a virus so potent it overtook ME. The Ultimate Lifeform. He's becoming too dangerous."

"You know, Shadow, I'm getting a nasty sense of déjà vu right now. I distinctly remember you giving me a similar spiel when Egghead lost his memory and became Mr. Tinker, and I was right then too. If Starline hadn't got to him, he could've been doing a lot of good right now." Sonic remembered the fight between him and Shadow over Eggman's amnesia, but he stood by his principle to give Mr. Tinker a fair chance.

Shadow shook his head in disbelief. "I'm not going to be convinced this time. We gave him his fair chance. He only reverted back to his old ways. That logic about my history isn't going to work this time."

Sonic couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Alright, then. I'll humor you, Shadow. Eggman is a credible threat that needs to be stopped before he puts the world in danger again. What do you suggest we do?"

Shadow spoke with cold seriousness, looking at Sonic's very soul through his eyes. "We have to kill him. Just as I had planned before you got in my way. We must destroy him before he destroys us."

Sonic lost his composure. His arms fell dead to his sides, the impatient tapping of his feet subsided, and his expression went from shock to disgust. "I'm sorry, did you have your raw coffee beans and boiled water this morning? Because for a second there, I could've sworn I heard you say we need to kill Eggman."

Shadow walked over to Sonic. Not in a threatening way, but in a pleading manner. He spoke in a lower voice, maintaining his quiet intensity. "Sonic, I'm only telling you this as a courtesy. Though your help is invaluable, it's of no concern whether you join me or not. I will kill the Doctor. It's not an easy decision to make, but it's not up for debate. You can assist me, and together no one will stand in our way. But if you choose to go against me this time, I won't hold back. I'll destroy you too."

With that, he vanished using Chaos Control, leaving Sonic bewildered at this news. "I hate it when he does that…"

Sonic knew Shadow wasn't messing around, so he stood still for a second and pondered about what his options were. Would Shadow head straight to Eggman's current base and assassinate him? No, even Shadow would take a step back and plan his course of action. "What should I do," he thought, "if that's the case?" Go talk to Eggman and warn him? Look for the Chaos Emeralds to have some sort of contingency in place? Or maybe visit Tails and get advice from him? Sonic's head was spinning with ideas, but now more than ever he couldn't afford to be slow.

Not with someone's life hanging in the balance, even if that life was the life of his archnemesis.

And so the last decisions made in the Resistance headquarters room were Shadow's declaration to kill Dr. Eggman, and Sonic's decision to oppose him.