eternity . . .

     … when The End was defeated, his friends were freed and everything returned to normal. Everything except him, anyways; he was warned. It doesn’t matter, he thinks, because he wouldn't change anything. And it’s not corruption that pulls him now, but something else entirely. He can still navigate the island with his eyes closed. Can still see things that others can’t ( if the way G.U.N set up shop is any indication ). Can still feel years and years of history at his finger tips.

     And so will Shadow if this works right. There’s only one way forward.

     "A chaos blast with this could be akin to an EMP -- their technology destroyed from the inside out, with no apparent cause or culprit. It's perfect."

     Eyes cast back up to the head of the gate, admiring the craftsmanship once again -- focused and pointed. The cyan glow seems to respond to his outstretched hand, his nerves pulsating as the energy creeps further into his body. It's oddly familiar, like a family friend you met long ago but can't quite remember.

     It happens fast; the initial soft touch of the energy begins to turn to a searing grip -- it burns, and it burns cold -- and those whispers are getting louder with every passing second. Yet he finds himself unable to pull away, like a mouse in a glue trap --

    “It’s a portal.” Sonic answers, keeping his eyes straight ahead. “Or… I guess you could call it a gateway, too! There’s plenty of them around the island.” He walks past Shadow and up the stairs, old stone looming over him. His balance felt… strange, like when you stand in the ocean and the tide pulls, pulls, tempting you further.

    ‘That power is a fragile thing. It was not meant for you.’

     Typical.

     "..." There's hesitancy, an ear turning back -- he has no reason to not trust Sonic, but there was something unsettling about the way the portal breathed to life at his fingertips, an otherworldly hum. Shadow feels the pull, too.

      Inhaling sharply, he steps forward and reaches a hand out in turn, standing by Sonic's side. The energy crackles through his fingertips, shivers wracking his arm, fur prickling to stand on end -- and he swears he's hearing whispers echo through his mind in a language he cannot understand. His eyes flick to Sonic, intense in their stare.

     As confident as he is in his ability to ruin Tower’s day, that resigned “fine” is the answer he was looking for — the one he knew he’d get once Shadow caught sight of the Koco. For all that arrogance and stubborn pride, when innocence is brought to the equation… 'weapons aren’t supposed to have hearts, but both of you…'

     “We’ve got to get their equipment out of the way without damaging the island.” Sonic replies, placing his chin between his index finger and thumb. He hums and taps his foot, grappling for some of that quick thinking he’s known for. It’s not enough to inconvenience G.U.N, no; they have to sabatoge them. For the sake of the Koco, of course, but cyberspace too. These islands are the last vestiges of the Ancients’ history, and it’s worth preserving. After all, the pilots placed their trust in him for a reason.

     … Wait. Cyberspace.

     Sonic suddenly snaps his fingers. “I’ve got it!” He exclaims, and just like before, he’s racing off without explanation — this time it’s only a short run as he leads them to another structure, taller than the rest. Imposing. Sonic steps up to it and crosses his arms, eyeballing the large circle at the top. ‘I wonder…’

     He gives chase, and thankfully, it's a short one this time. Shadow's eyes wander up along this... whatever it is. The stone bears cracks and weathers from a clear test of time, curious blue light pulsing up the smooth panels embedded within the rock; like blood through veins.

     It almost looked alive.

"You can eat young cattail shoots while they're still green -- try preparing them like you would asparagus."

     Of course, he understands — knows this predicament, just as Shadow says; he was there when it was written. But this is no world ending disaster (he'd already handled that), and what Tower doesn't know won't hurt him. "Some rules are worth breaking, don't you think?" He asks. Sonic changes positions to quickly jump to his feet and cross his arms. "And this is different. G.U.N can't just do whatever they want." Though unsaid, both of them are well aware of what happens when they do: nothing good.

     The familiar smell of soot reaches his nose, causing Sonic to look up and over. He scowls at the billowing smoke across the tree line. More machines. "At this rate, the entire forest will be gone in a few days..." The Koco at Shadow's feet begin to scatter, bouncing toward some ruins... to hide. "He'll tear everything down."

"So you expect me to just roll over--"

Perhaps if he had asked on a different day, this wouldn't have happened, but something inside Shadow flips mid-sentence and he cuts himself off. Brows furrow, arms crossing even tighter across his chest as he watches the Koco flee and hide -- his heart wrenching at the sight.

This wasn't right; unquestionably, and yet his mouth still opened and began to parrot what he's always been told; do as we say, live in our bounds, our weapon -- or else.  When did he let this happen? That unyielding will; the persevering drive to do what he thinks is right, fading underneath a governmental boot, of all things? He already was rolling over, and the realisation hits like a gut punch.

Screw it. Damn the contract and damn the consequences -- no more.

     Sonic rests an elbow against his thigh, which in turn supports the weight of his chin in the palm of his hand. So casual, at least in comparison to Shadow who seems very... confused (and endeared, if Sonic is reading his expression correctly).

     "They're called Koco, or that's what the Elder said." He says, not bothering to explain who or what "the elder" even is. "The people who lived here a long time ago used them as lucky charms. Supposedly, they hold the memories of their creators." Sonic hums, thinking back on the bizarre symbol that would appear in the sky. He wonders if they all need to find peace like that. 'There's so many...'

"...Hm." He tilts his head slightly, thumb smoothing over the small decorative sprout on its head. "...They're fascinating." His tone stays soft, subdued, eyes halving as he stops to think about the implication of Sonic's final sentence. "...I have no control over any of that."

     "Stop running?" Sonic replies in a bark of laughter. "Don't you know who you're talking to?!" He sees it — that cheeky sweep of the leg — coming from a mile way and sidesteps with ease. It's quite graceful, really, the way he follows it with a turn of his heel to face Shadow. Now running backwards, with both hands clasped behind his head. Grinning like the bastard he always is when they're doing this (author's note: this, in context, being whatever strange and vaguely homoerotic fighting these two do).

     Water splashes as they race across the shallow bank of the river, and Sonic figures they're distant enough from the commotion to slow down. A lack of military equipment is a fair guess that G.U.N hasn't ventured this far — yet. 'Let's keep it that way.' Sonic thinks, running to some nearby ruins. He skids to a halt in front of some Koco, who eagerly start bouncing at his arrival. "Hey guys." He smiles and kneels down to greet them.

     While unsurprising that Sonic was able to dodge the kick, it was no less annoying. Not one to be deterred, Shadow quickens his pace; skates blasting hotter underfoot as he shoots a very strong glare ahead, the effortlessness of the backwards running prickling his spines. Of course he'd be doing this. Showy little asshole.

     Following the chase is easy; there almost being a notable rhythm after doing it enough times. Shadow throws a few more half hearted swings at the other along the riverside -- none connecting, of course. Just as he was teetering on the edge of genuine rage with an unrelenting thought to tackle him, Sonic seems to slow down. Good timing, as he was almost about to get a face full of dirt, and a back full of hedgehog.

     Storming up to the ruins, Shadow inhales & opens his mouth to chew him out -- but is quickly interrupted before a single word can pass his lips, by a delightful little 'uwah!' from the side of him. Twinkling, glockenspiel-like steps quickly follow, and he casts his gaze down to a... Rock?