Hello, this story is a small story-trade with -dark45-. He really likes Shadikal, so I offered to give it a try. It was really fun to do, really! Despite it being really "odd" pairing for me, it can actually make sense. Depends on how you look at it and it would be possible if they had some time for themselves.

Well, I'll stop rambling, just make sure to visit -dark45-, he has nice polished stories (I love his Silaze Pirate AU) if you like my stories.

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The day was sunny, like any other on the Angel Island. It was floating above the ground, shrouded by clouds and mysteries. It was a place of many legends about the creation of the life and once the mightiest race of Echidnas. They were strong and proud and that's what brought them down. The only gentle soul among them was trampled and its destiny was to be sealed inside of the Master Emerald, that Echidnas worshiped and protected.

The enormous green jewel had great power and desire for it clouded Echidnas' minds, turning against their own teachings and engulfing themselves in a bloody war. But that was soon over when water god of destruction, Chaos, wiped almost the whole race, leaving only a handful of survivors and lifting a huge chunk of ground to the sky, creating a lonely island.

As the time went, Echidnas slowly died out, leaving only one child behind. It was a boy bearing a name of the once proud clan, Knuckles. He was gentle but strong, loyal to his friends and fierce against his enemies. But even time slowly took his life, leaving nothing but memories.

[***]

A breeze was blowing, caressing the grass around a small temple. At its top was a pedestal and above it was floating and slowly turning enormous green emerald. This stone was named Master Emerald and it had a power greater than all Chaos Emeralds together. There wasn't a single soul near it... but saying it, would be a lie.

After all, there was one soul living on this island. Its name is Tikal. She is a gentle young woman, full of love for every living being. She was silently sitting at top of it, gazing at the horizon hidden behind the clouds. The wind was blowing right thru her, but she didn't mind. She, after all, lost all sense of feeling so cold or hot weather could never bother her.

But even if many people would be happy not to feel it, she secretively sometimes tried to remember how it was... to feel the wind touching her skin, how a fire burned her fingers and how the wound was cooled down. She closed her blue eyes as she was sitting on a big green gem.

It was floating above a small altar, emitting a slight light. The day was peaceful, just like many others. Its serenity was enjoyed by another island inhabitant. It was a black hedgehog with red stripes over his quills and limbs. He was sitting below the jewel with closed eyes as well. His body was covered with small bruises and scars, but the most dominant was the one over his right eye that took his eyesight there as well.

He got in in one ugly fight a long time ago. Another one took his left arm, but he had no problem with it. He got himself and cyborg arm, giving him more ranged attacks and shield generator. Not just once it saved his skin. His rocket boots were more tattered, but they were still fully functioning. Their creator was a good man, making sure they will work even after centuries.

The silence was disrupted by a child's voices. They were getting quickly closer, so the hedgehog had no other choice but to open his eyes. He quickly checked his floating partner, seeing she as well took notice.

"Uncle Shadow! Uncle Shadow!" shouted a mostly white bat with red tip of ears. Behind her was a young red echidna with white tips on his quills.

"Look what I have caught!" he put over his head a big fish.

The ebony hedgehog smiled and stood up. "Good job, both of you."

"This will make a perfect dinner," noted Tikal the Echidna, the ghostly inhabitant of the island.

"Can we have it grilled? Please?" The bat girl made sad puppy eyes.

Shadow mussed her short hair. "Of course, it's some time since we had one."

"Yay!" they both shouted, running into the sanctuary to start with the preparations.

Tikal floated down, next to the current Master Emerald guardian. "They really like you."

"You think so?" he glanced at her, as she always came to his left side. "They sure growl during combat lessons a lot."

"Yeah, because they are enjoying them. You are a good teacher after all. You know when to give them a slack and when to be rough."

"I think you are giving me too much credit," he bent, picking his black jacket with a few blue stripes, which was tattered too, but he refused to give it away. He got it from a special person a long time ago. He walked down the stairs, where he stopped. The horizon was vast, filled with clouds and shining sun.

"Thinking about the past?" she asked, knowing this person has a long one. After all, he was now more than two hundreds years old. He experienced unimaginable, escaped death numerous times, left behind many people while he kept walking forward, never aging. Even his metal companion left him some decades ago, malfunctioning beyond the repair.

"I was just dozing off," he simply answered.

"I know you too well," she answered, moving a bit closer. "You saved this planet numerous times, yet humans turned against you labeling you as an enemy." She reminded him a painful past, but it was a time he put it behind. "Your friends helped you and protected you, while you did the same." She smiled a bit. "You were always a hard-headed person, just like him."

"Hmpf, he was just a knucklehead."

She giggled. "And he always called you jerk in return, but you both knew you can count on each other."

This time Shadow had to smirk a bit. Such was the truth. They may have been in each others throat, but when the situation demanded it, they cooperated toward a mutual goal. "He was at least good fighter," and that was the greatest compliment he was willing to give.

"When Abraham died, the new commander was more than happy to kick you out, claiming G.U.N. needs only humans."

That time Rouge and Omega quit too, creating with their friend an independent rescue group. The walking arsenal put his CPU to good use, gladly hacking the guardians' computers to get some info. He never missed the time to comment their weak security.

They did it for years until Rouge died in one mission. Tho he successfully finished it with his other partner, he never forgave himself for it. But he pushed all feelings deep inside, turning almost cold, continuing with his duty. It was at that time he was labeled as world enemy, tho many people kept supporting him.

Years later he visited the Angel Island where he found out Rouge had a daughter with Knuckles. At that time she was an adult and fully trained in martial arts and using chaos energy she got from her Echidna blood. He helped her in missions, but he never stayed long in any place. He kept moving with his almost timeless companion. He visited his friends on a number of occasions, but he gradually stopped, seeing they aged.

When Eggman died, it seemed the peace could return, but not for long as G.U.N. started a long war with the whole world.

Such time was the hardest for all people and like the war wasn't enough, new villains tried to assume late Dr. Eggman's place. The endless fights took many lives including some among the heroes, but life had to continue, there was no space for tears. After a long forty years, the war was finally over and G.U.N. was put under a stricter control and reformed once more.

But even after what has Shadow done, he wasn't allowed to return to the service. But that was something he didn't mind. He already got used to being his own boss, to direct the path his own way. Around that time he decided to accept Tikal's invitation to live on the Angel Island. There he became a teacher and foster father to Rouge's grand-grandchildren since their parents died during the finals years of the war. And he kept this role for next generations as well, not setting a foot in the world below unless he was asked to.

In a sense, he felt like on the colony, watching the world from far away. He clenched his fists, taking a deep breath. He kept in touch with many groups of Freedom fighters helping them in their missions. A few of them reminded him his old friends and to his annoyance, one particular hedgehog inherited his ancestor's hyperactivity.

He smirked and silently giggled. "Time sure flies," he dryly noted.

"I agree it's a time for the dinner."

He looked at her confused, before giggling a little bit. "Yeah, we should go or those two will never shut up about manners. I wonder where did they get it?" He turned back, heading to the main building.

"Maybe from Silver." She floated next to him.

"Silver, huh?" This hedgehog kept visiting this island, taking beating and fighting lessons alike. He was the siblings' close friend and they often sneaked down to explore the world... but that was what they were thinking. Shadow always made sure to follow them, but he never revealed his presence. The immortal hedgehog only made sure they are safe or he occasionally beat some punks. "I guess so."

This young silver hedgehog was another person he let get close. After all, he knew him despite Silver not remembering their encounter as the future has been rewritten.

He moved on Tikal's other side, putting his organic hand covered by chaos energy on her shoulder. "Thank you," he gently pressed her, before heading up.

Ghostly Echidna's face turned red. She was unable to feel anything material except for energy. He made her feel warm and cozy. Such gesture was rare for him so she knew he appreciates her company. It made her a bit sad as well. If only she could be alive... She shook her head... Maybe this is the best. This way she can be with him... walking alongside his lonely path. She quickly caught up with him.