WARNING: Flightless' 2nd phase might not show up sometimes XD ----------------------------BACKSTORY--------------------------------- The snow was falling heavily that evening, blanketing the dead forest in a suffocating stillness. Every branch sagged beneath the weight of ice, and every step through the frost crunched like breaking glass. The air was dense, suffused with a quiet so thick it seemed to muffle the world itself. Shadow the Hedgehog moved cautiously, his boots pressing into the snow and leaving a trail behind him that the wind worked quickly to erase. His crimson eyes darted across the tree line, searching for anything—any hint of life, any sound beyond the haunting whistle of the wind. He wasn’t here for curiosity; he was here for a Chaos Emerald. The scanners had led him to this godforsaken place—a forest so devoid of warmth it felt like stepping into a graveyard. But something was wrong. Shadow paused mid-stride. A faint sound echoed through the frozen air—like faint whispers carried on the wind, voices too quiet to understand. He frowned, his hand instinctively reaching for the holster of the firearm strapped to his side. The deeper he moved into the forest, the worse it got. The voices grew stronger—not loud, not clear, but persistent, gnawing at the edge of his mind. “What is this place?” he muttered, his breath forming clouds that lingered in the air. Suddenly, his ears twitched. There was something ahead—movement. A figure. Shadow froze. Between the jagged trunks of ancient trees, he could see it—something… someone. A lone figure, standing perfectly still, bathed in the pale light of the moon. It looked familiar. Too familiar. Shadow stepped forward cautiously, his boots sinking into the snow. As he closed the distance, his stomach twisted. It was Tails… or at least, it looked like him. But something was terribly wrong, and seeing Tails's right arm ripped off was an obvious yet clear sign of awareness to Shadow. "Tails?" Shadow whispered in confusion. “Leave,” Tails--or if it was--whispered. “Before this place… takes you too.” Shadow refused, but he didn't know that was the worst mistake he has ever made. Shadow may have encountered despair, but he never encountered what despair can look like.
SAVE ME DON'T LOOK AT ME I HAD A PURPOSE THESE ARE THE BURDENS