limiterrings | (no subject)

[ he doesn't stay to watch what his copy has to do, once he left from out shadow's grasp then he no longer became his responsibility. instead, he's hovering to the ground where he believes that monster came from. he hangs there for a bit, eyeing the surrounding stage that starts to collapse on top of each other, and the weird spectators all glitching at the destruction of the area.

there's a faint voice that echoes in their heads: i will teach you fear, then pain.

shadow's eyes glare at his surroundings, turning around in search of where the voice came from, but there's nothing aside from the screams and yells of those who watch. he doesn't linger on it though, if there's anything to teach him fear and then pain, they should try harder.

the path behind him is a large cave, stalagmites and stalactites act like teeth at the mouth of it, but he wastes no time walking inside. his steps are wet, his reflection visible against the mirror-like walls, and what light filters inside helps reveal whatever path is before him.

he's sure that the copy will catch up, but now, what does shadow do about him. if he plays his cards right, a quick movement and he could snap its neck. it's not like he knows who that double really is, or if it's a tactic to be used against him. truth be told, shadow's used to working alone. ]

[...What the hell was that? Hearing voices in his head is strictly in nightmares. It's enough to tell him to get moving before whomever that voice belongs to shows up. He fails to locate his double though, which...he'll probably never know who they are now. A feeling of disappointment, missing a chance to get some answers. He dives into the smoke cloud for cover until he figures out his next movement. Where does he go from here? An escape route?

He eventually comes across the same makeshift entrance his double found. Despite the uncertainty he feels, he has no choice but to keep going. Anywhere to take him as far away from this cursed arena. He jumps down below, taking a moment to check his surroundings. An underground passage, where all their imprisoned monsters are kept? That be great, a sarcastic thought.

His ears twitch, picking up footsteps in a direction. Looking, thinking. Does he follow it...? Glancing down, the light shining in certain spots on the ground. Blood. Looking further down the path where the steps were coming from, he sees the trail of blood continuing the same way. He chooses to follow, walking at a steady pace, in case something decides to jump him.]

[ shadow doesn't stop his movements at all, making his way down, deeper into the belly of the cave. nothing has shown itself, all there is are reflections of himself and nothing else.

what is fear to him nowadays, it's something specific, so simple that even he's unable to cast away his past. his every waking nightmare is a fear, but he never speaks of it, all he does in response is wake up in destruction. be it with or without a chaos emerald. the drips of water shift to footsteps mixed along, they're not in the same pace as his own which he stops. he confirms that there's another outside of his own, but with how wary and steady they are, it makes sense that the owner of the sound is cautious themselves.

he already knows who it is, hence why he stops to look at the wall next to him that shows his reflection. the cuts along his cheek, where fur has been singed from the shield and where his copy had aimed at his shoulder. there's much more about his body that's taken various marks from the battle, but it's nothing that his body can't heal away. ]

[These reflections are...unwanted. Faces looking back, reminding him he was different. Having no where to belong, just a specimen to be used. He keeps his eyes forward the best he can, less the question of why he continues forward starts to dance in his mind again.

To find the other that looked almost like him, who had the same powers as him. Feelings that he may finally get answers rising like butterflies in his gut. That is the only thing he clings to now.

As he turns the corner, he sees them. The double staring at their own reflection up ahead. He takes one more step, but then stops. Instinct and past experience have trained him to keep his distance. Eventhough they were just working together. He's not in the best of shape if they decide to come at him again. His chest hurts, and he could feel the burns he sustained from the spears on his right side, and on one of his head quills. There's definitely some brusing on his back after getting hit a few times by those orbs.

He lets out a sigh, the silence deafening. Now that they're not forced to fight and in a space where nothing is happening at this moment, what does he even say? The answers may be right in front of him, and he's gone tight lip now?]

[ they are reflections that it seems like their expression changes when you look away, but that's simply a trick of the light. shadow remains in place as he notices that copy in the reflection, but he doesn't acknowledge them in the mirror, instead he only speaks while his eyes remain onto himself. ]

Keep moving.

[ that's all the copy can do anyway, keep moving and push ahead. the reason why shadow stops is to confirm his suspicions, not only that, he has energy to spend even if he's caught up in something again. the other one, however, seems to learn but also exhuast fuel as it comes, yes his show of destroying what they just left would have earned applause from certain individuals, but shadow doesn't know if that copy's tired.

resting here doesn't seem like a smart choice either, too out in the open, but isn't it strange they haven't seen any other monsters despite this place big enough to hold that one? ]

...

[ but he moves himself, away from the wall that reminds him of glass to start walking down the only path that they have for now. ]

[Shadow had boundless amounts of energy coursing through him, but his body has not been trained to endure the stress that longer fights would demand of it. When fights back home ended relatively quick, he never thought about conserving certain attacks over others. So that whole battle back there, did take a lot out of him, but he's keeping this fact hidden from his double the best he can. He still doesn't know if he can fully trust them just yet.

Being told to keep moving, doesn't get any complaints from him. They can't stay here or go back, they can only move forward now. He follows behind his double, still keeping some space between them. Interesting. From here, he noticed the double was short one head quill from the back. Big difference to tell them apart, besides their differing experience in combat. What else was there? He really wish he could ask, but he feels that might set them off. They seem...well, grumpier? Is that the word?

The passage gradually starts to change, smoothing out into pavement. Old dried blood from various scuffles that occured down here in the past can be seen, splattered on various parts of the floor and walls. Blood.] Your head. [He still occasionally sees fresh spots of blood on the floor coming from his double.]

[ he keeps quiet, his thoughts running a marathon on what he needs to do — find out why he's here, figure out what to do what's behind him, understand why the monsters have some relation to him, but not the other. not having an answer to most of what he's dealing with does cause him to growl under his breath, but it's not directed to his copy behind him.

footsteps brush against dried blood, the smell of the area fills his nose, but doesn't bother him at all. whatever has been down here has probably fought, died, and was eaten by another, bigger threat. luckily, shadow doesn't need to eat, it's just a luxury that he can do without so no matter how long this path goes... at least he won't grow famished. ]

...

[ initially he ignores him to see how far this cave carries their voices, there isn't much of an echo. ]

That's what happens during a battle, you aim and draw blood.

[ a common fact about fighting, but what does he want, a little more explanation on where he should have struck to kill him faster? he's not getting that, but shadow glances at the wall beside them where blood makes it hard to see their reflections. ]

It'll heal soon enough. [ the only worry they need is that nothing is attracted to the scent, but it's not like shadow's blood is normal so the chances of something appearing isn't zero. he's mindful, his eyes always shifting left then right as though waiting for something to move.

hm. ]

Do you bleed?

[ to be fair, shadow didn't do much, but that's because he was focused on something entirely different than the opponent he had. it's a question though, and if his copy wanted, it could go question for question. ]

[Well, that much he figured. He was more wondering if they were going to do something about it. If they were all right? Well if they can still walk, yes, he suppose. Just as he was about to clarify, they answered anyway. Sort of. He feels he should just leave it at that.Now a question is being returned to him. It puzzled him for a moment, mostly cause they had him thinking they were going to do something with a question like that.]

...Yes. [His ears twitch, thinking he heard something, distant. After a moment, it doesn't occur again. Picking up his pace again, he stares at some claw marks on the wall. The question comes now that they've started talking.] ...That creature back there, you fought it before? [They knew what to do, which begs to question, is the monster from the movie actually a real alien? And also, why did...whomever runs this place, specifically send that creature when one of them knew how to deal with it?]

Hmmn...

[ it's not a wrong question to ask, but isn't he too curious? though, gaining information isn't a bad thing at all, but what is obvious and what is new? it'd waste both their times if he have to speak on what they should both know, but shadow is starting to realize the hedgehog behind him doesn't run off proper data.

he continues forward, vivid memories flashing through his mind about the creation of that monster, and what it was meant to be. that monster, then another monster, and then his own creation... just a string of monsters built for a specific purpose, it's just he managed to find his before that creature could fulfill its own. ]

I have.

[ every time he comes across it, there's always something new, different, but it didn't manage to obtain that second phase it tries to do.

...at least there's no impending doom weighing on his shoulders from seeing any eggs around in the case, so it's not like the creature bonded to this cave or anything. ]

It is not familiar to you?

We- [He stops what he was going to say. Because it would bring up her into his thoughts. He doesn't want to think or talk about her right now.]

...It sort of looked like a monster in a movie I watched. Not real. [It was literally a man in a suit. But even so, that movie hit a little too close to home. About himself.] Did it mean something to you? [Remembering his double had said something to it.]

[ "we" he starts, but whoever that could entail leads to something unexpected. a movie, huh? it's the first time he's heard it described like that. to hear that monster to be called "not real" makes him click his tongue. almost like his life is both a joke and a spectacle, but he doesn't know where to place this copy of his on a scale of if he's telling the truth or lying. ]

Real as they come.

[ he pauses, it's not information he gives often. ]

My past has a way of appearing in odd places, that's all.

[ what shadow won't do is say that parts of his past haunts him, no, he won't let it be known that he can even be disturbed by it. his copy doesn't need that information. ]

[An eyebrow raise at that. It's connected to their past, how? He has a feeling he won't get an answer if asked. He can live with that for now, not particularly wanting to get into his own himself. What little that has been spoken between them at least gave him some insight about his previous thoughts. He thought before, maybe there were a group of hedgehogs that shared similiar abilities like him. That doesn't feel like the case with the one walking in front of him. They recognized same monster, yet both interpreted it differently.]

Who are you? [The inside voice ended up becoming the outside voice. Maybe he just wanted to hear how they will answer, to give himself something. Will he get the answer is another question. There were distant muffled voices. Sounded like they were in a panic. In the next, the underground shook slightly. That can't be good.]

[ this is said matter of factly, condfident in his answer. ]

I am the Ultimate Lifeform.

[ he is also a monster, he is also if said by others... a friend, even a hero, but initially he should have been a cure.

shadow has a feeling when this copy responds that he — his thoughts quickly shift to the sounds nearby, he holds his composure to prevent himself from falling from the shake.

the cave's ceiling drops a few pieces of rock around them as it breaks apart, but not enough to call for danger. they should be wary due to those panic noises being selfish concern or they're troubled that two hedgehogs are getting away and they're preparing something to find them again. ]

How annoying....

[...Ah. That's what the scientists said he was too. A title given to him that felt more like a curse placed onto him. What did a title mean, when all he ever was to everyone was a tool, a freak. His double....his other seem to hold that title differently. Like he was proud of it. Why? How?

He glances around the passage walls, frowning. The underground shakes again, more violently. He takes a few steps forward, more in line with his other.] Are they trying to bury us? [That might explain the lack of seeing any other life down here.]

[ his head turns to look at his copy, the expression he wears is telling that he isn't bothered by the statement. ]

Then so be it.

[ shadow's death wish is pretty apparent, but unlikely given his circumstances of being unable to die. he doesn't seem afraid of the risk for himself, but if the copy brought it up, is there a chance there's something about the situation he doesn't like? ]

They'll presume us dead, that gives us more freedom than we have now.

[ another shake, but he knows better than to sit there and talk about what their hunters are doing, they need to also start doing to make the aftermath easier. ]

We need to find somewhere that'll be less affected by the blast if there is one.

[A moment of confusion as his other just accepts it. But as they continue, he gets it. Pretending to be dead once more. Even wherever here is it seems. Wonder if his other has done this a few times...he doesn't really want to get into the implications of what that means right now.

He takes a few more steps ahead of them. Places like this usually have side paths, or pockets of weak points in the infracstructure. If he had a clear idea of where they actually were, maybe they could just teleport somewhere if they can't find shelter in here. If they're willing to bring this place down, does that mean there's no obstructions above?] You can teleport too, can't you?

[ that is an option, but is it a good enough one to warrant him doing anything. his skillset, to them, appears limited and that's what he wants. the less they know, the better. ]

Yes.

[ to answer the question, as to why he hasn't used it is all part of thinking six steps ahead compared to their hunters. ]

Do you have a path you want to take?

[ they have no idea where they are, they don't know if it's a bluff and they're tricking them to teleport somewhere that they can capture them.

the other did let shadow decide how to leave the shield during the arena, then shadow can allow the copy to make this call. shadow will continue walking, glancing at the split of caves that they could walk into if his copy is interested. ]

[He looks to them. Up to now, he just let the other dictate where to go, what to do. It hadn't fail them up to this point. That isn't to say he can't make his own decisions, having to figure out how to navigate the world alone. It's just being put on the spot from them was...well the confidence in his idea becomes uncertain.]

...I'm not sure, but the path must be clear above. [He looks up, frowning. Are their captors also anticipating them to escape that way? Maybe that's why his other didn't propose it initially.] It's a last resort. [The underground shakes again, more frequently. He moves closer to his other, noticing the splits along with them.] That one. [He points to an opening ahead to their right that looked large enough for them to fit into.]

You have to be sure.

[ that's the thing about leading anyone, insecurities will hold a person back and lead them into more danger. between him and sonic, the airhead runs into trouble unsure of it'll work but is confident in his actions that it should.

shadow will make it work when he chooses to do something.

however, he can't scold this copy of his, he can only add suggestions as he looks to the cave the other chooses. without hesitating, he skates, ducking a bit to slip inside. whatever's wet on the floor as he kneels down, he doesn't go out of his way to figure out what it is.

once again the cave shakes, the crystallized walls cracking then shattering onto the floor. of course, when a threat tries to put him in danger, he can't help but groan in annoyance. ]

[Have to? When he's been wandering aimlessly, not knowing what he wants to do himself, let alone capable of leading anyone. He doesn't say any of that. Not the time or place, but the expectation just feels foreign to him.

He sees his other speed off into the space without question and follows after them. It's a tight fit, but they will both be able to take shelter. Will it hold is another. He's curled up slightly in the space, feeling the other pressed against him. At this point, the underground was shaking continuously. Walls and debris falling around them. Complete collapse imminent.

He couldn't hide how terrified he was by all this, body shaking, nervous breathing. It's unnerving, when he normally fights the problem or avoids them altogether. Now he has to learn to sit through the danger itself. He survived a fall from space though, he should make it through a whole cave-in. That's what he keeps telling himself, but he can't push back that feeling of uncertainty of the unknown. He closes his eyes, hoping it would help. Just, listening and feeling all this destruction around him, still unpleasant. The noise occasionally almost sound like explosions, hits too close to an event he doesn't want to recall again.]

[ the difference where this copy visually shakes, pressed up against him is something that shadow can't ignore. if this is a clone of him, it's pathetic at best, but there's something about his circumstances compared to his own — his experiences are different or his data is corrupted. he doesn't know the biolizard, the connection that he or it should have to it.

it's like he's ... scared, afraid. it has been some time since he could ever remember such a feeling that wasn't anger and hatred, the need for revenge would drive him, his moments of disbelief that turned into malice. it's new, something he's unable to just ignore when this copy carries his face. normally eggman would only make those robots unable to make expressions, only carrying out the need to kill and destroy what's around them, but this one acts so...

...

who are you is what he wants to ask. what could they have created that this of all things becomes terrifying? shadow too hates the noise, it reminds him of a time, but there's no alarms, and there's no gunshots so he does better than the one beside him. as things crumble down, the ground splitting in various areas as the ceiling falls... something sparkles that catches his attention out in the debris that gets knocked against a piece of rock into another. ]

...You stay here.

[ as dangerous as it is to go out there, shadow's body slowly shifts away from the one next to him. ]

[It is rather pathetic, and he hates when others see him vulnerable. But nothing can be done about it. It's a new experience, overwhelming. His mind in constant battle over wanting to get out, or keep staying there. Other thoughts keep flashing in his mind. A fire, the area going bright and then...the ringing in his ears. His ears twitch, picking up something else, the other's voice. Isn't the world still coming down out there?

He curls up more tightly, easier for them to get out, but also to give himself comfort. He's going to be left on his own. He will at least open his eyes again. A look that was trying to understand what the other was doing.] Where...? [He tries to hide that bit of desperation in his voice. Whatever their thoughts are about him, they were still the only thing "familiar" in this unknown place. What will he do if he doesn't see them again? And...last thing he wants is to find a dead body that looks almost like him once this is over.

He glance pass his other, trying to occupy his mind with something else. Maybe he can see what it they're looking at out there. And that's when he notices it. It was quick, but something shines among the falling debris. But is it honestly worth going out there for that?? His other thinks so, but he can't tell from here what it is.]

[ the copy can look out there and see technically nothing but large rocks falling, glass shattering and shooting out into the ground as everything begins to crush what's below. he'll see something hit against a falling rock, a type of dull colored emerald that flashes red when turned at an angle. it's in a familiar shape that he could probably pinpoint anywhere if he recalls what it reminds him off.

this is what shadow wants. even if the energy within the gem has probably faded some, it will still be useful if it's what he thinks it is. if it even means the same thing here where it does back home, but these gems have an odd way of appearing in strange places.

that's why shadow is already crawling his way out, quick to roll onto the ground and dodge a falling rock that's able to cover half of the entrance of where the copy is.

on his hands and knees, shadow attempts to stand up, but one shape rock comes down, which he narrowly avoids by disappearing and appearing on top of the falling object that crashes to the floor and shatters upon impact. it's dangerous, sharp pointed ends fall down like rain that threaten to impale shadow, but he doesn't seem to be afraid. the look in his eyes shows determination, he's calm with every move that he makes, and wary of his surroundings as he tries to catch up to the gem that continues to be knocked against other pieces. ]

[Well, that piece of debris makes it harder for him to see what's happening. He's not too concerned about being trapped just yet. He knows he can break through all this. He'll have to unfurl though so he can shift position to see and make sure his other was still moving.

They're very much, moving. As if they've been through this obstacle course before. It was both amazing and horrifying to watch as they narrowly avoid getting skewered. He doesn't know or realize it himself, but he would react and move just as naturally when put under various situations. Even when he was at the base, there had been instances of him displaying quick reflexes just after being released from the meteor. He could not imagine this is how he looked to others though. The gap of experience between them just seems so far apart.

The emerald finally comes to it's resting place, rolling underneath some debris. A large piece of the ceiling breaks apart and starts to fall over that same area. The emerald would get further buried if his other doesn't get to it, but then, they risk getting crushed. That piece of the ceiling was far larger than anything his other had avoided previously. He feels his body react before his head catches up with him, punching the bit of debris blocking the entrance as he tries to crawl out of the space. Would he make it in time?]

[ it's risky, but his chances grow even more if it's within his possession. at first, the gem around the neck of the host called his attention, it was familiar in energy — it wouldn't surprise him if they were siphoning the power of the emeralds into it. at most, this is a dead emerald with only so much energy left or none at all, and this is what shadow risks his life for.

up onto his feet, using surrounding rocks to jump off of and the occasional spin dash to breaking it in two in order to get through. it seems easily doable until the larger rock comes through, his abilities tested at losing the emerald or being crushed upon retrieval.

he has to keep moving no matter the consequence of his actions, and if he's taken out here and they unearth his body all he can hope for is that it's unusable. death hasn't really been kind to him, his body geared towards survival no matter the circumstances and then there's his dna.

if he's unable to die then he knows what's out there won't let him die either as long as he exists. that's why shadow tries for it, running underneath the piece ready to crush him, and it's with a swift kick against the emerald in the direction of his copy.

maybe he knows, maybe he doesn't. he doesn't have the time to use it correctly because time is not on his side to harness the power, but he mouths the words "chaos control" to the copy. whether they can utilize it or not, even a weak version of it may make a difference here. ]