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Shadow the Hedgehog: Such a name once brought the idea of hope and happiness to the people of the Twin Worlds. He is a Mobian of mystery, whose money and fame came from his association with big business and the larger medical field. As far as the general populace knew, Shadow was a philanthropist, a spokesperson, and a hero. And when his “adoptive father," Professor Gerald Robotnik, passed away, the news was on him once more, inheriting a not-so-modest sum and stake in Robotnik Pharmaceuticals.

He then disappeared from the world for decades, sequestering himself from all others. That is, until today.

Parties are not Shadow's strong suit. The black-and-red hedgehog stands off to a corner on his own, sipping a clear drink and contemplating all the newest faces among the crowd. None of them he recognizes, not the way he remembered them. They had all grown so old and so fake in the time since his father's passing, and what has he accomplished since then? Certainly a lot. NIDS is all-but-eradicated, and the military applications of Project SHADOW had seen to the end of any threat, including that of the Black Arms and their invasion, thwarted by the work of Dr. Ivo Robotnik in continuing the project to make for super soldiers. What is the hedgehog but a relic in a suit, disguised as a Mobian in the prime of his life.

And speak of the devil himself, as the man whose ego is as big as his mustache trundles up from a crowd of sycophants, holding a gloved hand out towards the suited hedgehog. “Ah, if it isn't Uncle Shadow. You've crawled out of your mope estate and decided to finally mingle with everyone else, hm?"

That wide-toothed grin hides the selfish genius behind the philanthropist. The man that took the Robotnik name and made it a household wonder, jumping from one innovation to the next. Of course, wherever he shows up, the press is soon to follow, so Shadow takes his 'nephew' by the hand and gives him a firm shake.

“I never had reason to leave," Shadow responds. “Not until today. You've been serving the public enough in my stead."

Stroking that prodigious mustache, the bespectacled billionaire chuckles to himself. “Well, that's true, that's true. I am nothing else if not a servant to the people. You know, I have friends in Studiopolis just dieing to make a story based off of your heroics in the past. They might even spin it off into your own cinematic universe.

Shadow scoffs. “I didn't do anything heroic."

“Not officially," The businessman says, his glasses glimmering. “But we all know the public wants to know the untold story. And my pals even have the role ready and picked out. They have Sonic the Hedgehog on speed dial."

Shadow stares at Ivo with a crease in his brow.

Huffing, Ivo pulls away from the firm shake. “For Gaia's sake, Shadow. I knew you were a recluse, but this is ridiculous. Do you not partake in any entertainment?"

“I prefer more private diversions in my study," the Hedgehog admits.

“I'd bet," Ivo says, stroking his chin. “But Sonic is quite the multi-talented individual. Unlike us, the boy comes from old money—descended from Hedgehog royalty and related to my chief engineer. He's always showing off and going on some wild adventure or another, spreading his money around, trying out different skills and talents."

“Sounds like you're good friends with this one."

“As if," Ivo scoffs. “He's an insufferable little brat, but he's a symbol much like how you could be if you weren't too busy sulking around."

“A symbol for what, exactly?" Shadow says, sipping his drink. “I've already saved both worlds from themselves, and you're doing a fine job saving the world from boredom and stagnation from what I can tell."

“Please," Ivo says, pushing his glasses up. “It's only human—and Mobian—nature to fall off the wagon and screw everything up. If I didn't micromanage every aspect of my companies, they'd fall apart. People need examples in order to not fall by the wayside, and we're the ones that have to do it."

“Speaking of which," Shadow ads, “you've already spoken to me, aren't there more people to dictate here? Isn't that the royalty of the Kingdom of Acorn over there?"

Ivo claps his hands together, rubbing them fiendishly. “Oh, yes, indeed! How did I miss them!" he titters as he tiptoes over to make some kind of deal or the other.

Meanwhile, Shadow looks down at his drink. “The Hedgehog family, huh?" he thinks to himself. “Is this Sonic related to Princess Aleena? Bah. That's not important. What is important is that he's here now, despite the fact that no one here cares about Shadow himself.

This may be a retirement party for his closest friend, but it is also something else—something that means nothing to him.

“Happy Birthday, Shadow the Hedgehog."

For a moment, when he looked up, he saw the little girl whom he saved all those decades ago. Now, he sees the aged face of a woman in her 70s, ready to leave behind a world that she had always known.

“Thank you, Maria…" he says, taking another quick sip of his cup.

The human woman places a hand upon the hedgehog's head, her arm shaking. Shadow grabs her wrist, holding her steady, staring at her with a gaze that pierces her soul. “You never told me why you were retiring. You never give up."

“It's the march of time, I'm afraid. Something you'll never have to experience like us mere mortals," she says. “I'm not as sharp as I used to be, and it's time to go and relax after all my hard work helping to better the world, don't you think?"

“Your time isn't over," Shadow replies.

“No, I suppose it isn't, but it's time for something new. Even if I wasn't getting older, I still spent so many years on bettering the world. I leave this business in much better hands than I've left it, so now I can enjoy the world that is so much better than it was when I began. Maybe, Shadow, it's high time for you to retire as well, from all this sulking and think about what exactly it is you want to do with your life for yourself?"