Disclaimer: I, AuroraAura11, DO NOT own anyone from this fanfic except for 'Haze'. All other Sonic characters are copyright of SEGA.

Summary: Shadow vanishes shortly after the Soleanna incident. The question is, how is Shadow's disappearance linked to a young she-hog Sonic meets on a cruise two months later? R&R!

Play Of Shadows: Prologue

The monstrous deity known as Solaris screeched in agony as a cluster of boulders struck it on target, courtesy of Super Silver. They were only two hits away from victory! He switched out with Super Shadow, said hedgehog powering up and unleashing another Chaos Barrage on the weakened god. Glowing red spears fired their way towards Solaris with tremendous speed, exploding on impact. A deafening shriek forced itself from Solaris.

"This is it, guys!" Super Sonic announced. "The final blow!" Shadow and Silver nodded in sync.

Down on a floating plateau, the others were watching and waiting in anticipation. Elise clasped her hands together in prayer, Tails and Amy following suit.

Concern filtered through Rouge as she noticed Shadow hold his right side tenderly. He was the primary target of Solaris, seeming to pose more of a threat than the other two hedgehogs. In a turn of unfortunate events, he had miscalculated his dodging and almost lost consciousness from the sudden blast of energy, leaving himself vulnerable. Without Sonic yanking him out of harm's way, he would have been pulverized by the oncoming energy ball. In result, he was left with one nasty wound that won't stop pulsing new blood. But regardless of his current situation, he carried on, Sonic's request to stop fighting falling on deaf ears. It was hard to understand for them how Shadow could still go on, but that's when they realised just how tough and determined he really was.

The trio surrounded Solaris and, on Sonic's signal, circled it in a peculiar way; Silver flying around it while Sonic and Shadow rounded it horizontally, like how three electrons would circle an atom. They slowly sped up, creating some sort of contained vortex which knocked Solaris off-balance, confused it. Finally, they curved inwards and rammed into the sun god from different angles with all their strength. Solaris screamed as it perished in a blinding, white light. Everyone covered their eyes…

When the light disappeared, they unveiled their eyes to see only the golden hedgehogs. No Solaris. The triad landed safely on the plateau just as they began changing back. Suddenly, that same light surrounded Sonic and Elise, although it felt harmless. Soon, they faded away with the light too, parting with the remaining others; Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Shadow, Rouge, E-123 Omega, Silver and Eggman. A portal then opened up before them all – their exit. Not a word was spoken between them. Silver jumped in first, then Eggman, Amy, Tails and Knuckles. Team Dark still remained there…

"Agent Rouge, Shadow, would you like me to escort you back to G.U.N?" Omega asked. Rouge nodded, glancing over at the black hedgehog that was currently inspecting his wound.

"Yes, both of us", she replied. Shadow looked up at her, frowning. "You're not going anywhere without that treated to properly", she shunned, gesturing to his new burden.

He scoffed in reply, as well as an eye roll and head shake to further show his irritation. Rouge walked over to him, lacing her arms around his back and under his right arm to carefully lead him over to portal, with the help of Omega, of course. Out the corner of his eye, though, Shadow swore he caught sight of a dark, lean figure hiding in the shadows of the ruins.