Shadow ambushes Sonic in the void of the Shatterverse to confront his rival about the destruction of Green Hill — and take matters into his own hands.
Tropes:
- Broken Record: The "Ghost" Space that shows the remnants of Green Hill has projections of Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Rouge and Big who all state the same sentences over and over.Tails: As long as I'm around, you'll always have a wingman.Amy: The forest is the most beautiful place on Earth.Knuckles: I don't need the details, just tell me who to smash.Rouge: You may not like the way I do things, but I get things done.Big: No problem, Sonic.
- Chekhov's Skill: Shadow and Sonic discuss how Sonic is able to traverse Shatter Spaces by gathering speed and Prism Energy. After Shadow leaves him behind after taking his gear, Sonic remembers their conversation and gains enough speed to catch up with Shadow in the Void.
- Clothes Make the Superman: Subverted. Shadow mistakenly assumes Nine's tech is what allows Sonic to travel the Shatterverse, and decides to steal it for himself so he can collect the Paradox Prism shards. Unfortunately, he learns the hard way that the gates will reject him regardless as to whether he has the tech, as the power comes from Sonic himself.
- Combat Pragmatist: Shadow is fairly ruthless while fighting Sonic for his tech, attacking when the other hedgehog is speaking, shoving him underwater, ripping pieces off with his teeth, and taking advantage of distractions.
- Entertainingly Wrong: Shadow comes to the logical conclusion that Nine's tech that Sonic is equipped with allows him to travel between Shatterspaces, and thus fights Sonic for them, believing he can't be trusted to retrieve the Prism Shards. However, even with the shoes and gloves, Shadow is unable to get into the Boscage Maze, and in fact the attempt nearly kills him. Of course, Nine's tech only allowed Sonic to control the Paradox Energy he emits, which Shadow seems to lack entirely, explaining his being unable to enter Shatterspaces or have counterparts.
- Expendable Alternate Universe: Discussed. Shadow views the Shatterspaces as this, seeing them as fractured pieces of the original reality. Sonic is thus unwilling to let him into the other worlds to retrieve the shards, fearful of what Shadow would do to get them.
- Friendly Rivalry: Despite the animosity Shadow initially expresses for Sonic, this episode cements that they aren't enemies, with Sonic even joking that after saving Shadow, he can lord it over the other hedgehog's head forever.
- Foreshadowing:
- A clue to the reveal that Shadow is still unable to enter with Nine's tech is when Sonic has the tech compared to Shadow in the "Ghost" Space. When they're in the "Ghost" Space, Sonic's gloves and shoes look grey with white lines across them. However, when Shadow has the tech, his gloves and shoes doesn't change like Sonic's and looks completely normal. Hinting the reveal that Shadow still won't be able to enter gateways with Nine's tech.
- While showing Sonic the gate to New Yoke, Shadow sneaks a look at his tech when the other hedgehog isn't looking, hinting at Shadow's plan to nab it for himself.
- Graceful Landing, Clumsy Landing: When they enter the Shatter Space version of Green Hill, Shadow lands on his feet and Sonic lands on his face.
- Immediate Sequel: This episode takes place immediately after the events of "There's No "Arrgh" In Team".
- Ironic Echo: At one point during their fight, Sonic tells Shadow "Come at me, bro", only for Shadow to reveal that he's already stolen Nine's tech and run off. When Sonic finally catches up to Shadow in the Void, intent on stealing the tech back, Shadow mockingly repeats the line back at him.
- I Work Alone: Sonic initially believes Shadow's plan is for them to work together to retrieve the Paradox Prism shards and fix their world, only for the other hedgehog to reveal his real plan is to steal Sonic's tech and do it himself. It’s only after discovering he still physically can't enter the Shatterspaces does Shadow finally concede.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Downplayed. Shadow argues that, since Sonic is the one who broke their reality in the first place, he can't be trusted to fix it, (forgetting his own mistakes were one of the major reasons it was shattered in the first place). Only when he realizes that Sonic is the only one of them who can enter the Shatterspaces - and therefore, the only one who can fix reality - does he relent and agree to Sonic's help.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: Admittedly, it takes a while and one near-death experience, but Shadow is eventually forced to concede that he can’t fix the world alone and stops refusing Sonic's help in repairing it.
- Nothing Is Scarier:
- The "Ghost" Space is just like Green Hill Zone, but with much more muted colors. It also features images of Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Rouge, and Big, except they appear transparent and they're only able to say the same thing over and over. Shadow calls the Ghost Space a place "to make us suffer", and the sight slowly unnerves Sonic. There's also the fact that of all the "Ghost" characters in this space, Eggman is unaccounted for, despite being a major contributor to the plot. The only bright spot is that this is Where It All Began, which means if Sonic and Shadow can gather and repair the Paradox Prism where Sonic destroyed it, there's a chance to restore their world.
- Whatever the dark space at the "bottom" of the Void is, neither of the two hedgehogs wants to enter it, and Shadow can only guess that it's some space where life ceases to exist. Shadow nearly falls in, but Sonic rescues him in time.
- Not So Above It All: Despite being otherwise extremely serious, Shadow can be seen smiling while fighting with Sonic and flaunts his stolen tech with a smirk on his face.
- Once More, with Clarity: Like in "It Takes One To No Place", this episode replays scenes from past episodes but from Shadow's viewpoint, revealing how he was able to communicate with Sonic in the Shatterspaces, despite not being able to enter them himself.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Shadow begrudgingly admits that he can’t get the shards himself and asks for help, which Sonic notes is very unlike him and highlights just how much he needs Sonic.
- Out-of-Genre Experience: Downplayed. This episode is much more drama-heavy than previous ones, focusing on the damage the shattering of the Prism has caused, putting Sonic through the emotional wringer, and considerably lessening the comedy.
- Powers as Programs: Subverted. Shadow thinks that he can just take Sonic's glove and shoe tech to enter the Shatterspaces, but when he attempts to do so, he's still unable to get past the Gateways. As the tech is designed to control Sonic's Paradox Energy, it naturally does nothing for Shadow, since he doesn't generate any. Much to his displeasure, he's forced to rely on Sonic entering the Shatterspaces in his stead to achieve their goals of fixing that Paradox Prism.
- Rivals Team Up: By the end of the episode, the hedgehogs conclude that they can't save the world working alone and will need to cooperate if they're going to fix it, much Shadow's annoyance and Sonic's amusement.Sonic: I won't let you down, Shadow. Together, we're going to fix this.
- Save the Villain: Downplayed. Shadow attacks Sonic and steals his tech, but is repelled by the Boscage gate when he tries to enter, knocking him out and sending him falling into the dark pit at the bottom of the Void. Despite their earlier fighting, Sonic immediately rushes after Shadow and successfully rescues him.
- Something Only They Would Say: Shadow inadvertently proves his identity after he refers to Sonic by name, as Sonic's status as a Paradox Person renders him nonexistent in the Shatterspaces, meaning only the real Shadow could have known his name.
- Surveillance as the Plot Demands: Downplayed. Shadow is able to remotely observe his rival's activities, allowing him to witness events he wasn't present for, such as Nine gifting Sonic his tech. However, Shadow can only view things when Sonic has kicked up enough Prism energy to thin the veil between the Shatterspaces and the Void.
- Talking Is a Free Action: Averted. When Sonic refuses to give up Nine's tech to Shadow in the "Ghost" Space, Shadow just attacks Sonic before he can finish his thought. Sonic even says "You could have at least let me finish what I was going to say!" before the fight kicks off properly.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: After their scuffling throughout the episode and learning the hard way that he can't enter any of the other gateways, even with Nine's tech, Shadow realises to his chagrin that in order to restore their reality, he and Sonic must work together, something he is not particularly thrilled about.
- The Unchosen One: Shadow realizes Sonic has the unique power to travel between Shatterspaces on his own, which makes him the only one capable of gathering the shards necessary to repair it. Sonic is pleased by this, as it both allows him to complete his mission and deeply annoys his rival.Shadow: I just assumed it was the tech. But it's something else… It's you.
Sonic: I guess that makes me kinda special, right? - The Unfettered: Sonic insinuates Shadow has this reputation, which is why he doesn't trust him to take over the quest for the Prism shards without hurting people or causing destruction.Sonic: No way, Shadow! I know what you're capable of, and that's not gonna happen!
- The Un-Reveal: Eggman is seemingly entirely missing from the "Ghost" space, with no clue as to his whereabouts.
- Wham Shot: As Sonic and Shadow fight over Nine's tech, a booming sound is heard coming from the New Yoke gateway, accompanied by a glow emanating from said gateway, both of which are followed up by the Chaos Council's ship emerging from the gateway and entering the gateway to Boscage Maze, revealing that the Chaos Council themselves have successfully mastered travel between the gateways of the Void.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Shadow chastises Sonic for not listening to anyone and causing the world to get shattered in the first place, which the blue hedgehog feels horrible about.
- Where It All Began: The "Ghost" space is a recreation of the original Green Hill shortly before the Paradox Prism shattered, with translucent versions of Sonic's friends endlessly repeating themselves. Sonic and Shadow's plan is to take the other Paradox Prism shards back there and reconstruct the Prism, hopefully fixing reality in the process.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: After seeing numerous twisted versions of his home and friends, Sonic travels to the "Ghost" space and is ecstatic to find that it's almost exactly like Green Hill and inhabited by all his friends. However, he quickly learns that his friends are nothing but unresponsive husks, with Shadow even likening it to torture.
