Silver bites his inner lip. He's trembling. Not outright shaking, but if he holds his hand to his face, his fingers twitch and shudder. Why is he acting this way? There isn't anything to be afraid of.

No. A lot can happen in two hundred years. And maybe this isn't even the right place. Maybe he isn't even here, or isn't the person Silver knows, or maybe he was already dead-

Two hundred years. It's a long time, and...maybe he completely forgot about Silver. Or maybe a time paradox happened and they never met. Time paradoxes are such fickle things. Silver rubs his fingers together, clenching his fist and stretching his fingers.

He has to know. It's been so long. As apprehensive as he is, he...he has to at least know. Silver swallows and reaches for the door handle. The metal is smooth, and...pretty warm. It is sunny today, after all.

Silver slips inside and a wave of cool air washes over him. The inside is more modern than he expected. Smooth wooden floors and comfy-looking furniture. Painted walls with lovely, colorful murals. Cat stuff everywhere. People talking and laughing in another room. The homey atmosphere reassures Silver.

He follows the voices. Everything is well lit up, and...cats! Cats are meowing, too! Although Silver isn't surprised, but the meowing...it's a pleasant sound.

It doesn't take Silver long to find the voices. Around the corner is a large room with double glass doors. Many mobians are inside, chatting, laughing, playing with cats...Silver's heart melts at the sight. Everyone is so happy here!

He walks inside; some mobians turn their heads and greet him. Silver waves and returns the hellos, now a bit overwhelmed by the crowd.

"Erm- Does anyone know where I can find Shadow? I mean- Shadow the Hedgehog?"

"He'll be in the back," a mint green owl answers. Silver nods and smiles.

"Thank you!"

Worry bubbles its way to the front of Silver's mind as he weaves through the mobians and cats. Shadow...Silver talked to him last week, but technically, it's been two hundred years since Shadow last saw Silver. What does Shadow even look like? How would he act? Would Silver even recognize him?

And then, Silver stops.

Shadow is right there. He's talking to a young deer mobian and his parents, as he holds a grey tabby in his hands. Shadow's quills have a looser style to them, small quill bunches sticking out from his regular six-point quill-do. His gloves and shoes are more sleek and futuristic, though they still have their same colors. And he's grown out his chest fur, too. It reaches his shoulders, just grazing their tips.

But Silver can't help staring at Shadow's eyes...they're softer somehow. They're warm and relaxed. His posture, his smile...everything about Shadow is just softer. Shadow hands the tabby to the deer. His eyes widen, but he still takes the cat, putting one hand under the front legs, and one under the back legs.

"Pull him close to you," Shadow says, "and wrap your arm around his midsection."

The deer does as told, and looks to Shadow, who smiles.

"Good."

The deer glances at his parents with excitement, and they give him an encouraging smile. They thank Shadow, and walk away.

And Shadow's eyes meet Silver's.

"Don't think I didn't notice you, Silver," Shadow says, walking up to him. "I-"

"Shadow!" Silver grins, his nervous energy bursting through the surface. "It- It's been so long! We have so much to catch up on!"

"I agree, but in a more private area. Wait for me by the door." Shadow smirks. "You can pet the cats if you want to."

Silver nods, and strides towards the door. He sits in a nearby chair as he watches Shadow talk to a bear, most likely an assistant. Silver reaches his hand out to pet a passing blue-gray cat, but the cat walks just out of his reach. He slumps back in his chair, slightly crushed.

Footsteps approach him and Silver sits upright. In one hand, Shadow holds a green Chaos Emerald. His other hand extends towards Silver.

"Where are we going?" Silver asks, grasping Shadow's hand to pull himself up.

"A small mountain overlooking the city. It's nice and quiet up there," Shadow smiles. "Chaos Control."

White light transports the hedgehogs to a place outside the city. Silver blinks, and glances around. They're standing on the side of a green mountain, overlooking the city just as Shadow said. A couple of trees grow scattered around them, and the air is fresh and ever-so-slightly chilled. Silver looks out to the city in front, with towering skyscrapers, buildings, and extensive parks. Surrounding the city are many neighborhoods, and past that is just...green.

Silver sighs breathlessly. "Wow...this is..."

"It's great, I know." Shadow sat down on the grass below them. Silver followed suit, sitting down on a flat rock. "So...where do you want to start?"

"Er-" Silver pauses. There's so much to know. Where would they even begin? How could they begin to begin? Endless possibilities of thoughts and topics, and they all run through Silver's brain at the same time, overwhelming him again.

"I think..." Silver says, "I got one. What have you been doing, since I left?"

It's a simple question. Maybe too simple. But it's a starting point.

"Two hundred years is a lot of time to cover," Shadow huffed. Yet, he still smiles. "Not much changed. We still fought the Doctor, and whatever evil that tried to destroy or take over the world. I still went on G.U.N missions."

"Is that still around, by the way?"

"Yes. But I've since retired."

"Really?" Silver fully turns to Shadow. "I thought you liked that job."

"I guess. But I wanted to do something else with my life. So I quit, and started investing in my hobbies."

"Like?"

Shadow turns over a pebble in his hand. "I read more. Traveled. Volunteered when I could...a lot of everything, really. I hung out with Sonic and his friends more..." Shadow smiles. "Opened up a bit...it made me happy."

Silver smiles at Shadow's sentiment. It's odd, seeing Shadow so open like this. But it's a nice change of pace from the Shadow two hundred years ago. But Silver's face falls. Sonic, Tails, Amy, Knuckles...Blaze and Espio... they weren't immortal like Shadow. They've been long since dead by now.

Still, Silver needs to ask.

"And..." he fiddles with his fingers. "What about everybody else?"

"I'd wager about the same. They grew up and matured. They led fulfilling lives."

"Did...did you ever see Blaze again?"

"Yes. She came around from time to time to help save the world, and vice versa." Shadow smiles tightly. "She missed you. And...everyone else, actually. They all missed you."

Silver nods, his heart weighing heavy in his chest.

"A lot changed when the Doctor died," Shadow continues. "Suddenly, we all had so much more free time. Rouge suggested we start a band. It never turned out to be something big, but it was something we enjoyed. And she starred in a few TV shows, too.

"Tails went on to become one of the best inventors this world has ever seen. Amy started her own small business, selling baked goods, with tarot readings on the side."

Silver raises an eyebrow quizzically. Shadow snorts.

"Odd combination, I know. But it worked for her."

"And everyone else? Cream? The Chaotix? Knuckles? Sonic?"

"Cream became a schoolteacher. The Chaotix...never really changed. Their agency is still around today, led by Vector's great, great grandchildren."

Silver nearly jumps of his seat. "Vector had children!?"

"A lot of them had children," Shadow smirks. "And Sonic married Amy."

"What!?"

Shadow laughs. "You seem surprised."

"Well I mean- We're talking about Sonic, here! The guy that never slows down? And I thought he said he'd never be caught dead in a relationship?"

"He was fifteen. But eventually he stopped running from his feelings, he and Amy got married, they had kids, and grew old together."

"That's..." Silver smiles, "really sweet, actually. Wh- What about you? Did you...ever marry?"

"No," Shadow shakes his head, "but I...did date, for a while. It wasn't really for me."

"Oh. Uh- I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry about. But thank you."

Silver nods, gazing back out at the city. He breathes in deeply, closing his eyes. The air brushes against his fur and ruffles his chest fur. It flows through his quills and and offers cleanliness.

The air is fresh, and the sky is blue. The grass is green, and the people are flourishing and happy.

"So...this is really it? This is the future?"

"Your future, Silver. Congratulations."

He did it.

Silver's vision grows blurry as his chest tightens. Tears well up in his eyes and he bites his inner lip, trying to stifle his sniffles. He wipes and rubs at his eyes, spreading the tears onto his muzzle.

He really did it. He saved his world. Finally.

"Y- You know, Shadow," Silver sniffs, "when I first came here, I... I couldn't believe my eyes. There was no fire, no- no demon monsters, no overlords, n-nothing of the sort! Just...people. Enjoying their lives, walking down the street...and everything was so beautiful. Just how I imagined the future would be."

"Do you know what this city is, Silver?"

Silver looks at Shadow. "Hope City...right? That's what I've been told."

"I always thought it was a cheesy name," Shadow snorts. "But yes. Right over where Crisis City would be."

Silver smiles. "I think that's a good omen."

"And as long as there are good people in this world..." Shadow's voice softens. "As long as people are willing to protect this planet...and as long as I'm here, the world will be safe."

"Yeah..." Silver looks back to the bustling city, where people live in peace. The people he fought to protect for so long. And the blue sky with the sparse clouds, the green grass, trees, flowers, and all the animals that live on the planet...he fought to protect those too.

And he would always fight. For those who came before him, those with him, and those who would come after. He would protect it until his dying breath.

"Everything's gonna be okay."