Shadow: standing in front of Molly's grave on Planet Cascade, the soft wind rustling the trees as the planet slowly regenerates

"The planet is healing... but it came at a cost. Molly... you barely knew me, and I barely knew you. But you fought to stop them, even when it was hopeless. And now, you’re just another casualty of this war."

thinking "I could have stopped her... maybe I should have. She was so desperate to fight, even when it meant her end. That last look... was it acceptance or gratitude?"

Shadow’s gaze moves skyward, remembering the final moments of the Metarex battle, the galaxy nearly lost.

Shadow: "Cosmo gave everything to save the galaxy. Tails couldn't pull the trigger... weak, yet... I understand. They never knew what she truly was. She was one of them, a Metarex spy, placed to betray us all. I knew. I kept silent because it didn’t matter until the final hour. And then... it was too late."

thinking "Six months... or six years in Earth’s time. I remember everything now. Maria’s true wish. She wanted me to protect life, not destroy it. But in the end, it always comes to destruction."

Shadow tightens his fists, recalling the moment he nearly killed Cosmo aboard the Blue Typhoon.

Shadow: "I almost ended it. I knew what had to be done. But Tails... he wouldn’t let me. Risked his life for her. Foolish. But in the end, the Metarex came. And Cosmo learned the truth herself. There was no stopping it."

Shadow steps back from Molly’s grave, reflecting on the battle’s end.

Shadow: "Chaos Control... Super Sonic and I thought we could bring Cosmo back. But all we got was that seed. And when Sonic wanted to try again, I stopped him. He was too weak to do it. Chaos Control isn’t his to wield... not like me."

thinking "I had to make the call. Sonic never understood it like I did. In the end, I made the right choice."

Shadow turns away from the grave, his tone somber.

Shadow: quietly "The Metarex are gone... but some things never heal."