(Apocalypse AU, merged with the Metal Virus from IDW comics)

-☆. It had been months since the Metal Virus last struck - ever since Sonic had once again saved Earth from it, everyone thought that was the end.

But, as of recently, more and more Zombots began appearing. It was clear that this virus wasn't gone for good. Many Mobians were hiding for shelter in abandoned buildings, and Shadow just so happened to be one of these people.

He was hiding out in what used to be a store for food, but the shelves had been ripped off of their hinges and the food stolen by other struggling Mobians. He wasn't that pissed since he knew the mall had much more food to offer. He sighed, thinking to himself...

"This isn't the life Maria wanted for me. Oh, she'd be beyond disappointed if she saw the state her beloved Earth was in..." He sighed, but his ears immediately picked up; something was out there. A Zombot or another Mobian? He didn't know... but he had to keep his guard up.

That is until he noticed a figure in front of him, his first instinct being to pin it to the wall and shout. "WHO ARE YOU?! WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"

Instead of being greeted with the usual Zombot noise, he was greeted with a familiar voice... "Dude! Shadow! I don't mean no harm! It's me, Sonic."

Shadow, realising this, released him and folded his arms. What was Sonic doing in an abandoned mall? Why wasn't he out there fighting away Zombots and trying to be a hero, as per usual?